Tina Schaap

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Schaap on February 22, 2025. She passed peacefully in her sleep surrounded by the cats she loved. Tina was born on April 18th, 1944, and was 80 years old. She resided in Lacy, Washington and lived in the Olympia area for most of her adult life.

Tina was born in Friesland, Netherlands in the town of Bozum. She was the youngest of 4 daughters and is survived by her sister Janice Bakker. Tina’s parents Eldert and Fetske (Mulder) raised her in the Netherlands until Tina turned 7, then they embarked on a journey to California. Her parents had a dairy farm in the Artesia area and lived there for quite some time before moving up to Washington.

When Tina was 19, she lived on a farm in Elma, Washington. She had a Friesian horse and loved the landscape of the area. She loved this Elma farm and recently was able to go back for a visit.  Tina’s artistic flare was evident on the visit as she was judging the shape of the mountains.

Soon after Tina’s parents moved to Elma, she started the path to her nursing career. Tina graduated in 1969 from Tacoma General’s School of Nursing. She was eager to begin her career and started working at a nursing facility while getting her bachelor’s degree at PLU. Tina was a skilled nurse – admired by her coworkers – and worked at both Tacoma General and St. Pete’s in Lacy. Tina was ahead of her time, administering CPR in the 70’s which ended up saving a patient! Towards the end of her career, Tina worked for the Department of Social and Health Services. She learned to really enjoy and find value in this job as well.    

Upon retirement Tina undertook the momentous task of building her dream home. A gorgeous 4-bedroom home with an amazing view of the sound! Tina had a vision of what she wanted her home to look like, and she pulled it off with perfection. It is still stunning and picturesque today.  

For hobbies Tina loved painting and hiking. She was an avid artist and loved creating scenes from her childhood, often drawing the farms she grew up on. Her apartment is filled with drawings, completed and in progress, and she has a room dedicated to her art. In her younger years Tina was a member of a hiking club and has very fond memories of hiking throughout the Olympic Rain Forest, Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helen’s and other adventurous spots. Tina even vacationed to places like Costa Rica to hike and see nature. She truly loved the outdoors.  

Tina was a regular attendee at Olympia Christian Reformed Church. She volunteered her time there by doing things like sewing flags to help decorate for the seasons. Tina was quiet about her faith, but it was deeply important to her. She slept with her Bible under her pillow every night.  

Tina was preceded in death by her parents, Eldert and Fetske (Mulder) Schaap, her sister, Joukje Voerman, and very recently her sister Mary Koopmans passed as well. There are plans to have Tina join her parents at their burial location in the Netherlands in June.  

A Memorial Service is planned to honor Tina Schaap for Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 at the Chinook’s Social Room. Light refreshments will be provided, and stories about Tina are welcome! 4031 21st Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503