Jerome F. "Jerry" Schutzbach (83) of Effingham

Jerome F. “Jerry” Schutzbach, 83, of Effingham, IL, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, October 23, 2022, after battling lung cancer for over four years.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will follow at St Anthony Cemetery, Effingham. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 PM at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony Schools. Donations to the family will be directed to comfort care for patients at the Effingham Crossroads Cancer Center. Online condolences may be expressed by clicking here. 

Jerry was born on January 7, 1939, in St. Louis, MO, to Cyril and Lucille (Grote) Schutzbach. He was a loving brother to Cy Schutzbach and Mary Lou Althoff. He graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1957 and married Marcella Willenborg on November 26, 1959, at St. Anthony Church in Effingham. They celebrated nearly 63 years of marriage and were blessed with 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Prior to his retirement, Jerry worked as a self-employed insurance agent, specializing in mortgage insurance to banks and savings & loan associations throughout Illinois.

Jerry enjoyed many hobbies throughout the years. After high school, he played semi-pro baseball with the Effingham Comets and softball with the Knights of Columbus. As one of the longest standing members of the Effingham Country Club, he enjoyed many rounds of golf with friends and family, won the ECC Club Championship in 1967 and made six hole-in-one’s in his lifetime. He was a life-long member of the Knights of Columbus. He spent countless years fishing and boating at Lake Sara and several winters golfing and enjoying the sunshine in Silver Springs Shores, FL. He was an avid table tennis player and enjoyed playing cards, including bridge, pitch and pinochle.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Marcella of Effingham; his children, Donald (Mary) Schutzbach of Effingham, Teri (Rob) Wortman of Effingham, Mike (Crystal) Schutzbach of Effingham, Linda (Michael) Miller of Seminole, FL, Lisa (John) Wortman of Effingham; grandchildren, Andrew Schutzbach, Justin Schutzbach, Patrick Schutzbach, Mitchell (Kaitlyn) Wortman, Jackie Wortman, Nick Wortman, Anthony Miller, Sam Wortman, Anna (Ben) Hecht, Emily Wortman, Maria Miller, Claire Wortman; great grandson, Phoenix Wortman; his sister, Mary Lou Althoff of Jacksonville, IL; and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Cyril and Lucille Schutzbach and his brother, Cy Schutzbach.