Vernard "Butch" Eugene Shultz Jr.'s Obituary
In Loving Memory of Vernard "Butch" Eugene Shultz, Jr.
March 11th, 1944 - November 26th, 2023
After an arduous battle with cancer, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Butch Shultz-a beloved father, grandfather, and friend. Butch parted this world in peace, surrounded by love, on the afternoon of November 26th, 2023.
Butch grew up following the Great Depression, which explains his exemplary work ethic (and, perhaps, his appreciation for 100 dollar bills). Up until the day he passed, he carried at least $2,000 cash on him, in a thick wad tucked away in a pocket (while his pistol was in the other). He was always the first to pull out this infamous wad at our dinners, paying-in spite of ample protests-with a simple nod. This man stared down the chamber of a .44 Magnum and lived to tell the tale. We knew better than to argue with him!
Another highlight of Butch's life was his love for cars and trucks. He built a career around this passion, starting his own auto body business, Mantua Auto Body and Glass, in 1968. This endeavor allowed him to support his family (and fix their cars whenever they got into-or caused-fender-benders). Venturing into the world of truck pulling in the 1980s and '90s, Butch won countless awards and competitions with his home-built vehicles. With this legacy, we can thank him for giving our small town of Mantua, Ohio a little ounce of fame out in the big world.
In his little amounts of leisure time, Butch enjoyed the water: catching record-breaking fish, cruising along in a boat, or floating in a pool raft with a drink in hand. Some of his grandchildren's best memories with him are at his old property at Tuckaway Lake, as he taught them-with his large and steady hands-how to cast a line. Butch also loved McDonald's coffee in the mornings, playing tricks on his daughter Libby, talking business with his son Butch, petting dogs, shooting guns, and, of course, building lean-tos.
To all those who knew him, Butch was not a man of many words. His go-to "yep, yep" covered a lot of ground, but left a lot untold. He trusted that his actions, whether good or bad, did the speaking for him. His anger would be felt in his absence, his happiness would be felt in his laugh, a soft chuckle that burst from his lips. But his love was felt in his deep blue eyes, which held a look of hope. Hope that we all would know what he wouldn't-what he couldn't-say. Hope you'd see, and in turn feel, all the love he had for the world, love that will endure within his lineage.
Butch is survived by his longtime companion of 35 years Bobbi Collier and her daughter Chelie Moon and her husband Ed Moon. His children Bill Shultz, and his wife Tammy Shultz, Libby Wise-Cooper and her husband Ken Copper and Butch Shultz and his wife Tammy Shultz. His grandchildren Morgan, Kasey, Clay, Calvin, Nathan, Ricky, Jake, Alexis, Sam, Lana, Ella, Gabe, Eli and Cain and his great-grandchild R.J., and a host of extended family members and friends. His memory will be cherished by all who knew him, and his spirit will live on in the countless lives he touched.
A memorial gathering to celebrate Butch's life will be held on Friday December 1, 2023 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a service to immediately follow at 7:00 pm, at Green Funeral Care, 4668 Pioneer Trail Mantua Ohio 44255. Friends and family are invited to join in commemorating the remarkable life of a man whose impact will be felt for generations to come.
May Butch rest in eternal peace, and may his memory continue to inspire and guide us as we navigate the journey of life without his physical presence.
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