Carroll William Schaal Jr.

Carroll William Schaal, Jr.
Formerly of Jefferson
Date of Death: November 2, 2024
Carroll, known as Bill throughout his life, passed away on Nov. 2, 2024. He was born on July 12, 1933 to Ermyle (White) and Carroll Schaal Sr. in Des Moines, Iowa but spent his childhood and adult life living in Jefferson, Iowa. Following high school, he attended Simpson College in Indianola where he met a girl at a roller-skating rink and fell in love with his future wife Betty Whitehead. They were married on an unusually hot June day in 1954.
After Bill graduated from the University of Iowa in 1955, they settled in Jefferson to join his father in the successful family oil and tire business and raise a family. In 1965 they sold the tire portion of the business and built the truck stop on Highway 30 and Mulberry Street where Schaal Oil Company operated until its sale in 1998.
He stayed busy in retirement continuing to serve on state and national propane industry association boards and task forces. When Betty gave him a logbook and flying lessons for his 45th birthday he quickly became a pilot and an airplane owner. He and Betty flew around the country to Bill's industry meetings, vacationing, and back and forth from the family cabin in Minnesota. He served as a commissioner at the Jefferson Municipal Airport for several years. One of his proudest accomplishments was being an Angel Flight pilot, flying over 60 "missions" ferrying critically ill patients and their families around the country for critical medical care they otherwise might not receive. The cabin on Woman Lake in Minnesota was his happy place where he and Betty spent many hours fishing, relaxing and entertaining family, and guests.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Betty and is survived by his children Laura (Lynn) Brones, Carroll (Pam) Schaal and Samantha Schaal; grandchildren Brock (April) Brones, Brett (Sophia) Brones, John (Stephanie) Schaal, Anna (Zach) Miller, and Peter (Jennifer) Schaal and great grandchildren Franklin Miller, June Miller, and Benjamin Schaal-Jones.
The family thanks the wonderful staff at Edencrest at Green Meadows in Johnston and Care Initiative Hospice of West Des Moines for their compassionate care in the final days of his life.
There will be a visitation at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson on November 9th from 1 to 2 pm followed by a private family graveside service. Memorials may be directed to Congregate Meals, 401 Greenewood Rd, Jefferson, IA 50129, or the charity of your choice.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Jefferson, Iowa