Gwendolyn Diane Schultz

Gwendolyn (Colquett) Schultz, 70, of Rockford, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1955 to Harry and Helen Colquett.

Gwen was a devoted, loving, and kind person through and through and would do anything for anyone. She loved planting flowers, reading, puzzles, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. She was well known for her legendary deviled eggs and banana pudding. She made every home she lived in a sanctuary filled with photos and special memories of her family that she deeply loved and treasured.

Gwen was blessed with a beautiful, rare, rekindled love with her high school sweetheart, later in life, and they enjoyed 26 years of a joyful, loving marriage.

She is survived by her cherished husband, Gene Schultz of Rockford; her beloved daughters Felicia (Jim) Skilling of Wisconsin; Melissa (Micheal) Pahnke of Wisconsin; step-daughter, Emily (John) Messer of North Carolina; and daughter-in-law, Iga Schultz of Glendale Heights. Proud grandmother to Dominic, Ashleigh, Alec, and Alex; great-grandmother to Allistair and Violet. Beloved sister, Kathryn (Curt) Oliver of Machesney Park, and many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her dearly loved sister, Mary; her parents, Harry and Helen; mother and father-in-law, Walter and Alice; and beloved step-son, Michael.

Special thanks to the RN’s and CNA (Joslyn) at Northern Illinois Hospice for providing comfort, peace, and dignity for our mother during her final months. Words are just not enough.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to St. Jude’s, as this was an organization Gwen lovingly supported and contributed to for many years.

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