Clayton L. Schulz

MASON CITY: Clayton Leroy Schulz, 88, of Mason City, died Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held 1:30 PM Saturday, December 12, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave, Mason City, with Rev. Kathleen R. Moore and Rev. James W. Stiles officiating. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue at the church on Saturday one hour before services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund or Hospice of North Iowa.

Clayt was born July 27, 1927 in Farmington, Minnesota, the son of LeRoy and Pearl (Duff) Schulz. He graduated from Austin High School, Austin, Minnesota where he was an All-State baseball player. He went on to attend Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Clayt married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Lane August 6, 1949 in Austin. Clayt’s 73-year love for work and people started with Gildner’s Clothing Store in Austin, Minnesota in 1942. After returning from his service in the Navy in 1946, he continued at Gildner’s, moving to the Mason City store in 1948. He became a partner with Gildner’s in 1956 at the Waterloo, Iowa store. In 1961, Clayt & Bev returned to Mason City to raise their family and to start his 25-year career at St. Clair-Starks Clothing Store. He was named manager in 1965 and continued in that role until the store’s closing in 1986. In the spring of 1987, Clayt joined Major Erickson Funeral Home to initiate their Pre-Need program and utilized his gift of service as a Pre-arrangement Counselor until his retirement in October 2015.

Clayt loved and served the Mason City community. For many years he participated in numerous Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association activities. He served on the Ambassadors where he was a 5-time Ambassador of the Year and was honored in 2014 for his many years of service. He was active in the Noon Lions Club and served as President. He volunteered at the First United Methodist Church, serving as their treasurer for 20 years and on a number of committees including the Board of Trustees and Endowment Committee. Clayt volunteered with Hospice of North Iowa, served on the Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery Board, and was a 12-gallon Red Cross Blood Donor.

Friendships were very important to Clayt. He greatly enjoyed playing golf and having coffee with his many friends. He rarely missed his weekly routines with his closest friends, maintaining them throughout his days in Mason City. Clayt and Bev were avid card players, participating in numerous bridge tournaments. He was an ardent sports fan and loved the Boston Red Sox and Iowa Hawkeyes. Clayt’s faith was an important part of his life. He shared his faith in the way he lived, the way he loved and the way he served. He especially enjoyed the morning Bible study he led for many years.

Clayt is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Mason City; 4 children, Susan L. Schulz of Decorah, Iowa, Steven L. Schulz (Marcia) of Mason City, Sally L. Hildebrant (Clay) of Alpharetta, Georgia and Scott L. Schulz (Michele) of Wyoming, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren, Matthew Anders, Jonathan Schulz, Mark Schulz, Vittoria Schulz, Kara Schulz, Curtis Hildebrant, Adam Hildebrant, Carly Hildebrant, Thomas Schulz, Jeffrey Schulz, and James Schulz; 1 sister, Janis Schlimmer of Newburgh, Indiana.

Clayt was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Fred Schulz.