Marvin Gale “PeeWee” Schulz, 98, passed away peacefully into Heaven on Feb. 12, 2026, in Seward.
He was born May 9, 1927, to Daniel and Martha (Tempel) Schulz in Seward and attended Goehner High School, graduating in 1944. On Aug. 31, 1952, PeeWee was united in marriage to Marilyn Smiley at United Methodist Church in Seward and were married for nearly 69 years. He and Marilyn were blessed with four children, which they raised in a Christian home, for which they are grateful.
PeeWee farmed with his brother, Lloyd, west of Goehner until 2005 when he and Marilyn moved to Seward. His sons Jeff and Jon and grandson Joe are continuing to farm, making Schulz Farms a fifth generation family farm. He was a World War II veteran, serving on a Coast Guard weather ship in Newfoundland just prior to the end of the war.
PeeWee was not only a member of many organizations over his entire 98 years, but always committed to being actively involved in every one of them. Whether it was showing pigs in 4-H, on different boards or just a friendly card game, he gave every one of them his full attention and participation. All you had to do is ask him for something and he would almost always say “Yes.”
A few of the organizations (many of which he served in leadership roles) include the Goehner Fire Department, Beaver Crossing American Legion Post 178, Goehner Grange, Goehner Friedens United Church of Christ, Blue Valley Cooperative (now CVA), Seward Kiwanis (including the KiTones), Beaver Crossing and Centennial school boards, Crossmakers of Seward, Seward County Veterans Committee, Goehner Centennial Players and others. He received many honors and awards from these and others over the years – too many to capture here. You may have even been given the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket or two from PeeWee to help support these organizations.
In his free time, he enjoyed dancing with Marilyn, singing in KiTones, bowling with his Seward Bowl and American Legion teams, baseball, poker and cribbage. His cribbage and poker buddies couldn’t understand how he was so lucky so consistently – maybe he was just a darn good card player. But his biggest passion was probably baseball. For 20+ years, he coached his sons and many others in the Goehner/Beaver Crossing area and when not coaching was always available to umpire a game (his low strike zone was always an advantage to the Goehner pitchers). He followed his beloved St. Louis Cardinals his entire life.
PeeWee was more than likely recognized by any person he ran into in the county including those during the many times he folded the flag for Seward County veterans that passed away. He always had a kind word and soft hello for anyone he met.
Thank you, PeeWee, for your service to our country, our schools and community and for the countless family and friends you left behind. Your spirit will continue to be imbedded in everyone’s memory.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; parents, Daniel and Martha Schulz; parents-in-law, Erle and Anna Smiley; step-father-in-law, Michael Dwyer; brothers, Norm Schulz, Dick Schulz and Kenneth Schulz; brothers-in-law, Bascom Jones, Dick Blacker and Don Smiley; and sisters-in-law, Jean Schulz, Nancy Schulz, Caryl Schulz and JoAnn Jones.
He is survived by his children, Jim (Kathy) Schulz of Lincoln, Gail (Bill) Miller of Lincoln, Jeff (Glenda) Schulz of Seward, and Jon (Billie Jo) Schulz of Goehner; 12 grandchildren, Mindy (Troy) Bloebaum, Jimmy (Sarai) Schulz, Meghan (Brandon) Memming, Benjamin (Aida) Crowder, Adriann Crowder, David Miller (Amanda), Lisa (Nick) Powell, Joe (Sloane) Schulz, Anna Schulz, Jacob Anderson, Emily Anderson and Jensen Schulz; 13 great-grandchildren, Makena Bloebaum, Alba Schulz, Ella Schulz, Langston Schulz, Sylvie Memming, Theo Memming, Kaelan Crowder, Karston Crowder, Evie Schulz, Shelby Spencer, Odin Bazzle, Tova Bazzle and Elsa Bazzle; brother, Lloyd Schulz; sisters-in-law, Sara Schulz Briggs and Pat Smiley; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
PeeWee and the family were so thankful for the exceptional health care and support provided by Dr JB Ketner, the Veterans Administration, the staff of Kinship Pointe as well as Hospice of Nebraska which gave extra loving care during the past four months.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Friedens United Church of Christ in Goehner. Committal with full military honors will be Saturday, Feb. 21, at 9 a.m. at Mound Prairie Cemetery at Goehner followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Harvest Hall on the Seward County Fairgrounds. Memorial contributions are suggested to Seward Kiwanis Parade of Flags, Seward Kiwanis Backpack Program or Goehner Volunteer Fire Dept Truck Building Addition Fund.
Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
