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- [S927] Obituary.
Anton Francis Schaff, 84, Mandan, passed away on April 23, 2014, at his home. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Mandan, with the Rev. Johnson Kuriappilly as celebrant. Burial will be at Mandan Union Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a rosary/parish vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Anton Francis Schaff was born March 21, 1930, in St. Anthony. He was the son of Paul and Magdaline (Wetsch) Schaff. He was raised on the family farm in the St. Anthony area and attended rural school until the age of 11. At the age of 18, Anton joined the army and received an honorable discharge in 1948.
Anton met the love of his life, Barbara Doll, and married her on Nov. 13, 1951, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Glen Ullin. Anton farmed and ranched in the St. Anthony area from 1952-73. During that time, he also worked as a salesman for Mandan Supply for many years. In 1973, they moved to Steele and farmed and ranched until 1977. After retiring from farming, they moved to Mandan, where they started a home building business.
In 1985, Anton co-owned D&S Auto and Trailer Sales as a Triggs horse and stock trailer dealer. In 1986 and 1987, he was given the award as Triggs Dealer of the Year. In 1987, Anton designed a heavier duty stock trailer called the Boss Trailer with Donald Bronswald in Fall City, Neb. In 2000, Donald found he had colon cancer and had five to six months to live. So the Boss trailer line was put up for sale and sold in the state of Kansas. When Donald died, Anton decided to retire. In 1987, he sold D&S to Dwayne and Sharon Wahl and he built a hobby farm northwest of Mandan. Due to health problems, he sold it and moved into Mandan in 2001.
He enjoyed fishing and boating, playing cards with friends and family and taking in cattle sales. Spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren was important to Anton.
Anton is survived by his wife, Barbara (Doll) Schaff; his five children, Sharon (Dwayne) Wahl, Bismarck, Patrick (Loretta) Schaff, Towner, David (Theresa) Schaff, Buckley, Wash., Annette (Kenneth) Miller, Mandan, and Diane (Tom) Sayles, Mandan; 11 grandchildren, Jackie Best, Minot, Tracy (Mary) Schaff, Tacoma, Wash., Brad (Tiffany) Schaff, Mankato, Minn., Jesse Miller (fiancee, Traci), Mandan, Billy (Karmen) Wahl, Mandan, Timothy (Mandy) Schaff, Bonney Lake, Wash., Jason (Kristen) Schaff, Grand Forks, Wade Miller, Fargo, Michael (Maria) Wahl, San Diego, Preston Wahl, College Station, Texas, and step-grandson, Blake Sayles, Washington; eight great-grandchildren, Taylor and Keenen Best, Minot, Carter and Kate Schaff, Mankato, Minn., Quinn
Schaff, Grand Forks, Eliza Schaff, Tacoma, Wash., and Kalia and Kai Schaff, Bonney Lake, Wash.; three sisters, Barbara Saumell, Hemet, Calif., Marianne (Mike) Blasco, Mandan, and Bertha (Paul) Heinrich, Mandan; and four brothers, Joseph (Kathryn/Ruby) Schaff, Bismarck, Paul (Ann/Laura) Schaff, Mandan, Tom (Lois) Schaff, Shakopee, Minn., and Martin (Angie) Schaff, Mandan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Magdaline (Wetsch) Schaff; two sisters, Katie Taghon and Leona Helbling/Smith; one brother, Adam Schaff; two sisters-in-law, Ann (Paul) Schaff and Kathryn (Joseph) Schaff; two brothers-in-law, Robert (Katie) Taghon and Paul (Bertha) Heinrich; his grandparents,; and many aunts and uncles.
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