Joan Schulz

Joan Marie Schulz, 69, of Storm Lake, died Friday, November 25, 2005 from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Palmer, Iowa. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 28, 2005 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where the family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Joan Marie Peters was born June 26, 1936 in a rural farmhouse in Pocahontas County, Iowa to Carl and Eldora Peters. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at St. John Lutheran Church near Palmer.

She attended country school and graduated from Manson High School. She attended Wartburg College for two years and obtained a degree to teach elementary school. She taught fourth grade 2 years in Iowa Falls and first grade 2 years in Strawberry Point.

On June 8, 1958, she was united in marriage to Walter Schulz, whom she met at Wartburg College during freshman orientation when he asked her to wash his car. The newlyweds made their home initially in New York City. They moved to Strawberry Point, Iowa and in 1960, moved to Storm Lake. Since the school system would not hire married women, they decided to start a family. Three children were born of the marriage: Roger, Susan, and Jennifer. Joan stayed home with the children until 1985, when she began work as a secretary at Buena Vista University until she retired in 1998.

Joan enjoyed doing volunteer work in many settings. She served as a scout leader, 4-H leader, and hospital coffee shop volunteer. She was an active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church and the women’s organization and served a variety of offices. She taught Sunday School, made quilts for Lutheran World Relief, assembled layette kits, and enjoyed being a Stephen’s Minister.

Joan will be remembered for helping others. She cooked and delivered meals and cinnamon rolls to friends and church members. She served a home-cooked, candlelight dinner for 30 residents at Methodist Manor. She invited widows and widowers to her home for holidays and dinners. She made and sent many cards to mark people’s special events.

Joan was an expert hand quilter and her children treasure the wall hangings and quilts she gave them. She was an avid Scrabble player with her daughters. She was a sports fan and especially enjoyed watching her son and grandchildren play basketball and other sports. Her children and grandchildren were treasured by her. For years, she enjoyed meeting with five close friends in a weekly Bible study.

After her retirement, she and Walt enjoyed wintering with many friends in Apache Junction, Arizona. She loved the game of Pickleball and won the women’s doubles tournament more than a year after developing ALS. Joan courageously fought the disease and focused positively on the things she could do rather than on her losses.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Carl and Eldora Peters, and her sister, Norma Carver. She is survived by her husband, Walt; her son Roger Schulz & wife Carla of Cedar Rapids and their children, John, Kate, and Mark; her daughter Sue Maher & husband Mark of Cleveland Heights, Ohio and their son, Jacob; and her daughter Jenny Schulz of Cedar Rapids.