David Roland Schilling

1940 - 2024

David Roland Schilling

MATTOON - David Roland Schilling, age 84 of Mattoon, IL passed away on Monday, December 23, 2024, from the effects of pulmonary fibrosis. A funeral service in his honor will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 28, 2024 at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938; Reverend Todd Krost and Reverend Ron Dickinson will officiate. A committal service will immediately follow in Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon, IL. Military Rites will be conducted Mattoon VFW Post 4325. The visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. David was born on September 20, 1940, in St. Louis, MO to Arnold H. and Octavia C. (Mueller) Schilling. He married Linda Reon Gerdes on May 2, 1969, in Aplington, IA. He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-five years; one daughter, Tonya Ciulla of Mattoon, IL; three grandchildren, Sierra Coartney and significant other Scott Griffin of Charleston, IL, Sydney Fisher of Urbana, IL, Landon Pearcy of Mattoon, IL; three great-granddaughters, Maddie Coartney, and Violet and Phoenix Pearcy; one brother Dwight Schilling and wife Mary of Mattoon, IL; one sister, Yvonne Gilbert of Fults, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark Schilling; son-in-law, Larry Ciulla; and brother-in-law, Roy Gilbert. Growing up on the family farm in Monroe County, Illinois, David graduated from Waterloo High School in 1958. He later earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Mechanics from the University of Illinois in June of 1962. Following his college graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. In January of 1965 he joined John Deere, calling on dealers in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. One of his dealers was in Aplington, Iowa, where he met and later married the love of his life, Linda. In 1971, David and his brother Dwight joined with Sloan Inc. of Assumption, IL to form Schilling & Sloan Inc., the John Deere dealership in Mattoon, IL. In 1985 Sloan's left and the dealership became Schilling Brothers. In 1988 David left the dealership and started his financial business, Schilling Financial Services in Mattoon, IL. He retired in 2016. An active member of the First United Methodist Church in Mattoon, IL, David held many offices over the years, including Sunday school teacher for Asbury Sunday School. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Mattoon, IL, and the Coles County Farm Bureau. He was former president of Rain Inc., a Cloud Seeding Project in Central Illinois in 1976 and 1977, Illinois Farm Equipment, and more recently the Coles County Historical Society. David was elected to two terms to the Mattoon City Council in 2001 and again in 2005. Highlights during his time on the council included hiring a city administrator, setting up Tax Increment Financing districts, establishing the current waste site, and reduction of force through early retirement. Currently downtown Broadway is an example of what a TIF district did and continues to do. David enjoyed traveling with his wife Linda on bus trips and for his business conventions. Together they visited all fifty states. He will be missed by his coffee friends, his ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Club, his church friends, and his loving family. Memorials in his honor may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1601 Charleston Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938, Mattoon Kiwanis Club, PO Box 923, Mattoon, IL 61938, Lake Land College Scholarship Fund, 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 61938, or donor's choice. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.

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