Lowell "Gene" Schulze, 93, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away suddenly December 31, 2014 at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, one day after his 93rd birthday following a short hospitalization for congestive heart failure and spinal fractures after a fall.

Gene was born in Halstead, Kansas to Ethel Florence Young and Herman Fredrick Schulze on December 30, 1921. He grew up on a farm in Bentley, Kansas. In the third grade, he contracted Polio and survived without paralysis or limb wasting due to a new treatment offered at the Halstead Hospital called the Sister Kinny Method.

After high school graduation in 1942, he enlisted in the Coast Guard, just missing the draft letter that came in the mail days later. He left his farm on June 18, 1942 for training in Boston and Connecticut for one year of pharmacist mate school. This was a very fortunate turn for him, all because in boot camp, the boys were asked to raise their hand if they could type. He'd had typing in high school, raised his hand and was placed on a path that avoided direct battle. It also is where he met his life-long friend, Ed Brewer.

He was then sent to Grand Isle, Louisiana and New Orleans before shipping off to the South Pacific. He served aboard the USS Rochambeau, the USS Coronado, and the USS Long Beach. He was assigned to a hospital in New Guinea as medical administrative officer. He had lots of memories, both good and scary, of those days on the island with the native people; part of the island was still occupied by Japan. He left New Guinea for two invasions on the Philippine Islands and Leyte. He liked the fact that he had gone through what is now the Panama Canal both directions. He was discharged April 14, 1945.

He soon met and married Maewoodean Nulph, the love and joy of this life for 69 years. They married on October 18, 1945 and were very happy all these years. Gene went to work at the VA Hospital in Wichita, Kansas as Personnel Administrator for 30 years before moving to Winfield, Kansas. There, he was a life insurance agent for National Life and Accident.

He had two daughters that he loved very much and was so proud of: Brenna (Paul) Scoville of Arizona and Ann (Kirk Jones) Newman of Washington State.

Gene's faith was very strong and a very important part of this life. He was always active in his church, starting with singing at his boyhood church in Mount Hope, Kansas with sister, Donna and brother, Wayne. He was in the choir at Cedar Chapel Methodist in Wichita and Sunday School President for many years at First United Methodist Church in Winfield. Most of their social lives revolved around family get-togethers and vacations with their brothers and sisters. There were many travels with his brother, Wayne and sister-in-law, Susan, as well as company trips through National Life with his in-laws, Norma Jean and Freeman Bishop and Dwight Nulph.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Lorraine, Erma (Robert) Roeder and Donna (Earl) Wilson, his brother, Lynn and nephew, Jeff Schulze.

He is survived by his wife, Maewoodean Schulze; brother, Wayne; daughters, Brenna and Ann; grandchildren, Angie (Chuck) Clark, Sean (Sarah) Scoville, Meagan Newman; and great grandson, Caleb Clark. He has numerous nieces and nephews who love their Uncle Gene.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, January 9, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church in Winfield. Private inurnment will take place at a later date. Miles Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.