Contributed photo
West Milton Fire Department firefighters John Schultz, left, and his stepson-in-law, Nate Dewey.

By AMY MAXWELL
Record Herald Writer
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WEST MILTON –Though passing away unexpectedly on July 17, John Schultz will be remembered in the hearts of those that came across his path in life.

Schultz, 49, was born in Georgia, but moved to the area at a young age because his father was in the military. He graduated from Newton, and began his career as a West Milton Fire Department firefighter after completing the Fire Academy of Miami County in 1985. West Milton Fire Captain Ben Herron completed the Fire Academy at the same time as Schultz and spent his career working alongside him. Schultz drove the emergency vehicles for Union Township Life Squad and also worked as a welder for Bruns General Contracting.

Herron said, “As a volunteer fire department, you can tell the guys who really want to dedicate time to the fire department. Even the busy guys make time to be here, and John always made time to be here.”

He also shared shared a special relationship with former fire chief, the late DeVon Jay, and Schultz enjoyed reminiscing about his years working with Jay.

Herron said, “He had a very close relationship with DeVon. DeVon was definitely a father figure for John.”
Schultz used his years of experience to be a mentor and father figure to other young men who were just starting out in their firefighting career as well. Schultz maintained his volunteering spirit not only in his professional career, but in his personal life as well.

“He just had such a strong desire to volunteer. He lived his life helping others,” Herron said.

John is survived by his wife Kimberly (Evans) Schultz; son Thomas Schultz; daughter and son-in-law Abby and Ted Mangen, step-son Ryan Evans and step daughter Janelle and Nate Dewey. He was also looked on by many of the children of West Milton firefighters as a second father, according to Nate, who has served on the West Milton Fire Department since 2002.

Nate recalled, “He would go out of his way to help anybody who called him, he would be there. He helped us put an addition on our house for Janelle’s office. He’d come home from work and go right to my house and start working on it.”

Kim said she was puzzled with John’s answer as to what he wanted for his upcoming 50th birthday, which he would have celebrated Aug. 9.

She explained, “He told me he wanted a kayak. I was confused and asked him what he meant since he already has a kayak. He explained the kayak wasn’t going to be for him, it was going to be for Nate so that he could go kayaking with him.”

John was actually the one who introduced Nate to Janelle. Nate said that John would send him a sympathy card every year on Nate and Janelle’s anniversary as a joke. He said Schultz always enjoyed making others laugh.

“It would be 2 a.m. and two degrees out and we’d just be wanting to go back to the firehouse after a fire and he’d be out there just making everybody smile,” Nate said.

Along with kidding around, John loved giving hugs.

Nate said, “He was a manly man, but he had a soft side.”

Kim added, “Throughout his welding career, he’d always joke that the guys at Bruns looked at him weird when he first started giving them hugs, but it didn’t take long that they were hugging him back.”

Schultz also played an instrumental role in such projects as the Markley Memorial Wall and the construction of the bell located in front of West Milton City Hall.

The West Milton Eagles is currently planning a fundraiser in John Schultz’s memory that is scheduled to take place in late fall.

Kim Schultz and her family would like to thank the community for their love, support, gifts and thoughtfulness.

“The family cannot thank (the community) enough for all that you have done,” Nate said.