Brett Thomas Schaap

With heavy hearts, our family is sharing that our deeply loved son, father, brother, grandfather and uncle, Brett Thomas Schaap, 55, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 2nd 2025 in Woodstock, GA.

Brett was born on July 25, 1969, in Tecumseh, Michigan. He was the firstborn to his proud parents Mary and Louis Schaap. He was oldest brother and lead instigator of escapades to his siblings, Cindy, Jeff, Craig and Paul.

Brett graduated from Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, MI in 1990. He married after graduation and was blessed shortly after with the birth of his daughter, Paige. He was also grandfather to her two beautiful girls, Iris and Marlow, and a fun-loving uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Brett’s gifts were numerous. He was a talented artist and worked as a CAD engineer for General Motors for 10 years after getting his associates degree from Baker College. He also served as an EMT for a number of years in Flint, MI. Brett never met a tool he couldn’t master and was an excellent mechanic. Most recently, he worked as a certified STIHL small engine mechanic in Woodstock, GA.

When he was able, Brett was the first to raise his hand to help others. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he traveled with his church to help and even stayed on after the rest of his team left to rebuild destroyed homes and churches.

Brett was an avid outdoorsman with a love of fishing and hunting from the time he was a young boy. He loved the water too and spent many hours boating and kayaking (including practicing flips in the family pool!). Growing up in Michigan, Brett developed a love of winter sports including skiing with his daughter and riding snowmobiles - with his siblings clinging to a sled on the back!

Brett was a member of Jubilee Church in Woodstock, GA who welcomed him into their community and ministered to him many times over the past few years. He served on their Sound & Graphics team and worked in their Revive Thrift Shop. Brett’s family is incredibly grateful for the love of Christ the Jubilee family extended to Brett and their deep impact on his life.

Brett was preceded in death by his father, Louis Schaap who passed away in 2022. He will be missed by his daughter Paige (Schaap) and Tanner Layle, his grandchildren Iris and Marlow Layle, his mother Mary (Merkle) Schaap, his siblings: Cindy (Schaap) and Rich Kern, Jeff and Jenny (Neidert) Schaap, Craig Schaap, Paul and Becky (Isett) Schaap and his nine nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations can be made to HopeQuest Ministry Group via their website: www.hopequestgroup.org.