Kent Shultz lived a life defined by resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to others. Over the course of a 35-year career in education and coaching, 28 of those years at Rudd, Rockford, Marble Rock (RRMR) schools, Kent became a beloved teacher, mentor, and role model whose impact continues to be felt by generations of students and athletes.

A native of Greene, Iowa, Kent began coaching at his alma mater, Greene Community Schools, in 1987. After graduating from Iowa State University, he started his teaching career at Kee High School in Lansing, Iowa, in 1988. There, he taught history, government, and geography, while also coaching football, basketball, and track and field. It was at Kee High that Kent met Sarah Otteson, a fellow educator and cheerleading coach. Their first date on October 17, 1991, became a cherished family story, one that included a cold night at a football game, frozen hot chocolate, and a burned pizza that somehow didn’t matter. From that moment on, they were inseparable.

Shortly after they began dating, Sarah introduced Kent to her two children, Kaitlyn and Nolan, and the four quickly became a family. Kent proposed in 1994, and they were married on April 29, 1995. Together, they expanded their family with the addition of Mollie and Isaac. Kent poured his heart into being a husband and father, spending countless hours playing, reading stories, teaching life skills, coaching from the backyard, and simply being present. His family was his greatest pride and joy.

In 1994, Kent and Sarah moved back closer to his hometown, where Kent began his long tenure at RRMR. Over nearly three decades, he became known not only for his excellence in the classroom, but for the way he treated people. He was strict but fair, held high expectations, and believed deeply in the potential of every student. He made it a point to ensure that everyone felt seen, respected, and valued.

As a coach, Kent led with the same philosophy. He coached RRMR’s varsity girls’ basketball team to great success for over a decade before stepping away to spend more time with his family. Later, he returned to coaching junior high girls’ basketball, track and field, and varsity softball. He emphasized hard work, teamwork, and respect, for teammates, opponents, and the game itself. He was known for repeating life lessons that extended far beyond sports, including his belief that attitude shapes outcomes.

Kent often shared the message from Charles R. Swindoll that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react, a philosophy he lived out daily and instilled in his students, athletes, and family.

Kent’s compassion and perspective were shaped by significant challenges early in life. When he was just four years old, his father, Harold, was severely injured in a car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury and confined to a wheelchair. Kent, his younger brother Craig, and their mother Annette navigated a new reality, often traveling long distances to visit Harold in a VA nursing home. Then, as a young child, Kent developed severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, leaving him unable to walk for a period of time. Despite doctors believing he might never regain mobility, Kent defied the odds, eventually recovering and dedicating himself to staying active for the rest of his life.

These experiences shaped Kent’s deep empathy for others. He understood that everyone carries unseen challenges and believed strongly in treating people with kindness, patience, and respect. He encouraged his students to give themselves grace, to persevere, and to focus on the things they could control.

After retiring from RRMR in 2021, Kent embraced time with his growing family, especially his five grandchildren, who knew him as “Papa.” He traveled to attend their games and activities, read stories, taught them about rocks and maps, and created lasting memories. He also enjoyed hobbies like growing pumpkins, hunting, fishing, biking, and traveling. Even in retirement, he remained connected to his community, working part-time at the CRC in Osage, where he greeted everyone with a smile and genuine interest in their lives.

To honor Kent’s legacy, his family established the Kent and Sarah Shultz Family Endowment Fund. The family is intending to use this endowment fund to support scholarships for graduating seniors from the RRMR school district, helping them pursue their educational and professional goals.

“Kent loved being a teacher and coach. Outside of his family, it was his greatest passion,” his family shared. “This fund is a way to give back to the school and community he cared so deeply about, and to continue supporting students as they work toward their dreams.”

Through this endowment, Kent’s legacy lives on. His belief in education, his commitment to others, and his enduring message about resilience and attitude will continue to inspire future generations, just as he inspired so many throughout his life.

Online gifts can be made to the Kent and Sarah Shultz Family Endowment Fund at
cfneia.org/donations/kent-and-sarah-shultz-family-endowment-fund.