It is with a very heavy heart that we let you know of the
passing of Jerry Schleich, treasurer of the Red Wing Collectors
Society.  Jerry died very suddenly on February 24, 2005 at the age of
72.

Jerry was well known to the community of Red
Wing Collectors Society members.  He has been the treasurer of the
national Society since 2000. His role as treasurer made him a member of
the full Board of Directors and the Executive Board.   He was an active
and conscientious Board member always promoting what the membership and
the Chapters wanted.  He provided sound financial advice and was the
chief overseer of the first RWCS budget. He worked closely with the
RWCS Business Manager in order to assure good financial health of the
Society.  In addition to his work as a RWCS Board member, he was
instrumental in the development of the RWCS Foundation.   He remained
involved and continued to provide guidance and assistance in financial
and legal matters.  The RWCS Foundation was a fulfilled dream of
Jerry’s and he was so proud to see his dream come to fruition. Jerry
was an active Chapter member.  He was past president of both the
Southwest and Nebraska Chapters, was a member of many Chapters and
provided assistance to most Chapters in the formation of by-laws,
non-profit status and other matters.

Another
dream realized when Jerry and Louise established and opened the
Schleich Pottery, Dinnerware and Stoneware Museum in Lincoln Nebraska
in 2001.  Jerry’s office was in the same building as the Museum and
warmly greeted visitors who came to take in the tour.  It was not
unusual to have Jerry offer his home for overnight stays of RWCS
members and pottery lovers who came to visit the Museum. He was
generous with his time, his resources and his knowledge.

Most
people will remember Jerry as the avid collector of both pottery and
knowledge.  Ron Linde, at the funeral service for Jerry, eloquently
expressed the quest for not only knowledge about the Red Wing pottery
but also his need to share that knowledge to others.  Another word that
was used by those offering eulogies at the service used the word
“driven” to describe Jerry.  That was certainly true for collecting and
learning about Red Wing as it was about Real Estate, Home Development
and working with and for Cornhusker Place.

Jerry
was a graduate of the University of Omaha with a BS in Business
Administration. He later graduated from the University of Nebraska
College of Law.   He was a member of the Nebraska Bar Association,
American Bar Association, Home Builders Association of Lincoln,
Nebraska Homebuilders Association, National Association of Home
Builders, Bethany Christain Church, Trustee of University of Nebraska
Foundation, Director and past president of Cornhusker Place, Co-chair
of Cornhuster place Capital Funds Campaign Committee and most recently,
president of Southview, Inc. a family owned land development business.
He was involved in all aspects of the real estate business since 1960. 
Jerry was very well known in Lincoln and provided his able advice and
assistance to countless organizations and causes.  It was also
mentioned at his funeral that there was probably not a subdivision in
Lincoln that Jerry was not a part of the development of.  In fact, one
person who gave a eulogy said that he believed Jerry was now starting
subdivisions in Heaven.

Last
September, the Schleich family helped dedicated a park in Lincoln which
they donated money, equipment and labor, in the name of Stephen C.
Schelich one of Jerry and Louise’s sons who had been in the family
business and died in November 2000.

Most
important to Jerry though, was his family. Jerry spoke so highly of his
family and loved them deeply. Jerry and Louise were married in 1956.
His children include his daughter Kathryn, son-in-law, Terry Beer; Sons
and daughters-in-laws Thomas and Christine Schleich, John and his wife
Andrea, David and Mary Schleich, Shanda Schleich, 15 grandchildren.  He
was preceded in death by his son, Stephen and his parents Conrad and
Helen Schleich.

The funeral services were held on Monday, February 28, 2005 at the Bethany Christian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Jerry
will truly be missed.  He was a wonderful man who loved life, his
family and all of his special interests with such passion.  It is hard
to imagine anyone who had more of a a variety of interests, such a
quest for information and the innate ability to bring his dreams to
life. He accomplished so much in his lifetime and his legacy will live
on forever in our hearts and in our lives.

Memorials
may be made to the RWCS Foundation, Cornhusker Place, Inc., Capitol
Fund, 721 K St. Lincoln, 68508, or the Bethany Christian Church, 1645
N. Cotner Blvd, Lincoln.