A dear friend of the CELC, Eugene G. Schulz, entered eternal life in heaven on July 26, 2022 at the age of 99. Gene was the first treasurer of the CELC, serving in that position for sixteen years from 1993-2009.
Long-time CELC participants will remember Gene as a congenial layman with a passion for church work, especially world missions. In his service to the CELC, he set the finances of the CELC on a solid footing in its early years. He also served as the CELC convention photographer for many years. The nice collection of early convention photos on the CELC website is Gene’s handiwork.
His service to the church in other areas included service at his home church, Atonement Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, and in various capacities for the WELS. He served on the WELS Investment Board for 27 years, and in the 1980s-1990s he and his wife were sent to most of the WELS foreign mission fields by the WELS Board for World Missions.
Another significant component in Gene’s life was his military service. He fought in World War II in France, Germany, and Austria, and subsequently was active in veterans’ groups throughout his life, even authoring two books about his military experiences. In 2019, the French government awarded Gene the medal of Chevalier (Knight) in the Legion of Honor for his service.
Gene is survived by his wife of 72 years, Eleanore, and a large family, including five sons and sixteen grandchildren. His son Mark is the current treasurer of the CELC.
Funeral services were held on July 30, 2022 at Atonement in Milwaukee. The sermon text was 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, and the pastor highlighted how the sting of death has been overcome through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The closing hymn, selected by Gene, was Paul Gerhardt’s “Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See.”
We thank God for the remarkable life that he gave to Eugene Schulz, including his invaluable service to the CELC. Especially, we thank God for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life provided through Jesus, and for keeping Eugene in the saving faith until the end.
Eugene and Eleanore Schulz with Ingeborg and Gerhard Wilde
Germany – 2017
