Joseph Milton Schuller

Joseph Milton Schuller was born on March 22, 1926, to Joseph Figley and Freda Caroline Linder in New Castle, Pennsylvania. In October 1939, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. They joined St. Martini Church in Chicago, and in 1940 Joe was confirmed there. He attended and graduated from the Luther Institute.

Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Ocean and in China on the U.S.S. Kinzer APD 91. He was honorably discharged in 1947 but continued to serve in the Navy Reserves until his honorable discharge in 1952.

On June 14, 1947, he married his sweetheart, Sara Helen Markel. They made their home and raised their children, JoEllen & John, in Chicago until they moved to Hoffman Estates in 1962. They belonged to St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg for 33 years, where Joe served as an usher and Assistant Scout Master for Troop 196.

Joe was employed as an operating engineer at O’Hare Inn in Rosemont, as a chief engineer at Arthur and Associates in Rosemont, and as a building and grounds superintendent in the Des Plaines School District #62 until his retirement in 1989.

In 1993, Joe and Helen moved to Rockford, Illinois. They attended Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Joe served as an usher and elder, and Helen served as an usher as well. Joe very much enjoyed woodworking in his home shop and created many beautiful pieces of furniture, but he couldn’t wait for warm weather when he could get out on the golf course again with his friends.

Joe’s last years were spent at The Grand Victorian of Rockford and Trustwell Living at Cherryvale Place. He was known for his great smile, sweet disposition, and sense of humor.

Joe will be laid to rest with his beloved wife, Helen, at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

He was proud father to JoEllen Vause (Jay) and John Schuller (Terri); proud grandfather to Jennifer Vause (Lonnie), Joel Vause (Barrie), Johnathan Schuller and Davis Schuller; and proud great-grandfather to Lucas, Cameron, and Nolan Vause. He is also survived by his sister, Freda Krueger. Predeceased by his wife, Helen, in 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church or United States Navy Memorial (wwww.navymemorial.org)

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. and military honors following the service on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Alpine Rd. Rockford, IL 61107. Burial will conclude in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Arlington Heights, IL, immediately following the funeral service. All are welcome to attend the burial and lunch to follow.