| Date of Birth | April 27, 1925 |
| Passed Away | April 15, 2010 |
| Place of Residence | Arkport |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | April 19, 2010 |
| Service Time | 11 A.M. |
| Service Location | Arkport Presbyterian Church |
| Interment Location | Arkport Cemetery |
LEE E. SCHULTHEIS
ARKPORT-Lee E. Schultheis, 84, of Cream Hill Road, passed away, surrounded by his loving family, Thursday afternoon (Apr. 15, 2010) at Hornell Gardens.
Born in North Hornell on April 27, 1925, he was the son of the late Edward and Cary Venghaus Schultheis. On Sept. 23, 1947 he was married in Wellsville to the former Dorothy Baker, who predeceased him on Sept. 20, 2001 after 54 years of marriage. On Apr. 20, 2002 he was married in Arkport to the former Mae Merrill Friener, who survives. Besides his parents and his first wife, Dorothy, he was also predeceased by a sister, Marjorie Fisher.
A former resident of Wellsville, where he graduated from high school, Lee also attended Alfred University and St. Bonaventure University. He was a veteran of World War II and proudly served his country with the 104th (Timberwolf) Infantry Division in France, Belgium and Germany from 1943 to his honorable discharge in 1945. Lee was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Soldier’s Medal.
He has resided in Arkport for most of his life and was self employed as potato farmer and broker and also owned and operated a fertilizer business. In 1976 he established Schultheis Sporting Goods in Arkport and his son, Gary was his partner in the business from 1980 to 1992. Lee also established the Avon Gun Shop in Avon which he operated from 1994 until his retirement in 2002. He will be remembered for being a tireless worker.
His memberships included the Arkport Presbyterian Church, the Arkport Memorial American Legion Post No. 1248, the Arkport Exchange Club and the National Rifle Assoc. (NRA).
An avid hunter and fisherman, Lee loved to go deep sea fishing and trout fly fishing in Canada as well as pheasant hunting in Nebraska. He also enjoyed playing golf and was an accomplished skeet and trap shooter. Some of his other favorite past times included attending many reunions of the 104th Infantry Division and taking drives through the mountains of Pennsylvania.
His family includes his wife of eight years, Mae; his daughter, Barbara (Duffy) Elsenheimer of Arkport; his three sons, Gary Schultheis of Arkport; Alan (Cindy) Schultheis of Hornell and John Schultheis of Arkport; his two stepdaughters, Anne Nye of Penn Yan and Helen (Richard) Gray of Dansville; his stepson, James (Diane) Friener of Canaseraga; his nine grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and 23 step-great-grandchildren; his sister, Vera (Richard) Wiseman of Tacoma, Wash.; and his nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today (Sunday) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where the Arkport Memorial American Legion Post will conduct a memorial service at 8:30 p.m. today (Sunday). Friends are invited to meet his family at the Arkport Presbyterian Church where a funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, with the Rev. Jamie Stevens of Danville officiating. Committal services and interment, with military honors, will follow at the Arkport Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either the Arkport Presbyterian Church, 15 Main St., PO Box 6, Arkport, NY 14807 or to the Wayland Fire Dept. and Ambulance Service, 14-18 Naples St., Wayland, NY 14572. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
John, so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. He always had a smile for us kids on Meadowbrook and kept “Fritz” from chasing us on our bikes. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
I’ll always be proud to say I knew Lee Schultheis. He was one really cool guy. My memories of Lee will center on a late afternoon in the Arkport shop relaxing and listening to Lee talk about his experiences in WWII Europe during the Fall of 1944 and into the Spring of 1945. He was there lugging a 30lb machine gun and who knows what else. You had to work a bit to get him to talk about those times but if you persisted and the shop was quiet he’d get going. From the little that I know about those times I can say we are lucky that we got him back. He was wounded twice and its probable that some of that time in the hospital actually might have saved his life as it reduced his time on the front lines. I’ll always be sad that I never got to hear more. He retired too soon and now he’s moved on once and for all. So long and thanks Lee for all those cool hours spent talking in the shop. My whole family will remember those hours fondly.
sincere condolences to the family of Lee. Lee was a good man, a family man and a friend to those who knew him. He was a smart business man. I was always in aw of Lee’s knowledge of nature and wildlife and his conservation practices. Lee was truly one of the “greatest generation members” . he will be missed.
sorry to hear the news. are hearts are with you mae and family .as i read the 0bituarie i can say lee had a very full life and many good people in his life he will be missed.
Our love and prayers are with you all – Barb, Duf, Eric, Celeste, Gary, Toot, John & the girls. So many memories of living next door to the Schultheis’! The best times were had up at Grandpa Lee’s pond. Those were some of the best memories Ethan has when he was young and visiting Arkport. That was so much fun and we always had alot of laughs!! Lee was such a gracious host, making us feel welcome at any time. We love you all and wish we could be there to support you at this difficult time. We will miss him.
I will turn home at last once more
Knowing that a true soldier’s rest
Once earned is sweet
His peace complete
Who gave until the last his best
Barb, Duff, Eric, Celeste, Gary, Toot, John & the rest family~
I was so sad to hear about Uncle Lee’s passing. I justed wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you all. It has been a long, LONG time since I’ve seen him but I’ll always have such fond memories of Uncle Lee (as well as the rest of you). Take care! Love and prayers to you all.
To Barb, Gary and Tooty and John,
Although I don’t really remember John too well, I do remember a litle kid that played with his brothers and sister. Anyhow, Pauline and Joe Piccirillo informed me and Linda (our parents) that your Dad had passed. So sorry to hear that. He was always a nice guy, and yes, always working. I remember your Lincoln with the suicide doors. As a kid I loved cars and would look out the window living across the street and see that great car your dad loved to drive. I saw someone wrote about FRITZ. I so remember him running around the neighborhood. He was always in the backyard when we played softball and he was always present for our plays and carnivals we always had at the Schultheis home. I remember your mom and Dorothy Elsenheimer walking up and down the street in the summer time. Anyhow, our entire family sends their condolences. Your dad was a very nice man and always very calm and soft spoken. As a kid, that is the way I remember him. God Bless you all. Remember the tarzan vine?
My father, John Seifert,was in the unit 414L. We are sorry for your loss.