Schaap, Ruth (Mrs. John Sr.) 1917-2018

SCHAAP, SMITS, HAARSMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:32

Mrs. Ruth Schaap, formerly of Maurice, passed away at the age of 100, on October 24, 2018, at the Amador Residential Care in Jackson, California.

There will be a funeral service on Saturday, October 27, at 2:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. The Rev. John Klompien will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Ruth was born on a farm in Canistota, South Dakota, on December 17, 1917, to parents Dick and Dora (Smits) Haarsma.

Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Maurice, Iowa, where Ruth and her siblings Johanna “Jo” Albertha, Dorothy, Howard and Raymond grew up on the family farm.

Ruth graduated from Maurice High School, after which she attended teacher’s college at Westmar College. She taught country school in a one-room school house briefly before she met the love of her life, John Schaap, Sr.

Ruth and John were married on April 10, 1941. After John joined the Navy, Ruth moved to Camp Parks in Pleasanton, California. After the war, the couple moved to San Lorenzo, California, and then to the home they built in Hayward, California, where they lived for fifty years. Ruth and John had five children and were active church members of the Eden United Church of Christ.

Ruth was a mother and homemaker and was known to be a great cook and an excellent floral arranger. She was creative and loved sewing and crafting.

Ruth and John moved to Jackson, California, in 2004, attending church at the Jackson United Methodist Church and making many friends. After John passed away in 2005, she continued to live in Jackson for several years, before moving to Baywood Court in Castro Valley, California, and later to Amador Residential Care.

Ruth was known for her warm personality and positive outlook and was loved by the staff and residents alike.

She celebrated her 100th birthday on December 17, 2017, at a party surrounded by family members. It was a milestone she had long looked forward to.

Ruth is survived by her children, Janice Gnagy, Paula Bleeker (Carl), and John Schaap, Jr. (Pam); her grandchildren, Matthew Gnagy, Suzanne Gnagy, John Gnagy (Nancy), Jim Stone, Jason Stone, Michael Bleeker, Jennifer Carr (Chris), Shelley Melito (Jeff), Caitlyn Schaap and David Schaap; and eight great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings; her husband John Schaap, Sr.; children Mary Joan Stone and Dick Schaap; and son-in-law Rich Gnagy.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.