Lambertus Schulte

Cobleskill: Lambertus "Bert" Joseph Schulte, 90, of Cobleskill, passed away Wednesday May 22, 2013 at home, with his loving family at his side.

Born, September 10, 1922 in Ostrhaudersehm, Germany, Bert moved to the United States with his family at the age of 4. Bert was the son of the late Gerhard and Engeline Schulte.

He attended school in Long Island before his family moved to Richmondville in 1942. It was there he met his future bride Helen Pollard. Bert married Helen on September 15, 1945. They first lived on East Main Street Cobleskill while Bert built their first home on Grandview Drive. Bert became a naturalized citizen of the US in 1946. Bert worked with his father in his brick masonry business where he learned the craft himself. Much of the brickwork on buildings which remain in Cobleskill was completed by the craftsmanship of Bert. Bert later expanded the business to involve all types of general construction, and later incorporated into the Bert Schulte Construction Company in 1966.

Active in the community, Bert was a member of the Cobleskill Exchange Club, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks #2040, and was a volunteer fireman for the Cobleskill Fire Department. Bert was a long time member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cobleskill, and sat on the church's council, and his company repointed the brick of Zion's tall steeple and built the education wing .Bert Schulte Construction Company built such local business buildings as Mechanics Exchange Bank (now Community Bank), Sterling Insurance, Fenimore Asset Management, the Dental office for Dr Lancaster and associates, and the Cobleskill Car Wash. His company built about 200 residential houses in the Schoharie Valley and surrounding areas.

Bert's great love was his wife and family, and he inspired in them a love of camping and boating. He spent summer weekends at the great Sacandaga Lake at the family camp with Helen, daughters Mary Beth and Nancy and son Daniel. He became a self-taught avid sailor. He taught his children and grandchildren to sail. The entire extended family enjoyed and still enjoys summer camp adventures.

Bert is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughter Mary Beth Minson of Garwood NJ, son Dan (Carol) Schulte of Cobleskill and daughter Nancy (David) DeSando of Cobleskill. He is also survived by five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Clara and his granddaughter Amy (Schulte) Hogan. Bert is also survived by his sister Angela Price; his brothers, Joe (Marge) Schulte, Harry (Betty) Schulte, Richard (Barbara) Schulte and Charles (Ellen) Schulte.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday May 25, 2013. at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St, Cobleskill. Family and friends are invited to a period of visitation to be held at the funeral home from 6-8 pm on Friday May 24, 2013. Burial will be in Cobleskill Rural Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cobleskill Regional Hospital, 178 Grandview Drive, Cobleskill, NY 12043