Forest James Schulze
November 16, 1915 - June 27, 2012
Obituary
Forest James Schulze
November 16, 1915—June 27, 2012
Forest James Schulze was born on November 16, 1915, to Peter and Ada Schulze on the family farm in Dayton, Ohio. The family moved to Oregon in 1923 and Forest graduated from Blue River High School in 1933. After attending heating/air-conditioning school in Chicago, he moved to Longview, Washington, and worked for the Schneider Brothers Hardware Store. Forest subsequently moved to Seattle and worked at the Boeing Company for 40 years as a machinist/planner. He married Mildred Kirchmeier on September 5, 1944, and lived in the same home in SeaTac for 66 years. Forest and Millie were married for 59 years. Forest enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, splitting firewood and square dancing. Over the years, he and his wife enjoyed camping and traveling to Europe and around the United States.
Forest lived a long and happy life and passed away on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at age 96. He was pre-deceased by his wife Mildred and son, Duane Schulze. Forest is survived by his son Richard Schulze and his wife Jeanie; his daughter Dianne Brown and her husband Jeff; his grandchildren Kim, Scott, Paul and Isabel; and great-grandchildren Ana and Eden. The family asks that in lieu of cards and flowers donations be made to a charity of your choice.
Drug a doe out of the woods – My Dad and I were hunting in eastern Washington. We had both a buck and doe tags. We were about 3 miles in and away from the car. We heard a shot and decided to investigate. Someone had shot a doe my mistake. They left the area. We had a doe tag. Guess what? We tagged the dear. Well now, we had to get the deer back to the car. We tied the hind legs together with rope and attached the rope to a small log. My Dad and I acted like Oxen drug the deer, hind feet first, all the way back to the car. We were exhausted but happy.
Helped add and remodel the house – My Dad hired me at $2.00/hour to help him double the size of the house they were living in. It took us 5 years to finish his plan. He drew up the plans himself while recovering from the Mumps. He later finalized the plans with an Architect. My Dad taught me a lot over those 5 years. He was a good and patient teacher. I learned so much. Thanks Dad!!
Stump removal at Mason Lake – I was 15 years old when my parents bought the property at Mason Lake. The property was heavily wooded and had been logged at one time. There was a 12 foot diameter stump near the road. My Dad decided to use dynamite (TNT) to move the stump. He dug holes around the perimeter of the stump and buried 80 sticks of TNT. A powder monkey from Alaska set the charges and lit the fuse. We drove ¼ miles away and waited. The TNT exploded and pieces of the stump flew everywhere. We drove back and saw a crater some 20 feet in diameter. Wow, what an experience.
Clam digging on the coast – My Dad woke me up at 11pm to dig clams near Ocean Shores, Washington. By the time we got out there, it was 2am. The reason for this early trip was we had a low-low tide. My and Dad and I grabbed our clam shoves and burlap bag and proceeded to the waters edge. I held a lantern while my Dad dug. We got our limits in short order that day.
A trip to Alaska – The family decided to take the same trip Mom and Dad did many years ago. They took the boat up to Skagway, bus tour of the Yukon and Alaska, and then flew back from Anchorage. Dianne and Jeff, Rick and Jeanie and Dad took the Holland America tour in 2008. It was one of the best vacations ever. The food was good and the scenery spectacular. We saw historic Skagway, gambled in Dawson, saw a dredge and tailings’ in Fairbanks, panned for gold, and saw wild animals in Denali. Wow, what a trip.
Taking care of Dad – My Dad decided he wanted to stay in the house until the end at 96 years old. The family worked together to make it happen. Jeanie and Dianne cleaned inside the house and Scott, Jeff and I took care of the outside. Kim, Bella and Paul also helped as they had time available. A special thanks to you Scott. I couldn’t have done all the jobs without your help. Dad did stay in the house, except for the last month. Good job to all the family members. We did it!!
Our Dad had a playful energy all his life. He was the kind of kid who asked a lot of questions and an adult who found out what he needed to know to get things done. He was solid as a rock and we knew he loved us.
When we were kids he would give us horse rides around the house after bath time and brought popcicles home from work when we were sick. Dad taught Rick, Duane and I how to drive. Not long ago he told me I was a pretty good driver and his compliment made me feel good.
He was generous and knew when to help out and when not to. Both our parents never told us what to do but let us find our own way. I felt very connected to him and I will miss him for the rest of my life.
I met Forest in 1963 when I went for a sleepover with Dianne. I remember thinking that Forest really liked young people and he took time to engage me in conversation, asking alot of questions about my family and myself. I always felt that wne Forest spoke to you, he was genuinely interested in what you had to say. He was very patient and also took time to answer my questions regarding things that were mutually interesting to us. He was the ultimate dad…I remember coming to the Schulze house one time in an old beater car and parking it waaay up the hill, as I knew Forest would be out kicking the tires and checking to see if it was safe if he saw it.
I admired the spunky Schulze can-do attitude and Forest’s obvious love for life. He was a mentor and role model in living life to the fullest no matter what your age. He adored his wife and children and always made me feel welcome in his home. I will miss him and am comforted to know that his legacy lives on in his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
I feel like I’ve known Forest just about forever… He and Millie used to square dance with my parents ‘back in the day’ and Dianne became my best friend. I fondly remember going with Forest, Millie & Dianne to meet his mother who lived in Blue River, Oregon. What a beautiful place. I understand why he liked camping and ‘the great outdoors.’ A woodsman!!! Forest and Millie owned a cabin on Mason Lake and I spent a lot of time there with the family. Forest taught us how to use the boat and water ski. Those were the days! Over the years there is one thing that never changed about Forest… He was GENUINE! Exactly who he was meant to be…A kind and caring man. A GREAT dad! He set a good example for his children and was dearly loved. You will be missed, Forest…Rest in Peace.
When I was a kid, Grandpa, Dad and I were looking through tools in the basement of a friend of Grandpa’s who had passed away. I noticed a vintage red rider BB gun hanging on the wall. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of it but I didn’t say anything. A few weeks later at a family gathering Grandpa opened the trunk of his car, pulled out the BB gun and handed it to me. I couldn’t believe it! He had noticed me looking at it and went out of his way to get it for me. That was the kind of man he was. So kind and so incredibly giving. He taught me so many things and I will have wonderful memories forever. Miss you Grandpa. R.I.P.
When my husband Rick first brought me to visit his family I was very anxious. Rick’s Mom and Dad went out of their way to make me feel at home. Forest asked me questions about my family and if I had ever been to Dayton. When I told him I had, he had even more questions–and as long as I knew him he never stopped asking them.
After dinner that first night, Forest put down his fork and asked “What’s for desert.” “Your favorite,” said Millie, “vanilla icecream and chocolate syrup.” I felt very much at home since that was pretty much the same question my father asked and my mother answered almost every night.
Before I knew it, Forest had moved right into my heart and because my Mom and Dad weren’t able to come to our wedding, Forest walked me down the aisle when I married Rick. I will miss him very much, but I’m glad he left so many memories behind. Love you Forest.
Unfortunately we did not know Forest except through Rick and Jeanie but after reading the stories we wish that we had. He sounded like such a loving, caring and giving man and can tell that he will truly be missed.
Forest was competent and responsible, but he was also an imp. You could see the child in his elderly face. He’d experiment. About a thing he’d done the same way for years, he’d often say something like, “I’m trying something new.” He’d play gentle tricks, too. Once a few of us were fishing. Forest was ahead of the rest on the trail. We rounded a corner and couldn’t see him anymore. We walked a bit further, then stopped, asking each other about Forest. Then he made a noise – he was sitting on the ground behind a tree, unseen, just a few feet from us. Then he probably said, “If I was a bear I could’ve bit you.”
When first moved to Seattle, Dianne was living at Three Tree Point. Dianne, Forest, Millie, and I were in the back yard. Maybe I had just met Dianne’s parents. Forest was splitting wood for Dianne’s fireplace. He wanted to throw the axe to me. Not spinning through the air, but with the shaft/handle vertical. I said OK. He asked me if I was sure. I said yes. He was only five feet away. He tossed and I caught. I figured it was a playful little test – was I game, and maybe man enough, to catch the axe?
it’s been a year.
i meant to write in this months and months ago, but my heart wouldn’t hear of it.
i don’t have many words for this, but i’m sure he knew how much he was loved, respected and now missed.
i think about him every day.