Ricky Lynn Schutz

November 30, 1953 - July 3, 2017

It is with great sadness that the family of Ricky Lynn Schutz announces his passing after a hard fought battle against Mantle Cell Lymphoma, on Monday, July 3, 2017, at the age of 63 years. A native of Toppenish, Washington, Rick was born on November 30, 1953 to Melvin and Delta Schutz. Throughout his early years, he spent a great deal of time fishing with his grandparents and enjoying the outdoors with his parents and sister. He never met an animal he didn’t try to rescue, a trait that endured throughout his lifetime. In high school, he loved football, racing cars (and wrecking them), hunting, and fishing. He graduated from Toppenish High School in 1972 as a proud Wildcat. In 1973, he married his high school sweetheart, Debra Ann (Stewart) Schutz. On June 2nd they celebrated their 44th Anniversary. One of Rick’s greatest endeavors was being a father and grandfather. Rick will be lovingly remembered by his children, Jacob, Jessica (Rob) Bjur, Janay (Joseph) Monzingo, John and Joshua. He loved his children but he adored his “babies”, his 6 grandkids Michael, Charlene, Jacob, Ava, McKenna and Harper even more. One of his favorite past times the last few years was playing and being with his grandchildren. He would always attempt to wind them up before leaving just so he could remind his children of who the real boss of the family was. Throughout his life, Rick worked in many different occupations including the grocery business, retail, and agricultural work. Rick was a jack of many trades but specialized in painting. He owned and operated Schutz Painting for many years. He took great pride in his craftsmanship and could often be heard saying there was nothing more fun than watching paint dry. Rick may have enjoyed painting homes, but his true passions were coaching and being a member of the Toppenish School Board. He coached countless girls and boy’s youth teams throughout the decades including those of his kids and grandkids. He will be remembered by many in the Wildcat Nation for his love of youth and high school sports. He could be found most often in a gym or on a field, cheering for his team. His voice was loud and was only matched by his passion for kids. Rick proudly served for 22 years on the Toppenish School Board with many of those years as Board President. He believed wholly in the school district mission that Kids Come First and he modeled it within his own family, rarely missing a game, event, or activity. Rick is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, his mother Delta, and his sister Cheryl (Schutz) Affholter. He is also survived by his nephews Andy (Diane), Randy (Tara) and Shannon (Shannon) Affholter, their children, and a host of other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Melvin “Papa” Schutz, and his grandparents. He is also preceded in death by his in-laws, Gene and Corinne Stewart. Rick was a friend to many and loved to share a story or two (or three). His family would like to honor his life by celebrating together on Saturday, July 15 at 10:30 am at A.J. Strom Gymnasium in Toppenish. All are welcome as Rick would often say that there is always room for one more at the table. In lieu of flowers, the family has established the Rick Schutz Scholarship Fund in his memory. Donations can be made directly to the Toppenish School District with a note to show that it’s for the scholarship. Once a wildcat, always a wildcat. Our family would like to send a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to everyone who has cared for our dad over the last 2 years. We would not have had this extra time without all of your tireless efforts. We would especially like to thank Dr. Stephen Smith, Dr. Sandra Kanan, Stephanie, and the rest of the staff at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. We would also like to thank Dr. Vickie Jones and her staff at North Star Lodge. There are no words to express our gratitude to the doctors and nurses on the 2nd and 5th floors at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital whom helped dad fight right up to the end. Dr. Waber, Maggie, Kat, David and Suzanne from Virginia Mason Memorial hospice who helped dad and our family throughout his last few days. You all will hold a special place in our hearts and will forever be a part of the extended Schutz family.