Geraldine M. "Dean" Schaper

Geraldine M. “Dean” Schaper, 92, of Astoria, died Monday, April 11, 2011, in Astoria. She was born May 17, 1918, in Casey, Iowa, to Harold C. and Bessie M. (Young) Utts. When she was a child, the family moved from the family farm in Iowa to California. In 1936, she graduated from Pomona High School. She then attended beauty school. In 1945, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1945. While in the Navy, she worked as a Navy Ship Serviceman Barber, and was discharged as a seaman first class. On Oct. 4, 1948, she married Herman H. “Bud” Schaper in Pomona, Calif. He preceded her in death April 26, 1968. After her service in the Navy, she returned to California and worked as a receptionist and filed insurance claims at H. Kay Dooley, M.D., in Pomona. She retired in the late 1970s. In 1982, she moved with her family to Ilwaco, Wash., then to Astoria in 1984, where she had resided since. Family members said her hobbies included gardening and flowers, going to the beach and spending time with her grandson and her family. She also loved spending time watching the ships on the Columbia River. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Michael Campbell of Astoria; a grandson, Kevin M. Campbell of Kelso, Wash.; a brother, Charles Utts of Oxnard, Calif.; two cousins, Don Young and his wife, Ellnora, and Raelene Young, all of Roseburg; and three nephews and their spouses, Richard and Nancy Cangie and Carl and Stephanie Cangie, all of Issaquah, Wash., and Victor and Jan Cangie of Bend. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Zelpha G. Utts Cangie in 1978, and Mary Manila Utts in 1924; and a stepfather, Raymond L. Hoskin. Mrs. Schaper requested that there be no service. Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com