Obituary of Ronald Schultz

Ronald Rex Schultz, the son of George and Hilda (Pohlman) Schultz, was born at the Sibley Hospital in Sibley, Iowa on November 9, 1927. He grew up on the family farm 1 ½ miles north of Melvin, Iowa. He attended 12 years of school in Melvin, graduating from high school in the class of 1945. He attended Iowa State College, pursuing one year of studies in electrical engineering. During his Fall 1945 term, he met the love of his life, Margaret Jean Carroll. Ronald and Margaret were married on January 4, 1947, in Oak Park, Illinois, and then returned to the farm near Melvin to start their life together. In 1949, Ronald built Margaret a house and they soon had three sons, Michael, Jeffrey and Scott. Ron was a grain and livestock farmer, specializing in cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans. He represented the fourth of six generations of the Schultz family to farm near Melvin, and was responsible for turning the land into a true family operation—known as Ronald Schultz and Sons, Inc. In 2001, Ron was recognized as a Century Farm owner. At that time three generations were working together: Ron, Son Jeff, and grandson Ty. He also knew many area farmers through his seed corn dealership. Ron had a connection to and love for Alaska, where his sons Mike and Scott started a farming operation in 1982. Besides family and farming, community service was high on Ron's list of priorities; he gave many years of service as a board member for the Sanborn Co-op Grain Company, the Osceola Community Hospital, the Production Credit Association, and the Melvin American Lutheran Church Council. He was one of the first Osceola County members of the Northwest Iowa Farm Business Association, a member of the Osceola County Cattlemen's Association, Iowa Pork Producers, and a lifelong member of the American Lutheran Church at Melvin. He was a dedicated church choir member for more than 60 years. Ron enjoyed playing and watching basketball and especially baseball. He was an avid bowler and enjoyed golfing with friends. He collected antique wrenches and took pride in driving Oliver tractors—especially an antique Oliver that he drove in local parades with his great-grandchildren in tow. In 1997, Ron and Marge moved to Melvin. On January 18, 2011, Ron died at age 83 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marge; three sons and their wives: Mike and Sandi Schultz of Delta Junction, AK, Jeff and Darcy Schultz of Melvin, and Scott and Diana Schultz of Delta Junction, AK; nine grandchildren: Lia Schultz and fiancé Tyrone Halfhill of Ocean Ridge, FL, Ty and Kari Schultz of Melvin, Kindra and Clint Reiter of Sibley, Andrew and Jessica Schultz of Fairbanks, AK, Benjamin Schultz and friend Staci Blum of Anchorage, AK, Michael and Merri Schultz of Delta Junction, AK, John Schultz of Fairbanks, AK, Krysta Schultz of Delta Junction, AK, and DayLa and Emmet Leffel of North Pole, AK; twelve great-grandchildren: Aiden Schultz, Terralyn Schultz, Ashton Reiter, Lily Reiter, Ella Reiter, Cale Reiter, William Schultz, Mason Leffel, Ryan Leffel, Jaliyah Schultz, Lisa Sheldon, and Jacob Schultz. In loving memory of Ronald Rex Schultz Born ~ November 9, 1927 Died ~ January 18, 2011 Age ~ 83 years 2 months 9 days Funeral service 10:30 ~ Monday, January 24, 2011 American Lutheran Church ~ Melvin, Iowa Clergy ~ Pastor Judy Johnson Organist ~ Fay Schall Soloist ~ Delores Popma "How Great Thou Art" Congregational Singing "Praise and Thanksgiving" "Just As I Am" "Let All Things Now Living" "This is My Father’s World" Pallbearers John Schultz Ty Schultz Andrew Schultz Benjamin Schultz Tyrone Halfhill Myron Van Engen Honorary Pallbearers Kindra Reiter Michael Schultz Lia Schultz DayLa Leffel Krysta Schultz Ushers Jolene Seivert Mike Seivert Interment Baker Township Cemetery ~ Melvin, Iowa