December 3, 2019 – West Bend, WI –James A. Schulz, 83, of West Bend, passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Kathy Hospice. Jim was born on February 19, 1936 to Arthur and Bertina (nee Schmidler) Schulz in Random Lake, WI.
Jim attended and graduated from Random Lake High School in 1954. He married Monica Watry on February 1, 1958 in Dacada, WI. Beginning in high school, Jim worked as a mason for his father’s masonry business. In 1966, he started his own home building and real estate businesses, Schulz Homes and Schulz Realty, which he ran with his wife, Monica until their retirement in 1999.
Jim and Monica enjoyed spending time with their family and friends through family camping trips. They also built and spent many days at their family cottage boating, water skiing and fishing. He was also a big sports fan, attending many Packers, Bucks and Brewers games as well as thousands of local softball and football games. In his later years Jim and Monica loved to travel; especially to Florida over the winter months.
Prior to moving to West Bend, he was a member of the Random Lake Volunteer Fire Department. After moving to West Bend, Jim was involved in many groups and organizations. He served in all officer positions of the West Bend Lions Club for many years. He also sponsored many softball, football and basketball teams, including softball teams that went to national tournaments. Jim helped start and was on the original board of directors for the West Bend Softball Association. In addition, Jim was a founding member of the West Bend Area Builders Association and a Member of the Metropolitan Builders Association.
Jim is survived by his children, Dale (Fran), Lynn (Bob) Ward, Karen (Jim) Lutz, Kay (Jim) Beilke, Brian (Laura), and daughter-in-law, Suzanne Propoggio. Grandchildren, Heidi (Joe) Spingola, Kristina (Matt) Buettner, James (Grace) Ward, Kimberli Ward, Joclyn Lutz, Joe (Katelyn) Lutz, Megan (Zach) Goschey, Allen, Jason and Elizabeth Beilke, Zach and Jacob Schulz, and Hannah and Hayley Schulz. Great Grandchildren Avlynn and William Spingola, and Ethan Schulz. Siblings, Mary (Merlin) Mueller, and stepsister Ruth Preisler. Along with other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Bertha (nee Schmidler-Thome), wife Monica, son Dean, grandson Joshua, brother John, stepbrothers and sisters Elizabeth Ann (Norman) Czisney, Robert (Marlene, Mary) Thome and Richard (Patricia) Thome.
Funeral Services for Jim will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday December 7 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel, 1420 W. Paradise Dr. West Bend, WI 53095. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Private inurnment will take place at Washington County Memorial Park.
A special thank you to the staff at Kathy Hospice for their loving care of Jim.
