Eric John Schaap

Eric J. Schaap, 27 of Chandler, MN passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2016 near Chandler, MN.  Visitation will be on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM.   Visitation will continue from 10:00 - 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 6, with the Memorial Service following at 11:00 am. at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church.

Eric John Schaap was born on October 5, 1988, in Slayton, MN, to Harlow and Anne (McFall) Schaap of Chandler, MN.  He joined two brothers, Kent and Jeffrey.  Eric was baptized and made profession of faith in the Chandler Christian Reformed Church.  He attended Chandler Christian School in Chandler, MN, where his mother was his teacher in first and second grades, and graduated from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, MN. He continued his education at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

     After graduation, he returned to the area where he grew up, and lived on an acreage near Leota, MN.   He worked for the past four years as an ag loan officer at First State Bank Southwest in Edgerton, MN, where he was able to use his love of both numbers and agriculture. Eric thoroughly enjoyed many of his customers at the bank. He dreamt of owning his own hog barns, something he was able to experience this past year. He was sometimes referred to as the “pig whisperer.” He enjoyed helping friends and family with farming, especially during harvest season. On July 27, 2013, Eric and Jessamy Busman were united in marriage at the Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler, MN.

     Throughout his school years, Eric was a member of the Chandler Hilltoppers 4-H Club. He enjoyed showing pigs at the fair, and that love of pigs followed him through adulthood. He loved to play basketball, playing as an Eagle at Southwest Christian, and a Red Raider at Northwestern College. He loved watching sports and was a loyal Vikings fan. He was a member of the Chandler Volunteer Fire Department.  

     In his free time, Eric enjoyed working with livestock, both pigs and cattle, and driving tractor and other farm equipment. He enjoyed listening to “Solid Gold Saturday” every weekend. He enjoyed books and documentaries about WWII, and the miniseries “Band of Brothers” was a favorite of his.

     Eric enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed eating his mom’s French toast and butterhorns.  He and his dad had recently been spending time together working on fixing up an old tractor. He considered his older brothers to be two of his best friends. Every fall was spent chopping silage and going deer hunting with them. The “milk house” was a favorite neighborhood gathering place for him and his friends. He loved teasing his nieces and nephews. He joined his grandma Schaap for lunch every Friday at the Edgebrook Care Center, and she loved “showing him off” to the other residents. He was a kid at heart, and after receiving a yo-yo as a birthday gift from his mother-in-law, he became quite skilled at using it. Eric and his brother-in-law had enjoyed working together on projects in the hog barns. He was looking forward to helping his sister-in-law learn how to drive, and on more than one occasion he found himself being the subject of one of her “makeovers.” He enjoyed going on “adventures” with his wife, quizzing her on Johnny Cash songs, and hearing her exciting stories of teaching preschool after school each day. He was always willing to lend a hand and never expected anything in return.

     Eric died on January 30, 2016, near Chandler, MN at the age of 27.   He is survived by his wife, Jessamy; parents, Harlow and Anne Schaap, Chandler, MN; mother-in-law, Judy Busman, Chandler, MN; brothers, Kent (Chelsea) Schaap, Chandler, MN; Jeffrey (Jody) Schaap, Woodstock, MN; Brother-in-law, Andy Busman, Chandler, MN; Sister-in-law, Megan Busman, Chandler, MN; grandmothers, Wylma Schaap, Edgerton, MN; Helen McFall, Spring Lake, MI; grandmother-in-law, Ardis Jensen, Albert Lea, MN; two nephews, Devin & Dylan; three nieces, Kaitlyn, Carli, and Kalli; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

     He is preceded in death by his father-in-law, Irving Busman; grandfathers, Harold Schaap and Ted McFall; grandfather-in-law, Oliver Jensen and grandparents-in-law, John and Marie Busman.

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