Raymond J. Schultz

To Raymond J. Schultz, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Raymond, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Raymond really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

       His parents were Josephine Novak Joseph Schultz and Stepfather Tony Squok. Raymond was raised in Chicago. Even as a child, Raymond had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Raymond was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Raymond managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Raymond was raised with three siblings; Alfred, John & Ronnie.

      All of Raymond's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Raymond experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in baseball he played for the "Honey Aces". He was a sea scout. In his spare time he liked to build model airplanes up in the attic on Sealey.

      Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Raymond was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Raymond simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Raymond, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience, since experience was Raymond's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math. The teachers he enjoyed learning from the most were Sr. Suzanne and Sr. Blanche. Playing football at Harrison High School was another one of Raymond's favorite activities.

      Raymond never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Raymond to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Raymond delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Raymond was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Raymond utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Bobby Tomazin, Joe Koziel, Al Gertowski, Bob Nauheimer, Eddie Salmich. Later in life, he became friends with Bob Tomazin & Ron Mondschien. Raymond loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Raymond very easy to approach. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Raymond related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Raymond was blessed with six, MaryAnn, Barbara, William, Diane, Linda & Laurie. They were also blessed with ten grandchirldren, Michael, Billy Ray, Julie, Matthew, Olivia, Thomas, Mary Frances, Emily, Kimberly & Alyssa. Raymond had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Raymond's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Raymond had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Raymond was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Raymond liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Raymond was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Raymond's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Raymond as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was a Carpenter.

      Raymond enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Raymond liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were woodworking; birdhouses & reindeer. Raymond was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Raymond felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Raymond loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Raymond relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Raymond never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Raymond played football for 2 years @ Harrison High School. Recreational sports included manager of KSKJ softball team. Raymond was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball (White Sox).

      Raymond had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Raymond's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. In high school, Raymond was a member of the KSKJ, Hoyne Aces softball team. Throughout his later years, Raymond was an active member of the KSKJ and the Poker Party with his friends.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Raymond recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member St. Stephen's for 34 years, and St. Rita for 16 years.

      Naturally outgoing and generous, Raymond was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Raymond was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included 1st place baseball trophy with the Hoyne Aces.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Raymond just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Grand Beach, Michigan; Christmas place in Michigan and Disney; It's a small world.

      Raymond was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Raymond's favorites was Cora, a collie/sheltie. They were best friends for 8-10 years.

      Raymond believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1990, Raymond took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Michiana, Michigan. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Raymond remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in woodworking. Even in retirement, Raymond continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Raymond brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Raymond J. Schultz lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.