Louis Dean Shuler

Louie, age 95, Gold Canyon, AZ passed away peacefully on January 10, 2014. He was born in Farmington, Illinois on August 13, 1918 to Lewis Shuler and Mabel Grace (Long) Shuler, the first of three sons. With the help of his parents he earned his way through college during the Great Depression, graduating in 1941 with a B.S. degree from Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943. While in the service, thanks to a summer thunderstorm which diverted his flight from Cheyenne to Denver, he met the first great love of his life, Mary Clara Boylan. They were married on December 27, 1945 and shared 45 wonderful years together. They were blessed with two loving sons, Prof. Michael L. Shuler, Ithaca, NY and Dr. Patrick J. Shuler, La Verne, CA. Louie was employed by the Army Ammunition Command Center, located in Joliet, Illinois, where he held various industrial engineering positions from 1946 to his retirement in 1971. He was awarded the Dept. of Army Meritorious Civilian Service award,(the army's second highest award for civilians) for his leadership in directing ammunition production during the Viet Nam war. His retirement passion, to build a mountain home of his dreams, surrounded by the unmatched beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, was achieved and surpassed with the completion of "Paradise Found", truly a beautiful dream home on five acres of the prettiest land the Lord ever made. In 1989, the 8000 foot elevation was too much for Mary, so they moved to Gold Canyon, AZ. On July 1994 he married the second great love of his life, Elizabeth (Liz) Malek, his devoted and loving wife for the rest of his life. Louie used to say, he was the luckiest man on earth, and credited finding Mary and Liz to a higher power that made it happen.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Mary and brothers Bob Shuler of Des Moines, Iowa and Max Shuler, Peoria, AZ. He is survived by his wife Liz, his sons Mike and Pat, four wonderful grandchildren, a great grandson, and step children Don and Pat. Visitation will be held at 10AM, at St. George's Catholic Church in Apache Junction, AZ, followed by Mass at 11AM, and burial at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Mesa, AZ.