Clara Schaaf

Clara (Zander) Schaaf passed away peacefully on May 26, 2026, at Marian Manor Nursing Home in Glen Ullin, ND. She was 100 years old.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM CST on Monday, June 1, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glen Ullin, ND, with Fr. Gary Benz celebrating. Burial will follow at 3 PM at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 4606 Highway 1806, Mandan.

Visitation will be from 5-6 PM Sunday, May 31, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Glen Ullin, with Rosary service at 6 PM.

Clara was born March 11, 1926, at the family home near Crown Butte, ND, the ninth of twelve children born to George and Marian “Mary” (Schmidt) Zander. Family meant everything to Clara. She especially enjoyed spending time with her brothers and sisters, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Teaching her grandchildren how to play cards was her specialty. Clara had a green thumb; everything she planted thrived. She taught her children, and later her grandchildren, the art of baking, gardening, and canning.

After retiring to town, Clara enjoyed daily coffee dates with her friends and was a member of several card clubs. She was a master at crocheting and made a blanket for all of her grandchildren. Clara was a lifetime member of the Christian Mothers and Lioness groups.

Clara is survived by her children, David (Alvira) Schaaf, Rick Schaaf, Mary (Dan) Herold, Brenda (Bill) Duppong, Michael (Valerie) Schaaf, Anne (Rick) Covey, and son-in-law, Steve Hamar; as well as a legacy that lives on through her 35 grandchildren and many cherished great and great-great-grandchildren. Clara is also survived by her sister, Irene (Ralph) Kautzman and sisters-in-law, Mary Zander and Jeannine Simon.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Zander; husband, Michael V. Schaaf; daughter, Donna Hamar; sons-in-law, Allan Duppong and Joseph Vogel; daughter-in-law, Nora Schaaf; grandson, Jacob Schaaf; brothers and sisters, Ralph Zander, Joseph Zander, Elizabeth Fichter Miller, Veronica Miller, Monica McDonald, Harry Zander, Helen Ivester, Rose Erhardt, Nick Zander, and Marcus Zander.