Kelli Schulte

Funeral services for Kelli Schulte were held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Joesph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon as celebrant. Music was provided by Geoff Smith, accompanied by Katie Opp. Jared Opp was cantor, and Carol Slaymaker was lector. Bev Beck was in charge of registration, altar servers were Eli Ekroth and Gabe Ekroth, and gift bearers were Alex Urbanski and Jordyn Urbanski. Urn bearer was Henry Schulte. Interment will be at a later date in Grand Island, NE. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Kelli Marie (Urbanski) Schulte was born on July 26, 1973, in Grand Island, NE, to Carol (Eastwood) and Jerry Urbanski. She grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Northwest High School in 1991.

Kelli met some lifelong friends when she worked at a grocery store in Grand Island. Kelli went to New York City for photography training and then did photography for Walmart. After working in photography, her caring heart led her to work for Mid Plains Center.

On October 3, 2009, Kelli married Henry Schulte of Dallas, SD. Her love of animals led them to rescue three dogs - Marley, Daisy, and Pup Pup - and two cats Oreo and Gibbs. Kelli was known for her decorated sugar cookies and taking lots of pictures for all family events. She had a room dedicated for scrapbooking, with the pictures that she had taken. Kelli enjoyed scrapbooking with the friends she made at the Hobby Shoppe in Winner, SD. She took pictures of birds from her many bird and squirrel feeders, of backroad Jeep rides with Henry, of family and friends, and of wildlife and sunsets.

Kelli’s brother John and his wife Monica, her nephew Alex, and her niece Jordyn, were an important part of her life. She enjoyed planning get-togethers with them and week-long summer visits from Alex and Jordyn. Kelli also had many other nieces and nephews with whom she enjoyed spending time with. Kelli had just planned a trip to Estes Park over Thanksgiving with Henry, her parents, and her brother and his family, and they are all so thankful for the time spent with her, the pictures taken, and the memories made.

Kelli passed away on December 28, 2022, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 49 years.

She is survived by her husband Henry; parents Carol and Jerry Urbanski; brother John Urbanski and his wife Monica; nephew Alex; niece Jordyn; mother-in-law Mary Schulte; aunts and uncles Larry and Mary Eastwood, Bob and Char Eastwood, Pat and Ron Jensen, Don and Lois Urbanski; all the cousins; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Laura (Duane) Reiman, Sarah (Jeff) Baumann, Johanna (Steve) Boyle, Patrick (Erin) Schulte, John Paul Schulte, Katherine (James) Olson, Marion (Troy) Schaaf, and Michael (Kylie) Schulte.

Kelli was preceded in death by her grandparents Bill and Irene Eastwood and Rose and John Urbanski; father-in-law John Schulte; and nephew Isaac Schulte.

Memorial gifts for Kelli may be sent to Rescues Unlimited.