Carroll Schall, known as Bill throughout his life, passed away Nov. 2, 2024. He was born July 12, 1933, to Ermyle (White) and Carroll Schaal Sr. in Des Moines, but spent his childhood and adult life living in Jefferson. 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. hey 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 St, 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 more than 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. He 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.
A private family graveside service will be held Nov. 9. Memorials may be directed to Congregate Meals, 401 Greenewood Rd, Jefferson, IA 50129, or the charity of the donor’s choice.
The family is assisted by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Jefferson, 515-386-2171.
