Russell Koeneman Schulze

Russell Koeneman Schulze died peacefully at home on Saturday, the 28th May 2011. He was 97 years old. He was born on the 7th of December 1913 in St. Louis, Missouri, the younger son of John Henry Schulze and Clara Koeneman Schulze. He is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Lois Wichman Schulze, his parents and brother John Milton Schulze.

He is survived by his two sons, Russell Koeneman II and wife Mary Margaret, and Stephen Derek and wife Cathi, two grandchildren, Russell Koeneman III and Catherine and husband Daniel Thiery, and great-grandson William Flynn Thiery.

Mr. Schulze graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis in June 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi fraternity and the Student Council. In recent years, Mr. and Mrs. Schulze were active members of Washington

University's William Greenleaf Eliot Society.

After graduation, Mr. Schulze joined Shell Petroleum Company as a junior engineer. He moved to the Products Pipeline Department in 1940 and was transferred from St. Louis to Chicago and from there to New York. During World War II, he was a key designer of the Portable Military Pipe Line for the Department of the Army. He was appointed Chief Engineer of Shell Products Pipeline Company in 1952. After a three year assignment in Indianapolis, he was transferred to Los Angeles in 1959 as Manager of the West Coast Pipeline Department. In 1965, he was transferred to Houston as Manager of Technology for Shell Pipeline Corporation and later promoted to Manager of Operations.

After retiring from Shell Pipeline in 1970, Mr. Schulze accepted a position as Senior Vice President with Gulf Interstate Engineering. He was subsequently elected a Vice President of the parent corporation and appointed President of Interstate Energy Company, retiring in 1977.

Mr. Schulze was a life member of The Houston Club and served the Village of Hunter's Creek as chair of the zoning board of adjustment for over a decade. Mr. and Mrs. Schulze were long time supporters of the Houston Symphony

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six until eight o'clock in the evening on Monday, the 6th of June, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis and Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The funeral service is to be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 7th of June, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7901 Westview in Houston, where the Rev. Jim Berggren, Senior Pastor, is to officiate.

At a later date, the family will gather for a private entombment service at Oak Grove Mausoleum in St. Louis, Missouri.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that memorial contributions in Mr. Schulze's name be directed to Holy Cross Lutheran Church or the Houston Symphony.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to his dedicated caregivers Eleanor and Bette, the Home Instead staff, St. Luke's Hospital and Houston Hospice for their comfort and support.