Obituary of Clifford Schaal

Clifford Garfield Schaal went home to his heavenly father August 21, 2016. He was born August 20, 1922 to Emil and Pauline (Gramm) Schaal north of Bethune, CO. He was the first born of 6 boys and 2 girls. Cliff was baptized in 1922 and, he was confirmed August 29, 1937 by Rev. John Hoelzer at Hope Congregational Church north of Bethune, CO. During his childhood he helped his parents on the farm North of Burlington. He attended Burlington Schools until the 10th grade at which time he was needed on the farm. When Cliff started school he had to learn English as German was the language of his raising. During those years growing up he developed an interest in raising good work horses as he farmed with them. At one time Cliff owned 4 mares and a stallion named Rex. His favorite team was Charlie and Shorty that he bought as colts and broke them himself to work in the fields. Cliff started farming on his own at the age of 19 with his horses on a dryland quarter and continued to farm that same quarter for 70 years. To help make ends meet, he worked for several area farmers during this time. He started off working for John Guthrie as an electrician for a couple of years, then he went to work for Caldwell Gas as a propane deliveryman and general appliance repairman while continuing to build his farm and cow herd. Cliff married Donna Gross on December 18, 1964 and moved to Burlington so that the children could attend school. Once the kids had graduated, a house was built on the farm and Cliff and Donna moved to the farm. Cliff started farming beets with his father-in-law Dan Gay and brother-in-law Terry Gay during this time, using the beets tops for cattle feed when the harvest was done. Cliff was also a seed corn salesman for Golden Acres. He served on the Hope Congregational Church Board for several years and also on the Burlington Equity Coop Board for numerous years. He was a lifelong member of Hope Congregational Church north of Bethune. He helped in the rebuilding of the church when it was destroyed in the Tornado in 1993. He was also a member of Gideon International. When Donna retired from Peoples Natural Gas, a house was purchased in 1993 in Chandler, AZ as a snowbird home. This home was 5 houses down from his sister-in-law and brother in law Gene and Dana Hadachek. This is where Cliff and Donna would play golf, go to the Club house to visit and play shuffle board on a regular bases. The main mode of transportation was the golf cart. When Cliff wanted to go down or come to the farm, most of the time he would ride the train from Lamar to Flagstaff AZ, his preferred long distance transportation. Cliff was a resident of The Legacy for one year before moving to Grace Manor for the last 2 years. Cliff will be remembered by his family and friends as a gentle man who acted like a gentleman. He enjoyed farming and ranching so much that he rarely took time off but when he did, he wanted to go fishing. He enjoyed visiting with people; he had an easy smile, and joyful laugh. He was a storyteller. Cliff is survived by brother Leo, sister Dolores Dobler, brother Dalwon and wife Reta all of Burlington, his brother Milton and wife Carol of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sister-in-law Darlene Miller of Castle Rock, CO, Step son Ron Gross and numerous nieces, nephews, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by parents Emil and Pauline Schaal, wife Donna, father in law and mother in law Dan and Mildred Gay, brother Louis and sister-in law Connie Schaal, brother Elmer and sister in law Evelyn Schaal, sister Viola and brother in law Ruben Anderson and Harold Stover, brother in law Elmer Dobler, sister-in law Helen Schaal, brother in law Terry and sister in law Ina Gay, sister in law Dana and brother in law Gene Hadachek, stepchildren Randy Gross and Pam Burgess.