Thomas Barron Schaake, 59, of Benedict, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita.   Tom was born on Feb. 12, 1953 in Wichita, the son of Donald Dean and Patricia Ruth Barron Schaake.

Tom was a graduate of Lawrence High School. On Sept/ 24, 1977 in Benedict, Tom married Mary Gallon. Tom and Mary were married for 35 years. She survives, of the home.

Tom worked several years for Cleaver’s in Chanute. Tom was a member of The American Hemerocallis Society, which is an organization that raises daylilies and specializes in hybrid flowers.¬†He enjoyed photography and enjoyed photographing performers at the Walnut Valley Festival and sharing those photographs with the performers in Winfield. Tom has had some of his worked published, and placed in art competitions.¬†Tom enjoyed traveling, music and was even known to sing in an acapella group.

Survivors along with his wife include a son, Charles D. Schaake and his wife, Misty, of Hutchinson; his father, Donald D. Schaake of Lawrence; brothers, John C. Schaake and wife, Maureen, of North Pole, Alaska, James K. Schaake and Kenna of Lawrence; several nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother Patricia Schaake.

Funeral will be Thursday, Jan. 10 at 11 a.m.. at Countryside Funeral Home, with burial to follow at the High Prairie Cemetery near Altoona. Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home. The family has suggested memorials to the American Lung Association for Pulmonary Fibrosis and may be left with the funeral home. 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com