Obituary

Garry Richard Schaaf, 72, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away at home on October 30, 2024. Raised in Elgin, Il, he was the son of Dolores (“Maggie”) Fish and John Richard Schaaf Jr. He is survived by his older brother, Larry, and younger brother, Daniel.

Garry met his sweetheart, Linda Hendrix, in Elgin and together they built a beautiful life, welcoming daughters Jennifer in 1978 and Andrea in 1981. Known for his quiet strength and ability to charm, in his earlier years Garry followed a career in sales, working at Miramont and later Sears. Though naturally introverted, and making rare but incredibly close friends, his gregarious spirit could win people over with his “salesman’s charm.” After Linda’s passing in 1998, Garry turned to a life of service, finding fulfillment in his church and volunteer organizations like Habitat for Humanity, where he met his second wife, Peou Dan, with whom he shared many more caring and meaningful years until her passing earlier in 2024.

A man of strong values, Garry found immense peace and comfort in giving back. His kindness extended beyond family and friends to his community, where he quietly touched many with his volunteer efforts. Ever charitable, he felt blessed by his life and gave freely of his time to help others. One of his proudest accomplishments was earning his pilot’s license, a reflection of his lifelong love for aviation and second career as a flight attendant. He shared that passion with his very young daughters, often driving them to O’Hare Airport to watch the planes take off, and in later years, flying them around Arizona in his own planes.

Garry is remembered by his daughters, Jen (Mike Barber) and Andrea (David Leftwich), and his cherished grandchildren: Cameron, Percy, Otto, and Llewyn. His daughters will always remember his two sayings, “Proud of you” and “It’ll get better,” which together embodied his constant, quiet optimism and careful love.
A private yet dependable man, Garry was a devoted father, grandfather, and friend. His humility, hidden kindness and quiet strength leave an enduring legacy, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.