Mr. Schanze was born April 18, 1932 in St. Louis, MO the son of August E. “Gus” and Mary (Ward) Schanze.
In his early years Jean was an “Army brat” traveling and making moves to where his dad was stationed during the WW II years. He attended seven high schools including Yokohama High School in Japan, Kemper Military School, Andover, and Hill School.
He went on to attend and graduate from Kansas University in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. While at the KU he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity where he served as President, co-captain of the KU Swim Team, Vice President of his senior class, and member of both the junior and senior Men’s Honor Societies.
After graduating he earned his commission in the U.S. Army and again got to travel to such countries as France, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Monaco and Panama. He was particularly close with his grandparents, Jake and Mary Schanze whom he considered special people and who owned the Schanze Cigar Store where he often worked as a boy doing ticker tape, posting ball scores and shaking the horse dice with customers. They provided a stable place to come home to in Leavenworth and helped him financially paying for all college expenses and contributing to his business start up after his military service.
Jean married Patricia (Sterett) Schanze (LHS Class of 1954) on June 2, 1959, who resides at her home. They were married for 28 years but remained best friends. He considered “Patsy” one of the “special people” in the world. They had one son, Sterett W. “Stet” Schanze who was born in 1965 who lives in St. Joseph, Missouri, with his wife Jeanne and three sons, Baxter (15), Jack (13), and Sam (12.).
In 1966 he started up and established the Schanze Agency with Lloyd Banks (LHS Class of 1950) joining two years later as his business partner to make it Schanze and Banks, a thriving insurance and real estate agency. The business, which operated at Third and Shawnee Streets in downtown Leavenworth for 32 years, was known for providing personal service to the customer and developed a number of subdivisions in town to include Valhalla & 14th Street, Revolutionary Drive, Gatewood Street and Skywalker Heights across from Abele’s Field. They took great pride in their business and Jean considered it one of his most important accomplishments in life. In 1998 he retired and the business was sold to the Klotz family agency where it still remains in operation.
Jean was proud of the Leavenworth community and was a leader who enjoyed giving back to it. Over the years he served as president of the Leavenworth Board of Realtors, president of The Leavenworth Country Club, president of the Rotary Club, president of the Leavenworth City Library, President of the Leavenworth Waterworks and his favorite, board member of the Hotel Cody Corporation.
After retirement Jean particularly enjoyed tending to his flower and tomato gardens, following the KU basketball team, cooking, keeping up on his grandchildren’s activities, and his daily exercise and two mile walk at Leavenworth High School’s track.
Jean will always be remembered by his friendly smile and care free approach to life. There were no strangers to Jean. He had many close friends and was known as “Jeno” by most. He was fond of his Coffee Club buddies, with whom he enjoyed coffee each morning for over 40 years and his card buddies with whom he could be found many afternoons after retirement playing gin rummy. In the early years his best friend was James “Jimmy” Snyder (LHS Class of 1953) who preceded him in death a number of years ago. Later in life he was very close with friend David “Davie” Albee. Along with Mr. Albee a number of friends have been requested by the family to serve as pallbearers to include: Lloyd Banks, Thomas Dawson, Roger Horsky, Ethan Potter, Mike Robinson, Ron Whitehouse and Mike Wood, and honorary pallbearer Roberta “Bobbie” Snyder.
Jean was proceeded in death by his parents, August and Mary Schanze; step mother, Alyne M. Schanze; and step brother, Jim Garrett.
Survivors include special person in his life, Patricia Schanze; son, Sterett W. “Stet" Schanze and wife Jeanne; grandsons, Baxter, Jack and Sam of St. Joseph, MO; step sister Mary “Mur” Bush, Santa Fe, NM; step sister, Peggy Schanze and husband Jay Wiedenmeyer, Lenexa, KS and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:30 A.M. Monday, September 27, 2010 at the Davis Funeral Chapel, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 A.M. at the Chapel.
The Very Revered Michael Munro will officiate. Private burial will be held in the Mt. Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, KS.
Memorial contributions may be given to Kansas University Cancer Center, 2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Westwood, KS 66205, Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornell Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145 or Cushing Memorial Hospital, 711 Marshall St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.
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