Schulien worked for the people

John Schulien was well known in Lake County political circles, but it was his heart and civic-mindedness that colleagues remember.

"He came across as a genuine person, who wanted to do some good in the community," said Irene Pierce, executive director of the Lake County Health Department.

Schulien, who served on the Libertyville village board, Lake County Board and was Lake County Republican Party chairman, died Sunday after a brief illness. He was 67.

He was a captain in the Army Dental Corps in Frankfurt, Germany from 1969 to 1972 before running a private practice in North Chicago for almost 30 years.

The longtime Libertyville resident most recently worked at the health department's dental clinics.

As a politician, Schulien could have been a hard-liner but didn't go that route, said Bob Churchill, a former state representative, whom Schulien succeeded as party leader.

"The term civic leader would be a good term for John. It wasn't about politics necessarily, it was about helping people," Churchill said.

As a Libertyville trustee from 1985 to 1992, Schulien was involved in the early effort to improve downtown. When fellow trustee JoAnn Eckmann ran for and was elected mayor, Schulien backed her opponent.

"But from that point onward we all worked together," Eckmann said. "We had differences of opinion (and) we could debate the issues but it never got personal."

Schulien was a good listener who was easy to relate to, said his widow, Janice.

"He was always full of laughter and always giving others encouragement," she said. "He could hear where you were coming from and was easy to relate to."

As a county board member, he was proud of the effort that resulted in a levee being built to prevent flooding in North Libertyville Estates.

"I think he would have considered himself a professional who dedicated himself to public service," rather than a politician, said Pam Newton, a former colleague on the county board. "He was absolutely the most humble and gentle man. His word was his bond."

After closing the dental practice, he served as director of the Ann Kiley Development Center in Waukegan and the Whiteside County Federally Qualified Health Center in Rock Falls.

"He had a heart for people who were disadvantaged," Churchill said.

Schulien also was heavily involved in civic activities, including stints as local and state leader for Easter Seals. Yet he was able to maintain a balance and was well known for his love of family.

"He was such a family man and always talked about his kids," Eckmann said. "He just would beam every time you asked him, `How are the kids?'

Besides his wife, he is survived by seven children and four grandchildren.

Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McMurrough Funeral Chapel Ltd., 101 Park Place, Libertyville. A funeral Mass is 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church, 121 E. Maple Ave.