Ella Mae Ward Schulze was born October 15, 1926, to Ned Donald “Hap” Ward
and Anna Marie (Miller) Ward in her parents’ rural farm home in
Gothenburg, NE. Ella Mae grew up with four brothers, Donald, Fred,
Scott, and John. She passed away on April 19, 2022, at Whispering Pines,
Norton, KS at the age of 95.
Ella Mae attended Antelope Rural School. Because of sickness, Ella
Mae had to repeat first grade, but made that year up by completing 5th
and 6th grade in one year. The family moved to Gothenburg where Ella
Mae graduated from Gothenburg High School with the Class of 1944.
During her junior and senior years of high school, she was a part of the
Work Study program, working as a bookkeeper for Swanson Oil.
Immediately after graduation, Ella Mae car pooled to Lexington, NE where
she worked for the Wartime Rations Board. Even though she was only
eighteen, Ella Mae became the office manager over five other employees.
Later she transferred to North Platte, NE, to work for the Civilian
Rations Board. When that office closed, she went to work in the office
of Crawford Electric as a secretary, traveling with the office to
wherever construction was taking place in Kansas and Nebraska.
She met Glenn Schulze at the Norton office when she came down the
stairs to deliver a message to his boss. On April 7, 1950, Glenn and
Ella Mae exchanged their vows at the Methodist Church Parsonage in
Columbus, NE, making their home in North Platte, NE. In 1951, Glenn and
Ella Mae moved back to the family farm in Norton after the death of
Glenn’s brother. In 1959, they purchased a farm closer to Norton where
they would live for over 60 years and raise four children.
Ella Mae was an extraordinary farmer’s wife to Glenn and mother to
their four children. Gardening and canning, processing chickens, taking
meals to the harvest field, cooking and baking ensured that her family
was well taken care of for many years. She served over 25 years in the
nursery at the Norton Christian Church. Ella Mae had the magic touch
with children, especially babies. She loved to play card games with
neighbors and grandchildren. She threw endless baseballs at the bat of a
waiting grandchild. Ella Mae’s chicken and noodles will be missed at
family gatherings. Ella Mae was active in her church circle, Vitaband
exercise classes, EHU, FHA, and 4-H. Reading, embroidery, and watching
“Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” were favorite hobbies in her later
years. In the 1960s, Ella Mae began working at the local sale barns and
auction company, eventually becoming the office manager for Norton
Livestock Auction for many years. She was proud of the fact she was
heterochromic, having one blue eye and one brown eye.
Glenn and Ella Mae were privileged to live on their family farm
until May 2020 when they entered the Andbe Home after Ella Mae fell,
breaking a hip. A second broken hip and COVID delayed Ella Mae’s
reunion with Glenn after he relocated to Whispering Pines. In August
2021, Ella Mae and Glenn were reunited and were able to celebrate their
72nd wedding anniversary before Ella Mae’s death.
Surviving are husband, Glenn, a son Timothy (Mary) Schulze of
Norton, KS, daughters LuAnn Walters of Hays, KS, Glenda (Bob) Susnik of
Pittsburg, KS and Roberta (Jeff) Cramer of Leawood, KS, brother John
(Karen) Ward of Roseville, CA, and sister-in-law Mary Ward of
Gothenburg, NE. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and
fourteen great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Don, Scott, and Fred and son-in-law Robert Walters.
A memorial service will be held at a future date. Memorial
contributions may be made to Norton Christian Church or Whispering
Pines, Norton, KS and may be sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home,
215 W. Main Street, Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at
www.plumergobber.com