Marilyn D. Schulz, age 88, passed away peacefully into Heaven on May 11, 2021, in Lincoln. She was born July 13, 1932, to Erle and Anna Smiley in Seward, where she attended school. Her early summers were spent in Beaver Crossing, where her dad had created the Smiley Water Gardens. After graduating from Seward High, working in Chicago and attending UNL, she married Marvin “PeeWee” Schulz on Aug. 31, 1952, at the United Methodist Church in Seward. They lived on a farm west of Goehner until 2005 when they moved to Seward.
Although Marilyn wasn't in the field helping her husband farm, she created many tasty meals and delivered them to him during long summer days as well as always having a hearty meal, cold iced tea, and dessert ready for him at home. She was secretary at Beaver Crossing Schools for several years. She loved reading, dancing with PeeWee and playing cards with their many friends. Her family and friends enjoyed her delicious potato salad, cheese spread, sugar cookies, peach pie and sour cream chocolate cake.
They were blessed with four children and raising them kept her very busy – three boys active in sports and farming and a daughter she taught to bake and sew. Many summer nights were spent at the baseball field, watching the kids play ball or tending to the “pop stand.” She sewed clothes for herself, daughter, and granddaughters and also knitted, teaching her granddaughters to knit, as well. One of her favorite groups was her “Craft Club” where she and her friends gathered to chat and eat with very little craft productivity.
Her church family meant a lot to her and she spent many years attending the Frieden's United Church of Christ in Goehner, teaching Sunday School, and playing an active role in Women's Fellowship. She and PeeWee raised their children in a Christian home, which they are most grateful.
Marilyn's family includes her husband of almost 69 years, PeeWee, and their four children and spouses, Jim and Kathy Schulz (Lincoln), Gail and Bill Miller (Lincoln), Jeff and Glenda Schulz (Seward) and Jon and Billie Jo Schulz (Goehner). She enjoyed her many grandchildren, Mindy and Troy Bloebaum (Scottsdale Arizona), Jimmy and Sarai Schulz (Lincoln), Meghan and Brandon Memming (Lincoln), Benjamin and Aida Crowder (Chicago Illinois), Adriann Crowder and John Cumer (Pittsburgh Pennsylvania), David Miller (Lonetree Colorado), Lisa Stork (Roseland), Joe Schulz and fiancee Sloane Fuchtman (Seward), Anna Schulz (Lincoln), Emily Anderson (Kearney), Jacob Anderson (Omaha) and Jensen Schulz (Seward). Her great-grandchildren brought her much joy, Makena Bloebaum, Alba Schulz, Ella Schulz, Sylvie Memming, Theo Memming, Kaelan Crowder, Karston Crowder and Shelby Spencer. Her brother-in-law, Lloyd Schulz, and sisters-in-law Pat Smiley and Sara Schulz Briggs, and loving nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends all were very special to her.
Preceding Marilyn to Heaven were her parents, Erle and Anna Smiley; step-father, Michael Dwyer; sister, JoAnn Jones; brother, Don Smiley; parents-in-law, Daniel and Martha Schulz; brothers-in-law, Dick Schulz, Norman Schulz, Kenneth Schulz, Bascom Jones, and Dick Blacker; and sisters-in-law Jean Schulz, Nancy Schulz and Caryl Schulz.
A Celebration of Life was May 17 at Friedens United Church of Christ in Goehner with a private family interment at Mound Prairie Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designations. Condolences may be left for the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
