Schultz, Ardythe Marilyn 1928-2023

SCHULTZ, KLOSTER, SOE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/6/2023 at 10:27:15

Ardythe Marilyn Schultz, 94, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Monday, March 6, 2023, at Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars.

Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2023 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars, Iowa. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Garden in rural Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the church.

Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa.

Ardythe Marilyn Schultz was born Oct. 23, 1928, in a farmhouse in Fredonia Township, Plymouth County, Iowa, to parents Nis Nielsen and Maria (Soe) Kloster.

She graduated from Central High School in Le Mars in 1946 and worked as a bookkeeper at Meredith Implement, the local John Deere dealer. On July 7, 1948, she married James Schultz in Oyens.

Following their wedding, the couple boarded a Greyhound bus for San Diego, where Jim completed his enlistment in the Navy and Ardy worked on the Naval base. They returned to Ames, where Jim earned his degree in vocational agriculture and Ardy cared for Karen and Douglas, who were born there. The family lived in several Iowa towns including Milford, where Dean was born.

They settled in Le Mars, where they raised their children and Ardy served for several years as secretary at Central Junior High. They also lived in Paragould, Ark.; Warrenton, Mo.; and New Hampton before retiring to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1990. In 2020, Ardy moved to Park Place Estates in Le Mars.

Ardy was blessed with the gift of hospitality. She loved people and had a knack for making them feel welcome and valued. She was the first to greet visitors to church, and she loved nothing more than cooking and baking for her family and friends. A visit to her house was not complete without homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, caramels, cinnamon rolls or her famous chocolate cake with super-thick fudgy frosting that her kids and grandkids loved to break off and eat on its own.

Ardy had a beautiful alto singing voice and the ability to play most any song on the piano by ear. Family gatherings often involved epic games of Sequence or Pinochle, followed by circling the piano for singalongs while Ardy played such favorites as “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “In The Garden.”

In Bella Vista, Ardy was a member of the United Lutheran Church where she lent her voice to the chancel choir and the 8-person Bel Canto choral group. She also devoted her time and considerable talents to the ladies’ quilting group Piecemakers, which makes quilts for donation to Lutheran World Relief.

Ardy’s family was her pride and joy. She had many roles in life, but the role of Gramma was her favorite. She adored each of her nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, and they adored her right back. She also fastidiously updated and treasured the Kloster and Schultz family books that date back several generations.

She is survived by daughter Karen Rozeboom and husband Victor of Springdale, Ark.; two sons, Douglas Schultz and wife Julie of Le Mars, and Dean Schultz and wife Diana of Olathe, Kan.; nine grandchildren: Sarah Terry and husband Drew of Chesterfield, Mo.; Kathryn Lennon and husband Blake of Rogers, Ark.; Kimberly Keith and husband Timothy of Bentonville, Ark.; Leisa Renauro and husband Ryan of Springdale, Ark.; Brian Schultz and wife Shauna of Le Mars; Steven Schultz and wife Mallori of Tea, S.D.; Tyler Schultz and wife Samantha of Le Mars; Kelli McMullan and husband Peter of Overland Park, Kan.; and Bradley Schultz of Kansas City, Kan.; as well as 17 great-grandchildren: Lucy and Julia Terry; Alydia Lennon; Jackson, Grant, Carter and Hayes Renauro; Grayson and Kendall Schultz; Gunner, Scarlett and Colton Schultz; Theo, Stella and Sylvie Schultz; and Olivia and Jack McMullan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sisters, Phyllis Krumrey of Des Moines and Myrna Olsen of Racine, Wis.; and one infant brother.

~Funeral Home Obituary