Max L. Schultz

July 7, 1935 - Oct. 18, 2011
CASSOPOLIS - Max Lewellyn Schultz, 76, of Cassopolis, Michigan and formerly of Niles, Michigan, passed away at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Hospice Care Center of Elkhart, Indiana. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and their children, Steven (& Anita Miars) Schultz of Scottsdale, Arizona and Jill (& Steven) Weber of Niles, Michigan; grandchildren, Adam (& Kylee Kemmerling) Weber, Kristin Weber (& fiancé David Schneider), Max II (& Shannon Vroom) Schultz, Stockton (& Courtney Helman) Schultz, Alexander Schultz; great-grandchild, Emerson Schultz; his sisters and brothers, Joan (& Will) Roberts, Sandra (& Joe) McFarland, Sharon (& Richard) Jones and Sam (& Kyla) Schultz; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Max was born on July 7, 1935 in Rensselaer, Indiana to Russell Lewellyn and Nellie Mae (Cover) Schultz. He graduated from Kentland High School in Kentland, Indiana and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in Mechanical Engineering in 1957. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, completed ROTC and served as an officer in the United States Army. Max worked at Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan after graduation, and married Jean (the former Barbara Jean Merrill of Jackson, Michigan) on February 1, 1958. They moved to South Bend where he worked as an aerospace engineer for Bendix/Honeywell for 35 years. During that time he invented aircraft landing gears and brakes, obtaining close to 50 U.S. patents before retiring in 1992. Max enjoyed his retirement years spending winters at Chokoloskee Island, Florida and summers at Diamond Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan where he shared golfing, fishing, sailing and making homemade ice cream with his family and friends. His love for God was exemplified by his quiet and gentle nature, his acts of service and the time he spent in the study of God's Word and in prayer. He found great joy in sharing his faith in Jesus Christ with friends and family of all ages. In more recent years, Max wrote the book, The Big Picture, which is currently being published. A memorial service and celebration of Max's life will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 3:00 pm hosted by New Life Church and Pastor Mike Cramer, 11593 McKinley Highway, Osceola, Indiana (nlpositivefaith.com). Pastor Trent Griffith of Harvest Bible Chapel, Granger, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Max's name to The Center for Hospice Care at 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637 (centerforhospice.org) or to Harvest Bible Chapel Granger at 52277 Hickory Road, Granger, Indiana 46530 (harvestgranger.org). Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, Michigan. To watch a short video of Max's story and write condolences to the family, go to caringbridge.org and type in maxlschultz.