Mary Lois Shultz

Mary Lois Shultz, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, passed away at the age of 76 on December 9th, 2025 after a short and fast illness. She was born in Manistique, Michigan, to Kermit (Toby) and Lois Eimerman in 1949, and spent her childhood summers on Dodge Lake. After graduating high school, she moved to Traverse City to attend Northwestern Michigan College. It was in Traverse City, at a bowling league of all places, that she met Dave—the man who would become her husband of 42 years. Together they built a life on Old Mission Peninsula, where Dave convinced her to join him in tending the apple and cherry orchard that became their home. Over the decades, they welcomed dozens of cherry crews, mostly made up of their children’s friends into their home—sweaty teenagers, long days, with hot dogs and snacks for all. Service to her community was a defining part of her life. She was a longtime civic servant of the Peninsula, contributing through the Township Parks Board, serving as president and honorary member of the Old Mission Women’s Club, and dedicating more than thirty years to the Old Mission American Legion—work that inspired her daughter’s own path in the nonprofit world. So much so that she and Dave were celebrated as the Grand Marshals of the Old Mission ‘Walk around the Block’ on the fourth of July. Her circle of friends was legendary—“the Oolies,” a group known for causing good-natured ruckus around Old Mission, nights of bunco that inevitably ended in cowbells and laughter, and euchre games that stretched into the night. Then there were mahjong dates, coffee groups and the dinners out group. She was always good at rallying her friends. She took pride in many things, including her years in the radiology department at Munson Hospital—before what she called her “permanent maternity leave”—and her time playing bagpipes with the Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums. She always got a kick out of being the unofficial Geneivive of Bowers Harbor Inn, entertaining many during the Halloween seasons. She was endlessly proud of her children and family: her two engineer sons, her daughter, her EMT/firefighter son-in-law, and the life she built with Dave. And of course, she will forever be remembered for her crab apple jelly and her famous apple cake. She loved feeding her birds, watching the deer, reading, a good slice of turtle cheesecake, and puzzles. She is preceded in death by her parents, Toby and Lois; her sister, Sue; and her nephew, David. She is survived by her husband Dave, daughter Megan (Kevin) Bylsma, and sons Matt (Marci) and Brian Schaub (Traci Schuitema), brothers Bill (Linda) and John (Shelli Gould) Eimerman and her grandchildren Tyler, Luke, Lily, Summer and Noah plus countless nieces and nephews, wonderful friends, and a few good grand pups, too. She will be dearly missed by all. Mary will be cremated and laid to rest at the Bohemian Cemetery on Neahtawanta. The family is planning a celebration of life for this summer and details will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Mission American Legion Post 399, P.O. Box 39 Old Mission, MI 49673.

Mary Lois Shultz

March 5, 1949 - December 9, 2025