James Edward Shultz, Jr., 61, died Friday, March 31, 2023, from injuries suffered in a car accident.
Mr. Shultz was born in Grand Rapids, Ohio on May 24, 1961, to James Edward Shultz, Sr. and Nancy (Vollmar) Shultz. He is survived by his spouse, Jane, of Grand Haven; his son, Blake, of Boston, Massachusetts; a brother, Mark and sister-in-law Sharon of Grand Rapids, Ohio; a sister, Tina Shultz, of Bowling Green, Ohio; mother, Nancy (Vollmar) Shultz of Grand Rapids, Ohio; mother-in-law, Marilyn Meyers of Findlay, Ohio; brother-in-law, Greg Meyers; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mr. Shultz and Jane (Meyers) Shultz were married on May 7, 1988, at the First Presbyterian Church, Findlay, Ohio.
Mr. Shultz is a graduate of Ohio University, earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He subsequently graduated from Capital University, earning a Juris Doctorate degree.
Mr. Shultz began his professional career working for American Electric Power Company as a Senior Electrical Engineer. While with AEP, Mr. Shultz’s work included providing engineering support for coal mines in southeastern Ohio. While with AEP, Mr. Shultz attended college. During Mr. Shultz’s tenure with AEP, he decided to pursue a law degree, with the goal of practicing patent law. While attending law school at night, he continued to be employed full time as a Senior Electrical Engineer for the City of Columbus, Ohio; and as the Superintendent of the Lancaster, Ohio, Gas Company. After obtaining his JD and being admitted to the Ohio Bar, Mr. Shultz worked, for a short time, with the law firm of Biebel and French, followed by work for Gentex Corporation as a Patent Attorney. Most recently, Mr. Shultz worked as an Associate for the Chicago law firm of Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, LLP, concentrating in the practice of patent law. Mr. Shultz was licensed to practice law in Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.
Mr. Shultz was devoted to his family and was particularly proud of his son, Blake. He very much enjoyed numerous trips to New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts during the time Blake was pursuing degrees in Medicine and Law at Yale.
A lover of Michigan, and particularly his home in Grand Haven, Mr. Shultz was an avid weight-lifter and runner. He particularly loved running along Lake Michigan. He enjoyed world travel and was fortunate to travel to many places in Europe, Japan and a special trip with Blake to Nepal, Myanmar, China, Tibet and climbing parts of Mt. Everest. Mr. Shultz was also a member of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven.
Funeral Services for Mr. Shultz are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on April 14, 2023, at Calvary United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, Ohio. Visitation is scheduled one hour before the Services. A Michigan Memorial will occur at a later date. Burial will take place in Ohio. The family is being served by the Sytsema Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Ottawa County Parks; First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven; and Harbor Humane Society. Condolences may be addressed to Jane Shultz at janeshultz93@yahoo.com.
