Roy F Schulz

Roy Schulz, age 89, of Mankato died Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the Benedictine Living Community, St. Peter.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Mankato. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato. Visitation will be held one hour before service at church on Thursday. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Roy was born November 20, 1920 in Mankato to Fred and Nettie (Schmidt) Schulz. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato and was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Clair. He graduated from St. Clair High School and attended Mankato State College for two years.

Roy married Velma Juliar on June 28, 1944 at United Brethren Church in St. Clair. Roy farmed in Decorah Township for several years, was a Federal Crop Insurance agent, and belonged to several farm and conservation clubs. He formerly served on the Immanuel Hospital Board of Directors, Golden "K" Kiwanis, local AARP officer, local SCORE Chapter advisor, St. Paul Athletic Club, Minnesota Retired Legislators Society, and a long time member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, where he had served as elder and past president of the congregation.

Roy was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1950 and retired in 1970. He was chairman of University, Motor Vehicles, and Education Committees. He was the National Director of Council of State Governments, whose members were governors and legislative leaders from each state. He also was an assistant majority leader of the house, chief author of several proposals that became state laws, including "right turn on red", mandatory eye examination for drivers license renewals, master degree program for all state colleges, and local referendum for school consolidation. He favored the new campus for Mankato State College and assisted in obtaining state appropriations for new classrooms, dormitories, and athletic facilities for the new campus. From 1972-1992, he was consultant and lobbyist for Minnesota Real Estate Tax Payers Association (MRETA) and wrote monthly articles for the Minnesota Tax Payers Magazine with over 40,000 members for several years.

Roy was a fast pitch softball pitcher for several teams in the area during his youth and enjoyed watching all sporting events. He and his wife spent several winter months in Winter Haven, Florida, where he enjoyed senior softball, golf, Winter Haven Kiwanis, Grace Lutheran Church, and the Sunshine Club of Florida. He and his wife also enjoyed traveling, including 49 of the 50 states, most of the provinces of Canada, Mexico, and Europe, Asia, and Australia, enjoying New Zealand the most.

Roy is survived by his wife, Velma; three daughters, Cheryl (John) Adolphson of Rochester, Joy Schulz of Rosemount, Dawn (Paul) Clouse of Smithville, MO; four grandchildren, Susan (Corey) Henke, David Adolphson, Sara and Jacob Clouse, nieces and nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by two sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law.