Elmwood Funeral Chapel & Crematory

Visitation Information

Deacon Edward J. Shultz

Passed away on October 24, 2025

Deacon Edward Jule Shultz - A Life of Faith, Service, and Love

With heavy hearts and profound gratitude for a life well-lived, we announce the passing of Deacon Ed, who peacefully entered eternal rest wearing his brown scapular, holding fast to Our Lady's promise.

A devoted husband of 52 years, loving father to three sons, and cherished grandfather to seven grandchildren, Deacon Ed dedicated his life to his most sacred calling - guiding his family on the path to heaven. His unwavering faith and gentle leadership created a legacy of love that will endure for generations.

Born and raised in Griffith, Indiana, Deacon Ed answered his country's call with courage and honor, serving as a Vietnam veteran who remained forever proud of his military service. Following his time in the military, he built a distinguished 40-year career as a professional engineer with Franciscan Health, where his dedication and expertise touched countless lives.

His spiritual life was the cornerstone of his existence. As a deacon at St. John the Evangelist and a devoted brother in the Secular Franciscan Fraternity, he lived the Gospel daily through humble service and compassionate ministry. His faith was not merely professed but lived - a beacon of light to all who knew him.

Deacon Ed possessed the rare gift of seeing and addressing the good in everyone, greeting each person with his warm, characteristic smile. Though he carried his own burdens with remarkable grace, suffering in silence and never complaining, his strength and joy uplifted those around him.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Diane; his three sons, Michael (Tamara), Jeremy, and Aaron (Lindsey); seven adoring grandchildren; and three siblings: his sister, Peggy (Ed) Behn, his sister, Sr. Aline Shultz, O.S.F. (Pamela), his brother, Mark Shultz and several great nieces and nephews. His family takes comfort knowing he fulfilled his earthly mission with extraordinary devotion and love.

As we mourn the loss of this exceptional man, we also celebrate a life that exemplified Christ's love. May we all strive to love one another and God with the same fervor and dedication he demonstrated every day of his life.

Please join us in prayer for his soul and for all the souls of the faithful departed. May perpetual light shine upon him, and may he rest in peace.

God's will be done.

Visitation will take place at St. John the Evangelist Church (10701 Olcott Ave. St. John, In. 46373) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Services, Thursday, October 30. 2025 where Deacon Ed will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Michael Place officiating. Interment St. John the Evangelist Church Cemetery. Arrangement entrusted to Elmwood Chapel Funeral Home- St. John, In. 219-365-3474. www.elmwoodchapel.com

Funeral

DIRECTLY at St. John the Evangelist Church
Thursday, October 30, 2025 - 9:00 am

Funeral Mass:
St. John the Evangelist Church
10701 Olcott Avenue
St. John, Indiana 46373
Thursday, October 30, 2025 - 10:00 am

Interment:
St. John the Evangelist Church Cemetery
11301 W. 93rd Ave.
St. John, Indiana 46373

Visitation Location

St. John the Evangelist Church
10701 Olcott Avenue
St. John, Indiana 46373
219-365-5678

Visitation Information

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm

Prayer Service
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - 6:30 pm

Condolences
"Sending love and prayers at this difficult time,to all of the family."
- Andrea Rosati
October 25, 2025 6:05 pm
"So sorry to hear about Ed’s passing. I was just thinking about him the other day. Prayers for him and his family."
- Ann Clark
October 25, 2025 7:21 pm
"To the Shultz family: so very sorry for your loss. Ed has achieved his greatest accomplishment . I feel he met Jesus with a smile was Good Job Faithful Servant. Love to all Aunt Olive"
- Olive Bell
October 26, 2025 12:19 am
"Thinking of your family during this time of grief. May your memories of him bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart. "
- Jennifer Killingsworth
October 27, 2025 11:43 am
"I have nothing but fond memories of Ed who I knew my entire life. The memories bring smiles like the bright one Ed had. Thinking of the entire Schultz family and sending my condolences on your loss. I know Ed was a deep man of faith, and I know he’s home now in peace for eternity. "
- James Ward
October 27, 2025 11:44 am
"Please accept my sincere condolences. May you find peace and comfort as you honor and remember your loved one."
- Mary Jo Smith
October 27, 2025 1:16 pm
"My deepest condolences to the entire extended Shultz family on the sad occasion of the beloved Ed’s death. He was a great and good man with whom I had the high privilege of working for many years in various Franciscan Alliance assignments. His engineering expertise, his ability to recognize and recruit strong engineers, and excellent team members, his teaching skills and his winning ways made him an admired and respected leader. He taught me much. I learned much from him, not least how he successfully integrated Franciscan spirituality into his work, his prayer life, his family life. My sincerest sympathies to his wife, Diane, and to his beloved sons, of whom he was deeply proud. Our last exchange a few weeks ago ended with him writing, ‘Pax et bonum.’ Likewise, old friend. God speed you to your eternal reward. Gene Diamond"
- Gene Diamond
October 27, 2025 2:42 pm
"So sorry to hear about the loss of your brother sr. Aline. Sending my thoughts and prayers to you and your family."
- Julie Kissee
October 27, 2025 3:15 pm
"My heart and my prayers are with Ed and his family. Ed was a dear friend and mentor to me. We knew each other for over 50 years, and I don’t remember hearing him ever speak negatively about anyone. His was a true Christian heart. I will miss him, but I know he is with the Lord, for Ed excelled at everything, his work, his deaconate, his love of family and friends. He even excelled at his suffering which he endured with grace and a noble spirit. I pray for peace for his beloved Diane and the rest of his wonderful family. Ed taught us all how to live a life dedicated to loving God, family, friends and whomever else we might touch. He is an example of a life well-lived with enduring hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ. And now he no longer needs to hope, for he is with the Lord, waiting for the rest of us to join him in eternal bliss."
- Robert Bailor
October 28, 2025 7:15 am
"Thinking of your family with heartfelt sympathy. Wishing you peace and comfort in this time of sorrow."
- Kathy & Lou Goehrig
October 28, 2025 9:11 am
"We are so sorry to learn of Eddie’s passing. Our prayers and thought are with you in your time of this loss. . Eddie’s exemplary life I am sure will bring hIm to heaven’s gates where many of his Shultz and Bell relatives will welcome him. Cousin, Geri Falaschetti and Family"
- Geri and Ron Falaschetti
October 28, 2025 2:09 pm
"I echo my husband's beautiful words. Good-bye, sweet Ed. Legions of angels have led you to your rest."
- Mary R Bailor
October 29, 2025 5:45 am
"Our condolences to the Shultz family with the passing of a true hero in the Vietnamese conflict where Eddie set up MASH Camps and also performed pharmacy duties for our injured soldiers! Ed and I have a 65 year bond starting at Bishop Noll Institute and share the birthday of June 2. We also were the first ones to run the auto shop there with sister Pamela after many years of tutelage from Ed’s dad! Ed was an exceptional engineer who brought the Hammond St. Francis up to modern infrastructure and was a designer of the Dyer hospital. Unfortunately Ed and his brothers were exposed t Agent Orange, a defoliant sprayed on our troops. Ed succumbed to the pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. The valiant fight for life on oxygen and meds did not interfere with his roll as a Deacon of his church and he will be remembered as a caring and happy man doing the work Of Christ ! "
- Michael Stack
October 29, 2025 11:52 am
"My sincere condolences to the Shultz family. Ed was an incredible mentor to me and many of my co-workers. Anytime you earned his high praise for a job well done was a special moment. His contributions within Franciscan Alliance are too numerous to mention, and Ed always provided the best example to follow given his personal convictions towards excellence. I last saw him in person when he was hospitalized a few years ago, and even in my visits he kept his Professional Engineering "hat" on as he described many improvements he saw fit to mention out loud. May you rest in peace Ed, and thank you very much for all the lessons and for being a friend to me. God Bless."
- John Zurisk
October 29, 2025 2:11 pm
Candles Lit
"You will be dearly missed, Uncle Ed. Peace and love. Xoxo"
- Ben, Annita & Lilly
October 25, 2025 6:07 pm
"May the Lord be with you and your family and your father. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May be comforted, knowing that God is with you during this difficult time. "
- Cheryl Champoux
October 25, 2025 9:23 pm
"So sorry for your loss. Sending prayers. "
- Margie Leitelt
October 26, 2025 5:14 pm
"Deepest condolences to the Schulz Family. Ed blessed us all with his Light. Rest in Peace, dear friend. May the memories of Ed be plentiful and always close to you! milka"
- Milka Petrovich Thoresen
October 28, 2025 7:06 am