Jack was born at a very early age, to his parents: John F. Schlieker SR. & Susan Irene Haymes Schlieker as John F Schlieker JR. on November 1, 1926 in St Louis MO. He was their only child (please note that the Great Houdini died the day before). John SR was 35, the last of 6 children, Irene Haymes was 24, the last of 12 siblings. As a result, Jack grew up a generation behind the others in his family.
At the age of 3 he received his prized possession, the tricycle. When he was 5 a little white dog named Zero came on the scene, he didn’t last very long. Jack performed on radio station KSD, St Louis on a program called the “Stars of Tomorrow” (somewhat of a misnomer).
Jack went through the Wellston School system. He lettered at center on the football team. The right end that year was Don Carter who became a world champion bowler. Jack’s best friends were Jimmy Russell, Jim Shaw & Bill Braucksieker. Jack had the reputation of being a good seller of tickets to plays given at Wellston. He “starred” as farmer McCarthy in Our Town. The character sat as a dead person at the cemetery; he didn’t speak a word.
World War II was underway, and the Wellston draft board had a very stringent physical requirement: if you could see lightning & hear thunder =1A. The board also required entrance into a branch of service at the end of the semester that you turned 18. With this in mind, Jack along with Jimmy Russell & Glen Einspanier, attended summer school at Webster Groves High School, catching a streetcar at 6 AM every day for 10 weeks. This enabled them to graduate “early” yet receive their diplomas with their other 65 classmates in May (Big School).
In January 1945 Jack was inducted into the US Army at Jefferson Barracks MO. Basic training was at the jewel of the South, Fort McClellan, AL. After the war Jack tried to join the VFW in light of his training in Alabama (he was turned down because it seemed they had never been to Alabama). After basic training he was sent to Ft Robinson, NE, to train scout dogs. The war in Europe had ended in May. His outfit, the 48th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon was scheduled for the invasion of Japan. President Harry Truman said “drop the bomb”, and General Paul Tibbits said “I’ll do it”. Jack said “thank you Harry”, “thank you Paul”, and thus ended the military service for Jack in November of 1946, after soaring to the heights of corporal. Jack’s dog was named Victor. Jack single-handedly prevented any bombs from being dropped on St. Louis.
Jack attended Johnson Bible College in 1947 for 2 years and Lincoln Bible Institute (now Lincoln Christian University), graduating in 1952. After marrying Virginia Teal, and the birth of their son John III, he served as the lead minister of the 1st Christian Church of Ferguson, MO, from 1949 to 1953. During that time son Paul was born. Then Jack served the 1st Christian Church in Ault, CO, for 2 years where son Timothy was born. It was while at Ault, Jack obtained both a Colorado High School football and basketball officiating card. Then they lived for 3 years in Eads, CO, while Jack served as minister of the 1st Christian Church. The family “enjoyed” the dust bowl of Kiowa County.
Having become aware of the need for new Christian Churches in the greater Denver area, the Schlieker family moved to Denver, CO, on July 4, 1958. Jack obtained employment with an investment firm, Financial Programs Inc.
This employment enabled the Schliekers, with Gods help, to start 3 churches. Cherry Creek Christian Church in Denver, Gateway Christian Church in Aurora, and then seeing a need in the black community they rented the former George Washington Carver Day Nursery building near “5 points”, starting Agape Christian Church in Denver. After 17 years serving as co-ministers with Harcourt Saunders and Robert Woolfolk they “retired” from the church planting ministry.
They became members of Southeast Christian Church, volunteering in many areas to assist the ongoing evangelization of the Denver area. In subsequent years they were also active with Cornerstone Community Church, and Sanctuary Christian Fellowship.
They made a final effort to start a new Christian Church in the quadrant of Colfax on the north; I-225 on the East; Arapahoe Road on the South and Broadway on the West, which was called Beacon Christian Church. They served the Lord at Beacon for about a year. In his final years, Jack and Virginia have been members of Sanctuary Christian Fellowship.
After spending 60 years at 3040 S Dexter Way, Jack and Virginia moved to River Point Senior Community. Jack’s health necessitated him moving to Hallmark Nursing Center for the remainder of his days on this earth, passing into the Lord’s loving arms Friday February 26, 2021.
Jack is survived by his bride of over 70 years, Virginia; 3 sons, John (Charlene), Paul (Peggy), Timothy (Bonnie), and 2 granddaughters, Carey Schlieker and Crystal Henricks (Randy). Memorials on Jack’s behalf can be sent to Agape Christian Church, 2501 California Street, Denver, Colorado 80205.
Memorials can be sent to Agape Christian Church, 2501 California Street, Denver, CO, 80205
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