A private, family burial will be held for Renate Barbara Schutz, 89, who passed away on January 28, 2026. Renate was born on September 22, 1936, to Bernhard and Paula Franke in Saalfeld, Germany, in the state of Thüringia, which she proudly described as "the heart of Germany". She was the second of three daughters, born into a world that demanded resilience early-and she met it head-on. From the beginning, Renate lived with curiosity, courage, and a fierce independence that would define her entire life.

As a young woman, she excelled both academically and athletically. She was an exceptional volleyball player, earning an invitation to try out for the German national volleyball team. Though breathing issues ultimately kept her from being selected, her competitive spirit never wavered. She graduated from college in Mühlhausen with degrees in education, chemistry, and biology. Her new government demanded she use her brilliance to teach, but Renate had a different plan - she made the bold decision to meet her future husband in the United States, where he had recently moved. Renate escaped to West Germany and, while awaiting her visa, worked as a research chemist for Merck Pharmaceuticals-where her talent and determination quickly earned recognition. Renate immigrated to the United States on December 13, 1959, arriving with little more than her intelligence, grit, and the belief that life was meant to be fully lived. She married Kurt H. Schutz on December 16, 1959, at Holy City Chapel in the Wichita Mountains, where her new family had special ties: Kurt's great-uncle (through marriage) was Reverend Wallock, the founder of the Holy City of the Wichitas.

Together, Renate and Kurt raised two children, George and Liz, instilling in them a deep appreciation for hard work, education, and the natural world. Working alongside her husband, Renate helped purchase the family butcher shop, Schutz Food Market. With vision and determination, she transformed the business into a delicatessen and began importing German goods. Her entrepreneurial drive led her to establish Schutz Specialty Foods, supplying commissaries with European products. She was noted as the first woman to be granted a military contract to supply products to a commissary. Renate later became a distributor for Euro-American Brands and a direct importer for several brands, overseeing the supply of German foods to 21 commissaries across the Southwest Region. She was selected to design and implement the first delicatessen in a commissary - the original Fort Sill delicatessen was so successful that it was the model replicated at other commissaries. Renate was always grateful and proud of the staff of her deli at Ft Sill and of her stockers throughout the region. A fierce businesswoman and competitor, Renate was equally known for her extraordinary ability to find the good in people and situations.

Renate and Kurt were proud of their heritage and were among the founding members of the German American Club of Lawton, which started the Oktoberfest still celebrated today. As strong supporters of education, Renate and Kurt were among the original Cameron University President's Partners. They were also active members of the Southwest Oklahoma Ski Club, Knife and Fork Club, and other civic and social organizations. Multiple times along their journey, they were asked to entertain German officers stationed at Ft Sill, a request that, due to her beauty, intelligence, and connections to East Germany, ultimately led to Renate's interrogation as a spy - which, luckily, was never confirmed.

An adventurer at heart, Renate traveled to all seven continents! She loved snow skiing, snorkeling, foraging for mushrooms, walking forest trails, spending time at the beach, and immersing herself in museums, galleries, and

cultures around the world. Her trips were thoughtfully planned and enthusiastically lived-she was famously the last one back to the boat or bus, savoring every moment. To her grandchildren, she was tough, fun, wild, and free. She loved dragging them across the globe, sharing her deep connection to nature and her belief that life should be experienced boldly and without apology.

As many awards and accomplishments Renate earned throughout her life, she was most proud of her family. Though never outwardly affectionate, her love was fierce and loyal. She approached life with strength and grace, leaving behind a legacy of adventure, resilience, curiosity, and love that spans generations.

The family extends a special thank-you to her caregivers, Manuela Green, Janice Smith, Joyce Haxton, Elisabeth Mitchell, and Rose Huebner, whose care allowed her to remain at home. Due to increasing dementia issues, Renate moved to the Chateau of Lawton, where the great kindness and care provided by the staff made it her new home. We are also grateful for her doctor, Dr. R. Brent Smith, for his care, support, and compassion throughout the years.

Renate is survived by her children: son George Schutz and wife Simone, and daughter Liz Wyatt and husband Todd; grandchildren: Brady Wyatt and wife Becca, Brooke Rooney and husband Taylor, Erik Schutz, Alexis Schutz and fiancé Ricky Lutz. and Christina McCarty and husband Ricky; great-grandchildren: Milo Wyatt, Lily Wyatt, Quinn Rooney, and Maverick McCarty. She also has kept a close relationship with her family still living in Germany.

Those wishing to honor Renate may make a donation to the Holy City of the Wichitas, P.O. Box 465, Medicine Park, Oklahoma 73557 or the Friends of the Wichitas.