Raymond Leon Schilling died peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on May 5, 2018. He was 85 years of age. Ray fought a long courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Raymond was born on March 8, 1933 in Lockwood, Missouri, son of the late William and Dora (Eggerman) Schilling. Raymond was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church, Lockwood(Meinert), Missouri.
Desiring to serve his Lord in the teaching ministry, Ray attended St. John Jr. College, Winfield, Kansas and completed his education degree at Concordia Teacher’s College in River Forest, Illinois. He taught 12 years at St. Paul Lutheran School, Melrose Park, Illinois and served as librarian at Luther High School South, Chicago for 28 years. During that time, he earned a Master’s in education from Concordia and a Master’s in Library Science from Rosary College, River Forest.
He first met Lucille Marie Holtzen in the 1st and 2nd grades. Years later they reconnected as adults and were united in marriage on August 11, 1957 at Grace Lutheran Church, Lamar, Misouri. They made their home in Maywood, Illinois where they had a daughter and son. Ray considered his family among his greatest blessings. Following his retirement, and wanting to be near children and grandchildren, Ray and Lucy relocated to Fraser, Michigan in 1996.
Raymond is the devoted husband of 60 years to Lucille; cherished father of Doris(Donald) August, Timothy(Rebecca) Schilling; Dr. Dan(Nicole) Schilling Nguyen and James(Yen) Tran; cherished grandfather of Amanda(Greg) Luft, Emily August, Nathan and Hannah Schilling, Bill and Jacob Nguyen and Philip, Raymond and William Tran; great-grandfather to Harper and Breslin Luft; dearest brother of Dorily(Ronald) Miller and the late Frances(John) Childers, Alice(Harley) Pyle and Gilbert Schilling: dear brother-in-law of Beverly Schilling and beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, Fraser, Michigan, on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 2 p.m. with visitation with the family from Noon to 2 p.m. Immediately following the service there will be a meal served in the cafeteria. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, Lutherans for Life, Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Lutheran Child and Family Service of River Forest, IL, St. Paul Lutheran Care Corp of Melrose Park, IL or the Michigan Parkinson Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lockwood, Missouri with burial at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Meinert, Missouri.