Andrew Lloyd Schultz

May 14, 1926 - Nov. 2, 2007

Andrew Lloyd Schultz passed away in Vacaville on Nov. 2, 2007, surrounded by his loving family and in the embrace of his devoted wife, Ruth.

Andrew was born on May 14, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wis., to parents, Peter and Ona Schultz. Andy and his siblings spent most of their childhood years growing up in northern Wisconsin, a place where hard work, determination and ingenuity were necessary for the survival of a poor family during the Great Depression. From a very young age he learned to work in the woods, hunt, fish, trap, bale hay, milk cows and do any number of jobs to contribute to the family's survival. He walked uphill, and yes, through the snow, to a one room schoolhouse in the woods. He later attended high school in Prentice, Wis.

After leaving high school, he attended a vocational school to learn welding and went to work in 1943 at the shipyards in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., welding the hulls of Liberty Ships, corvettes and submarine chassis. Andrew served in the Army from 1944 to 1946 with the 220th Armed Engineers Construction Battalion where, at 20 years old, he supervised 30 drivers and the maintenance and repair of a fleet of motor vehicles and construction equipment for the combat engineering company. After the war, Andy returned to Wisconsin and obtained his private pilot's license.

During his time in the service, Andy had the opportunity to see California, and decided, like so many others, to make it his home after the war. Andy met and married Alice Barber in Los Angeles in 1947 and resided in the home they built in La Canada, Ca., while raising their three children until 1972.

After becoming single again and moving to Northern California, Andy met and married Ruth Hughlett Vanaudestrade in 1982. Andy and Ruth selflessly fashioned their homes and lifestyle to enable their two families of grown children, spouses and grandchildren to enjoy each other as one family. Through the years, vacations, holidays, birthdays and special outings were organized so that their families could celebrate the happy events of life together. After living for several years in Moraga, Andy and Ruth moved to Rancho Murieta in 1987. There they met many new neighbors and friends, and fell in love with the Rancho Murieta lifestyle. In 2006, Andy and Ruth moved to Vacaville to be closer to family and the medical facilities that supported Andy's needs in the later years of his life.

Andy's professional career began in Los Angeles County as a deputy sheriff. He moved up through the ranks to sergeant and moved on to work in the Los Angeles Superior Court, first as a court clerk, but eventually moving through the court administrative system to become the criminal court coordinator for 60 courts within the Los Angeles Superior Court system. In 1972, Andy moved to the Bay Area and took the position as court administrator and jury commissioner for the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, which he retired from in 1976. Andy worked for several years as a consultant in the computer industry and later established his own company "Automated Government Systems" (AGS) with his partner Walt Hatherly. AGS developed and installed computerized court management systems throughout California and the western United States. During his professional career, Andy served as president of the California Court Clerks Association and on several local and state judicial task forces and committees charged with recommending improvements to the court system.

Andy was an extremely talented, creative, and self determined individual. In addition to all of his professional accomplishments, he was an artist and a craftsman, making everything from toys and furniture to remodeling houses and installing entire landscaped yards. Andy could fix anything from a zipper to an automobile and it would always work and look much better than new when he was done. Andy shared his love of music with his children by teaching them traditional American folk songs accompanied by guitar and harmonica. He loved to dance and shared many a polka romp with the grandchildren. He was a great joke and storyteller, and was always willing to use this talent to entertain family and friends. He loved the outdoors and made many great memories for his family camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, boating and skiing.

Andy is survived by his wife of 25 years, Ruth Schultz; his children, Randy Schultz, Robert Schultz and Deborah Faaborg; daughters-in-law, Elena and Kerri Schultz; son-in-law, Mike Faaborg; grandchildren, David and Laura Schultz, Andrew and Lindy Schultz, Sarah and Robert Faaborg, as well as several Faaborg step-grandchildren and their families. He is also survived by Ruth's children, Gerald Smith and his fiancŽe, Pamela Dews, Susan and Paul Terpolilli and their children, Gina and Christopher Terpolilli; brother, Peter Schultz of Sun Prairie, Wis.; sister, Lesona of Missouri; and a number of extended family residing in northern Wisconsin.

Andy is predeceased by his brothers, Wayne and Wesley Leischer; and his sister, Llamae Higgins.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 16 for family and friends, at the Rancho Murieta Country Club. Andy will be interred at City View Cemetery in Salem, Ore.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California, 1060 La Avenida St., Mountain View 94043; (650) 962-8111; or by participating in a fundraising Memory Walk near your community; (info. at www.alz.org).

Arrangements are under the direction of McCune Garden Chapel, 448-6546.