Albert W. ‘Abe’ Schulze
Abe took his final walk with J.C. and the boys on November 8, 2008, the day he lost his courageous battle with cancer.
He was born on November 24, 1939 in Sedro-Woolley, one of thirteen children of Herbert & Grace Johnston Schulze.
Abe was raised mostly in Birdsview. He attended grade school in Burlington and then in Hamilton, completing his education at Sedro-Woolley High School.
In 1958 Abe enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving his country in Germany for two years and then at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri until his discharge in 1961. He then returned to Skagit County where he married Margaret Largent and helped raise her eight children. He worked for local shake mills for a while and then for Lone Star Cement in Concrete for several years. He then followed Margaret to Circleville, Ohio where he worked manufacturing poles for pole buildings.
Abe returned to Skagit County after a few years and worked as a bar tender in Hamilton and then began a career as a truck driver. He drove long haul for Brown Line and locally for Kaaland Mill. He traveled to all of the continental United States except Rhode Island and that was by choice.
Abe enjoyed working puzzles, playing solitaire and reading Louie Lamour novels.
He is survived by his two brothers, Julius Schulze Maria of Birdsview and Gordon Schulze of Wentachee. Three sisters, Della Allen of Sandpoint, Idaho, Bonnie Wolfe of Birdsview and Louise Bennett of Newberg, Oregon. His former wife, Margaret Schulze of Circleville, Ohio. Good friends, Bob Hall & Sharon Pignano. His cat, Lucky aka ‘Airborn’; cousin, Donnie Johnston; two sisters-in-law, Karen Schulze and Rita Schulze; his eight former step-children and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Walter, Evert, Alvin, Herbert & Ralph Schulze; two sisters, Willmetta Ryan and Virginia Pease and his faithful companion, his dog Jack.
The Schulze family wish to acknowledge Doctors Garcia, Mathey and Muff and their staff and also the staff at North Puget Oncology, Life Care Center of Skagit Valley and Skagit Hospice for their loving care.
Memorials in memory of Abe are requested to the Hamilton Food Bank.
A Graveside Inurnment service with Military Honors will be held at the Hamilton Cemetery on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 3:00 PM.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.