Gerald N. Schlundt

Gerald N. “Jerry” Schlundt of Dowagiac passed away at Spectrum Lakeland Health in St. Joseph on Sunday, December 22, 2019, at 85 years old. He was born on January 8, 1934, to Paul & Clara Peters in Michigan City, IN, and on August 23, 1971, he married the love of his life, Mary “Jeannette” Edwards. He worked as a graphic artist for Clark Equipment Co. before owning his own business, Schlundt Art Werks. In the early 2000s, he completed numerous public murals around Southwest Michigan in cities such as Cassopolis and Edwardsburg, with the help of his granddaughter, Mariah. As a a proud Boy Scout Master for Troop 563 in Dowagiac, Jerry found most his artistic inspiration from nature and the outdoors. In 1976 he built one of his most ingenious contraptions for the Scoutarama: the Luxem Bourger wooden ferris wheel. He was a natural storyteller, around the campfire and on canvas, and lived for good food and even better jokes. Jerry is survived by his children, Craig Wall, Matt Wall, Valerie Lewis, Rebecca Bleakley. His grandchildren Aaron, Amber, Austin, Mariah, Skylar, and numerous other grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and brothers Jim and David Schlundt. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeannette Schlundt, his parents, his daughter Patti Brown, and sister Clarice Neville. Jerry leaves behind a legacy of oil paintings, public art and hearty laughs.