Jesse ‘JD’ Schaal

Jesse D. “JD” Schaal, 81, Chanute, passed away Friday, April 21, 2017, at Via Christi–St. Francis in Wichita.
JD was born on Jan. 10, 1936, in Chanute, the son of Jess and Marie (Stitt) Schaal.
JD graduated from Chanute High School in 1954. On Sept. 16, 1956, JD married Dorothy Larson at Vilas Bethel Lutheran Church in Vilas, and celebrated 60 years of marriage last year.
JD served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1955. JD worked as a master electrician for more than 40 years. He owned his own business, Schaal Electric, and worked at Young’s Welding. 
His greatest joy in life was following his kids and grandkids in all of their activities. He never missed anything his kids participated in. JD was a 4-H leader for electric. He loved to tinker around his shop with woodworking and he loved to garden. His latest love was growing blackberries. He enjoyed bowling on a team with his buddies and drinking coffee at McDonald’s with his friends. He attended Otterbein United Methodist Church in Chanute and was a past member of Cedar Lodge No. 103 Masonic Lodge and Elks Lodge No. 806. 
JD is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; his son, Kent Schaal, Chanute; a daughter, Kay Lewis and husband Tim, Iola; grandchildren Kelsey Boulware and husband Caleb, Kellen Bolt, Torrie Lewis, Jessica Bates, Ashley Schaal and Michaela Schaal; and great-grandchildren, Drake Boulware, Brinley Boulware and Ellis Ashmore.
JD was preceded in death by his parents, sister Geraldine Stanfield and nephews Neil Stanfield and Gary Stanfield.
A visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Countryside Funeral Home Gibson Chapel in Chanute. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Chanute. Inurnment will follow at Vilas Bethel Cemetery outside of Chanute. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.
Memorials have been suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Services have been entrusted to: Countryside Funeral Home, 16 N. Forest, Chanute, KS 66720.