Gordon “Gordy” Schaar 06/23/2024

Gordon Elmer Schaar, “Gordy” age 78, of River Falls, WI, died peacefully surrounded by his family and friends at his home on Sunday, June 23, 2024.

Gordy was born to Elmer and Emma (Schingledecker) Schaar on October 24, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota.  He graduated from River Falls High School with the class of 1963 and served in the Army National Guard until 1969.  Gordy married Sharon Johnson and they had three children, Mike, Kris and Michelle.  They later divorced.  He met Judi Sweeney, they had a decade long relationship and had one son, Jason.  Gordy and Judi separated and years later he met and married Betty Brunotte and blended their families together.

Gordy loved to work, and he had many jobs.  He worked at Armors Meat Cutting, Deiss Sanitation, O’Connell Garbage Hauling, UWRF and Tim Brady Pump Service.  In 1980 Gordy purchased Tim Brady Pump Service and he ran Gordy’s Pump Service until 2007 when he “retired” and sold the business to his son, Jason.  He then started Gordy Schaar Trucking, hauling gravel, black dirt, sand, compost, and boulders right up to the spring of this year.  Through the years he maintained numerous snowplowing and sanding accounts.  In his “retirement”, Gordy also worked at Fox Ridge Stables.  Gordy cherished the time spent with his Gordy’s Pump Service family.  The shop talk, company events, riding along on jobs with his son, even running for parts.

Throughout his life Gordy rescued and adopted wild mustangs and burrows and broke them for riding and driving.  He was an avid John Wayne fan, collecting many items, and even traveling to Winterset, IA to see his birth home.

Gordy loved riding horses, giving rides with his team and wagon, farming, road trips, cutting wood, watching birds and most of all spending time with his family and friends. He attended many grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s events.  He was a hard-working man with a good heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand.  He wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade.

Gordy is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Emma Schaar; wife, Betty Schaar; daughter, Michelle Schaar; grandson-in-law, Jackson Merrill Sr.; brother, Robert Schaar; and former companion, Judi Sweeney.

He is survived by children, Michael (Amy) Johnson, Kris (John) Jones, Jason Schaar; step children, Jon (Nancy) Lemerand, David Lemerand, Debbie (Dean) Chilson, Cathi (Steve) Brown, Duane (Starr) Lemerand; honorary children, Courtney (Dave) Snieg, Austin (Hannah) Delamater, Jeff Sweeney; grandchildren, Kinsey Johnson, Sammie Johnson, Nicole Merrill, Bryan Bearheart, Jessica Lemerand, Justice Lemerand, Dean Chilson Jr., Dani (Matt Frey) Chilson, Tanner Brown, Morgan Heberle, Neamiah Lemerand, Joe Medes, Jordyn Medes and Ruby Snieg; great-grandchildren, Jackson Jr., Jensen, Jase, Kali, Liam, Ella, Nolan, and Elle; great great-granddaughter, Blakelyn; sister-in-law, Jackie Schaar; and many nieces nephews, relatives and friends.

A Funeral Service was held on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 4 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 805 E Division Street River Falls, WI.  Visitation was on Sunday, June 30, 2024 from 1-4 pm at the funeral home.Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery.  A Party to Celebrate Gordy’s life was held at  Fletcher-Pechacek American Legion Post 121, 701 North Main Street, River Falls, WI, on Sunday, September 8, 2024 from 12:30PM-4:30PM.   Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Gordy’s service