Manfred Horst Schulze

Manfred Horst Schulze of Big Creek, CA died February 9th, 2023. Manfred was born on October 30,1933 in East Germany to Alfred and Martha Konnopke. He grew up on a farm in East Germany. His father was a meat inspector who was jailed by the Nazi’s for sharing meat with neighbors in the small village they lived by. At 12, Manfred’s mother, sister and he escaped to West Berlin, in 1945. But when they returned, his 17 year old sister, Annalise died. His father became a POW and was sent to the East Coast of America to work on farms. Manfred heard stories of America from his father who returned to the family in 1946 .

At 19, he left for Canada with one dollar in his pocket. His work ethic was rewarded with promotions as he worked his way across the states doing various jobs. He received his High School Diploma in 1962 from Whittier, CA. He earned his Certificate of Naturalization in April of 65.

He worked for the United States Forest Service for 22 years. All but two of those years were in Big Creek, CA, where he arrived in his Mercedes in 1967. He became a good skier, after receiving his first skis for Christmas at age 10. With this skill, he served as the Ranger on skis at China Peak where he would give talks about his beloved Sierras.

He bought his house in Big Creek in 1978, where he lived the rest of his life. He married Edith Reed Van Compernolle in 1991. She preceded him in death in 2019. He will be missed by all his Mountain neighbors who will celebrate his life at a date yet to be determined.