Kenneth “Kenny” Ernest Schultz, age 93, of Wykoff, Minn., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at Spring Valley Senior Living in Spring Valley, Minn.
Kenny was born in Preston, Minn., on July 30, 1929, the son of Richard and Pauline (Bender) Schultz. He was the second youngest of 16 children. Kenny was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Preston, Minn. He lived on the Schultz family farm by Preston until his marriage to Mercedes Bicknese. They were married on April 10, 1955, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff, Minn. He then became a member of St. Johns.
After getting married, Kenny started farming with his father-in-law on the family farm where Mercedes was born and raised in Fountain Township. In 1960 they purchased the farm from Mercedes’ parents and continued farming there until moving to Wykoff in 1996, where they built a new home. They were the third generation to own the family farm and it became recognized as a Century Farm in 1987. Even after moving to town, Kenny was out at the farm almost every day helping out however he could. The farm continues in the family and is now owned by their son Kevin and his wife Kim. It has been in the family for 135 years.
Kenny always loved farming and his “green” John Deere machinery. He raised cattle, hogs, sheep and crops. To him farming was not a job, but rather a way of life where you get to see and enjoy the fruits of your labor each and every day. He believed that hard work and perseverance always paid off. He trusted that the Lord would provide for him and his family.
In 1992, Kenny fought and won a battle with colon cancer, and he remained cancer free the rest of his life. In 2008, shortly after having a heart surgery procedure, Kenny suffered a stroke. From that time on he was bound to a wheelchair and was able to reside at home with the help and care of his beloved wife Mercedes. He only spent the last two months of his life at Spring Valley Senior Living. Through all of his health issues, he kept a positive attitude and never complained.
Kenny loved playing cards with friends and family. He and Mercedes played “500” in the same card club of friends for 52 years! The Schultz Clan usually played Whist and his in-laws always played Pinochle or Euchre. Kenny also enjoyed listening and dancing to waltz and polka music. He always liked listening to and watching the MN Twins and Vikings.
One of the things that Kenny most liked to do was bowling. He was on bowling leagues most of his life until he suffered his stroke. He didn’t let that stop him though; with today’s technology, he was still able to bowl at home on the Wii. If you ever stopped by to visit, you might have gotten talked into bowling a game or two with him!
Kenny’s passing marks the end of a generation, as he was the last remaining sibling of his family. We will all miss his wonderful, kind, infectious smile, but will remember it forever!!
Kenny is survived by his wife Mercedes, and three children: Julene (Craig) Stortz of Canton, Minn., David (Doreen) Schultz of Wykoff, Minn., and Kevin (Kim) Schultz of Fountain, Minn.; 11 grandchildren: Angela (Grant) Linderbaum, Ossian, Iowa, Nick Stortz, Canton, Minn., Tina (Matt) Swenson, Mabel, Minn., Amanda (Jake) Schulte, Houston, Minn., Tyler (Aryn) Stortz, Mabel, Minn., Christopher (Lydia) Schultz, Wykoff, Minn., Tiffany (John) Hanson, Lanesboro, Minn., Danielle Schultz, Northfield, Minn., Megan Schultz, Omaha, Nebr., Nicole Schultz, Fountain, Minn., and Dylan Schultz, Fountain, Minn.; 17 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Virginia Schultz, Remer, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Pauline Schultz and all of his 15 siblings: Florence (Ralph) Odden, Walter (Gena) Schultz, Julises Ruben Schultz (infant), Paul (Dorothy) Schultz, Art (Muriel) Schultz, Ann (Orson) Bush, Otto (Leone) Schultz, Carl (Nona) Schultz, Pauline (Clarence) Hanson, Clarence Schultz, Leona (Robert) Grisham, Richard (Maxine) Schultz, Bernice (Sid) Halverson, Philip Schultz, Margaret (Walter) Hemker; great-granddaughter Brooke Linderbaum, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, November 5, 2022, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff, Minn., with Pastor Michael Harman officiating. Public visitation will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. on Friday at the Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Wykoff, Minn., and will continue for one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday.
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