Lawrence Philip Schatz 

November 7, 1940 to February 10, 2025 

Larry Schatz passed peacefully on to Jesus on the morning of February 10, 2025. His 84 years of life were full of family, adventures, and love for God and people. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carol (Koontz) Schatz, and sons David (Lauren) and Andrew (Emily) and nine grandchildren. 

He was born November 7, 1940, to Philip and Katherin (Bower) Schatz in Alamosa, CO, and grew up alongside sisters Laverna and Margaret. He always held a place in his heart for his brother Edward, who died in infancy. He spent his youth on a 10-acre family farm outside Greeley, and always had a story to tell with a twinkle in his eye about shooting slingshots, swimming in the local irrigation ditch, raising pigs, and fishing. His black-and-white border collie, Bootsie, and cow, Daisy, were among his favorite recollections. 

As a dedicated little brother, he once put a steering wheel on his sister’s bicycle. His fascination with machinery led him to serve in the US Air Force from 1961 to 1964, which became one of his proudest accomplishments. As an E-4 mechanic stationed in the Netherlands, he maintained hydraulics on the F-102 Delta Dagger, the first operational supersonic interceptor and delta-wing fighter operated by the USAF. He traveled to the Netherlands, Germany, and Tripoli protecting those at home.

After finding the Lord in the service, he attended Multnomah Bible College and later completed an A&P certification for Airline Service Mechanic at the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He then attended a training session at the Summer Institute of Linguistics, applied for work with Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (JAARS), and set off to maintain small aircraft in service to the Bibleless people of Peru. One of his dearest memories was participating in a Bible distribution trip for the Aguaruna people of northern Peru. He had a heart for missions his whole life and loved loving people, especially his wife and sons. 

During a furlough from service in 1982, he met Carol Koontz over a game of Rummikub, and they were married on February 5, 1983. They returned to Carol's mission field translating the Bible for the Teribe/Naso people of Panama, where Larry spent his time raising their boys and driving the local translators to medical appointments, or other help as needed. A medical emergency brought them back to the States in 1988, where he continued to work with Wycliffe in the print shop at headquarters. There he developed plates for the offset press and then applied his creative skills in the recruitment department by helping new missionaries prepare their presentation materials as they sought to raise financial support. He retired from Wycliffe in 2010. 

In his spare time, Larry loved woodworking. He refinished a cherished china cabinet, built an HO-scale train track around his son’s bedroom, and built large wall clocks as wedding gifts for his sons, as well as numerous mantel clocks. Later, he applied his artful eye and soft heart to designing, printing, and selling greeting cards for all occasions. Every birthday and Christmas saw the delivery of a card with “Larry Schatz photo and card” on the back. 

Larry’s servant heart was in line with one of his favorite verses, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another” (Heb. 10:23-25). Larry’s kind demeanor earned him a special place in the hearts of those around him. Not only connecting with, and deeply caring for, the staff and residents in his retirement homes, he was warmly greeted by many during his scooter-tours of The Fountains hallways. His friends often communicated their admiration to his sons during visits. 

Donations in loving honor of Larry can be directed to Wycliffe Bible Translators or his church, Covenant Church Palm Bay.