Hildegard Schulze

Hildegard Schulze, age 100, of Plato Center, formerly of Bensenville, passed away peacefully Friday, June 20, 2014. Gone from our sight, but never our hearts, she will be greatly missed. Hildegard was born July 2, 1913 in O’Hare Field, Leyden Township IL, the daughter of Anna (Schultz) and Emil Schoppe.She grew up on the family farm in Leyden Township where she attended the local one room school until the 8th grade. Hildegard was not only a student but "janitor" as well when she got to school early and started the furnace. Work on the farm began at an early age. By nine years old, Hildegard was driving the horse and buggy, helping with the milking and plowing with a team of horses. She was even driving a truck while just a young girl. Later, she also worked at Dahl’s Drug Store to help support her family.Hildegard found the love of her life in 1934 when she met Reinhardt Schulze at a church service. Their friendship grew to love and they were married on September 2, 1934 at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Bensenville. The wedding meal was prepared using the chickens she raised with her home canned peaches as dessert. After their marriage they moved onto the Schulze family farm at the corner of Devon and York road in Elk Grove Village. Hildegard and Reinhardt were blessed with four beautiful daughters: Ruth, Betty, Sherilyn and Susan. Hildegard did any job that needed to be done on the family farm. Whether it meant bailing the hay for the winter or coming over every Saturday to help butcher the chickens, she was the one you could always count on. But, her most important job was being a mother. She loved her daughters and raised them the right way. In later years she still helped on her daughter’s farm, driving the truck for the pumpkin field.After Reinhardt passed away in 1965, Hildegard and the girls moved to Roselle and then to Elgin for a time. In 1986, they settled on Plato Road where she spent the rest of her years.Hildegard was a devout member of St. Johns United Church of Christ in Bensenville and in later years, she was a proud member of the Country Evangelical Covenant Church, Lily Lake, IL.A favorite pastime of Hildegard’s was gardening; she loved to grow gladiolas which she would sell at the local vegetable stands. She even put her daughters to work as gladiola salesladies. She was well renowned for her cooking and baking and made special breads and coffee cakes each and every Saturday for others to enjoy. Everyone would hurry to the table to get their hands on her famous apple cinnamon coffee cake. She was not one for recipes; rather she cooked and baked by taste and feel. Many tried unsuccessfully to replicate her creations, but no one could.She loved the company of others, passing time chatting with friends and family. Hildegard enjoyed planning and hosting family reunions. She hosted too many to count over the years. Hildegard was always moving and willing to lend a hand to someone else including wallpapering or painting for her family. Hildegard always put others before herself. She told her pastor only two weeks ago that she wanted to get better so she could get back to helping people. Her work is done now, she can finally rest. Hildegard is survived by her 2 daughters:Betty (Lynn) Landmeier and Sherilyn (Terry) Sorensen;Nine grandchildren:Deborah (Chuck) Quick, Laura Landmeier, Tim (Rebecca) Landmeier,Edward Landmeier,Rebecca (Tim) Cosman, Duane (Shawn) Rickert, Darrell Rickert, Kari (Dennis) Vanek and Patrice (William) White;21 Great-grand children and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reinhardt Schulze; her infant daughter, Ruth; her daughter, Susan Schulze; and sisters, Evelyn Schulze and Ruth Haberstich.Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 24, 2014, 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a funeral service to follow visitation at Country Evangelical Covenant Church, 43W510 McDonald Rd., Elgin, IL. Interment will follow Wednesday June 25th, 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst.A memorial has been established in her name to benefit Journey Care Hospice and Country Evangelical Covenant Church: Checks may be made to the "Journey Care Hospice", or "Country Evangelical Covenant Church" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.

43W510 McDonald RoadElgin, IL

Elmhurst, IL