Miles Schulze passed away at home in the presence of his family on May 1, 2022 after a 6 month battle with recurrent lymphoma. Miles was born in southern California, moved to Washington State in his early childhood, and graduated from Federal Way High School in 1975.
He went on to study at WSU where he met his wife of 40 years, Wanda. After 4 years of working as a grain broker in Bakersfield CA, Miles found his career calling in 1986 when he enrolled in the Columbia Basin College nursing program in Pasco WA. He went on to be a critical care nurse at Providence/Swedish hospital, Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle where he worked for 30 years in the Cardiac, Medical/Surgical and Neurological Critical Care Units. After Miles began his nursing career, he and Wanda moved to Poulsbo in 1989 and then finally to Bainbridge Island in 2002.
Miles loved sports and loved being in nature. An avid hiker, backpacker, skier, and runner, he instilled and inspired a spirit of adventure in everyone who knew him. He ran at least 6 marathons, including the Boston Marathon, and loved backpacking with his whole being, frequently venturing into the Olympics and Cascades with friends and his son, Collin. After his retirement, Miles became an avid gardener and took pride in all that he grew. He made friends easily and kept friends for life. His strong moral compass and humble demeanor were felt by all, and one friend perfectly dubbed him a “barometer of goodness.”
Throughout his cancer journey, Miles inspired his family and friends by facing his adversity with calmness, bravery, gratitude, and positive energy. Miles always took pride in knowing that lessons learned from his specific type of cancer might help others in the future. Donations in his memory can be made to the Swedish Foundation/Swedish Cancer Institute at https://give.swedishfoundation.org/MilesSchulze
Miles was exceptionally skilled in caring—caring for his patients, his family, his beloved friends. That legacy of caring lives on in all who knew him and loved him. Miles is survived by his mother, Tina, his wife Wanda, his son Collin, his sister, Heidi (Mcnamee) and his brother Stan.
He will be greatly missed and cherished.
