MANCHESTER - Cancer has taken the life of a long time West Delaware High School teacher. 58-year old Dave Schultz died early Friday morning at his home in Manchester. Schultz taught government classes at West Delaware for 36 years.

On May 8th, 2009 Schultz told TV9, "You know you've got a lot of people behind you,so you know you can't give up for them, you just gotta fight."

Those were words Dave Schultz spoke just two months ago, shortly after doctors diagnosed him with stage four liver cancer. Friday, he lost that fight.

Jeff Lenhart said, "We were all expecting a miracle. Miracles happen everyday." But just after four o'clock Friday morning, friends say Schultz died peacefully in his sleep.

After learning Schultz had died, I asked Schultz's good friend, Jeff Lenhart to round up a few people to talk to me about Mr. Schultz, in less than one hour at least 30 people showed up.

Tom Fetter said, "Dave loved people, so people loved him back."

Roger Hanson said, "Being a pillar in the school and in the community, we're a little lop-sided without David."

Dana Pasker said, “he touched everybody."

The words "it's not fair" echoed through the halls of the West Delaware High School. But his friends believe that's not how Schultz would have seen it.

Back in May Schultz said, "I've been lucky, it's been a good life, so, I don't have a lot of regrets."

The visitation for Dave Schultz will be next Thursday from two to eight p-m at the Leonard-Muller Funeral Home. His funeral will be next Friday morning at 11 in the West Delaware High School auditorium in Manchester.