William SCHULTZ

Spokane - William (Bill) Albert Schultz born at home on September 13, 1933, a beautiful 14lb baby, our 6'7 gentle giant left this world as he came into it, with the people he loved most, on February 10, 2024. Bill was born in Spokane to Harry and Eunice (Gardner) Schulz. Adventurous and always learning, Bill was entrepreneurial as a grade-schooler at Willard Elementary. Mowing lawns, delivering papers, selling wood, and raising and butchering rabbits during WW2. He worked at the railyard, and in the icehouse at 16. As a teen he also worked at Felts Field at the airport in the hangar and Krause Nursery, developing his love for plants and landscaping. In 1951, he graduated from Rogers HS at just 17 and went to work at Brown Trailer Co. for 5 years doing a dangerous job that men 2 and 3 times his age were too afraid to do. He ended up working at WWP for 39 years. Starting as a crewman/welder/ backhoe operator, he worked his way up to Gas Construction Superintendent. He could tell you where every single gas line in Spokane County was. He was self-taught in mechanics & construction and could do anything. In high school, he drove a 35' Ford & soon after, chartreuse 50' Ford Convertible. He even started his car club called the Vampires. Everyone in town knew who he was because of his beautiful cars. He spent his childhood at his parent's lake cabin at Newman Lake/Honeymoon Bay, swimming & boating on his 1946 Higgins wooden boat (which he still has) He met the love of his life, Sherryl on a blind date in 1965 & they married in 67'. The two enjoyed nearly 59 years together going to the Oregon coast, wintering at their home in Yuma, & working hard on their many rental houses. Bill was an AMAZING landscape architect. His backyard with a waterfall, rock walls, ponds, pathways, ornamental trees & a model train, on the Little Spokane River, are a testament to his many talents. He looked like a movie star, had a heart as big as his dimples & was equally funny as he was handsome. His generosity & kindness were immeasurable. EVERYONE considered him to be their best friend & everyone who knew him, loved him. His incredible memory, even on the last day, was something that people would judge a genius by. If you could live to be a 90-year-old and still have your wits, looks, & kindness until your last breath like he did, then you have more than most people would ever hope for in life. Bill was a fighter from the time he got Rheumatic Fever as a kid, to 3 bouts of bladder cancer, a stroke, & numerous close calls over the years. We thought he was going to be with us forever. Preceded in passing were his parents, Harry and Eunice; brothers, Bob and Larry; and sister, Rose Bowen. Survived by the love of his life, Sherryl; and daughters, Sherene (Jeff Bedard), Erika Sparrow (Brian), and Lanelle (son Zane). His family meant everything to him & his love for them was projected to the world. He was the family's beacon in every storm & the voice of reason & champion for any issue. Because Bill LOVED a party, we are having a BIG celebration of his wonderful life later in April. Please contact Sherene (509-808-0617) ASAP for details as we would love for anyone who knew & loved him to be included. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Bill's name to the Hutton Settlement in the Spokane Valley. Here's to his amazing life well lived.