He was described as a passionate fighter and a great advocate for his electorate.

The 76-year-old battled prostate cancer, four tumours in his liver and another at the base of his throat - all since mid-2012.

In a statement released on Tuesday, his family thanked his medical team and asked for people to respect their privacy.

"Alby was deeply appreciative of the professionalism and compassion extended to him by the nurses and staff of Cootamundra and the North Shore Private and North Shore Public Hospitals," they said.

"Special thanks in particular go to Dr Willie Offermeier and Professor Stephen Clarke and his team. Funeral arrangements will follow, with the service and funeral to be held in Cootamundra."

In a Facebook posting his son Grant bade farewell to “a great man, a wonderful father and loving grandfather”. 

“Dad quietly passed away today surrounded by family,” he wrote.

“He fought to the last minute. It was only when Mum, Dean and I were there he decided his time had come. He left with grace and dignity on his terms. Rest in peace Dad.”

His political career spanned 33 years at a local, state and federal level. 

Mr Schultz was Hume MP from 1998 to 2013, the Member for Burrinjuck from 1988 to 1998, and was elected to the Cootamundra Shire Council in 1983.

Residents from around the Hume Electorate have been flooding social media with tributes to Alby’s legacy.

His successor, Angus Taylor also paid tribute to Mr Schultz.

“As the longest serving member of the Federal electorate of Hume, Alby Schultz will be remembered for his extraordinary service to the people of our region, his towering strength of character and his great, great love of his family and his country,” Mr Taylor said.

“When I spoke to Alby a few weeks ago, he was, as always, talking about helping people, particularly those without a voice. This time it was how we could help men with prostate cancer in the Riverina area. He was trying to solve problems right to the end. Despite his sickness, he would only reluctantly talk about himself.

“He gained energy from helping others, that enormous energy for which he is so well known. As I have moved around the electorate, I hear from so many people about the help he gave them.”

Mr Taylor said he first met Alby in Parliament House in Canberra, with NSW Senator Bill Heffernan.

“He was a straight shooter. You knew exactly where you stood with him and I guess, in many ways, he reflected the values and characteristics of my own father. He asked for loyalty, but he gave it as well,” he said.

“He was a genuine politician and I think that’s the highest compliment you can give anyone in this business.”

Mr Taylor said that it was Alby’s unrelenting strength that was clearly demonstrated through his long battle with cancer.

“He was as tough as boot leather, but with an underlying gentleness that not everyone saw,” he said.

“My deepest sympathy goes to Alby’s wonderful wife Glo, who Alby acknowledged was so central to his effectiveness as a representative, also to his children Grant and Dean, their partners Bec and Dev, and his five grandchildren.

“I know many people will want to pay their respects to Alby. There will be condolence books at my electorate offices in Cowra and Goulburn, as well as at my Parliament House office in Canberra.”

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward also expressed her sympathies.

“He was definitely an amazing advocate for his electorate, one of his great legacies was creating the $20 million pipeline from the Southern Highlands to Goulburn during the 2007 drought,” Ms Goward said.

“He was a very well loved and effective politician; he would always turn up to community events and was always a part of everything, which I believe is why he was so effective.

“He also just had this natural way with children, he was a wonderful man and my sympathies go out to his family.”

Mr Schultz’s funeral is set to be held in Cootamundra on Tuesday.