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(Longtime Babysitter In Wauseon)
On Jan. 13, 1972, my first day at Globe-Weis, a man I was assigned to train with walked me through “the shelves” and introduced me to a skinny girl named Sandy.
It was a pleasant introduction and it wasn’t love at first sight, but it was intriguing. I noticed then that she liked to have fun and talk, and boy did she ever (like to talk, that is).
I don’t remember our first date (she actually dumped me after the first encounter, said she “had a boyfriend” and I thought OK, I can live with that, but I was a little disappointed) that summer but I do remember two significant events.
One, my father, younger brother and I were sitting in my car near the end of the long circular drive of the farmhouse where we lived. About that time a gold Maverick pulled in and went around the drive and pulled up beside us.
At first we thought it was a prank (and it was) because other people had used the drive as a turnaround without permission. As it turned out, it was Sandy and another girl, a friend of hers, both giggling profusely because they thought they pulled it off. Surprised me.
After we talked awhile and they left, my dad remarked that she was cute. And second was our first trip to Cedar Point. These were the beginnings of a long, beautiful relationship.
Her father, a United Brethren minister, married us on Jan. 20, 1973. In addition to being just a preacher’s kid, Sandy was a church conference camp counselor and played the piano at her dad’s church and occasionally sang the weekly “special” song.
She also sang in a traveling young people’s group for a while. After she graduated from Liberty Center High School, she went to work at Globe-Weis, working there for over 14 years.
After Globe closed there were not many opportunities she was interested in so she decided to take up child care in our home. Oh my, where do I begin? First of all, she loved watching (other people’s) kids.
We never had any children of our own so this turned out to be the next best thing. I’m not sure of the number of kids she watched over the 35 years she did it, but we estimated it to be at least 40, possibly more than 50. And I counted at least 40 families. Some were one-child families, but many were multiple-child families. Some as many as four.
Sandy and I often remarked that we wished we would’ve kept better notes because the experiences she had with her “kids” would’ve made a great book.
There were many, many wonderful, funny stories. In addition to the many pizza parties, Sandy also had Christmas parties for many years that included presents and food for the kids and even food and beverages for the parents. One year her brother Bob dressed up as Santa Claus, to the delight of the kids.
A very important part of all this was Sandy’s belief in God. She often sang “Jesus Loves Me” to the little ones to get them to sleep while the older kids quietly watched movies.
The relationships with many of the kids continued even into their adulthood. Together we attended many high school graduations and parties.
We also may be tied for second place for the number of years we attended “Noah’s Ark,” the preschool program at the end of the school year at North Clinton Church.
And we’ve attended countless sporting events of the kids who went on to play sports, including football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, track, some swim meets and baseball and softball. And what fun they all were. We’ve even attended some dance recitals and Sandy took some of the girls to dance practice whenever the moms couldn’t.
One thing I must include here is that Sandy was also very happy to be a “babysitting grandma” many times with her kids now having families of their own.
Many of the parents, even to this day, remark how secure they felt with Sandy watching their children. I can say now that Sandy was very grateful for this and dearly loved every one of them.
Sandy was born Nov. 11, 1951, to the Rev. John and Mary (Stahl) Shull in Hudson, Michigan. She passed away, oh so peacefully, at the Fulton County Health Center on Aug. 21, 2026.
All of us who were there with her at the end could tell that God and her Heavenly Saviour were in the room. It was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget, and I am so thankful I was with her.
Those of her family left to cherish her memory include myself, Ron Schoettley, her husband of nearly 54 years; her brother Marvin Shull and his wife Sue; and many nieces and nephews too numerous to name here.
Those who went on before her include her parents; older brothers Leland (Bud) Shull, Robert Shull and Paul Shull; older sister Edna (“Sis” to us or “Yogi” to her golfing friends) Miller; nephews Lyle and Tim Shull, Dan Salay; niece Barb Short; and, as far as I know, only one of her many “kids.”
Charitable contributions may be made to the North Clinton Church, Wauseon, Ohio, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. And thank you in advance for your contributions.
Sandy’s visitation will be held at the North Clinton Church, 831 W. Linfoot St., Wauseon, Ohio 43567, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, starting at 10:30 a.m., also at North Clinton Church. Burial will follow at Wauseon Union Cemetery. A luncheon will follow.
Arrangements are entrusted to Barnes Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Delta. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home’s website at www.barnesfuneralchapel.com.
I want to take this time to thank all the nurses and doctors at the Fulton County Health Center, the Acute Care/Rehab staff at the Henry County Hospital in Napoleon, Dr. Richard Grieser and his staff and the visiting nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists from Ohioans.
Your care for Sandy was incredible. Also, thanks to the many friends and family for your help and support. You’ve been absolutely amazing.
And what can I say, a special thanks to Hayley Meyer, girl, you’ve been a gift from God. And to Matt and Lynelle Nofziger, along with their sons Hunter and Kohen, for their help getting me through this and for giving me hugs when I needed them.
Thank you again.
Ron
