Elmira Schultz

Elmira (Myra) Ann Schultz, age 96, passed away January 4, 2024.

Myra was born in Rib Falls, Wisconsin on August 31, 1927, the sixth of eight children of Edwin and Etta Baumann. Elmira grew up on a dairy farm and often told colorful stories of her childhood adventures. She enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1944 and graduated with a B.S. degree in Home Economics in 1948. Myra paid for her college education by working as a waitress and as a lab assistant for an Agronomy professor. After college she worked for a year for Wisconsin Public Service Utility demonstrating appliances and teaching cooking classes. 

Through her sister, Edna, she met and later married L. H. "Bud" Schultz in 1949. They moved to Ithaca, N. Y. where Bud was on the faculty of the Dairy Science Department at Cornell University. While there, Myra worked as a Research Assistant in the School of Home Economics. Three sons were born in Ithaca. The family moved back to Madison in 1957 when Bud joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin. In addition to taking care of three growing boys, Myra began part-time work in 1967, teaching food classes at the Madison Area Technical College.  In 1978 she started working as a Food Consultant for Saco foods, primarily developing recipes using SACO dry buttermilk and cocoa products, until her retirement in 1991. 

For many years Myra also volunteered at various community organizations. She served as a 4-H club leader, she was a cookbook judge for the Wisconsin State Journal for several years, she served as president of the University of Wisconsin organization Daughters of Demeter, and she performed many other volunteer activities at Oakwood Lutheran Homes, Red Cross Blood Mobile, and Midvale Lutheran Church. She sewed many scarves for cancer patients as part of the daughters of Demeter and knit baby sweaters for layettes put together by Midvale Church as well as for the knitting group at Oakwood. 

She was also a member of Chancel Guild at Midvale church for many years. She loved to golf and play bridge and also enjoyed camping with her family. For the last 18 years she was a resident of Oakwood Village in Madison, living independently until last year. She recently moved into assisted living at the same facility. The family is grateful for the fine facilities and staff at Oakwood and for the loving care she received there.

Her family and friends will miss her loving care and support, her special outgoing and friendly demeanor, and her wry sense of humor.

Survivors include her sons Steven (Nancy), Mark (Leanne), David (Helen), four grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband Bud Schultz, her brother Ed Baumann and her sisters Irene Rose, Edna Niedermeier, Jeannette Eldredge, Myrtle Ogilvie, Mabel Tuss and Ruth Niedermeier. 

A Celebration of Life will be held for Myra at 2:00 PM on June 8, 2024, at Midvale Community Lutheran Church, located at 4329 Tokay Blvd, Madison, WI 53711.  Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 1:00 PM, and a reception will follow the service.

Memorial donations can be sent to the L.H. "Bud" and Elmira Schultz Scholarship Fund 132278259. Checks should be payable to the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and sent to UW Foundation, U.S. Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807.