Ina M. Schultz

Ina M. Schultz, 89, left this earth to reside with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Born to Leslie and Julia Stremel on April 12, 1933 in Duluth, MN, Ina lived in Floodwood, MN; Duluth, MN; Green Bay, WI; and for the past 25 years, Brule, WI.

From her early years, Ina’s life was an example of lovingly taking on the tasks set before her. Eager to learn and successful in school, she also kept busy with chores on the farm and peeling pulpwood or shoveling manure to earn a few coins. Ina played French horn in the school band, enjoyed Sunday School activities, candled eggs and worked the fields at a large production farm, and shot hoops with the intramural basketball team. She sang in the choir, was voted Shortest and Prettiest in her class, and once posed for Seventeen Magazine. Ina spent two summers away from home in Duluth and Mille Lacs, MN, working as a nanny and earning money for college.

After graduating from Floodwood High School, Ina attended the St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Duluth, MN. At a UMD campus event a singer with a resonant voice and a red-plaid shirt caught her eye, and later Ina’s sister Mae introduced her to Tom Schultz, then an orderly at the hospital. They courted for some time through Ina’s schooling, Tom’s absences working “the boats” on Lake Superior, and a marriage proposal on Skyline Drive. When Ginger, Tom’s dog, showed up at the Stremel farm (having never been there before), they took it as a sign. In her words, “So how could we not get married after she showed us the way?” Ina became Mrs. Francis Thomas Schultz on July 11, 1953.

Several years and three children later, they moved to Green Bay for Tom’s sales job. There, they built a house in a neighborhood that was once a farm field and added six more children to their family. Ina missed her family, friends, and the trees of Minnesota, but she was no stranger to working the soil. Trees, flowers, vegetables, and houseplants all thrived under the care of Ina’s green thumb. She also cultivated lifelong friendships in her neighborhood, church, and extended family. When they moved north in 1997, they left a large vegetable garden, flower beds surrounding the house, and a shady lot surrounded by trees and bushes. She took her friendships with her. In Brule Tom and Ina began again, together breaking ground for a garden, felling trees for an orchard, and planting flowers wherever the sun could reach. They celebrated 55 years of life together before Tom’s passing in 2008.

For 35 straight years Ina supported her children through K-12 school, helping with homework, preparing innumerable breakfasts and lunches, juggling schedules, attending conferences and events, handling frequent scrapes and mishaps, and always encouraging them to do their best. Education was important; it was not to be wasted. Ina herself was a lifelong learner and pursued many interests - playing the piano and singing; studying the Bible; sewing patches, quilts and doll clothes; crocheting afghans and doilies; volunteering to help students and teachers at Iron River and Northwestern Elementary Schools; feeding the always-hungry birds and deer in her yard; and writing daily journal entries, memories of her life in story form, myriad to-do lists, and countless letters to encourage and bless whoever needed it.

Ina endlessly gave of herself and spread love. Working side-by-side with her husband, she assisted and supported Tom in his various business pursuits over the years. She delighted in her family and friends - their interests, relationships, and successes. She faithfully prayed for their needs both large and small, trusting and thanking her Lord for His answers even before they appeared. Her large family has been blessed with thousands of delicious and labor-intensive meals; they all have their favorite dishes, but Ina often enjoyed a simple cup of black coffee and piece of toast as she read her Bible, prayed, and planned her day. Indeed, communing with God has been the source of her endless pouring out for others.

Like everyone else, Ina’s life included sorrows, shortcomings, and worries. She would be the first to admit that she was far from perfect; she easily gave grace to others because of God’s grace given her. The blessings of joy despite sorrow, strength despite weakness, and peace despite fear came to Ina through her quiet yet unwavering faith in her Lord Jesus Christ. She passed these blessings on to her family and friends as they sought her love and wisdom, her always-available ear, her sweet presence, and her prayers. Through example, she taught everyone whose lives she touched to appreciate the beauty of all creation, see loveliness in spite of flaws, and focus on the positive qualities in others’ unfinished souls. She lived her life as an example of Christ’s love. Ina often blessed others with the following scripture:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”   Numbers 6:24-26

Ina is survived by eight children: Julia (Edward) Bowden, Sobieski, WI, Francis “Joe” (Edna Feldman-Schultz) Schultz, Janesville, WI, Doreen (David) Short, Viola, WI, Patricia (Thomas) Morgan, Aiken, SC, Melanie (Martin) Peltier, Washington, MI, Christopher Schultz, Brule, WI, Michael (Carrie) Schultz, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and Rebekah (Peter) Rotondo, Brule, WI; nineteen grandchildren: Edward (Emily) Bowden, Jacquelyn Bowden, Jennifer (Jason) Gerstner, Jeannette (Joseph) Hoffman, Adelina Feldman-Schultz, Oren Feldman-Schultz, Zina Soltis, Zachary (Nicole) Schultz, Amanda (Adam) Waeghe, Kate (Anshul Krishn) O’Donnell, Daniel O’Donnell, Joseph (Alexis Nunes) O’Donnell, Tommy (Lauren) Morgan, Molly (Drew) Tolar, Therese (Clayton) Mellgren, Alexander (Caroline) Peltier, Leah Peltier, Tyler Schultz, and Elliott Schultz; and twenty-two great-grandchildren: Taylor, Samuell, and Joseff Bowden, Keira, Lauren, and Miles Gerstner, Eli and Oliver Hoffman, Hailey and Brayden Schultz, Ellison, Sloane, and Adalyne Waeghe, Jack, Isabella, and Cooper June Morgan, Adelaide, Donovan, and Emery Tolar, and Zoe, Olivia, and Charlotte Mellgren. She is further survived by one sister Ann Lyse; sisters-in-law Jeannette Maki, Patricia Schultz-Waller, and Deborah (Donald) Johnson, as well as many other cherished relatives and friends.

Ina was preceded in death by her beloved husband Tom; son William Schultz, daughter-in-law Theresa [Dycus] Schultz, son-in-law Stephen O’Donnell; two grandchildren, Erin Morgan and Eric Bowden; one great-grandchild Gabriel Morgan; siblings and siblings-in-law: Edward Stremel, Mae Olson, Lesley (George) Johnston, Elbert “Pete” Stremel, Ronald Lyse, Richard (Shirley) Schultz, and many others, dearly missed.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 4:6-7

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”   Leviticus 19:18

Ina loved her Lord. She loved others as herself. She taught us to love, and her love remains with us even though she has stepped into Heaven’s eternity. The morning she left us, Ina read her Bible and devotions. She talked with her Lord. She added personal notes to a few more Christmas cards. She was faithful to the end.

We ache in the sudden absence of this beautiful soul; we rejoice in her heavenly homecoming. This tension we live is the fruit of her life, her faith, her love.

A Celebration of Ina’s Life will be held when the warmth of the sun melts the snow and welcomes the flowers.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5th Street in Superior is assisting the family with arrangements. To share a memory of Ina or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com .