Richard John Schulze, age 87, of Maria Stein, Ohio, died at 4:05 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2015, at Otterbein, St. Marys.

He was born on Dec. 9, 1927, in Celina, Ohio, to the late H. Harvey and Mary (Mangen) Schulze. He married Agnes M. Hausfeld on Aug. 4, 1951, and she survives in Maria Stein.

He is also survived by children, Karen and Elmer Klepaski, Coldwater, Bill and Donna Schulze, Marston Mills, MA, Nick and Julie Schulze, Maria Stein, Ginny and Jay Winner, New Bremen, Linda and John Huelsman, Maria Stein, and Angie and Jim Wynk, Maria Stein; daughter-in-law, Jacqueline, Beavercreek; 14 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brother, Cyril and Dee Schulze, Franklin, N.C.; and brother-in-law, Harold Huelsman, Coldwater.

He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Schulze, and a sister, Audrey Huelsman.

He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Holy Name Men's Sodality, a charter member of Coldwater Eagles, and the American Legion Maria Stein since 1962.

He was a graduate of Coldwater High School in 1945. He had made several beautiful pieces of furniture for St. Johns church, including the Main Altar, the Easter Candle and the Lecterns.

He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He worked for 39 years in the construction industry and then as Director of Maintenance at the Mercer County YMCA, Celina. He was "Tough as nails exterior, heart of gold inside."

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Maria Stein, with Rev. Gene Schnipke and Rev. Ken Schroeder co-celebrants. Full military honors by the Maria Stein Firing Squad will take place at St. John Church following the mass.

Friends may call at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster, from 3-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, and from 9-10 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2015.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mercer County YMCA, Celina, and the Michael Schulze Scholarship Fund at Wright State University, Dayton.

Condolences may be made at www.hogenkampfh.com.