Obituary for William LeRoy "Big Boy" Schulz
William LeRoy “Big Boy” Schulz, 88, of Merrill, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars, Iowa. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi Michel Lundula of the United Methodist Church in Le Mars will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill with military honors conducted by Oleson – Halweg American Legion Post #125. Visitation with the family present will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
William LeRoy Schulz was born on September 15, 1930 in Merrill, Iowa, the son of LeRoy August and Mildred Rose (Peterson) Schulz. He attended country school prior to starting a longtime career as a carpenter. In 1950, Bill enlisted in Iowa Army National Guard. He served with the guard until 1952 when he joined the US Army full-time. He earned an Honorable Discharge in 1956 and returned to the Merrill area.
On December 24, 1954, Bill married Joan Bensley. They were later divorced. He worked for the majority of his life as a self-employed carpenter and “Jack of all trades”. Bill built numerous homes and farm buildings throughout the area and never really retired.
Bill was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Le Mars, the Merrill Fire Department and the Oleson –Halweg American Legion Post #125 of Merrill. He loved visiting and joking with family and friends.
He will be greatly missed by his children, Debbie (Ron) Baugaus of Jacksonville, FL, Wanda Schulz of Alamogordo, NM, David (Teresa) Schulz of Merrill, IA, Randy Schulz of Merrill, IA, Jamie Schulz and Tammy Grant both of Sioux City, IA; 9 grandchildren, Austin Schulz, Tanner Schulz, Shane Baugaus, Chad Baugaus, Ethan Moyer, Mikayle Twite, Sierra Moyer, Derek Schulz and Jennifer Schulz; great-grandchildren, Legend and Jordan Baugaus, Shane and Briella Mooney, Isabella and Landon Twite, Amira Moyer and Ariyah Marie Vasquez; brothers, Manuel (Nancy) Schulz, Darrell (Kathy) Schulz and LeRoy Schulz all of Le Mars, IA; sisters, Sharon Keller of Le Mars, IA, Diane Kamstra of Orange City, IA and Betty (Mark) Saltsgiver of Le Mars, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Shane Ronald Baugaus; his parents; sisters, Helen (John) Jaros, Shirley (Bill) Ainsworth and Paulette Lewis; a brother, Duke (Sandy) Schulz; sister-in-law, Betty Schulz; brothers-in-law, Pete Kamstra and Charles Keller; nieces, Linda Larkin and Terri Lewis; and a nephew, Lane Dimmick.
William LeRoy Schulz was born on September 15, 1930 in Merrill, Iowa, the son of LeRoy August and Mildred Rose (Peterson) Schulz. He attended country school prior to starting a longtime career as a carpenter. In 1950, Bill enlisted in Iowa Army National Guard. He served with the guard until 1952 when he joined the US Army full-time. He earned an Honorable Discharge in 1956 and returned to the Merrill area.
On December 24, 1954, Bill married Joan Bensley. They were later divorced. He worked for the majority of his life as a self-employed carpenter and “Jack of all trades”. Bill built numerous homes and farm buildings throughout the area and never really retired.
Bill was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Le Mars, the Merrill Fire Department and the Oleson –Halweg American Legion Post #125 of Merrill. He loved visiting and joking with family and friends.
He will be greatly missed by his children, Debbie (Ron) Baugaus of Jacksonville, FL, Wanda Schulz of Alamogordo, NM, David (Teresa) Schulz of Merrill, IA, Randy Schulz of Merrill, IA, Jamie Schulz and Tammy Grant both of Sioux City, IA; 9 grandchildren, Austin Schulz, Tanner Schulz, Shane Baugaus, Chad Baugaus, Ethan Moyer, Mikayle Twite, Sierra Moyer, Derek Schulz and Jennifer Schulz; great-grandchildren, Legend and Jordan Baugaus, Shane and Briella Mooney, Isabella and Landon Twite, Amira Moyer and Ariyah Marie Vasquez; brothers, Manuel (Nancy) Schulz, Darrell (Kathy) Schulz and LeRoy Schulz all of Le Mars, IA; sisters, Sharon Keller of Le Mars, IA, Diane Kamstra of Orange City, IA and Betty (Mark) Saltsgiver of Le Mars, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Shane Ronald Baugaus; his parents; sisters, Helen (John) Jaros, Shirley (Bill) Ainsworth and Paulette Lewis; a brother, Duke (Sandy) Schulz; sister-in-law, Betty Schulz; brothers-in-law, Pete Kamstra and Charles Keller; nieces, Linda Larkin and Terri Lewis; and a nephew, Lane Dimmick.