Rev. Dr. Arnold "Arn" Duane Schaper

Rev. Dr. Arnold (Arn) Duane Schaper, 89, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on July 12, 2026, surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held the evening before, Friday, August 7, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue (Route 176), Crystal Lake. A memorial service celebrating Arn's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, in Schaper Hall at First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson Street, Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Arn was born at home on June 14, 1937, to Harold and Ruth (Appel) Schaper. An only child, he grew up on a small farm near Mt. Morris, Illinois, without electricity or indoor plumbing. He attended a one-room country school before graduating from Leaf River High School with the Class of 1955. As a member of Zion Evangelical Church in Adeline, Illinois, he became the first person from that congregation to answer the call to ordained ministry. 

He earned his bachelor's degree in Education from Northern Illinois University in 1959, followed by a Divinity degree from Mission House Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Wisconsin. He later earned a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minnesota, in 1975, and completed his formal education with a Ph.D. in Humanistic Psychology in 1985. He firmly believed that learning was a lifelong adventure. 

Ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1962, Arn faithfully served churches throughout Illinois: including the Broadlands-Sidney yoked parish, where he helped foster ecumenical cooperation; First Congregational Church of Sheffield; First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake; and First Congregational Church of Algonquin. As Associate Pastor in Crystal Lake, he oversaw staff, youth ministry, and pastoral counseling. Beyond the church, he served on numerous community boards and shared his love of learning as an adjunct philosophy instructor at McHenry County College. 

On July 7, 1962, Arn married Carolyn Penningroth of Tipton, Iowa, whom he met while attending Lakeland University / Mission House Seminary. Together they built a loving home in Crystal Lake, where they spent most of their 56 wonderful years of marriage before Carolyn's passing. Together they raised two sons, Jon and Steve. 

Music was one of Arn's lifelong joys. He could sit at a piano or organ and play beautifully by ear, never needing sheet music. Although he left the farm behind, the farm never quite left him. He was an enthusiastic gardener—sometimes tending three gardens at once—an accomplished taxidermist, and an exceptionally talented woodcarver. Every year he looked forward to entering family antiques and his carvings in the county fair, where he frequently won ribbons and earned enough prize money to cover the entry fee.

Arn also had a legendary love of chocolate. In fact, his church office featured a small shrine dedicated to it. Friends happily enabled this sweet habit, including one devoted friend who regularly made chocolate delivery runs from Ohio. One particularly memorable incident involved a squirrel making off with an entire box of chocolates—a true story that was submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul. It never made it into print, but everyone who knew the story agreed it deserved to.

Above all, Arn loved people. He devoted his life to serving others, caring for those in need, and making lifelong friendships wherever he went. His grandchildren affectionately referred to him as a "mini-celebrity" because no matter where they traveled with him, someone would inevitably stop to say hello. Waiting patiently while Gramps caught up with yet another familiar face simply became part of every outing.

Arn's curiosity and creativity extended well beyond the pulpit. He enjoyed antiquing and built unique collections of Christian crosses, wooden ducks, oil cans, doves, and letter openers. Later in life he discovered a talent for calligraphy and authored both an autobiography and a children's book dedicated to his beloved great-grandson, Wyatt, and to any future great-grandchildren who might someday read it. He was also an active and enthusiastic member of his book club.

Among the many honors he received, Arn was especially proud of being named Pastor Emeritus of First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake in recognition of his 50 years of ministry there. He was also deeply honored to receive a Mayoral Proclamation and the Key to the City of Crystal Lake, recognizing his decades of service to the church, the city, and McHenry County.

Arn is survived by his sons, Jon (Rhonda) Schaper of Geneva, Illinois and Steve (Caprice) Schaper of Woodstock, Illinois; his grandchildren, Max (Katy) Schaper, Raquel (Hugo) Acuna, Candace (Spencer) Benz, Vince Schaper, Brent (Andrea) Schaper, and Kirk Schaper; and his great-grandson, Wyatt Benz.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carolyn; his parents, Harold and Ruth Schaper; and countless boxes of chocolate that never stood a chance.

Arn's legacy lives on in the thousands of lives he touched through his ministry, his kindness, his wisdom, his humor, and his warmth.