Julie Jean Schultz

Julie Jean (Pulliam) Schultz passed away on January 21, 2025, at the age of 86 in Topeka, Kansas.

 She was born October 24, 1938, in Grand Island, Nebraska to Dick David and Susan “Marjorie” Elaine (McFarland) Pulliam.

 Julie graduated from Grand Island High School in 1956. The family enjoyed summers at Kuesters Lake in Grand Island, residing there after her father passed. Marjorie married H.E. “Woody” Woodcox in 1955 in Topeka, Kansas, and Julie joined them after high school. She attended Washburn University and worked at Roy Frey Western Store. Julie then attended Colorado State University in Ft. Collins where she taught western horsemanship and managed the stables.

 After returning to Topeka, she worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone as a long-distance operator. She always said she was going to marry a farmer, and that is what she did on April 22, 1962, marrying Cleo Schultz at Highland Park United Methodist Chapel in Topeka. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage on their ranch in Alma, Kansas.

 Together with Cleo, she poured her life and her love into their children, grandchildren and the land she loved. She was an active partner on the ranch with Cleo and loved living in the beautiful Flint Hills of Wabaunsee County. After her children were grown, she worked off the ranch in various positions with Wabaunsee High School, the Alma Manor, Stonewall Café, the Wabaunsee County Extension office, and at Derby Hall on the KSU campus, among others. 

 She dearly loved her family, had many diverse interests, and she loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her hobbies included rock hounding and artifact hunting, and in the 1990s she was an active participant in an organized dig in Wabaunsee County. She enjoyed playing bunco, playing with her grandchildren, who she loved very much, and watching cutting horse events. She was a member of the Wabaunsee County Historical Society and the Rodeo Historical Society in Oklahoma. She researched her family’s genealogy for years, forming relationships with many family members she located. She loved photography and was always taking a picture of this or sneaking a picture of that. She entered her photos in contests at the local bank, the county fair, and in magazines, winning several awards and ribbons.

 Julie was baptized by full immersion at First Christian Church in Grand Island, later affirming her faith through confirmation at St. John Lutheran Church, Alma in 1963 where she remained a member for over 60 years. She loved to express her faith through service and accepted every opportunity to do so. She sang tenor in the church choir, taught Sunday School, and helped with Vacation Bible School when her children were young. She enjoyed helping the builders of Memorial Hall, participating in Friendship Circle and Altar Guild at St. John, and in the local Community Health Ministry.

 Julie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jerry Pulliam, stepfather H.E. “Woody” Woodcox and stepsister Harriet “Happy” McLeod. 

She is survived by Cleo of the home, son Scott (Linda) Schultz in Baldwin City, and daughter Jamie Schultz of Ft. Worth, Texas. Her four grandchildren, the love and light of her life, are Amanda Schultz in Leawood, Jesse Schultz in Birmingham, Alabama, Craig (Shannon) Nations in Spring Hill, and Curtis (Madeline) Nations in Longmont, Colorado. She was so blessed to be survived by so many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends who added joy to her life.

 The family is very grateful to her local caregivers, Brenda Havenstein, Michelle Neill, and Megan TenEyck; to the Heritage Home in Alma, and to the many providers, nurses and team members at Wamego Health Center and Stormont Vail Hospital, and Pastor Robert Grimm. Her life was enriched by your care. She also cherished close neighbors and friends who routinely showed love and care without hesitation.

 Family and friends will gather to honor Julie's life during a memorial service on January 25, 2025. This service will take place at St. John Lutheran Church, located at 218 West 2nd Street, Alma, Kansas, beginning at 11:00 AM followed by a luncheon in the memorial hall. Memorial contributions can be made payable to the St. John Lutheran School and can be left in the care of Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48 Wamego, Kansas 66547.