Larry Schuster

Larry Elvin Schuster, 90, of Winfield, KS passed away on January 8, 2025, at William Newton Hospital.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, January 12, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church of Winfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, the Spiritual Life Center at Winfield Correctional Facility or Southwestern College. Donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home.

Larry was born in Moscow, KS to parents Karl C. and Dorothy Kathryn (Polson) Schuster. His father was a Methodist minister, so they moved regularly, and he attended many schools, and graduated from Ulysses High School. Larry attended Southwestern College and Kansas State University. After college Larry worked for the State Highway Commission for 15 years, during that time he met the love of his life at Sunday School, Kathryn York, they were united in marriage on December 27, 1971 at First United Methodist Church. He also started trimming trees during that time, which led to him starting Schuster Yard and Garden in 1974, they sold the business in 02’ but he continued to work there until 06’. Larry later worked for Southwestern College as the landscape supervisor and was instrumental in the beautification of Southwestern. He was chosen “Staff Member of the Year” by the Southwestern student body.

 Larry was passionate about serving other and showing them the love of Christ. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Winfield for most of his life, he started a prison ministry where he led a Bible study and eventually helped men transition back into the community, he drove bus of men from the correctional facility to church each Sunday, he started a Saturday night prayer group, helped with the youth ministry, and also visited shut-ins on Sundays and was always mentoring others. He was awarded the John Wesley (Father of the Methodist Church) Society by the Methodist Men Organization. Larry enjoyed agriculture, fishing, hiking and spending time in Colorado at the Schuster Cabin, he also had a radio show with Marty Mutti on KSOK for several years. He was fondly called “Poppy” and “Old Grandpa” by his grand and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, children Marci Heck (Jim), Mitzi Bryant, David Workman, Marya Arnett (Dan), Laurian Estabrook (David), 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, sisters Carolyn Eastman, and Karla Peters (Paul), special brother Max Workman (Kitra,) sisters in law Anita Schuster, Rachel Kumpf, and Beverly York, many special nieces and nephews, and dear friends Brian Buffum, James Chelf, and Berniece Samuel AFS of South Africa.

He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Marilyn, Dean, and Deryl.