8/27/1929 – 6/21/2017
Shirley A. Schultz
August 27, 1929 – June 21, 2017
Omaha, NE
Shirley A. Schultz went home to Jesus on June 21, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. She was a faithful and dedicated follower of Jesus, loving, generous, hospitable, curious, humorous, and well-read woman who loved to learn and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Shirley had a passionate love for Jesus, always seeking to share Jesus with everyone. She eagerly volunteered at any church she attended, most recently Bethany Lutheran Church, the schools in which her children attended, and the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Bazaar, among many other organizations. Shirley enjoyed participating in fund-raising activities and creating table decorations for community organizations. She supported numerous charities and sought to help others around her daily. In her younger years, she was very active politically, and supported her local conservative organization for the betterment of Omaha over the years.
As a voracious reader, lifelong learner, and proponent of education, Shirley was involved in Bible studies, a monthly book club, and always encouraged others to pursue education and knowledge. Shirley’s home was filled with warmth, love, and welcome. Her door was always open to family, friends, and drop-in-visitors. Her kitchen table was the gathering place around which there was always laughter, games, lively discussions, and an abundance of delicious food. Though it is true that Shirley was a woman who freely spoke her mind, one always knew where one stood with her and found in her a very loyal, compassionate, encouraging, generous, and supportive friend.
Shirley was born on August 27, 1929 in Meadow Grove, NE. She was the 5th of six children born to Dewey and Elsie Magwire. Having grown up on farms, Shirley rode horses and even had a pet Banty hen that would ride in the basket of her bicycle wherever she went. Shirley attended Norfolk Junior College in 1948. Later, she transferred her college credits to Eastern College in La Grande, Oregon, where she finished her training for a teacher’s certificate, and then taught at a school in Spray, Oregon. In addition, Shirley had always wanted to be a dietitian. She was able to cook completely new and exotic dishes from a magazine recipe even when she was a small girl. Her creativity, skill, and interest in cooking served her well in feeding her family and eventually in hosting numerous parties as a doctor’s wife. Shirley married Loyd Schultz on June 25, 1950 while he was still in medical school and they had six children—Penny, Kirk, Mark, DeAnne, Bob, and Jim. Early in their marriage, Shirley worked numerous jobs to help support the family: sold cookware, sewed and sold bags, sold popcorn; anything she could do to bring in extra cash. She also taught school in Omaha, NE to support their family while Loyd finished medical school. He studied to be a pediatric surgeon and practiced in Omaha at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. Shirley went on to school to earn a master’s degree in education and then taught at the college level for several years. Shirley and Loyd enjoyed participating at their dog club field trials with their English Springer Spaniel dogs, playing golf, and entertaining family and friends together.
Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Loyd R. Schultz and one son, Dr. Mark W. Schultz. She is survived by her daughter Penny with her husband Jim Kenyon and son Jason Tunzer, son Dr. Kirk R. Schultz with his wife Julia and children Daniel and Marianna Schultz, daughter-in-law Deidre with daughter Anne Justine Schultz, daughter DeAnne with her husband Dr. Robert Hiskey and children Justin, Matthew (wife-Karli), and Geoffrey Hiskey, son Robert J. Schultz with his wife Jeanne and children Lindsey and Zackery, and son James W. Schultz with his wife May Yee and daughter Mercedes Schultz.
Shirley enjoyed nature and God’s creation—birds, wild animals, flowers, trees, etc, as evidenced by the numerous bird feeders/bird bath/trees/flowers (especially roses and orchids), herb and vegetable gardens she had. Sometimes she would regale family members with stories of close encounters with wildlife (typically moose) that resulted in Shirley and other family members having to either duck quickly behind a tree or run breathlessly to safety in startled retreat. These related experiences alternately captivated and amused the rest of the family. In these recent years, Shirley had been able to live at home with the help of full-time caregivers while friends and family dropped in at various times to visit. In the last few months, Shirley excitedly watched daily in childlike wonder as a fox family grew up and played just across from her kitchen window. When asked about the experience, she replied, “It’s better entertainment than watching TV!”
Though we will dearly miss Shirley’s insatiable curiosity, love of nature, humor, and sense of adventure, we cherish those fun-filled memories and aspire to embrace life as fully as she did.
Shirley firmly believed in the idea of “passing it forward”. Early in her marriage, there were many times when others would help her out with food, clothing, furniture, rides, etc, and they would simply tell her that at some point in the future if she were able, she should pass it forward to others who needed assistance. She spent her life doing just that.
The Schultz family would like to thank all home helpers, extended family, friends, caregivers, and countless others who have helped clean Shirley’s home, brought her food, visited with her, and taken care of her in any way. Words cannot express how grateful we are and how much you’re so appreciated. We will sorely miss Shirley’s physical presence here on earth and all the wonderful family gathering times we’ve experienced at her kitchen table and in her home. We know she is rejoicing with Jesus and will carry on her legacy of sharing Jesus with the world along with her generous hospitality to all.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Bethany Lutheran Church, 5151 N.W. Radial Hwy, Omaha, NE 68104, a ministry dear to Shirley’s heart.
Visitation Friday (7/14) 5:00-7:00 PM at Roeder Mortuary 2727 N 108th Street Omaha, NE. Celebration of Life Service Saturday (7/15/17) 11:00 AM at Bethany Lutheran Church 5151 N.W. Radial Hwy. Omaha, NE. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery at Omaha, NE.
