Michael 'Mike' T. Schulte

Michael "Mike" T. Schulte, age 91 of Little Falls, MN passed away Monday, March 5, 2007 at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 10:30 A.M. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls with the Rev. Mark Innocenti officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 3:30-8:00 P.M. Friday and Saturday from 8:00-10:00 A.M. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service (West Chapel) in Little Falls. Parish prayers will be said at 5:30 P.M. Friday evening at the funeral chapel. Military Rites will be conducted by Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112 and Little Falls American Legion Post #46. Michael "Mike" T. Schulte was born March 23, 1915 in Spring Hill Township, Stearns County, MN to the late Bernard and Margaret (Schrammel) Schulte. He attended school through the eighth grade and finished his education in daily living. He entered the United States Army on November 10, 1943, serving during WWII in the Palau Islands, Phillipine Islands and was a part of the Occupation Forces of Japan. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal, Phillipine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star and three Overseas Service Bars. Mike received an honorable discharge on February 14, 1946 at Camp McCoy, WI. He was united in marriage to Theresa Reller on April 26, 1941 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose, MN. The couple lived in Royalton until the start of WWII. While Mike was in the service, Theresa moved to St. Cloud to be near her family. Mike worked as a farmer, steel worker and a ship builder. Following his return from the military, Mike & Theresa purchased the Litchy Machine Shop in Royalton. They later moved to Little Falls and were the founders of Little Falls Machine, which Mike owned and operated until his retirement in 1980. The couple spent 40 years at their summer home on Fish Trap Lake and winters in Pharr, TX. In 1997, they moved back to Little Falls. Theresa died on November 2, 2005. Mike continued to live in Little Falls residing there until his death. Many knew him as "Iron Mike". He loved his family and he brought a smile to all he knew. Mike loved the outdoors, gardening, fishing and pulling water skiers. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, where he served on the parish council, Little Falls American Legion Post #46, Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112 and the Knights of Columbus. Through the years, Mike served on the Fish Trap Lake Improvement Association, St. Otto's Care Center Board of Directors and the Little Falls Industrial Association. Mike is survived by his sons & daughter, Ray Schulte & wife, Dianna, of Little Falls, Greg Schulte & wife, Mary, of Little Falls, Margaret Wold & husband, Phil, of Sauk Rapids, MN; sisters, Theresa Hammer of St. Paul, MN and Rose Determan & husband, Norbert, of Clearwater, MN; grandchildren, Chris Schulte & wife, Tammy, of Little Falls, MN, Brent Schulte & wife, Julie, of Little Falls, MN, Susie Bradley of Andover, MN, Beth Palmer & husband, Duane, of Woodbury, MN, Michael Wold & wife, Amber , of Sartell, MN; step-granddaughter, Elizabeth Haugen of St. Cloud, MN; seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa; infant daughter, Mary; infant son, Michael; brother, William Schulte; sisters, Helen Muellner, Polly Eddy, Loretta Ballman-Reller, Ann Rakotz & Marie Neubeck. Casketbearers are Chris Schulte, Brent Schulte, Mitch Schulte, Mike Wold, Susie Bradley & Beth Palmer.