Johnhenry Schweiker

Johnhenry Schweiker passed away on April 23, 2017. He was born to Henry and Ada Schweiker on July 18, 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa.

He graduated from West Technical High School and was president of his senior class and Mayor of Des Moines for a day. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and while in boot camp, sang in the Blue Jackets Choir. He served aboard the U.S.S. Moreno, ATF87 during WW II. He graduated from the American Institute of Business. He was a member of the Phi Theta Pi business fraternity. He started his career with WHOP in Des Moines, (the same as Ronald Reagan) as promotion manager in 1948. He moved into sales in 1950 and sold WHO Radio and WHO Television starting in 1954. He was the Des Moines Ad Club Gridiron Chairman in 1955 and the creator of the Des Moines Rapier, a very successful gag newspaper, a spoof of the Des Moines Register. He was the youngest president of the Des Moines Advertising Club in 1956. He was a member of the Executive Toastmasters and the Presidents Club. In 1950, he founded the Polk County Fine Arts Society, a group of guys that got together twice a month to enjoy the fine art of playing poker. In 1960, he joined WDAF-TV in Kansas City as an Account Executive. In 1975, John won the Taft Broadcasting Presidents award for leading the Taft chain in sales. He was a member of the KC Ad Club, Media Legends, a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a broadcast pioneer and head of the WDAF Alumni. Johnhenry retired in 1991 after 43 years in broadcasting. In 1991, John and Syl Sher started the Senior Chiefs Advisory Board, consisting of Old School, Good Old Boys who enjoyed getting together for lunch, once a month.

Johnhenry married Jacki Scobee on October 11, 1947 in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines, by Dr. Fredrick Wertz, the father of Roger Williams, the famous pianist. They were married 69 years. They had three children, Steve, Paul and Holli. they joined Atonement Lutheran Church in 1962, where John taught Sunday School. John and Jacki traveled almost all of the world and the United States after retirement. he also worked for Habitat for Humanity, building houses. John has often said, “It’s been a Wonderful Life”.

He is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Mon, May 1 at 2pm at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212. Visitation will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Atonement Lutheran Church.