Wayne E. Schultz

Wayne was born on June 11, 1936 on his Mom's dining room table on a farm in Sarles, ND. He spent most of his younger years in Clifford, ND. He moved to Ramona, SD for his Junior and Senior years of high School.

His Mom enlisted him into the Air Force in August of 1954. She told him she didn't want him laying around the house all summer. He did his basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. He went to Keesler, AFB in Biloxi, MS to Electronic Warfare school after basic training. There he volunteered to be on flying status so he was able to go to Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, SD where he was part of a RB-36 bomber crew. This was his favorite assignment as he loved to fly.

He met his wife, Bev Schultz at a basket ball game and they were married on August 27, 1955. She had one year of high school to finish after they married.

Their first child was born on September 29, 1956. Cameron had brittle bones so we spent lots of time at the hospital so we could be with him. Both his legs were broken at birth due to Osteogenisis Imperfecta. It was a scary time for both of us but we adored our baby boy.
In April, 1957 we moved to Smokey Hill AFB, Salina, KS and Wayne cross trained and became an Electronic Warfare Technician on B-47 medium bombers in the 40th Bomb Wing.

Our next two children, Pam and Tracy were born at Schilling AFB on August 23, 1958 and November 24, 1959.

In June of 1960 we moved to Topeka, KS to Forbes AFB where our daughter Stacy was born on the 20th of March, 1961. We were a very busy couple.

We moved back to Keesler, AFB in Biloxi, MS where Wayne went to Electronic Superintendent's school for one year. We met some dear friends there and had lots of fun going to the beaches and enjoying the warm weather after living in colder climates. We even had a hurricane while there. Wayne enjoyed fishing and catching very different kinds of fish.

Our daughter, Teresa was born in MS on September 23, 1964. Wayne took one hour off from school to take Bev to the hospital so she could give birth to Teresa.

Wayne was then moved to Grand Forks, ND back to the Cold!! He became a Quality Control inspector for the 319th Bomb Wing on B-52's. We went through a terrible blizzard there with no heat or electricity for about 40 hours. We used candles to heat food and then the kids got sick wearing snow suits trying to stay warm. There were 20 Ft. snow drifts in the middle of the streets. Once the blizzard stopped, we loaded the kids on sleds and visited some good friends we had met there. It was quite an experience.

In 1967, Wayne had to go to a Security Service School at Goodfellow AFB, in San Angelo, TX. Wayne left for Viet Nam on the 19th of August, 1967. Before he left, he rented a house in Thornton for the kids and Bev. It was a hard long year. Wayne spent a year in Viet Nam minus two weeks as Bev got Hepatitis so the Red Cross sent him home to care for his five children. Some of the kids also had it so our pastor, family and friends took care of the children while Bev was in the hospital and Wayne was overseas. He was in Viet Nam during the Tet Offensive and his base was bombed often. Coming home, during a thunder storm, he'd be ready to run for cover.

He was then stationed at Lowry, AFB here in Colorado and became an Electronic Warfare Instructor for the F-111 until he retired from the Air Force in 1974.

Before Wayne retired, our youngest daughter, Stephanie was born on June 14, 1971 at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital. She was suppose to be a boy but we were very happy to welcome another baby girl into our family. When Wayne was 40, we started having grandchildren. We now have 14 grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren and one Great Great Grandson. Also another Greatgrand child on the way. We are so blessed!!!

After Wayne retired, he did several jobs but in 1977 he managed a warehouse for Lowry's Meat Snacks. He retired from there due to management changes in June, 1992. He then did office work for a Restaurant Equipment Repair company until he retired again in June, 1998.

Through the years we did lots of camping with friends from Mountain View. We bought land in Custer, SD planning to retire there but neither one of us could leave our children to live there so we sold our property and settled back in CO. He loved to travel to Coeurd'Alene, ID to see Teresa, Tom and their family also.

Wayne joined the Wood Carvers and became very good at it. He carved a beautiful Nativity Set, angels, cowboys, animals etc. He also loved to play cards with friends and played Solitare often while he cooled his feet at night as he had Neuropathy from Diabetes.
He was an Elder at Mountain View visiting those in nursing homes or hospitals. For someone who didn't talk much, he did a great job.

Wayne's biggest joys were his Great Grandchildren. He loved to tease them. Even to the last few days, his sense of humor would come out and he would brighten up to see each one. He and Madison, loved to have cane fights. They were always special to each other.

Wayne was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. All of us loved him very much and he will be missed more than we can say.

We know he's in heaven with Jesus and his family that have gone before him.
We also know we'll be together again.