Jack D. Schramm

Jack Schramm, 93, died peacefully in his sleep on June 2, 2017 at Via Christi Village in Hays. A lifelong champion and supporter of Thomas More Prep-Marian he had just marked the 75 year anniversary of his graduation from its predecessor school, St. Joseph’s Military Academy.

Jack was born August 1, 1923, in Arkansas City, Kansas to Vic and Maurie Schramm. He enrolled at SJMA as a freshman in the fall of 1936, earning both his high school diploma in 1940 and his associate’s degree in 1942. As a student he earned the school’s highest honor, the ROTC Medal of Honor. On the day of his junior college graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army and reported to  Fort Riley.  He served with distinction in WWII, earning the Bronze Star for courage in 1944 after safely bringing his rifle company across the Danube River at night, avoiding enemy fire or any casualties.

In 1948 he married Roma Waters. They made their first home in Salzburg, Austria while Jack continued his Army service during the occupation and rebuilding of Austria. They returned to the US living in Santa Fe and later Albuquerque, New Mexico, where all their children were born.

In 1967, Jack returned to Hays taking on the first of many roles at SJMA, later TMP-Marian. Over the next 25 years he served as Director of Admissions, established the school’s alumni office, ACE auction, golf tournament, and the Endowment Foundation. He retired in 1992, but came out of retirement to serve first as Director of Stewardship for the Dodge City Diocese and later the Heartland Parishes of Ellis County. In 2002, after the passing of his wife Roma, Jack fully retired enjoying many trips to TMP-Marian sporting events for most of the next decade. He was named an affiliate of the Capuchin Order, received the “Points of Light” designation at TMP-Marian, and was dubbed the TMP-M “Number One Fan” by players, coaches, parents, and the Hays Daily News.

Jack is survived by his daughter Kathy Ensworth of Longmont, Colorado and her husband John, and daughter Emma; his daughter Julie Clifton of Bogata, Texas, her husband David, and children Steve Shade and Kelly Martin and her husband James; and his son David and his husband Ken Daigle and their children Tobias Lamai Ezra and Roma Schramm of San Francisco, CA. He is further survived by four loving nieces Vicki Leyba of Irving, TX, Jody Howard of Thornton CO, Debbie Vanderlinde of Westmoreland, KS and Teri Parsons of Colorado Springs, CO. He is preceded in death by his wife Roma, his son Vic, his grandson John Shade, as well as his parents and sister Joan Howard.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, June 5, 2017 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th.  Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Post #9076 Honor Guard will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Sunday at the TMP-Marian Chapel, 1701 Hall, and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine.  A parish vigil will be at 7:00 pm followed by a Knights of Columbus Council #1325 rosary at 7:30, both on Sunday at the TMP-Marian Chapel.  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to TMP-Marian earmarked to the fourth floor renovation project, a portion of which will be named in Jack’s memory.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com