Maurice Lee Schultz

Maurice Lee Schultz Jr. (Lee) Born April 26, 1923 as the first of two sons to Maurice Lee Schultz Sr. and Leona Meyers Schultz, he claims to have had every childhood illness known to man before he was five years old. He then completed kindergarten through grade 12 without ever missing a day of school. His yearbook picture said he did all things well! He spent a good part of his childhood with his buddies in a double-oar rowboat, which they launched into the Detroit River from his hometown of River Rouge. He fished from the Belle River, in Lake St. Clair, down the Detroit River and as far out into Lake Erie as Breast Bay. These experiences helped forge his love for the outdoors. As a youth, he developed an extremely strong throwing arm with pinpoint accuracy, taking after his father who was an exceptional baseball player. His hand-eye coordination would ultimately result in him being the high-average bowler in the many leagues he participated in later in life. He would typically maintain a season average of approximately 190 per game. He had a dresser drawer full of 700 series patches. This athletic ability allowed him to help his softball teams to win countless league championships well into his late 40s. Lee also loved to play ice hockey, although it was clear he was not a finesse player. His stories never mentioned hat tricks or between the legs passes. His role was to thin the ranks of the opposing team. He had mastered the art of smashing a competitor into and over the boards while at the same time breaking the guy's stick. This earned him the nickname, "The Torpedo". If he were unsuccessful in knocking a guy out of the game by checking him, the left hook and right uppercut would finish the job. He also became a strong swimmer and, although not fast, he could run great distances. Chest X-rays later in life would reveal that he had an oversized heart and huge lungs, giving him abnormal aerobic capacity. His love of sports included a lifelong love of fishing and hunting. His wing shooting skills were second to none. He gave a silver medal Olympic shooter a run for his money when he was 74 years old. He just never missed and he was fast allowing him to regularly shoot five grouse with five shots. After a childhood marred by the Great Depression, he focused on his schoolwork where he excelled in math and science. Upon graduation, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps, becoming a machinist apprentice at Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Assembly Plant. In August of 1942, his cousin who also worked at Ford walked by Lee and said, "Follow me". When Lee asked where they were going, his cousin said, "It's time we go help finish this war". Lee responded, "That sounds like a good idea". They went right to the recruiting office. Lee joined the Navy and later talked his younger brother Earl (Dutch) into also joining the Navy. They vowed not to leave the Navy until the job was done. Lee became a naval aviation machinist making parts and repairing aircraft. In those days, the pilots preferred if the repair team tested the plane, so Lee learned to fly and would test the repaired planes. Later in life, he would fly the B17 bomber that had been restored by the Yankee Air Museum. After World War 2 ended, he was discharged in February 1946 with the rank of Chief. At the time he was promoted, he was one of the youngest Chiefs in the Navy. He would serve his country for many more years in the reserves. He decided to leave the reserves to focus on family just before the Korean War. His reserve unit was shipped out a few months later and everyone one of their planes was shot down. After the war, Lee returned home to River Rouge. There he met a woman named Thelma Logterman who would become his wife. She moved from South Dakota where she was raised on a farm and also worked in her father's auto repair shop. She could drive anything and fix everything. She moved to Michigan to help build amphibious assault vehicles for the war effort. She was a welder, and a darn good one. She was faster than her male counterparts and made stronger welds. When the war was over her older sister Janet told her that welding was no occupation for a lady and that she should go to cosmetology school and become a beautician. Thelma agreed partly due to gender discrimination; she was paid $30 a week while the male welders who were not as skilled received $60 per week. After completing school, she was asked to run a new salon called "Style Art" in River Rouge. A salon customer named Leona Schultz showed Thelma pictures of two handsome sailors. By this time, Thelma had given up her welding visor and was a tall, lean beauty dressed to the nines with perfect hair and make up. Leona was in the match making business and Thelma and her best friend, Sue, from South Dakota were her targets. One day, Thelma's customer, a local bar owner, told her and Sue to stop by for a free drink after work. When Thelma went into the bar she recognized the handsome sailor she had seen in the photograph and they quickly fell in love. A dual wedding would follow; Lee's brother, Earl, would also marry Thelma's best friend, Sue. Although Lee loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, hunting and sports, his true calling was that of a husband and father. Lee and Thelma raised three children, all who received four-year college degrees. He insisted that his children go to a private Christian school for as long as one was available. He stressed education, quality time with family and recreational fun throughout his life. Lee also had a great sense of humor and was famous for his quick-witted quips. Just a few weeks before his passing, a nurse walked in and said, "How are you, Maurice?" He responded, "No, I'm Napoleon; only maitre d's are named Maurice." He worked the midnight shift at Great Lakes Steel Mill for 37 years. Since he made huge parts for the steel mill, once his machine was set up, it may run for hours without need for adjustment. Most of the guys in the shop napped, but Lee was a voracious reader. One of his favorite subjects was the Federal Reserve Board. The lack of diversity on the Federal Reserve Board always bothered him. His schedule was 10 days on and 4 days off. The off days were reserved for family time. He always had boats and travel trailers. In fact, the family visited every state park campground in the state of Michigan. When he camped, Lee made sure that all his friends and relatives knew they were always invited and welcome. Evenings were spent around the campfire telling stories, joking around and maybe having a couple beers with friends, new and old. Thelma did hair in the basement of their home and worked at the phone company around Christmas. Lee would pull doubles at Great Lakes Steel to make sure his family was well taken care of and had everything they ever wanted. Lee retired at 62 years old and became a snowbird, spending winters at his home in Englewood, Florida. He and Thelma loved the social scene there and made many friends. They played cards ("hand and foot" was his favorite) and other games with friends and family. He did a lot of boating and fishing. He spent many nights shrimping out on the local piers and docks. He continued to enjoy summers in Michigan, fishing and camping. His favorite season was fall at the family hunting camp in Jackson, Michigan. Lee was blessed with exceptionally good health until his mid-80s when he began to show signs of Alzheimer's. His wife of 69 years stood lovingly and loyally by his side as the primary care giver until he departed this world for Heaven on February 19, 2016. He is survived by his wife Thelma and his 3 children and their (spouses), Lonna (Paul), Larry (Nancy) and Alan F. (Eva); 5 grandsons and their (spouses), Tim (Debbie), Alan L. (Precious), Eric (Alyssa), Paul (Shannon) and Nick; 5 great-grandchildren Alan M., Logan, Luke, Olivia and Eleanora. They will all miss his love and humor, but cherish his memory and the impact he had on their lives. View Maurice's video tribute by clicking the multimedia tab above.