Dean J. Schultz

Dean J. Schultz, 81, of Story City, formerly of Grundy Center, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2024, at Bethany Life in Story City.

A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. until time of memorial service at 10:30 a.m. at Cornerstone Methodist Church in Grundy Center. Inurnment will be private. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Dean was born on Sept. 26, 1942, in Marshalltown, to Clarence and Virginia (Johnston) Schultz. He was raised on a farm in Grundy Center and graduated from Grundy Center High School in the class of 1960. He attended Upper Iowa University but later returned to Grundy Center to help on the farm.

Dean was united in marriage to Kay Kruse on Oct. 25, 1963, at the Cornerstone Methodist Church in Grundy Center and they welcomed their daughters Diane and Deb into their family.

Dean took a substitute position at the Post Office and was then hired full time. He worked there until he retired as a Postal Supervisor. After retirement he drove bus for many years for the Grundy Center Community Schools as well as for the sporting events. He later moved to Story City and there he also drove bus for the schools and sporting events. He was very happy to be able to drive his grandsons to their baseball games. He was affectionately known as the bus driver “with the bibs and the white beard.” Dean was a reserve police officer for many years in Grundy Center. He served on the Grundy Center Planning and Zoning Board. Dean was a long-time member of the Cornerstone Methodist Church. and was a member of the Grundy Center Emerald AF&AM #334 Masonic Lodge.

He liked to travel. Some of his favorite travels were Colorado ski trips, prairie dog hunting with his high school buddies, trips to Hawaii and Alaska, and camping trips with his grandsons. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger years. He enjoyed coffee with friends at Manly Drug and anywhere he was there was a coffee pot on nearby. His true joy in life came from spending time with his family and friends and his grandsons were his pride and joy.

Left to cherish Dean’s memory are his daughter Deb (Rich) Berends of Story City; grandsons Steven Schultz and Alex Dean Berends; many nieces and nephews; as well as many great nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife Kay; and daughter: Diane Schultz (1992).

Click here to visit the Abels Funeral and Cremation Service website.