Maarten (Bill) Willem Schaap

Maarten Willem (Bill) Schaap, 88, passed away due to health complications, peacefully at home in West Yellowstone, MT surrounded by his wife and children. Bill was an only child and was born on July 4, 1934, to Hugo Schaap and Johanna Clazina VanBeekum in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. At 14 years of age, he began as an apprentice in car mechanics and went to school at nights. He immigrated with his parents to Utah in the fall of 1951 when he was 17.

After coming to Utah, he joined the US Air Force and served as a jet mechanic. After the service, he married his sweetheart and best friend Donna Lee Little on June 22, 1957. Their marriage was later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on February 17, 1967. He began working as a mechanic at Browning Chevrolet in Ogden, Utah. He was asked by the Brownings to join the banking business at the Bank of Utah. He went to night classes to learn the finance business and went to work soon becoming a branch manager. He eventually worked his way up to be one of the bank’s vice presidents. Bill and his family have lived in California, Ogden and Layton, UT and finally West Yellowstone.

Bill joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1963. He had a fervent testimony of the Savior and was an example of Him to all he associated with. He served in many callings throughout his life, his favorite callings were with the youth, especially the scouts. Bill and Donna served an 18-month mission in The Netherlands from 2006-2008. Bill was deeply involved in The Chamber of Commerce in every community he lived in.

After years of snowmobiling with family, friends and was the first person to take scout troops into Yellowstone Park by snowmobile, he heard the call of the wild and took an early retirement from the bank. Through these trips, he became acquainted with Clyde Seely at the Three Bear Lodge. He started working at Three Bear in 1980 and never looked back until he retired when he turned 83. Even retired, he never stopped moving. You could find him in the yard, on the roof, or out and about doing just about anything and everything. He was the hardest working man we have ever known. He loved spending time with his family and doing anything outdoors. He taught his children and grandchildren to work hard and play hard.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, his children Jody Schaap, Bountiful, UT, Jayne Garner (Steve) Layton, UT, Julia Wittmer (Scott) West Yellowstone MT, and Marty Schaap (Tammy) Albuquerque, NM. He is survived by eight grandsons and three granddaughters along with nine great-grandchildren with the tenth coming next week. He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Trysen Schaap.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday June 10, 2023, in West Yellowstone, MT at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS church building. 245 N Faithful Street, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. There will be a viewing at the church from 9:00 to 10:30. Interment will be at Fir Ridge Cemetery located north of town.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.

Services can be viewed at the bottom of the obituary page