Debra R. Schultz

Deb Rae Schultz, beloved wife of Don Schultz and mother of four sons Chad, Cliffton, Cole, and Clark Schultz passed away in the evening of February 3rd 2024 at the age of 68 years, 4 months, and 18, days. Deb (Zauha) was born September 16, 1955 in Albion, NE to Buster and Rae Jean Zauha of Arcadia, NE. Deb graduated from Arcadia high school in 1973. She was the homecoming queen of Arcadia, and married her high school sweetheart and homecoming king, Don Schultz on September 29th, 1973. After the wedding, Deb and Don operated a dairy farm where they began to raise their sons. Deb also worked at the Arcadia Public School as the school’s secretary and nurse. She also occasionally drove the school bus route and took children to activities with selfless generosity. Deb was always a devout Catholic, regularly attending Mass each Sunday. She raised her children in the Catholic faith and instilled values of reverence in God the Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Deb moved the family to Shickley, NE in 1992, after they sold their dairy cattle and equipment retaining most of the ranch land. Deb found employment at Cornhusker Farms and Wildcat Enterprises Trucking company before finding her career opportunity at Bruning State Bank where she worked for 26 years. Deb was an integral part of the community as she found opportunities to serve its people and church. She worked at the café part time, attended church and school activities, and even ran the paper route for two major newspapers in town. In 1996, Deb and Don moved into Shickley’s city limits where they remodeled their home to accommodate their son’s entering college, high school, and junior high. There was never a quiet moment in that house for years to come. Deb loved hosting family gatherings with love and communion with her family, and lots of meals! After all of Deb’s children began having families of their own, Deb absolutely loved catering those same family gatherings with her growing number of grandchildren. Each of her boys, their wives, and their families were her whole life. There were various sporting events, concerts, dance recitals, and every other family birthday and event in between that she loved attending. She would always see the joy of her children and grandchildren reciprocated from the values she passed down. Deb would become challenged in 2017 when she found out with her beloved husband Don that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Her faith and her love of her family was never deterred, and she was very strong throughout the treatments and care until Don’s passing in 2020. After Don’s passing, Deb enjoyed going back to Arcadia to that same farm she began raising her four boys (CJS4). There she loved spending time with her boys at their hunting cabin where she consistently gave her “helpful suggestions” on how to move forward with the floorplan. She also loved to landscape that cabin property and keep her “vacation home” clean, tidy, and feeling like home. She especially loved mowing and keeping her sons busy! Deb had always had a vision with Don that their kids would grow up to inherit their farmland and pass it down generation to generation. She was a kind-hearted person who put her family first and was loved by many. Deb will be laid to rest with her husband in Arcadia cemetery. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Chad and Jessica Schultz, Cliff and Shannon Schultz, Cole and Alexa Schultz, Clark and Theresa Schultz. Buster (Ray) and Rae Jean Zauha, her Dad and Mom. Brothers and sisters-in-law Dean and Penny Zauha, Dave and Cindy Zauha, Doug Zauha. She was preceded in death by her brother Dennis Zauha. She was sister-in-law to Sharon Harvey, Sandy Schultz, Ken Schultz, and Dick Schultz. She leaves behind a legacy of many grandchildren (Camden, Sloan, Bailey, Jalen, Logan, Jameson, Everett, Lilian, Wyatt, Evelyn, Edison, and Olive) nieces, nephews, and many friendships she made along the way! A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Deb was held on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Shickley, Nebraska. Father Harlan Waskowiak presided over the Mass. Carol Grote was the organist and she accompanied the congregation in the singing of “On Eagle’s Wings,” “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Song Of Farewell.” Honorary Pallbearers included Camden Schultz, Jalen Schultz, Everett Schultz, Jameson Schultz, Bailey Schultz, Evelyn Schultz, Sloan Schultz, Logan Schultz, Lily Schultz, Wyatt Schultz, Olive Schultz, and Edison Schultz. A Graveside Committal of Ashes was held in the Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, Nebraska on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. with Father Richard Piontowski presiding. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in care of the arrangements and online condolences can be left at www.farmerandsonfuneralhome.com Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.

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Debra R. Schultz

September 16, 1955 - February 3, 2024