Douglas Fredrick Schaaf

Doug Schaaf was a kind, loving, and caring person who shared his “good-natured” personality with all who knew him. After bravely fighting a year-long battle with cancer, he peacefully went home to the Lord, surrounded by his loving wife and children on August 20, 2026. Born April 23, 1958, to Anna Gene and Fredrick Schaaf, Douglas Fredrick entered the Schaaf family as the youngest of four children. Growing up in the Westgate Park area, he attended West High School and was a talented percussionist, playing the drums. During his school years, Doug was a drummer in the high school marching band and a member of the Columbus Junior Symphony. Doug maintained his musical talent throughout his lifetime, and over the past few years, he enjoyed being the drummer for The Arrhythmias, a local neighborhood band. Upon graduating from West High, he attended Capital University, where he excelled in the classroom and was an active member of the Sigma Tau Omega Fraternity. He met many lifelong friends during his high school and college years. For the past several years, he enjoyed once-a-month golf outings with several of these close friends. He received his bachelor’s degree in business in the spring of 1980 and began a corporate business career. After several years of corporate involvement, Doug followed his entrepreneurial spirit and began investing in real estate. For the remainder of his life, he became a very successful residential real estate owner, accumulating an impressive number of housing units located around his childhood neighborhood on the west side of Columbus. He built his business with a hardworking, hands-on approach, business discipline, real estate investment knowledge, and a passion for being a successful landlord, while creating a positive impact in the community. In 1989, Doug married Cindy (Baer), and they started their life together living in Worthington Hills and becoming active members of Worthington Hills Country Club (WHCC). Here, they raised their two wonderful children, Mason and Kaylee. Doug’s greatest joy in life was spending time with Cindy, Mason, and Kaylee, traveling on many vacations and attending many local events. He loved going on the annual family vacation with his parents, siblings, and all his nieces and nephews, staying in large beach houses somewhere on the Carolina coast. Uncle Doug was always the one entertaining the kids, playing games, and making them laugh. His most favored family trips were cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean, celebrating his parents’ 50th and 55th wedding anniversaries. Doug also loved spending many weeks a year at the family condo in Cortez, Florida. He was truly “at home” every time he entered the front door. Over the years, Kaylee has inherited his true love for this special place. The loving memories Doug created at his “favorite place on earth” will always be cherished. Doug was most proud of his children’s accomplishments, including Mason’s four years attending Xavier University, where he was a manager on the Xavier men’s basketball team, and Kaylee attending Capital University, where she was a four-year cheerleader. He made it a priority to attend many of their events and treasured each moment spent on their college campuses. Doug and Cindy have always given their full love and support to their very special children. Doug was not only a great father to his two children, but he was also a great father to his dog, Buddy, and his grand-dog, Eddie. Doug had a true love for The Ohio State football program. He spent many Saturdays attending OSU games with his parents and family. Doug created special memories with Mason, traveling to 9 of the 10 Big Ten stadiums. He had the great fortune of attending Big Ten Championships and many prestigious bowl and playoff games, including the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and National Championships. Doug has a brother, Mike Schaaf, who currently resides in Marathon, Florida; sister Debbie (Denny) Freudeman, residing in Powell; sister Kathy (Steve) Keller, residing in Worthington; and sister-in-law Candy Baer (Ralph) Abbruzzese, residing in Grove City. Doug was very close to both of his sisters, and for several years, Doug’s family, along with Debbie and Kathy’s families, all lived in Worthington Hills. All three families remain members of WHCC. Doug was a talented golfer who participated in most of the annual golf events and played on a weekly basis with many golf members, building very close relationships. He spent time on the WHCC Board of Trustees, being instrumental in helping lead the club to its current success in membership and amenities. He was able to travel across the country and abroad on several golf trips with his WHCC golf groups. His most memorable moment was playing the Old Course at St. Andrews. Doug, along with Cindy, created lifelong memories with so many of their friends at WHCC. Doug loved all his nieces and nephews. He spent a lot of time with them, always supporting their school and sporting activities, attending birthday parties, and spending quality time with them during the holidays. Uncle Doug was quite often called upon to help them move into their college dormitories every year because he was so handy with the ability to build and fix anything. He would never say no to any of his nieces’ and nephews’ requests. They will always remember and be guided by their favorite Uncle Doug. As most WHCC members know, Doug cherished time sitting on his back patio, enjoying the view and watching all the golf groups go by. In the past several weeks, Doug appreciated all the golfers who stopped by to say hello, as well as the generosity, love, and encouragement from family, friends, and neighbors as he battled his cancer to the very end. Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Anna Gene (Case) Schaaf and Fredrick Schaaf. Doug had a tremendously loving relationship with both of his parents and followed in their footsteps by creating a very loving, tight-knit family with Cindy, Mason, and Kaylee. Doug had a deep faith in our Lord and grew up attending St. John’s Lutheran Church. When moving to Worthington Hills, he and his family became faithful, active members of All Saints Lutheran Church. Doug’s entire family, extended family, and friends will always remember him as the man who had no enemies, never met a stranger, and had empathy, compassion, and love that he shared with all who knew him. Although Doug has physically left this earth, his spirit will live forever in the hearts of the many people he touched during his lifetime. 2 Timothy 4:7 - “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 27 at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065. Funeral Service will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 28, with family receiving friends at 10:00 a.m. All will take place at Rutherford Funeral Home in Powell with Pastor Bonnie Gerber officiating. A private family burial will take place later in the afternoon. A celebration of life will take place in the upcoming weeks. In lieu of flowers, friends may make memorial contributions to: The Anna Gene and Fredrick Schaaf Endowed Scholarship at Capital University, Attn: Development Office, 1 College and Main, Bexley, Ohio 43209.

Douglas Fredrick Schaaf

April 23, 1958 - August 20, 2026