Obituary of John Walter Schultz

John Walter Schultz, age 82, of Wisconsin Rapids, died Wednesday evening, January 22, 2014 at Riverview Hospital. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 27, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Edwards. Rev. Daniel Bohn will officiate. Burial with military rites will be in Port Edwards Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Sunday at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Wisconsin Rapids and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services on Monday at the church. John was born May 27, 1931 in Marshfield, WI to Walter and Ethel (Gibney) Schultz. He graduated from John Edwards High School in Port Edwards in 1950. On August 25, 1951 John was united in marriage to Delores Arndt at Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Edwards. The couple was blessed with 62 years of marriage and four children. John served his country in the United States Air Force stateside during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1955 and was stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. John worked for Nekoosa Papers for a short time and retired from CW Transport in Wisconsin Rapids. After retirement he worked for the town of Seneca. John also owned and operated with his father Oak Lawn Riding Stables for many years and was instrumental in starting the Little Britches Rodeo. He had a love of horses, operated pony rides at carnivals, and was a mentor to many kids wanting to learn about horses. John enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, and traveling. He and Delores spent many winters traveling to Arizona and New Mexico. He also enjoyed several hunting trips out west with his son and grandsons. John's faith was very important to him and he was an active charter member at Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Edwards. He and Delores had the privilege of being the first couple married at the church. John served the church as Sunday school teacher, congregational chairman, elder, usher, and served on the board of stewardship. He was a member of the Tri-City Riding Club and the Port Edwards Lions Club and was honored to receive the following awards: Award of Recognition for service as a member of the Board of Directors of Opportunity Development Centers in 1991, Lion of the Year from the Port Edwards Lions 2005-2006, Birch-Sturm Fellowship Award from the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in 2007, and Recognition on the Wall of Honor by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in 2012. John is survived by his wife, Delores; one son, Randy Schultz, and one daughter, Kathy (Jeff) Vavrina all of Wisconsin Rapids; five grandchildren: April Almanza (Ricky Salazar), Jason (Jessica) Schultz, Brad Schultz, Tiffany (Dave) Rheinschmidt, and Trent Vavrina; seven great-grandchildren: Isaiah and Alexis Rowe, Ariana Schultz, Caleb and Jacob Rheinschmidt, and Skyler and Gage Vavrina; and one sister-in-law, Lorraine Schultz; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two daughters, Julie and Jodel, brothers, Robert and Donald Schultz, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Emil and Esther Arndt. "The family would like to extend a special thank you to Colleen Voit for her compassionate care and concern for John."