William Walter Schultz

POYNETTE-William W. “Bill” Schultz, age 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 29, 2014, following an extended illness. He died as he had wished: at home with family, on a beautiful spring morning with the sun shining on his face, a view of his beautiful woods, birds at the feeder, and a deer walking through his back yard. He was born on May 15, 1921 to Walter and Marie (Wangerin) Schultz of Arlington. His idyllic pre-war small-town boyhood was filled with adventures, rabbit hunting, and pranks. An escapade which will live in infamy was the morning a purloined outhouse appeared, wedged tightly into the front portico of the Arlington State Bank and festooned with a sign: "Make your deposits here." He was a master storyteller, had a sparking wit, and his sense of humor was legendary. Until chronic kidney disease began to take its toll, he was a mischievous 12-year old trapped in an older man's body. He made friends wherever he went, and was generous to a fault. When his parents built a cabin in the 1920s on Bearskull Lake in Iron County, his lifelong love affair with the north woods began. Epic muskie battles, tall tales, and the deer camps of old left wonderful memories. The enchanting sounds of loons, wolves, and the wind in the pines were music to his soul. Enlisting in the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor, Bill proudly served his country in World War II with the 3rd Infantry Division. Bill saw difficult combat in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, participating in battles at Kasserine Pass, Cassino, and the landings at Salerno and Anzio. In recent years, he was deeply touched by the response to his "WWII Veteran" baseball cap: strangers thanked him, anonymously bought his lunch, and offered to buy him drinks. His trip with fellow veterans to Washington D.C. on the Badger Honor flight – and the thunderous welcome home at the Dane County airport – provided closure and was one of the best memories of his life. When he married Mary Ann Siewert in 1951, another lifelong love affair was born. True soulmates, they raised two much-loved children, became involved in church and community, hunted and fished together, and were caring stewards of the forest land they acquired. Their love of nature was a centerpoint of their marriage. Bill was a wonderful grandfather who dearly loved his “girls,” and taking the three granddaughters to the cabin for two weeks each year was a treasured ritual. Like Johnny Appleseed, Bill planted thousands of trees in his lifetime. Their recently remodeled cabin was a legacy of love to the entire family. Bill was a rural mail carrier, and despite the length of his 63-mile route, people said you could “set your clock by when he delivered the mail.” He was a faithful member of the Arlington United Methodist Church, pitched a mean fastball, and served on the Arlington Fire Department for 36 years. He and Mary Ann enjoyed traveling in Europe, Africa, Canada, Mexico, and the Panama Canal. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Ann; his children, Diane (Alan) Harvey of Windsor, and Steve (Pok) Schultz of Abingdon, Maryland; his grandchildren, Erin Harvey of Windsor, Chandra Harvey of DeForest, Teague (fiancé Greg Mawer) Harvey of Madison; his sister, Dolores Watson and niece, Cindy Watson, both of Lansdale, Pennsylvania; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marie Schultz; his parents-in-law, William and Mary Siewert; his brother-in-law, Sherman Watson; and his nephew, Charles Watson. Funeral services will be held at ARLINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 103 Reagles St., Arlington, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2014, with the Rev. Lee Bushweiler officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at HAMRE GUNDERSON FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE, 157 S. Main St., Lodi. Friends and family may also call on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the Arlington church. Special thanks to Dad’s longtime doctor, Dr. Ira Kastenberg; the staffs of Divine Savior Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital and Renal Center; to Le Roy Breneman, Don Westcott and Gary Kessler for their many kindnesses; and to all the dear friends who enriched Dad’s life over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arlington United Methodist Church, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, or the Badger Honor Flight . Dad, we will miss the twinkle in your eye and your amazing stories, generous spirit, playfulness and love more than we can say. It was a privilege to be your family. We stand on God’s promise that you have been welcomed into radiant new life. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Hamre Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Care 157 S. Main, Lodi (608)592-3201