Josephine Frances Dauber Schulte was born March 3, 1923, in Hays, KS, and died at the age of 97 on August 29, 2020. She spent her childhood near Bunker Hill, KS, where her parents farmed and ranched. She attended Cedar Creek, a one room elementary school, and graduated from Bunker Hill High School. She attended Fort Hays State College and taught in rural schools in the Russell area and then went on to earn a BS degree in Home Economics from Fort Hays State in 1948. She later taught Clothing at Dodge City Senior High School. She was also a couture seamstress and used her skills to make many tailored clothing items and special occasion dresses.
Josephine met the love of her life, Louis Schulte, at a wedding dance, and they were married June 14, 1949, making their home outside Norton, KS. Together they raised five children, ran a farming and ranching operation, and were active in St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and the Norton community. Jo also belonged to American Association of University Women and Delta Kappa Gamma. For over 35 years, Jo was a substitute teacher in the Norton Community Schools.
After Louis’s death in 1993, Jo moved to Hays, Kansas and was active in Friends of the Library, Meals on Wheels, and Big Creek Quilt Guild. At St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Jo was involved in both Ladies Guild and the catechumen program, where she enjoyed teaching church history. Because of her talent and generosity, countless people have benefited from receiving hand sewn quilts and gifts of needlework. Jo enjoyed reading and instilled that love in generations of her family.
In recent years, she made her home in Overland Park, living with family. During that time, Jo and her family received excellent support from caregivers, nurses, home health aides, therapists, chaplains, and social workers from Catholic Communities Hospice and Phoenix Home Health as well as the eucharistic ministry of St. Pius X Church. Her family is grateful for the care and concern she received.
She is survived by her sister, Rosanna Gleason, Kinsley KS; her children: Paula Neuer (Fred), Shawnee, KS; Luanne Schulte (Matt Anderson), San Francisco, CA; Jo Jean Schulte (David Johnson), Overland Park, KS; Clare Gustin (Brent), Hays, KS; and Maury Schulte, Overland Park, KS; grandchildren: Eric Neuer (Melinie), Olathe, KS, Chris Neuer (Gabrianna), Lake Quivera, KS, Anne Hayter (Doran), Platte City, KS, Keith Gustin (Sara Nicole), Hays, KS, Sarah Jo Gustin, Kansas City, KS, Austin Johnson, Loveland, CO, and David Johnson, Fort Collins, CO; great grandchildren: Delaney and Avery Neuer; Fritz, Felix and Franklin Neuer; Clare Hayter; Levi Gustin; and Zayden Johnson; many nieces and nephews, and many friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Louis; her brother, Joseph Jr. and wife Kathleen; her sister, Edna Dauber Schulte and husband Elmer Schulte; brother-in-law, James Gleason, and an infant brother, Richard Dauber.
Due to the current pandemic, a memorial mass will be announced at a later date. Final interment will be in the cemetery of Norton, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Louis and Josephine Schulte Family Scholarship at: Fort Hays State University: https://foundation.fhsu.edu/schulte-family-scholarship or, St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas https://membership.faithdirect.net/givenow/KS870/26056 or Big Creek Guild, Hays, Kansas https://www.facebook.com/BigCreekQuiltGuild/