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William Schaake Obituary
Bill was raised in Kansas and was a tried-and-true Jayhawker. He attended Liberty Memorial (now Lawrence) High School where he was an All-State performer and led his teams to state championships in both football and basketball. He attended the University of Kansas where he lettered in basketball and served as co-captain of the football team in 1951. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, the Air Force ROTC program and was a life member of the KU Alumni Association and the K-Club. Bill also earned a Master's degree from Kansas State while living and working in Abilene.
After leaving KU, Bill spent two years as an Air Force Officer before moving on to his chosen career as a teacher and a football coach. His high school coaching career included stints in Abilene, Shawnee Mission East, Goodland, and Evergreen (CO). His college coaching career included stints at Wichita State, Minot State (ND), Washburn and KU. A short detour from coaching found Bill in Halstead serving as Executive Director of the Hertzler Research Foundation from 1969 to 1973.
In 1951, Bill married his high school sweetheart- Darlene Schindler. He is survived by his wife of 66 years and their four children- son Alan of Mililani, HI (wife Johanna, sons Jason and Jeffrey); son Jay of Corvallis, OR (wife Kelly, daughters Jennifer and Emma-Kate, and son Josh with wife Tracy and great grandsons Chase and Ethan); daughter Janice of Kenmore, WA (husband Mark Ohrenschall, daughter Rachel and son William); and daughter Denise of Ellensburg, WA.
After retirement, Bill and Darlene moved from Evergreen (CO) to Ellensburg (WA) to be nearer their expanding family. There they got seriously involved in their favorite pastime- collecting and selling antiques. They purchased an antique business and spent most of their retirement years happily running it from home in Ellensburg and from an antique mall in Cle Elum (WA).
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Memories and Condolences
for William Schaake
Jeffrey D. Hill
September 6, 2024
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
Kathy (Stutzman) Dawson
September 28, 2017
My condolences to Darlene, Jay and the rest of the Schaake family. I was fortunate to be a Halstead resident during their time there and their involvement in the schools and community benefitted many.
Pat Talbott
September 27, 2017
My thoughts and prayers go out the the entire Schaake family.
Deanna and Marge Talbott
September 24, 2017
Bill and Darlene were special people in our lives growing up in Halstead. Sending prayers and hugs to Darlene and all the kids. Your dad was a great guy and will be missed by many especially those who he had the opportunity to coach and teach.
September 21, 2017
Our condolences to Darlene and all of the Schaake family.We old timers at the Kansas Learning Center for Health (formerly the Hertzler Research Foundation) remember him well and appreciate his service to the Kansas Health Museum which was then one arm of the HRF.
Don and Alice Decker
Jim Stuke
September 17, 2017
Coach Schaake was a gentleman and a dedicated coach who 'wanted the best' for his team. I am grateful for the opportunities he provided for me as a student and player.
Beverly Barthule
September 12, 2017
Condolences to the Schaake family from the Fortmeyer family: Chuck, Beverly, Roger, Rana, and Rita. Our families were close during Coach Schaake coaches and taught in Goodland. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Vicki Goff-Miller
September 12, 2017
Schaake Family,
I was talking to our father today (George Goff) and he was telling us about his wonderful memories playing football with Bill. He was a kind man that our father thought the world of. He enjoyed their friendship dearly.
So sorry for your loss
Sincerely
George Goff & Family
September 12, 2017
I still use his term "Miserable Toad". He influenced lots of young people in all he did in the classroom or on the field. He will be missed. Mike Elliott
September 12, 2017
A good man and a great coach. He was fair, honest and a true gentleman. I am happy to have known and played for him.
Thanks for all you did for so many.
Don Prince
Washburn University 1967-1970
Jeffrey Hill
September 12, 2017
Coach Schaake was a good man and coach. Appreciate all he passed on to we players, both in his football wisdom and in molding a bunch of young men into better young men. Thoughts and prayers with the family and RIP Coach...Jeffrey
Ron Vignery
September 12, 2017
Coach Schaake was a very formative part of my life and I am greatly saddened at the news of his death.
Bernie Bianchino
September 12, 2017
My sincere condolences to his family on Coach Schaake's passing. I will always remember him as a coach and mentor at Washburn University. I know that one of his happiest and most rewarding experiences must have been our amazing upset of Kearney State at Moore Bowl in our first game in 1968 after the program was reinstated. I'll never forget the joy as we carried him off the field. In know the memory of that game lives with all his players.
tim dennis
September 12, 2017
A Great Coach . Tim Dennis 1967 and 1978
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