Obituary of Theodore "Ted" Schaal

Theodore Berthold (Ted) Schaal a lifelong Burlington, Colorado resident passed away on Friday, April 16, Aurora Medical Center South in Aurora, Colorado after injuries he sustained in an automobile accident April 2 which also took the life of his wife Elma. They celebrated their 63 anniversary and his 88th birthday March 21, 2010 with all of his family present. Ted was born in a sod house north of Burlington, CO he was the first child of Jake and Emma (Strobel) Schaal. He was baptized and confirmed at Hope Congregational Church, Bethune, CO. He attended Emerson School 4 miles northwest of their home, he completed the 10 grade and later achieved his GED and only missed one question in the exam. In 1945 Ted was inducted into the Army, first in the infantry, and then transferred to MP duty. He Honorable Discharged. On March 2, 1947, Ted married Elma Helen Gramm at her parents’ home. They had two children; Geneva Louise and Clyde Joseph. Ted and Elma started their home ¾ of a mile from where he grew up in a little white 3 room house .Ted and Elma worked side by side farming and ranching their entire lives. Ted passion was raising cattle, he started his ranch with registered Polled Herefords, as trends in marketing changed he also change to registered Black Angus. They also raised wheat and sorghum crops for cash income and to feed their cattle, he was a progressive farmer and rancher who used methods to save the land. Ted was active in community as school board member, Farm Bureau, Equity Co-op, and many other community activities. He was also very active in their church, as Deacon, teacher and other committees, when the tornado in 1993 destroyed their church he was one of many who put in long hours building their new church building. The enjoyments of his life were his family, deer hunting he got his last buck this last fall at age 87. Ted and Elma traveled a lot in later years in their Suburban as they drove to many parts of the US and Mexico. They also took 4 RV trips with Geneva and John. Even though they turned the farm/ranch over to Clyde and son Braden they remained interested and did what they could to be involved. Ted and Elma lived in their home alone until the day of the accident. Ted is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Elma He is survived son Clyde Schaal and his wife Teresa of Burlington, daughter Geneva Troutt and her husband John of Aurora, CO, five grandchildren and their spouses Babette Tsao and her husband Freddie of Denver, CO, Justin Hudson and his wife Kari of Parker, CO, Brian Lewis and his wife Melissa of Brighton, CO, Craig Schaal and his wife Candice of Wray, CO, Braden Schaal and his finance Jenny Copple of Burlington, Ted also has six great grandsons, Porter, Payton, Terrin Lewis, Thomas and Weston Schaal and Lincoln Theodore Hudson . Ted is also survived by brother, Reverend Herbert Schaal of Lodi, California. Two brother-in laws Lawrence Gramm of Bethune and Edmund Gramm and his wife Esther of Bethune, one sister-in law Esther Corliss of Stratton, Ted will be missed by his family, friends, and church.