Patricia “Pat” Maurine Schaaf, the daughter of Harlen R. and Olove Marie (Isom) Shires, was born on a farm south of Elliott, IA, on November 26, 1934. She died February 18, 2024, at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold, IA, at the age of 89 years, 2 months, and 23 days.
Pat lived on the family farm until her junior year of high school, when her parents bought the gas station in Elliott and renamed it the S & M Oil Company. She graduated from Elliott High School with the class of 1952. On July 4, 1953, she was united in marriage to Lynn E. Schaaf at the Methodist Parsonage in Randolph, IA. Pat had worked at Mutual of Omaha, for Dr. Carl Johnson, the Schaaf Dairy, and Griswold Community School in the kitchen.
Pat loved spending time with her family and attending the activities of her children and grandchildren. She loved children, and especially loved the babies. She was an avid Iowa State Cyclones Fan. She enjoyed collecting bells, cooking for her family, traveling, and doing jigsaw puzzles.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Dick Shires and wife Rilla, and Warder Shires; mother-in-law, Helen Schaaf; father-in-law Louis Schaaf; brothers-in-law, Lowell Schaaf and wife Sylvia, and Lyle Schaaf and wife Barb; and sister-in-law Mary Lou Anderson and husband Dave.
Pat is survived by her husband Lynn Schaaf of Griswold, IA; her children: Diane Potter and husband Ken, Bev Jensen and husband Brad, Deb Arp and husband Alan, and Robert Schaaf and Tina Allen; her grandchildren: Ben Potter and wife Celeste, Matt Jensen, Marcus Jensen, Jenny Weber and husband Matt, Tabitha Miller and husband Nick, Paige Rush and husband Justin, Chelsey Holmes and husband Nick, and Tommy Schaaf; her great grandchildren: Olive and Ruby Potter, Olivia and Amelia Weber, Mackenzie Miller, Jade and Jaci Rush, and Carley Atkins; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
A memorial service for Pat will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 11:00 AM, at the Griswold United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family will be held at the Griswold United Methodist Church on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, from 5-7 PM. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family.
