Eldon Lee SCHULTE

SCHULTE, BARKEMA, DEMASTER, DE MASTER, KLINKERMAN, HEINZ, VAN NORDEN, SAMPSON, GUINANE, HILBELINK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/15/2016 at 02:14:09

April 20, 1936 ---- November 17, 2016

Eldon L. Schulte, 80, died November 17, 2016 at Hearthstone Cottages in Pella. Services were held November 21 at Second Reformed Church in Pella.

Eldon Lee was born in Iowa City on April 20, 1936. He was adopted by George and Alice (Barkema) Schulte and raised on the family farm near Alexander. He graduated from Alexander High School in 1954 where he was active in baseball, basketball, band and vocal activities. During the summer he played American Legion baseball in Belmond. Eldon graduated from Central College in 1958 where he participated in basketball, football, track and baseball. Eldon enjoyed meeting many life-long friends at Central. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army where he spent two years at Fort Meade, MD as a stenographer for the JAG. In 1961 he went back to the farm south of Alexander. Soon, Coach Ron Schipper called him to be assistant football, assistant basketball and head baseball coach at Central. He met Mary DeMaster who was a student. They were married June 8, 1962 in Cedar Grove, WI. Eldon received a call to play football for the Chicago Bears. He played linebacker on the taxi squad from 1963-1964 and was released after an injury. Then Eldon and Mary then made their home in Alexander where they welcomed their children Matthew (1964) and Stephanie (1968). During the summer Eldon played fastpitch softball for Butter Top Bakery in Clear Lake.

In 1969 Coach Schipper offered him a job as equipment manager/ trainer and assistant football, basketball and head baseball coach at Central. The family moved to Pella and welcomed Richard (1970) into the family. In 1977 Eldon became City of Pella Recreation Director for 17 years. For 10 years following his retirement he worked at Central maintaining the athletic fields. Eldon served as a deacon and elder at Alexander Reformed and Second Reformed in Pella.

He was preceded in death by his sister Audrey (Schulte) Klinkerman; brother Gilbert Schulte; sister-in-law Joyce DeMaster; and brother-in-law Lee DeMaster. Eldon is lovingly remembered by his wife; son Matthew (Carol) of Pella and their seven children; daughter Stephanie (Jason) Heinz of Humboldt and their four children; son Richard (Kara) of Pella and their four children; his brothers and sisters-in-law Roger and Marilyn De Master of Oostburg, WI; Glenn and Marilyn DeMaster of Fullerton, CA; Nancy DeMaster of Fond du Lac, WI; and Paul and Mary DeMaster of Oostburg.

Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa
December 13, 2016

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Eldon Lee Schulte, 80, former standout Central College athlete, coach and longtime staff member, passed away on Thursday at The Cottages in Pella. Eldon is lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary (De Master) Schulte of Pella; his son, Matthew and wife, Carol (Van Norden) Schulte of Pella; his daughter, Stephanie and husband, Jason Heinz of Humboldt, IA; his son, Richard and wife, Kara (Sampson) Schulte of Pella; eight grandsons and seven granddaughters. Memorial services will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at the Second Reformed Church in Pella. Visitation with the family present will be held Sunday afternoon from 1 to 4 pm. in the gathering space at Second Reformed Church.

Des Moines Register---- Des Moines, Iowa
November 20, 2016

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Eldon Lee Schulte, 80, died Thursday, November 17, 2016 at the Hearthstone Cottages in Pella following a lengthy struggle with Lewy Body Dementia and more recently pneumonia. Eldon was born in Iowa City, IA on April 20, 1936. He was adopted by George and Alice (Barkema) Schulte and raised on the family farm by Alexander, IA. Eldon graduated from Alexander High School with the class of 1954. He was active in baseball, basketball, band and vocal activities. During the summers of his high school years, he enjoyed playing American Legion baseball in Belmond, IA. Eldon went on to get his BA in Physical Education from Central College Pella, IA graduating in 1958. During college he participated in basketball, football, track and baseball. Eldon enjoyed meeting many life-long friends while at Central. After Central, Eldon was drafted into the United States Army, where he spent two years stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland. He was a stenographer for Army JAG during those years. After he was discharged in 1961, Eldon went back to the family farm south of Alexander. Shortly after, Coach Ron Schipper called for him to join his coaching staff. He served as assistant football, assistant basketball and head baseball coach at Central College. He also served as a dorm director. While working at Central, Eldon met Mary DeMaster who was a student there. Eldon and Mary were married on June 8, 1962 in Cedar Grove, WI at First Reformed Church. They were married for 54 years. During their first year of marriage, Eldon received a call to play football for the Chicago Bears. He played linebacker on the taxi squad from 1963-1964 and was released after an injury. He was fortunate to be part of the 1963 World Champion Chicago Bears team.

Eldon and Mary then made their home in Alexander on the family dairy farm. While farming, they welcomed their first two children, Matthew Lee (1964) and Stephanie Ann (1968) into their family. During the summers, Eldon enjoyed time playing fastpitch softball for Butter Top Bakery from Clear Lake, IA. In 1969, Coach Ron Schipper called Eldon offering him a job at Central College as Equipment Manager/Trainer and as assistant football, basketball and head baseball coach. The family moved back to Pella and welcomed Richard Alan (1970) into the family. Eldon was at Central from 1969-1977. During that time, the family was blessed with many lasting friendships with the staff and student athletes at Central College. In 1977, Eldon was named the Pella Recreation Director and served for 17 years in that capacity. Eldon dearly loved serving the children and youth of this area. For 10 years following his retirement from the City of Pella, he worked at Central maintaining the athletic fields.

Eldon took great pride in his faith and family. He had served as a deacon and elder in the Alexander Reformed Church and Second Reformed Church in Pella. His children and grandchildren knew well his love for his Savior Jesus and his love for each of them.

Eldon is lovingly remembered by his wife Mary of Pella; his son Matthew and Carol (Van Norden) of Pella and their 7 children, Heidi, Erica (Schulte) Guinane and her husband Matt, Austin, Jenna, Braden, Lyndi and Faith; his daughter Stephanie Heinz and husband Jason of Humboldt, IA and their 4 children, Jaylen, Jaxon, Jamison and Shelbie; his son Richard and wife Kara (Sampson) of Pella and their 4 children, Jacob, Andrew, Camden and Brooklyn. Eldon is also survived by his brother and sister-in-laws; Roger and Marilyn DeMaster of Oostburg, WI; Glenn and Marilyn De Master of Fullerton, CA; sister-in-law Nancy De Master of Fond du Lac, WI; Paul and Mary De Master of Oostburg, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Alice (Barkema) Schulte; his sister, Audrey (Schulte) Klinkerman; his brother Gilbert Schulte; his parents-in-law Willard and Alice (Hilbelink) De Master; his sister-in-law Joyce De Master and his brother-in-law Lee De Master.

Memorial Services will be held Monday, November 21, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Second Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa. Family Committal Service will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be held Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. in the gathering space at Second Reformed Church. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be designated for the Central College Forever Dutch Campaign.

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