Byron Schultz
Byron L. Schultz, 84, of Waukon died Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, January 13 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Daryl Schultz officiating. Burial was at Frankville Cemetery, Frankville. Memorials can be made to go towards a bench in memory of Byron and Darlene, or to Frankville Cemetery, Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, or Good Samaritan Center in Waukon.
Byron LeRoy Schultz was born November 26, 1935 in Postville. His parents were Cloy Frederick and Viola Magdalene (Weihe) Schultz. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Postville, attended country elementary school, and graduated from Postville High School in 1954. Byron was an excellent athlete playing all four years on the football, basketball, track and baseball teams, and is a member of the Postville High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was invited to attend a try-out for the Chicago Cubs as a catcher, but passed on the opportunity to pursue his passion of farming.
June 27, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Darlene Mae Hughes, at the Frankville Community Presbyterian Church, where they renewed their vows on their 50th anniversary. Byron and Darlene began farming together by renting a couple of Postville area farms then moving south of Frankville, where they operated a dairy herd until 1969. Then buying a farm north of Frankville, they did custom chopping and combining for other area farmers as well as finishing cattle and raising hogs.
Being conservatively mindful, he purchased a bull dozer and began making lasting improvements such as building terraces, water retention ponds and waterways. In 2008, Byron and Darlene closed the farming chapter of their lives by moving to Waukon.
Byron was dedicated to every community he lived in, serving as a member of the Frankville Volunteer Fire Department, the Frankville Cheese Factory Board, and was a Deacon at the Frankville Community Presbyterian Church. Byron served many years on the Postville School Board as well as serving as president of the board. He was also active in the Winneshiek County Cattleman’s Association. Since moving to Waukon, he had been active in the Rivers and Bluffs Tractor Club, President of the Seniors Center at the Wellness Center, and became a member of the Zion United Church of Christ.
Byron and Darlene loved to travel and enjoyed taking their motor home on trips all across the country including treks to Alaska, and for many years they enjoyed winter months in Gulf Shores, AL accompanied by their cats, Pudy and Mitzy. Byron loved people and together with Darlene enjoyed neighborhood cookouts, card clubs, bus trips to Branson, MO and fishing trips to Lake Pepin.
At home you could find him creatively and meticulously tending to his garden while reinventing ways to save time and water. When challenges would occur, he would never give up until he resolved it. Supporting his grandkids by attending their sporting and school events were some of his fondest moments.
Byron was very proud of all his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.
Survivors include his children: Kent (Donna) of Frankville, Randy (Jayne) and Chris (Robin), both of Decorah, Kimberly (Chuck) Deering of Postville, and Shannon (Lisa) of Teutopolis, IL; his grandchildren: Bobby Schultz, Jessica (Brody) Wells, Mitchell (Christina) Schultz, Logan Schultz, Katie (Travis) Schnur, Brett Schultz, BreAnn (Mitchel) Hemesath, Kelsie (Heath) Dee, Tanner (Arin Moritz) Deering, Whitney (Dalton) Crawford, Morgan (Brandon) Johnson, Chase Schultz, Marshall Schultz, Zack Schultz and Rourke Schultz; his great-grandchildren: Matthew, Mackenzie, Peyton, Kyzer, Aiden, Mason, Audrey and Wyatt; a brother, Jack (Patricia) Schultz; a sister, Rochelle (Noel) Cook; a sister-in-law, Pat Schultz Cline; and a brother-in-law, Stan Lindquist. He is preceded in death by his wife, Darlene, in 2019; his brothers, Cloy Jr. (Lorraine) Schultz and Grant Schultz; a sister, Carole Lindquist; and a brother-in-law, Evart (Lilah) Hughes.
Honorary casketbearers were Ozzie Quandahl, Ron Jahnke, Jim Jarms, Richard Marsh, Burnell Sanders and Kenneth Kiesau. His grandchildren served as casketbearers.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
