Jerry M. Schulze

Today, the foundation of our family lost his short and intense battle with cancer on February 6, 2024, with his family by his side. 

He was born the second of four sons to Marlin and Janet Schulze in Caledonia, MN in 1956. 

The family moved to 20th Street in La Crosse when he was two. He attended Blessed Sacrament grade school, receiving his first communion and confirmation, Lincoln Junior High, and graduated from Central High School class of 1975. 

He enlisted in the Marines, and was medically discharged. 

Jerry attended Western Tech and completed a two year degree in Tool & Die. 

 He loved the outdoors, so he switched gears to a lifelong career as a roofer, quickly rising to foreman. His work ethic was exceptional, and he expected the same from his crew. He was well known for his roofing and siding abilities throughout his lifelong career. He was respected by his crew, and once nearly the whole crew followed him to his new employer. His son followed in his foot steps, as did one grandson for a short time.

He was a river rat who spent many hours at the family boathouse on the Black River. He could be found popping barrels in his youth with his brothers. The family was active in the River City Water Skiers, and he even did some barefoot skiing just last year at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Club. 

Spare moments he could be found fishing with his son A.J , grandson Aiden, and his 'sons' Mike Villarosa and Kevin Johnson at the Genoa landing. His daughters Annie and  DeeDee too spent countless hours with Dad in the fishing boat. 

He spent a lifetime enjoying Motocross racing in District 23 Minnesota. He once made it to the national level at Loretta Lynn's. His kids and grandkids all had were trained on Yamahas, and Jerry could be found riding Caveman Dunes, his track at the cabin in the woods, with his grandsons Marley and Tiger, and racing brother Gary Behrens.

He loved being in the woods and deer hunting, making homemade venison sausage and jerky to give friends and family. He became an expert at smoking ribs and ham for holiday meals at the cabin. 

He was especially fond of good fresh pine trees and was known lovingly as :Mr. Christmas'. He was especially proud he had a wild grouse who followed him around like a pet on his property.

He was a master of construction and completely rebuilt their home in La Crosse, and later rebuilt their 1800s cabin in the woods with brother Dewey.

Jerry met Michelle 'Shelly' Kelly in the summer of 1976 at the family boathouse. They started dating April of 1977, and we're married August 1979. This year would have marked 45 years of marriage..

He is survived by wife, daughter Rhiannon, son Adam(Sheena), and daughter Deanna Boyko, six grandkids: Tyrell and Javaniya Williams, Marlin Schulze, Aiden and Ashton Schulze and Alex Boyko.

He is further survived by his three brothers Duane (Patricia) Schulze, Onalaska, WI, Douglas(Marjie)Schulze, Puyallup, WA, and Robert Schulze, Eden Prairie, MN.

His brothers in law and sisters in law, Mike (Nancy) Kelly, VA Beach, VA, Peggy Claflin, La Crosse, Sandra (Kenn) Berghaus, Dorchester, WI, Scott(Karen)Kelly, Loveland, CO, Mark Kelly, Chicago, IL, and Stacey (Michelle) Kelly, Holmen, WI. He had numerous nieces and nephews and special boathouse fishing buddies in Bennett and Laney Sue Schulze. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmom Kathleen Schulze, his in-laws, Faye Erickson and Norman Kelly, and his beloved son-in-law Chief Master Sergeant Michael Boyko.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at Blaschke Funeral Home, 1501 West Avenue South, La Crosse from 6-8 pm, and also from 10-11 am at San Damiano Chapel, 900 Viterbo Drive, on Viterbo Campus until the time of his mass of Christian burial at 11 am on February 15. Burial will follow at the Burr Oak Cemetery following the service.