Lloyd Dale Schultz (1931-2015)

  Lloyd Dale Schultz, 84, passed away, Sept. 10, 2015, in California.
  He was born April 7, 1931, in rural Ellsworth to Walter and Lilly (Kohls) Schultz and attended school in Ellsworth. He was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, rural Ellsworth, where he was baptized and later confirmed and became a member of  the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth.
  Lloyd graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1949, and proudly joined the U.S. Navy in November of 1950, where he served as a diesel mechanic aboard the USS Natchaug, preparing ships for the Korean War. He received an honorable discharged Aug. 18, 1954.
  On Dec. 7, 1954, Lloyd met the love of his life, Sandra Gayle Paull, daughter of Clint and Bernice Paull of Ellsworth. They were married Sept. 1, 1955 and celebrated 60 years of marriage just nine days prior to his death.
  After living in Kansas for a brief period, they returned to California where Lloyd briefly worked as a diesel mechanic. In December 1957, Lloyd joined the Vernon Fire Department in the industrial area of Vernon, Calif. Being a fireman quickly became his passion. Lloyd retired from the Fire Department in the position of deputy fire chief in January 1986. During his career he attended two years of community college and served as an instructor at the Rio Hondo Fire Academy.
  Lloyd was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church, where he served as an Elder for many years, led the lawn crew for over 20 years and sang in the senior choir for over 40 years. He was passionate about the church and its members.
  Lloyd is survived by his wife, Gayle; two daughters, Cindy (Bob) D’Alessandro of Laguna Hills, Calif., and Tammy (Doug) Stefek of rural Ellsworth; three granddaughters, Kathy, Courtney, and Christen; and three great-granddaughters, KC, Emily, and Jayden.
  Lloyd is also survived by his sisters, Dolores Mason of Great Bend, Gladys Schroeder of Austin, Texas, Janice Sneath of Kanopolis, Karen Kohlmeier of Sabetha, and Joyce Schultz of Salina, and many nieces and nephews.
  He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lilly; and his sister, Shirley Olson, who lived in Manhattan.
  Upon Lloyd’s retirement, they purchased a small farm outside of Kanopolis, which quickly became a favorite gathering place for family and friends. Lloyd loved his farm and he loved to host large and small gatherings, sharing his passion for the open space.
  Lloyd spent time in his retirement being a volunteer grandparent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Long Beach, where Tammy worked as a nurse. He loved babies and would go to the hospital just to hold the ones that needed comfort. He grew especially fond of one special little guy, “Andy”.
  On April 16, 1997, due to complications from congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, Lloyd received the unselfish gift from a donor family of a heart transplant. He defied the odds by living with his new heart for 18 and a half years. His family will always be grateful to the anonymous donor family for this precious gift.  
  A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, with internment following in Ellsworth Cemetery.
  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department or Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.
  Online condolences may be made at parsonsfh.com