William Edward Schaiff

William Edward Schaiff always strove to be better. What’s more, he knew the world around him could be better too. Known as Bill or Doc to his friends, he dedicated his life to making a beautiful home and life for his wife, Marjorie, and two children, Tammy and Tim. Each of them might say he spoiled them more than he should—but it was how he showed he cared. Growing up in Carthage, Missouri, William worked odd jobs, such as delivering meat for the local butcher. A favorite story of his includes when, upon delivering meat to the local jail, he was almost processed and locked up with a group of teenagers before someone recognized him as the butcher boy. After graduating Carthage High School, William attended Missouri Southern junior college. Wanting to help people and earn a comfortable living, he and a friend decided that instead of becoming a doctor, becoming dentists would better allow a balance of family and expertise—without expensive, strenuous medical school! William then relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where he attended dental school at UMKC. There, while on a date at a friend’s house in 1955, he first met Marjorie Falke. Unfortunately for him, Marjorie was not his date—but that didn’t stop him from asking to drive her home, and to call her as soon as he could afterwards. William and Marjorie married later that year. In 1958, they welcomed their first child, Tammy, and William graduated from medical school. In 1960, they welcomed their first son, Tim. Noting how well-served Kansas City was when it came to dentistry, he chose to build his practice in a town he would be more needed, and the family moved to Columbus, KS in 1963. William showed his chosen community he cared by building a dental practice for which he and Marjorie worked for 56 years, often serving as the only dentist in the area who accepted Medicaid. He and Marjorie knew the foster children and others on Medicaid needed local dental care they could afford, and they dedicated themselves to providing it. William also showed that he cared by running for and serving as mayor of Columbus, KS cumulatively for 20 years. Throughout his tenure he helped plan and build a new city hall and police station, source utilities, and do whatever he could to help his community. He and Marjorie could be seen at every town function, fair, and football game for many decades. William showed his home that he cared by planting numerous gardens, building ponds, and constantly working to care for and improve them. He showed his grandchildren he cared by teaching them to care for plants, driving them early to Cracker Barrel to be the first in line to buy new beanie babies, attending sporting events, and proudly introducing them to the Columbus, the community he loved. In each of these, he gave until he could not give any more, and then when he could not give any more, he still gave—whether to his family, his flowers, or his community. His children and grandchildren can attest that even at 90 they had to chase him down to stop him watering his flowers in his unevenly grounded rock garden, or figure out where he was when he was visiting a friend in need, sometimes helping them with yard work because “they might hurt themselves” if they, someone often 10-15 years his junior, attempted it. His determination is something anyone who knew him could attest to, and is now lauded as a “Schaiff” trait. In fall 2023, after 60 years in Columbus, KS, he and Marjorie relocated to Lenexa, Kansas, to be closer to family. In spring 2024 his health declined. While he was unable to speak in his last days he could still kiss his wife’s hand, until he kissed it for the last time not long before passing early the morning of May 27th. Survivors include his wife; children Tammy Lovejoy and husband Mike of Carbondale, KS and Tim Schaiff and wife Robyn of Chesterfield, MO; grandchildren Lindsay Lovejoy, Paul Schaiff, Kathryn Coker, Elizabeth Schaiff; great-grandchildren Eva Schaiff and Isla Schaiff. William was preceded in death by his brother John Schaiff, sister Merle Friedman and his parents. Graveside Services will be 1:00pm June 1, 2024 at the Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin, MO with Pastor Tom Goettel officiating. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery for services. In lieu of flowers the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to the Pawprints on the Heartland or Fostering Connections charities. Friends may drop off or mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 611 S. East Avenue Columbus, KS 66725. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Columbus, KS.

William Edward Schaiff

April 19, 1933 - May 27, 2024