Michele Ann Schultz

Michele Ann (Walsh) Schultz, age 79, of Savage, passed away on December 20th due to Parkinson's disease. Michele was born in St. Paul on September 7, 1946, the second of five children born to Edward and Alberta Walsh of St. Paul. The family later moved to Arden Hills, where Michele grew up. She gained a lifelong love of travel from her parents, who took the family on many trips out west.

Michele was a 1964 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in St. Paul. She attended college at St. Catherine University, where she graduated in 1968 with a degree in nursing. After her college graduation, she traveled around the world on a 5-week group tour to many places including Japan, Hong Kong, India and Jerusalem. She liked to say that she had the 1968 global Hong Kong flu in Hong Kong. She then studied French through a Master's program at the University of Minnesota and also studied in Paris at Alliance Francaise. While in France, she also worked in the summer as a live-in nanny and English teacher for the children of French singer, Hugues Aufray.

Michele married Jim Schultz of Minneapolis in 1972. They had two children, Nicholas and Victoria, and lived in South Minneapolis. She and Jim continued the tradition of family driving trips out west. She adored her children (and later grandchildren) and said becoming a mother made her a better person.

Michele was an R.N., first working at Fairview, and later at the V.A. in South Minneapolis, where she worked for 31 years, until retiring in 2008. She owned one of the oldest homes on the east side of Lake Nokomis for 29 years, until moving to Eagan in 2017, and later Savage.

She enjoyed over 25 years with her partner Mark Fitzsimmons, a U.S. Air Force Veteran and radiologist, who also worked at the V.A. They loved traveling together, attending Corvette Club events and going out to eat and drink, particularly at the Officer's Club at Fort Snelling.

Michele lost her 22-year-old son Nick in a tragic accident in 1998. She held an annual party for his birthday for many years after his death. She stayed in close contact with his many friends, whom she loved.

She is preceded in death by her son Nick, partner Mark, parents Edward and Alberta and her siblings, Mary, Ed, Rene and Sherry. She is survived by her daughter Vicky Avery, son-in-law Adam, Mark's daughters Laura Krueger and Sarah Krats, and grandchildren Austin, Eric, Elizabeth and Brianna.

Michele had many close friends as well, maintaining contact throughout her life with friends from childhood, school and work. She treasured her family and friends and even touched those she knew briefly with her kindness. She lived a full and happy life. She was always positive and found meaning and purpose in all of life's challenges. She will always be remembered for her warmth, kindness and generosity to everyone.

Visitation, 4 to 6 PM, Tuesday, December 30th at Washburn-McReavy Werness Brothers Bloomington Chapel, 2300 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN. Visitation also from 10 AM to 11 AM on Wednesday, December 31st, followed by the funeral service at 11 AM.

Interment will be at Roselawn Cemetery, Roseville, MN.