Nancy Dean Schulz

Nancy Dean Schulz, 86, Gardner, Kansas passed away Monday, November 16, 2020 at her home. Visitation will be 10:00 am - 11:30 am Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the First Presbyterian Church, 138 E Shawnee St., Gardner, Kansas with the funeral service to follow at 11:30 am. Burial at Prairie Center Cemetery, Eudora, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association, 5010 Elk Road, Coffeyville, Kansas 67337 or First Presbyterian Church, Gardner, KS. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, Kansas 66030 (913) 856-7111. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com

Nancy was born on November 2, 1934 in Vinland, Kansas to William “Bill” and Thelma Eloise (McPheeters) Millbern. She was a lifelong area resident. Nancy moved from Douglas County to Olathe at age 5 with her family. She attended all 12 grades in the Olathe school system, including Central Elementary, Olathe Jr. High and Olathe High School. She participated in any sports girls could do at the time. Nancy was a member of FHA, Future Homemakers. She played the clarinet and was drum majorette her senior year of high school. Nancy graduated from Olathe High School in 1952. Nancy married Glenn Schulz on January 23, 1953 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. To this union, five children were born: Roxie Schulz-Dillard, Willie Schulz, Gary Schulz, Glenna Schulz-Connaghan and Ginger Schulz-Crist. Nancy and Glenn helped raise several extra children as well. She earned a degree in cosmetology from Templeman Cosmetology, holding licenses in Kansas and Missouri. She took classes at JCCC and Arizona University, as well as, numerous continuing education classes focusing on field safety. Nancy coached little girls softball in Gardner and began the 13-15 age league. Because there were not interscholastic teams for girls at the time, Nancy started a girls basketball team putting the team in a program in the Kansas City area winning many trophies to show for their efforts. Nancy was named Coach of the Year, being the only woman coach, winning league and tournaments. This led to an invitation to play a Canadian team, this started an exchange program playing both softball and basketball with Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She was the first woman to serve on the Gardner Athletic Association Board and became the first woman president of the association. Nancy was a 4H leader for swine and equestrian for Sunnyside 4H club. The 4H club won the State Conservation Award with Nancy’s leadership. She served on the JOCO Fair Board from 1965-1979.

In 1967, Nancy was asked to drive a school bus for R.W. Harmon and the Gardner School District. She had experience driving farm trucks, so she decided to drive and that decision turned into a career of 44 years in school transportation. Nancy drove the bus taking children to and from school and activity trips for 11 years. In 1969, she was asked to drive the first special needs children to Olathe and return special needs children to Gardner. She also drove in school bus safety competitions (Roade-O) at the local, district, state and national level. Drivers were required to win the top three in state to advance to nationals, which is now international. Nancy was on the national-international committee for over 30 years. In 1978, she was the first driver trainer for R.W. Harmon. In 1980, Nancy became a certified first aid instructor and volunteer, winning the American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year Award. She became a certified National Safety Council Defensive Driving Instructor, teaching classes to school bus drivers for R.W. Harmon as well as other area drivers. In 1979, Nancy helped to write a driver training manual as well as four training manuals for school bus drivers. She also helped develop two special needs manuals for drivers and three state training manuals and was the committee chair for Kansas. Nancy became active in the National Safety Council, Transportation Division and School Bus Section where she served on all chairs. She served on the National Safety Council Board of Directors for four years. Nancy was awarded the “Distinguished Service to Safety Award” the highest safety award. She wrote or helped write articles for Safety Council bulletins and various materials. Nancy was on the NSC Board of Directors for Greater Kansas City, West Missouri and Kansas Safety and Health Council for 25 years and a member of Kansas State Pupil Transportation serving on the board for many years. In 1999, Nancy earned the “Gold Merit Award” given for successful achievement in school bus safety and driver training. In 2007, Nancy received her 40 years “Outstanding Service and Dedication to School Transportation Safety Award.” Nancy traveled the United States beginning a new business teaching many trainers and drivers. During 2002, Nancy opened the Kansas City Metro Training Center for Laidlaw, now known as First Student, training about 400 people each year. In 2010, Nancy was one of six “Women of the Year” winners selected form First Student. In 2011, she was recognized for the “Lifetime Achievement Award Dedicated Service to School Transportation Safety” and the “Meritorious Service Award.” This N.S.T.A. honor is given in recognition of excellence in offering exemplary service to the school bus industry. During 2011, Nancy was awarded for 44 years of dedicated service to school bus safety. Nancy was a member of the National School Transportation Association and served on the Safety Committee and International Safety Competition Committee. She retired in the Fall of 2011. Nancy received the Olathe Public Schools Alumni Association Wall of Honor in 2012. The highlight of Nancy’s school bus driving career was the kids and working with them. She believed it was very humbling to experience so many wonderful parts of her life not as a job but always a pleasure.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; husband Glenn; brother Robert “Bob” Millbern and son-in-law Patrick Connaghan. She is survived by her children: Roxie Jo Dillard, Kansas City, Kansas, William Allen “Willie” Schulz, Gardner, Kansas, Gary Wayne (Diana) Schulz, Olathe, Kansas, Glenna Dean Connaghan, Gardner, Kansas and Ginger Diane (Darius) Crist, Edgerton, Kansas; siblings: Betty (Pete) Radcliffe, Pomona, Kansas, Connie (Lanny) Turner, Wellsville, Kansas and Marilyn Harsh Oates, Edgerton, Kansas; sister-in-law Dee Millbern, Olathe, Kansas; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.