Merle LaVerne “Bud” Schultz

Merle LaVerne “Bud” Schultz, 94, died on April 1, 2026 in Ketchikan, Alaska.

He was born on April 3, 1931, in Wausau. He attended Wausau East High School and Wisconsin Technical School.

Mr. Schultz served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954.

On March 21, 1954, he and his wife, Beverly, were married in Ana-heim, Calif.

He was employed by Wisconsin Public Service as a lead lineman from 1956 to 1977, in both Wausau and Rhinelander.

Mr. and Mrs. Schultz then moved to Ward Cove, where he resided for 49 years.

The couple and their son, Jeff, and daughter, Debra, owned and operated the Ward Cove Market “for many years before deciding to officially retire and concentrate on family, hobbies and traveling,” his family writes.

In addition to travel, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. “He was also well-known as the maker of the Bucka Deer Call which was sold in Alaska and in other states,” his family writes. He was a member of the Clover Pass Community Church, which he helped to build.

Mr. Schultz was preceded in death by his father, Erwin Schultz; mother, Mabel (Ramthun) Schultz; and daughter, Debra Louise Burkhart.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Ward Cove, Alaska; sons, Jeffrey (Nancy) of Ketchikan, Alaska and Jay (Jean) of Wasilla, Alaska; son-in-law, Don Burkhart of Ketchikan, Alaska; grandchildren, Aaron, Jennifer, Jeremy, Jacob and Joshua (Sarah) Schultz, and Taylor Burkhart; great-grandchildren, Azariah (Emily), Jhaelah, Alaina, Aria, Mason, Myah, Calla and Albert; and great-great-grandchild, Jeannie Marie. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.