Ervin C. Schultz

Ervin C. Schultz was born on January 17, 1933, in Windsor, Illinois, to the late Clarence A. and Celia Kull Schultz and died peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. 

Ervin graduated from Windsor Community High School, Class of 1951. He began his career with Young Radiator Company, where he worked forty-four years, first in Mattoon, Illinois, and later in Lexington, Tennessee. Starting at the ground level, he worked his way into the position of industrial engineer. In 1987, he moved with the company from Illinois to Lexington to help open the manufacturing facility. 

Ervin married Martha Arnett in 1962 in Greenup, Illinois, and they made their home in Mattoon until relocating to Lexington in 1987. They shared sixty-three years of marriage, building a life centered on faith, family, and community.

 A lifelong and active member of the Lutheran Church, Ervin most recently belonged to Concordia Lutheran Church in Jackson, Tennessee. There, he taught Sunday School, served as a youth group sponsor, and faithfully contributed his time through numerous boards and committees.

Ervin greatly supported his children’s activities, often using his pickup truck to transport boxes of Texas fruit or Girl Scout cookies for school and community fundraisers. He was passionate about vegetable gardening and was known for sharing cucumbers and cantaloupes with his Pine Street neighbors, though he was always disappointed that Tennessee soil would not support sweet corn. 

If Ervin walked a little crooked, it was because of his years of bowling on multiple leagues. Yes, he did bowl two perfect 300 games! He and Martha also enjoyed a monthly Saturday evening pinochle club with friends. 

In addition to his wife, Martha A. Schultz, he is survived by his sons, John (Joanne) Schultz of Tinley Park, Illinois, and Kevin Schultz of Strasburg, Illinois; his grandchildren, Chris (Elise) Schultz, Samantha Schultz, Benjamin Harper, Logan Schultz, and Lillian Schultz; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Harper; his sister, Melba Ruff; and his brother, Ralph Schultz. 

Visitation for the Schultz family will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 23, 2026, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jackson, Tennessee, and will continue until the time of service. His funeral service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the church, with Pastor Eric Ruddenski officiating. Graveside services will be held later at Grace Cemetery in Strasburg, Illinois. Local arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Strasburg. Send condolences at www.howeandyockey.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Concordia Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.