Loren Andrew Schultz, Jr

Beloved father and grand-father Loren Andrew Schultz, Jr. 84, passed away in Plymouth on Tuesday morning, March 8, 2011. He was born on January 29, 1927 in South Bend, IN to Loren A. and Verna P. Schultz.

He attended Mishawaka High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Army in early 1945. Corporal Schultz served as a medic with the Occupational Forces of Japan stationed in Korea and received the Meritorious Unit Award. Loren began boxing in the Army and proudly participated in the Southern Pacific Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

When he returned to the states, he became a licensed pilot. Sporting a pencil-thin mustache, he would fly his yellow Piper Cub out of the old Cadet Field in eastern St. Joseph County. "If it flew, I wanted to part of it", he said. "I would test a plane to its limits and I could make a plane do everything but talk", he recalled in later years with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Flying upside down in an open cockpit in 1948 with his girlfriend, Ilean Jones, bravely seated behind him, he sharply clipped electric lines before righting the plane and crash landing. Both suffered broken chins, but shortly thereafter, he and an undaunted Ilean were married on February 12, 1949 in Mishawaka, IN. They shared 61 years of marriage until her unexpected death in August, 2010.

Loren attended the Cuckler Steel School of Design in Monticello, Iowa and subsequently designed and built buildings for Monarch Laundry, Kowalski Auto Parts and many other South Bend businesses. He also designed and built one of the factory buildings for Panel-Craft in Lapaz, IN. He then became Commercial Manager of Panel-Craft, working there for 18 years. Later, he was a licensed real estate broker, owning Schultz Realty with his wife, with locations in Plymouth and Mishawaka. They also had previously owned two restaurants in Mishawaka and one in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Always possessing a love for politics and government, he served as a Marshall County Councilman for six years and as a Marshall County Commissioner for eight years. Loren was part of the county government team responsible for the new hospital and the County Building, as well as the Marshall County Humane Society. He was active in the Plymouth community for many years and was Past President of the Plymouth Music Boosters and a member of the Rotary Club. He was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church.

Family photo albums chronicle a life that was dedicated to his three children. He hand built swings that reached to the sky, created enormous animal snow sculptures, pulled us on a sled to enjoy neighborhood holiday lights and endured endless hours of trumpet, saxophone, piano, ballet and guitar practice. We tobogganed, hiked, biked and swam with him always by our side. We shared the natural beauty of America by tent camping from the Grand Canyon to the wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Dad repaired mounds of broken toys and mended many broken hearts. "Pops", as everyone called him?with his masterful wit and wisdom?will be missed so terribly much, not only by his grown children, but by his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren alike. He was simply adored.

Loren is survived by a daughter, Karen (John) Keleher of Granger, IN and two sons - Dennis (Roberta) Schultz of Grovetown, GA and Michael (Sheila) Schultz of Maryville, TN. Also surviving are grandchildren Adam (Lori) Dombkowski, Valparaiso, IN; Alyssa (Louis) Cogswell, Grovetown, GA; Matthew Schultz, Grovetown, GA and Brian (Tina) Rains, Plymouth, IN and by 11 great-grandchildren. A sister, Joan Smith of Park Rapids, MN also survives. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ilean and sister Ruth (Jim) Murphy, as well as two brothers, Carl and Dale.

Friends and family may gather from 1:00 ? 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 12 at Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen, IN. A short graveside service with military honors will follow at 4:00 PM at Salem Cemetery, Wilmot, IN with the Rev. Charles Krieg officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Marshall County Humane Society, P.O. Box 22, Plymouth, IN 46563.