Obituary of John Schenck

JOHN EDWARD SCHENCK, SR., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 in Amarillo, TX. Born December 13, 1919, Cherryvale, KS, John was 89 years old. The Cherryvale, KS native moved with his parents to Peru, Ind., when he was 10 years old and graduated from high school there. During high school, he was a Golden Gloves fighter (known as the Peru Slugger) and captured the state Golden Gloves championship. When he was 13, Schenck began working for Cole Bros. Circus in the summer and traveled into every state during the 10 exciting years he was with Cole Bros. Although he was training as a performer and appeared in a few trapeze shows, Schenck primarily worked in the concession stands. He say, "I could make a lot more money selling peanuts & popcorn in the bleachers than I could on the trapeze." During his circus career John met his wife, Rose, a pretty trapeze performer. They were married 67 years. John served in the Pacific (1944 - 1946) as a U.S. Marine. As an automatic rifleman, he saw action in Saipan, Iwo Jima, Nagasaki, Japan & Okinawa. Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corp, he returned to Rochester, Ind., where he and his wife worked in a garment factory until moving to Clovis NM in 1947. The Cherryvale, Kan., native started with Southwestern Public Service Co., in 1948 in Clovis, NM, digging holes by hand with shovel and scoop. "Now the holes are made by automatic diggers," explained John, who first was assigned to a line crew and then as a lineman with a construction crew. He was transferred to Littlefield with a "line gang" and stayed there a year. Later he was a service man for SPSC in Olton 12 years and 13 years has a manager of Hale Center SPSC. He arrived in Hale Center two weeks before the tornado of 1965, he had a major role in helping to restore electrical power. John retired from SPSC January 1, 1985 making Hale Center his retirement home. Schenck's devotion extends for his family and friends into his community where he was a civic-spirited citizens who served as a fireman with two volunteer fire departments - Olton 12 years & Hale Center 13 years. John was named "Fireman of the Week." Schenck was a member of the Hale Center Lions Club and was past tail twister. He was a director of Hale Center Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber's 4th July celebrations knew him as the "head food hauler." John was a dedicated husband, caring father & grandfather. John is preceded in death by his wife Rose Teresa of 67 years. John is survived by his 3 children; Koenia Rose Byrd, John Edward Schenck Jr., James Joseph Schenck. Six grandchildren, Carol Lynn, Teresa Rose, Sharron Lee, Jeffery John, Natalie Rose, Alexander James, & Robert William; and 7 great grandchildren. Abell Funeral Home