Obit: Schultz, Donald Otto (1929 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Schultz, Buettner, Larsen, Lamon, Dunlap, Heck, Umbs, Hribar, Didier, Schoengarth, Emling, Benecke, Lechner, Spaeth, Smith, Luchterhand, Lovstad, Gower, Sawyer, Shaw, Gruenke, Wallace, Huth, Pischel, Potts

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) February 16, 2011

Schultz, Donald Otto (2 December 1929 - 12 February 2011)

Donald Otto Schultz, 81, of Greenwood died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family under the care of Ministry Home Hospice.

Donald Schultz was born Dec. 2, 1929, in the Town of Weston, Clark County, to Otto and Vivian (Buettner) Schultz. He attended Globe Grade School and Greenwood High School.  He married Betty J. Larsen Aug. 9, 1949. They farmed on his home farm until moving to Marshfield in 1957, where he began his 30 years as a long-distance truck driver - most of the years for Schneider Transport. They returned to the farm in 1963.  He retired in 1987 and he and Betty spent many years traveling in their fifth-wheel camper.  He enjoyed camping with his Northwoods Hitchhiker Club and wintering in Arizona and Texas.  He was a member of the Globe Green Lighters Snowmobile Club.

Don was born and died in the same house he raised his family in.

Donnie enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and being with his family.  He enjoyed working with his hands, especially creating beautiful stained glass pieces.  He always had an idea about how to do something better.  He loved Ford pickups and John Deere tractors. He would give directions to anyone and knew all of the major highways and routes all over the United States from being a trucker.  Even in the last few weeks of his life, he asked for his atlas.  He always had something to say, especially a joke.  He was fun to play dominos and cards with, and he usually won.

He is survived by his wife Betty; and their five children, Karalee (Don) Lamon of Rozellville, Karen (Barry) Dunlap of Dorchester, Kay (Tracy) Heck of Greenwood, Tammy (Lud Jr) Hribar of Waunakee, and Tim Schultz (Jane Emling) of Greenwood.  He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Nathan and Anna Lamon, Todd Dunlap and Marcie Umbs, Heath and Craig Heck, Megan, Kelsy and Rylee Hribar, and Jason Didier, Kristi Schoengarth, Kelly Benecke and Lucas Schultz; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Howard (Joyce) and Bob (Angie) , both of Greenwood; one sister, Ruth (Bob) Lechner of Kenosha; and one sister-in-law, Doris of Camanche, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Wilburt.

Funeral services for Don will be held at 11 a.m. Friday Feb. 18, at Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, and an hour before the service Friday at the funeral home.  Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with lunch to follow at the Neillsville Legion Hall.

Pallbearers are grand sons, Todd, Heath, Craig, Jason, Nathan and Lucas.

Honorary Pallbearers are his fellow truck driving team: Gilbert Spaeth, jerry Smith, Roger Luchterhand, Ken Lovstad, Wayne Gower, Ray Sawyer, Verlyn Shaw, Del Gruenke, Wally Wallace, Gene Huth, Hubert Pischel and Burton Potts.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Donald’s family with funeral arrangements.