Celebration of Life
For 
Gerald *Jerry* Schleining
November 25, 1933-January 30, 2012

Prelude "A New Day Has Come"  

Welcome
Pastor Joe Oakley  

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13
Andrew Loos, Great Grandson  

A Life Remembered Eulogy
Pastor Joe Oakley  

"In the Garden"
Sung by Max Hill, Grandson

A Time For All Things Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Andrew Loos, Great Grandson    

Celebration of Jerry's Life  

Amy Hill, Granddaughter
Beth Peterson, Niece
Amanda Loos, Granddaughter
Scott Clark, Friend  

"Landslide" Stevie Nicks  

Psalm 23 Andrew Loos, Great Grandson  

"Amazing Grace"
Sung by Max Hill, Grandson 
Please join us in singing  

Words of Grace
Pastor Joe Oakley  

Lord's Prayer
Pastor Joe Oakley

Jerry was a fighter to the very end. He was told by one of his doctors over the last few months that he was a “tough old bird” and that help to keep him motivated to the end.  He didn’t want to leave his bride or children, but his body was too weak and he wasn’t able to get stronger and healthy again to leave the hospital.  He was deeply loved and admired by many people. Jerry was fun-loving, happy go lucky guy.  He had a tough childhood growing up but once he met his beloved bride, she brought a smile to his face that stayed there until the end.  Shirley’s parents and siblings embraced Jerry as if he was their own flesh and blood and they made a difference in Jerry’s life.  His smile grew even bigger when his four kids came long and enriched his life even more. Anyone that knew Jerry recognized that smile, that laugh, the stories he told, his trustworthiness, his loyalty to family, friends and work, his undying love to Shirley, his devotion to his family.  He was blessed with granddaughters and great great children.  He was blessed with sons-in-law that he made them all feel as if they were his very own sons.  He taught his children honesty, dependability, and strong work ethics.  He also listened, he always offered advice, he was strong and he was stubborn, but he was usually always right.   He was a devoted son, brother, friend, employee, husband, father and grandfather.  His family always came first. He made sure there was always a roof over their heads, food on the table, clothes on their back.  Jerry believed in celebrating birthdays and all the holidays. His children never went without.  Jerry had strong religious beliefs and morals and taught his children between right and wrong, provided them with a religious background but also was open to letting his children decide how they led their life. He respected people and expected to be shown respect.

Jerry lived his life to the fullest. He was happy with his vodka and Sprite every night (or a beer), his cigarettes, his family and wanted everyone to be happy.  Jerry loved life, he loved his beautiful wife, and he loved his family as we all loved him with all of our hearts. This world is a better place because he was here and made a mark on it.  He will be missed. 

God Bless you Jerry Schleining.  May you rest in peace.  Your family will be okay.  You will forever watch over them and always be a part of who we are today.

The last few years were tough on Jerry.  All his years of being healthy caught up with him and he started having many health problems—a hernia which led to an aortic aneurysm that was repaired twice, lung disease and eventually heart disease. During the last eight or so years, he was caretaker to his beloved bride, Shirley, after she suffered a back fracture which led to other illnesses.  Shirley fought breast cancer and he took her to chemo, radiation and sat by her side for many treatments, many crying sessions. He was devoted to her to the very end, taking care of making sure she was OK and letting his own health fail because of his deep, undying love.

Work was very important to Jerry. He rarely missed it unless it was for vacation (which was rare) or if something major occurred with one of his kids or beloved wife.  He was never sick- seldom suffered from any flu, colds, allergies or other illnesses. If he did, he hid it well.   And never called in for sick during his entire career.  He went to work every day, worked 9-10 hours and came home and had dinner with Shirley and Annette.  He enjoyed his couple of beers, a good dinner and retired to the couch with his pooches to watch tv and fall asleep.  Some quotes from former co-workers:

“He was a Great Man & a Great Friend to me. We would joke with each other every day.  He would always tell me that he was “going to kick my butt one of these days.” He was one of a Kind and would do anything to help out a friend.”

“I cared very much for him.  He was my manager for years, since 1993.  He was from the old German world, like my family in Michigan.  He was a wonderful person and friend.  I have missed him often while at work or just thinking of him.  He made a nice difference in my life.  My fondest memory is Jerry running to the soda machine at 4:00PM every day to get his Sprite!  He always liked his Sprite.   Thank you for sharing a very special person with us…he was my rock as I had to leave my family behind.  While distance should not be a factor, it really is in our daily lives and Jerry was there every day, never missed a day of work.

Gott segne sie (God Bless You), Jerry Schleining.”

“Jerry was more than my boss in customer service. He was a great friend and mentor. I cannot begin to tell you how much of an impact he made in my life and I’m not sure he even knew it.  He taught me a lot about this business and about life.  I have many great memories with your dad and it was my honor to have known him.  He was a very good man and I know he was a great husband and father.”

“Jerry held a very special place in our heart, and it will always remain that way.   He had been especially good to me.  He gave me so much guidance and knowledge in my job and was the main reason myself and so many others loved their job in customer service.  I didn’t really have a grandfather growing up but Jerry was always the one to fill that void.  He had the right way to say things when I was walking on a thin wire at work or when I had a bad day in my personal life.  All the girls called him “little Jerry”.  He was such special man to many of us at TST.  And of course behind every special man there is a special woman.  He spoke so much of Shirley and was always so proud of her and the sweet things she did for us.  We sure did miss her cooking when Jerry retired.  It was always her dish I most looked forward to on “food days” or parties.  We could tell that they had built a very special love story together and they were a great example of how you should love and cherish your spouse and marriage.  I know your family is very proud of that.  We can only wish and hope for such a special life together. “

In 1982, his second granddaughter, Amanda Leann, was born in Nebraska. For several years Jerry, Shirley, Kerry and Annette made several trips back and forth between Texas and Nebraska to see family and friends.   Eventually, over the next several years Joy and Chris (and husband Ed, daughters Amy and Amanda) made their permanent treks to Texas where all his kids (and grandchildren) reside today. 

Over the years in Texas, Jerry and Shirley got Annette through high school, first car, and married off to Jeff Shully.  Granddaughter Amy married Max, and great grandchildren joined the Schleining legacy—Andrew Lee, Alyssa Ann, Ava Isabelle and Ayden Max. 

Then Jerry and Shirley decided to make yet another move to the other side of Lincoln and built their “dream” house—the house where Annette would grow up in, grandchildren would fill the house with their giggles, new memories, new neighbors, a place he would someday retire and enjoy.  But after living in their dream home for less than two years, Jerry’s life took another turn he was transferred to Arlington, Texas in 1979.  This was a life changing transition and made a big impact on his family.  It was a difficult decision to move Shirley and Annette, but he had to continue to provide for his family.  Joy and Chris were both married, Kerry was graduated from High School and ready to be on his own.  Annette was only 10, and it made sense to make this move as hard as it was for the family and friends left behind.

The next chapter of his life was in Arlington, Texas, still working at a print shop, Control Data, and raising his youngest daughter, and doing the best he could being in a new and different place away from familiarity, his other children, granddaughter and close friends . Eventually, Kerry moved down to Texas and decided to make Texas home too.  After a couple of years being in Texas, Jerry lost his job with Control Data and eventually found himself working at Texas Stock Tab with some old friends and co-workers from the plant in Nebraska. 

His daughters came across a hidden “list of desires” that he made possibly during his transition between jobs.  Other than obtaining a good job by the start of 1982, he wanted “many more years of happiness with my wife Shirley…I want all my children to have a long and happy, peaceful life… I want a nice home in a peaceful area and I want a new car—a Ford.”     

1975 was a milestone year for Jerry.  Joy and Chris both got married, and Chris gave birth to Jerry’s first grandchild, Amy Melissa.  Jerry’s nephew Todd Peterson recalls Jerry saying to him afterwards, “It doesn’t bother me to be a grandfather, but realizing I’m sleeping with a grandmother is kind of troubling.” 

After he completed his service in the Air Force in June 1957, Jerry moved his family back to Lincoln and went to work at a print shop.  This is about when Jerry and Shirley moved into the infamous “green” house on Starr Street when Shirley was pregnant with Kerry.  This is also where the beginning of a special lifelong friendship with neighbors, Bob and Helen Sheehan, which left a legacy to the children of both couples.

In 1963, Jerry and Shirley purchased their very first home on Indian Road in Lincoln and moved Joy, Chris and Kerry into the new home.  Shirley was terrified on how to pay for this new house, but Jerry said “we’ll manage” and continued to work hard, moving up the corporate ladder at Control Data.   Then in 1968, a surprise arrive came into their lives and Annette was born.  Life on Indian Road made history in the lives that he touched.  Many lifelong friendships were made during that time that has continued to this day and so many memories of good times had by all. And as those old friends recall, Jerry always had a smile on his face, always had fun, joked around and told stories. He loved to surround himself with lots of family and friends. He thrived on friendships and good times.  Lots of memories of beloved neighbors the Lempka’s, the Martinosky’s and the Fujans, the Landons, and with best friends the Sheehans, the Adairs and the famous, traditional Saturday night parties of grilling, sitting on their front porch and drinking.  Too many stories came from those Saturday nights to even begin to share, but those that were part of those memories, or heard them through the years,  know what a character Jerry was. 

He met the love of his life, Shirley, when he was still in high school. He pursued her relentlessly until she finally agreed to “I do.”  They were married December 28, 1952 surrounded by close friends and family.  The both took their marriage vows seriously, and “In sickness and in health, in death do us part” was the most important one that his children will always remember. 

Gerald Schleining, or as everyone knew him best as  Jerry, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska  on November 25, 1933 to Harry and Hermina Schleining.  He was the youngest of three children (Betty his older sister who currently lives in Phoenix and older brother Don who still resides in Lincoln).  He grew up in Lincoln and graduated in 1951 from University High School in Lincoln.   Jerry has a claim to fame that goes way back.   Jerry’s sister Betty recalls “Jerry and his best friend Charlie Moore, used to go over to Johnny Carson’s apartment and he would show them magic tricks.”  (That was when Carson was going to the University of Nebraska and working in Lincoln on local radio shows.)

 During his high school years he was on the basket ball and track team which he lettered in both sports.   In addition, he won several awards for relay races for his track team.  His school nickname was “Bugs.”   His brother Don recalls that “Jerry had a love of cars and he had an old 1938 Ford car that he spent fixing up and spending a great deal of money on a fancy paint job – a metallic gold. He loved that car and it was his baby.  He ended up selling it to a good friend, Tommy, who then later ran it through a cemetery fence and smashed it up.  Jerry was crushed!” It didn’t stop his love of cars which he shared with his brother Don and passed down to his son, Kerry.     Another funny story that his brother shared, “Jerry had a this habit of standing in front of the mirror every day, combining his hair and saying “God, you’re really good looking.”  And his family can attest, that “Dad made sure his hair was perfect every day and it was rare that we saw him with his curly locks. Even on the weekends he made sure to shower, shave and get his hair styled even to go mow or work in the yard.” 

Another habit that his brother shared, and of course anyone that knew him—family, friends, former co-workers are probably aware of this one.  He loved his coffee.  He would drink it at the supper table.  He would add his sugar and milk and then stir the coffee and make the “clink clink clink” of the spoon clinking against the cup.  We can hear that today as we sit here and remember Jerry.