Waltraud "Wally" Kathe Anna Schulze

Waltraud “Wally” Kathe Anna Schulze

1926 – 2020

Waltraud “Wally” Schulze, age 93, of Fort Walton Beach, Fl passed away on February 24, 2020.  She was born to Willy and Kathe (Starke) Spohn on September 5, 1926 in Berlin, Germany.  She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  Wally expressed her feelings about passing in these words: “God, into Your hands forever.”

She is predeceased by her husband, Johnny Charles Schulze, parents, son-in-law Paul Laushey, and grandson, Jay Laushey.  She is survived by her daughters Deby Goetsch (David) and Linda Deichert (Ron); grandchildren Paul “Toby” Laushey (Heather), Dustin Laushey, Savannah King (Ethan); and great grandchildren Trent Ullrich, Gideon Laushey, Jay Laushey, Dylan Laushey, and Matthew King.

Wally was a survivor in the truest sense.  Her formative years were spent in the midst of the maelstrom that was Berlin in the final years of World War II.  When the Russian Red Army captured and looted Berlin, Wally’s family lost everything.  Food was scarce.  Wally had to disguise herself as a boy to stand in bread lines and scavenge for food scraps.  After the war, because she was fluent in English, Wally was able to get a job with the U.S. Air Force at Tempelhof Air Base during the Berlin Air Lift.  It was during the Air Lift that she met her husband who was also serving at Tempelhof.  Having survived losing several family members, the bombing of Berlin, and the brutality of the Russian occupation, Wally immigrated to the United States with her husband and lived a long and happy life here enjoying cooking, friends, traveling, and doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A family funeral was held on March 3, 2020 at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fl.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Samaritan’s Purse.  Arrangements were entrusted to McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home.

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