Ernest Schaaf Obituary

Ernest 'Wayne' Schaaf passed away on March 12, 2026. He was 85 years old. Born November 15, 1940 in Durango, Colorado to Ernie and Peryl Schaaf, Wayne lived a life shaped by his family, his home of southwestern Colorado, hard work, and an unshakeable love of horses.

Wayne was born and raised in Durango, Colorado graduating from Durango High School in 1958. He went on to attend both Colorado State University and Arizona State University, competing on both college rodeo teams in rough stock events. He eventually earned his way to the College Rodeo National Finals, a point of quiet pride throughout his life, and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences.

Wayne worked a string of jobs across Colorado with significant time spent in Lamar in southeastern Colorado as a small business owner, running a filling station, a video rental store, and a restaurant. In 1990 he returned to the Durango area before eventually making his home in Cortez, Colorado from 1998 on.

Back in southwestern Colorado, Wayne drove a CDOT snow plow, worked as a conductor on the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, dealt black jack at the Ute Mountain Casino and sold cars, amongst a variety of other jobs - but his working life found its truest expression when he finally got to do what he'd always dreamed of: ranching. He ran a small cow-calf operation alongside his wife, Jo McGinty Schaaf, until her passing.

Wayne was a member of the Cattlemen's Association, the Backcountry Horsemen's Association and the Elks Lodge, organizations he believed in deeply. Wayne's favorite view of the world was from the back of a horse - and those who knew him well understood that was not a figure of speech.

Wayne is survived by his children, Kelly Hallenbeck (Chad) and Shad Schaaf (Cheryl); his grandchildren, Branden Klyczek (Emma), Avery Schaaf, and Etta Schaaf; and his sisters, Lavon Schaaf, Tammy Schreiner (Kipp), and Sherri Schaaf (Steve). He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo McGinty Schaaf and his parents, Ernie and Peryl Schaaf.

Celebration of Life

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Wayne's life on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 4:00 PM at the Lewis Arriola Community Center, 21176 Road S, Cortez, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Wayne Schaaf Cattlemen's Association Scholarship Fund, in honor of a man who loved the land, the animals, and the way of life it takes to tend them both.