Font ResizeLouis came to Southern Humboldt from South Dakota in 1945 to become part of the logging industry. His wife, Criss, was born in Eureka. Criss said Louis had already invited people to their 62nd wedding anniversary party in July, but he didn’t quite make it.
After they arrived in Southern Humboldt they lived in a small cabin in Garberville while they built their house in Redway. They have four children: Jim, John, Jan (Tucker), and Jo (Moroni), who all still live here with their families. Louis picked the boys names and Criss named the two girls.
After 30 years they moved to their property next to Criss’ Flowers and Gifts where they lived for 32 years. Jo said she always told her parents she was never leaving home. She and husband, Steve, are still living in that original house on Redway Drive.
Louis gave a lot of his time to his family and community. He was a member of the Redway Volunteer Fire Department and helped coach his son, Jim’s, grammar school basketball team. Although he didn’t belong to any other community organizations Louis always worked hard and gave back to those around him. He was a character to say the least.
Criss said he believed you should work seven days a week and don’t quit until it’s dark. He once said that if you see me laying out in the yard, don’t call an ambulance, just keep on working.
Louis was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved to go rock picking for abalone. When Jim was still team roping and steer wrestling, Louis, Criss and the rest of the family traveled up and down the coast following the circuit. Criss said she can even remember cooking some of that abalone for a bunch of hungry cowboys.
Jan said, “One year we were just leaving the Garberville Rodeo when we heard over the loudspeaker, on my anniversary (June 20), that Jim had broken his leg bull dogging.” This year the Garberville Rodeo is once again being held on June 20.
When the lumber mills started closing down Louis would attend the auctions and dismantle certain pieces of equipment and sell them off. He is well known for his piles of “merchandise” (as Louis called it) in Redway. If someone dared to call it junk they would be run off the property and told never to come back. Over the years, the Garberville Rodeo Association has been the benefactor of some of that valuable “merchandise.”
Criss said, “He had a temper but he got over it real fast. He was one of a kind.”
Louis and Criss made over 12 trips up to Alaska to hunt and fish. Louis built airboats and they hauled them to Haines, Alaska, just outside of Juno, where he sold them. They drove two times, but after that they would drive up to Seattle and put the pickup truck on the ferry and then fly the rest of the way. The truck would arrive three days later. Coming home they would do the same thing only this time the pickup would be full of fish and meat. They also made a trip to Kodiak twice, which Criss said she and Louis enjoyed greatly.
During one trip up there, Criss fell in a ditch and sank in water up to her armpits, but managed to hold her rifle up above her head. The person she was with said, “Well, at least you saved your gun.”
Daughters Jo and Jan told the story of how a mounted Alaskan goat from one of those trips remained on the wall in the house when their parents moved to their new property. Jo said, “That goat’s eyes followed me wherever I went in that house.”
They also took an incredible safari to Africa. The special trophy room in their house is a testament to this trip and to both of their passions for hunting and for spending time together. Louis is definitely missed by all of those lucky enough to be part of his life and his legacy will continue through his family.
photos
1. Louis and Criss Schaafsma at their 60th anniversary celebration.
2. Louis with a Coos deer he shot while hunting in Mexico.
