Jerome Schultz

If Jerry Schultz was there, a party was underway. The 84-year-old is certainly in the midst of a celebration now. If you knew his friends and family who went before him, especially those who were part of the “Soup Gang,” you understand why we believe this is true.

Our family’s steadfast leader, Jerry passed away unexpectedly at ThedaCare Medical Center in Appleton on Friday, Sept.3, 2021.

Jerry was born at home on a farm near Tilleda on Oct. 10, 1936, to Marvin and Ethel (Engel) Schultz.

The family eventually purchased and moved to a farm outside of Leopolis. It would become Schultz’s Hilltop Dairy for three generations with Jerry stepping in to run the operation during his senior year of high school after his father passed away. Jerry graduated from Marion High School but believed his future was already set on the farm. He remained active with many of his favorite pastimes, including playing with the Leopolis Badger Amateur Baseball Association team and attending dances throughout the area, especially when a polka band was the featured entertainment.

It was at a wedding dance (He and some friends may have crashed? There are conflicting stories to this day) where he met Marlene J. Wenzel from Shawano. They danced their dating days away and married on April 29, 1962, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. Jerry continued to work on the farm, but added professional carpentry and electrical positions to his resume while Marlene worked both in and out of the home until they had children.

Jerry believed it was important to be involved in the community and was active as a Leopolis Fish and Game Club member and snowmobile trail supporter with meetings typically held at Pederson’s Bar in Leopolis. The bar was also home to the “Soup Gang,” a group of hunting friends who became family over the years. Their escapades also became legendary, even carrying over to wedding and anniversary celebrations during the next few generations. You just never knew if or when the group would show up.

Meantime, everyone from lawmakers to children were treated to various lunch and learn gatherings held on the farm, as he continued to grow the dairy operation. Jerry was selected multiple times to grow Dairyland Seed variants and elected to the Wisconsin Production Credit Association board and the board of the Farm Bureau Federation where he advocated for changes in agriculture policy on the state and national levels. He recently earned a 50th anniversary award for his farm bureau involvement, and is currently the longest serving secretary/treasurer for the Southwest Shawano Equity Cooperative.

Yet, Jerry always wanted to do more, and decided to run for a seat on the Marion School Board. He won, and over several years, earned the board president role, with hopes of making a difference for all children while his own were still in school.

As a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church-Hermansfort, Jerry served on the leadership committee, finance committee, and as chairman of the committee as a whole. He was part of a group who decided to save and move the church built in 1876, rather than start anew, when Highway 29 was being expanded through Shawano County.

Meantime, the dairy operation continued to grow. He may not have been dancing as much, but was enjoying couples and team bowling at Marion Rec along with supporting and getting involved with his children’s activities which ranged from music to sports. He and Marlene made traveling an important time as both a family and couple. Their favorite adventures include several trips to Hawaii, a polka band tour of Germany for Oktoberfest, and cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico.

Jerry also shared his love for the Milwaukee Brewers, first with his family during regular trips to County Stadium; then, organizing several yearly bus trips to Miller Park with friends from throughout Shawano and Waupaca Counties.

Jerry owned and operated what had now grown from a small family farm to a large farming business for close to 65 years. He retired in 2019 (the rest of his family saying, “Finally. You deserve it.”) and found more time for some of his additional favorite things like golfing, researching family history, cooking, gardening, and for the first time, animal watching, not animal caretaking. Unless you’re a hummingbird. He had a wonderful soft spot for hummingbirds and they reciprocated.

He also remained involved in Leopolis Baseball and was named to the team’s Hall of Fame in 2007. He continued to be both the Bulldog’s long-time announcer and the Leopolis Fourth of July Triathlon celebration parade host. Jerry and Marlene served as official parade marshalls a few years ago.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Marlene; daughter, Teri Barr (Brian Mesmer), of Madison; and sons, Randy Schultz, of Leopolis, and Brian Schultz (Lisa Hanson), of Shawano. We know he will continue to keep a watchful eye on his grandchildren, Lucky Charms, our nomad entrepreneur, Stephanie Schultz Borth (husband Mike) from the Eland area, and Logan Schultz of Shawano. Jerry is also survived by cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Lyle Engel, and other dear relatives and friends.

An official celebration of Jerry’s life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church-Hermansfort with friend and Pastor Steve Conradt leading the service. You are invited to visit with the family at the church for visitation from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. A lunch featuring “chicken, ham, and a polka band” will follow.

We believe Jerry would choose, in lieu of flowers, to make donations in his name to Leopolis BABA, St. John’s Lutheran Church-Hermansfort, or a different organization of the Schultz family’s choice.

We would like to thank Tigerton and Shawano Ambulance Services, and ThedaCare Medical in Shawano and Appleton for the emergency care of Jerry. We also give special thanks to Megan Marotz for her exceptional attention in Shawano.

Written for Jerry, by his family, with our never-ending love.

We already miss you.