Jerome “Jerry” Lewis Schulte

Jerome Lewis Schulte (Jerry) passed away peacefully Dec. 24, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona, of complications related to pneumonia.

He was born June 13, 1934, in New Munich, the son of Alphonse and Irmalinda (Rademacher) Schulte. He grew up in the small farming communities of New Munich and Meire Grove helping with his parents’ grain elevator and general store.

He attended Melrose High School where he was an outstanding athlete, lettering in baseball, basketball and football.  In addition, he was class president his first and fourth years at Melrose High.  Somehow he also found time to be in the band and chorus.  In his high school annual it was noted that, “He takes the lead in life.”

After graduating Melrose High School with honors in 1952, he went to the big city of St. Paul, where he completed his pre-medicine at the College of St. Thomas.  Subsequently, he attended St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and was conferred his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1959, specializing in psychiatry.  Immediately after graduation, he was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army Medical Corp at both Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii and Fort Fitzsimmons in Denver, Colorado, attaining the rank of major.

Then began a 50-year multidimensional career in three states in clinical and administrative psychiatry in community, military, education, state and federal mental health programs. Jerry’s expertise was in adolescence, juvenile, adult correctional and forensic court work during the span of his professional life.  He was published in a multitude of professional journals and the author of two books.

Never one to sit still, after his decades of work and retirement as a psychiatrist, he enthusiastically embarked on a second career as a customer service agent with Southwest Airlines out of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport beginning in 2001. He finally retired from Southwest in 2015 at the age of 81, reputedly the oldest customer service agent in Southwest Airlines history.

Finally, Jerry took great pleasure being a board member for over 30 years for the San Felipe Humanitarian Alliance.  Established in 1971, The San Felipe Humanitarian Alliance has been dedicated to advocacy and hands on assistance to children and their families across the world.

Throughout his life he was always quite active and delighted in playing tennis and golf in later years and, while never spoken, took pleasure in beating his sons in tennis.  Jerry always took great joy in life and was always proud of his six children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by “the love of my life” Andrea (DePaolo) and all six children: Gretchen (Matt) Buckley, Gregory (Deborah) Schulte, Michael (Joanna Karger) Schulte, Sarah (Gregg) Vandermark, Jeremy Benjamin (Blevins) Schulte, and Amanda (Tim) McNulty.  He is also survived by his two sisters, Janice Meyer and Carol (Joe) Lutz, as well as his brother Jack Schulte.

If you would like to honor Jerry, please consider making a donation to the St. Louis University School of Medicine Dean’s Education and Research Fund.  The link is giving.slu.edu/schulte.

In lieu of a formal memorial service, the family will be celebrating Jerry in a private remembrance.

P-5-1P