Rev. Warren O. Schulz

Rev. Warren O. Schulz, 84, died May 10, 2018 at Our Lady of Peace Home in St. Paul. Pastor Schulz was a Wisconsin native, born and raised in Sheboygan, and a 1971 graduate of Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque IA. Before entering the seminary, he taught school at the Wichita Lutheran School in Kansas, and sold pharmaceuticals for G. D. Searle Company, traveling Southern Wisconsin. While at the seminary he was the local weatherman on channel KDUB in Dubuque where he also cut commercial spots for various regional and local businesses.

After serving congregations in North Dakota at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and First Lutheran in Valley City, as well as Our Saviors in Beloit, Wisconsin,
Warren was brought on to the Southern Wisconsin District Staff of the ALC and deployed to handle transition dynamics in local congregations, working closely with The Rev. Marshall Pechauer. This led to working with Alban Institute to help form the Interim Ministry Network in 1978. He became its first President. Pastor Schulz served as consultant or Interim Pastor to 30 congregations throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Hawaii.

Warren was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, two daughters, Stephanie and Sandra, and his first wife, Lydia. He leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Kathy, daughters Suzanne (Rev. James) Robinson, and Stacey (Greg) Eisert, one sister, Lorna Schmidt, five stepsons, Jeffrey (Michelle) Hilborn, Tad (Michael Schmitz) Hilborn, Paul (Nancy) Hilborn, Matthew Hilborn, and Dana (Jackie) Albrecht, grandchildren Jennifer (Michael) Francone, Paul Schulz, Jason (Alisha) Eisert, Christopher (Maggie) Eisert, step-grandchildren Morgan (Max) Runke, Katelyn Hilborn, Madisyn Hilborn, Adam Martin, Beau Hilborn, Gage Hilborn, Anna Hilborn, Aly (Alex Stark) Hilborn, Emerson Hilborn, Carson Hilborn and Emma Hilborn, great grandsons William and Grant Francone, Kai, Carson, Finn and Cohen Eisert, and one step great granddaughter Piper Mei Hilborn; also niece Vicki (Joel) Ruetten, nephew Peter (Andrea Larsen) Schmidt and niece Heidi (Matt) Wallner.

Warren was known for his teasing of the grandchildren, giving them nicknames, all the while "teaching" them some facts about life. Warren was a dynamic preacher and a passionate trombone player, after retirement fronting the Sanok Dixieland Jazz Band, playing gigs throughout the Twin Cities. Warren will be remembered for his strong opinions, his joy of debating theology and other topics, his love of music, martinis and cigars. He read the daily papers from beginning to end, devoured books and magazines regularly so he'd be ready for a good discussion with family or a wonderful book club as well as around the fire while camping with good friends. He was a bleeding heart liberal, helping the most destitute in this life, the homeless, the unfortunate and the down-and-outers. We loved him dearly. He tried to make this world a better place.