Patricia 'Patty' Schultz, 77, of Merrill, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Unity Point Health – Downtown in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Patricia Ann Brunkhorst, the daughter of Harry and Lorraine (Kilker) Brunkhorst, was born on July 7, 1948, in Le Mars, Iowa. She grew up on a farm southeast of Merrill. She attended elementary school in Merrill. She went to high school in Le Mars and graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1966. Following high school, she attended college in Sioux City and graduated from Nettleton Business Training School.

She worked at Postal Finance Company in Sioux City, Iowa for a few years before going to work for Harker's Distribution in Le Mars. She worked there until its closing. She then went to work for Wells Dairy in Le Mars. She worked there for several years until retiring.

She was united in marriage to Donald Schultz on February 5, 1983, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. The couple made their home on a farm near Merrill. Donnie passed away on October 1, 2016.

Patty was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Le Mars. She was also a member of the Pioneer Machinery Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. She and Donnie enjoyed traveling and taking vacations. Her greatest joy was spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren. Patty enjoyed watching her grandson Marcus participate in sports - especially track. She made it a point to come watch Marcus & Sutton show their livestock - she loved watching them be so involved in 4-H. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren, friends, & family.

Survivors include her daughter, Lori Schultz (Zach Schulz) of Madison, Nebraska, and children, Marcus and Sutton; 3 sisters: Karol Holton of Le Mars, IA, Karen (Fred) Carr of Hornick, IA, and Diane Utesch of Sergeant Bluff, IA; sister in law, Caryl Schultz of Merrill, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Lorraine Brunkhorst; a brother, Warren (Barb) Brunkhorst; and two brothers in law, Patrick Holton Sr and Curt Utesch.