Dairy farming was in his blood from the beginning
From the time Warren Dean Schuring was 6 years old, he lived on a 120-acre farm in Plato Township, just west of Elgin.
"Farming was in his blood," says his wife, Dolores. "Just recently, he was still cleaning out the sheds."
Mr. Schuring passed away on Monday. The 62-year resident of Plato Township was 68.
Despite being born in Melrose Park, Mr. Schuring only remembered his years on the farm.
He moved to the area with his family in 1946, when his parents took over an existing dairy farm, while running a milk distribution business. They kept the historic 1920s barn on the property, but updated and expanded many of the farm buildings.
While Mr. Schuring was growing up, the family increased its livestock to 100 milking cows and another 100 young stock, family members say. At the same time, his father maintained his milk delivery routes that he started in 1930, driving a wide route that included Park Ridge, Skokie and Norridge.
In 1960, Mr. Schuring married Dolores Rohlwing, and by 1962 they were running the dairy and agricultural farming operation started by his parents. They raised five children on the farm.
In 1973, Mr. Schuring joined his father in the milk distribution business, becoming principle owner, and he later partnered with his brother, Norm, whose family also lived on the farm.
They called the milk distribution business Schuring & Schuring, and under their leadership they helped it grow.
In the beginning, Mr. Schuring and his brother picked up their milk at Modern Dairy in Elgin, where the milk from their farm had been processed. However in later years, they switched to Muller Pinehurst Dairy in Rockford, as their distributor.
"He'd drive six days a week," his wife adds, "all while running the farm, and maintaining all of the trucks."
In 2003, Mr. Schuring sold all of his farm equipment to his son, Keith, who continues to farm the family's land, while two more sons and two nephews run the milk distribution business.
It now distributes milk and other dairy products to gas stations, convenience stores, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes throughout much of the suburban region.
What began with their grandfather's routes in Park Ridge, Skokie and Norridge, has grown to include Evanston, Crystal Lake, St. Charles, Wheaton, Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Geneva, Aurora, Naperville, Algonquin, Carpentersville, Elgin and South Elgin.
"The farming heritage is very important to this family," Dolores Schuring says. "We're all proud of this beautiful piece of property, and we have lots of hands living here to maintain it."
Besides his wife, Mr. Schuring is survived by his children, Brian (Christy) Schuring of Dixon, IL, Dale (Valerie) Schuring of Arthur, IL, Keith Schuring of Plato Township, LeAnn (Jeff) Stuehler of Hampshire and Duane Schuring and his friend, Debbie Schulz of South Elgin, as well as five grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, before the 1 p.m. funeral service Saturday, both at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Road in North Plato.