Wm. Gerard “Jerry” Schmeltz, third of six children was born August 8, 1929, in Kansas City, MO to Joseph and Margaret Schmeltz. He graduated from Redemptorist grade school (1942) and from DeLaSalle Military Academy (1946). From 1946 to 1968, he was a member of the Christian Brothers during which time he was known as Brother Julius Herbert and also later as Brother Gerard, FSC. He served in positions of teacher, dean, principle and director in high schools in St. Paul, MN; Chicago; Stevens Point, WI; St. Louis; Kansas City; Lansing and Detroit (Harper Woods), MI. He received BSS and MA degrees from St. Mary’s University, MN, and a Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma. He held four degrees in theological studies, and earned Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificates as an airline transport pilot, flight instructor and ground instructor. In 1968-1969 while a pilot with Commuter Airlines in Quad Cities, IL, he met Bernice Ramey, an assistant to the Airport Manager, who became his loving wife of 47 years.
A member of St. Joseph Parish since 1984, he was formerly a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Redemptorist) and of Good Shepherd Catholic Center, Shawnee.
In 1969, Jerry was employed by the FAA as an Air Traffic Specialist in Chicago Air Traffic Control Center. He was selected to be an Education Specialist at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma. Following that he was and FAA Academy Aviation Operations Safety Inspector from 1973 to 1983 performing the following duties: flight instructor in recertification of flight instructors, Flight Standards (FS) training evaluation specialist, FS contracting officer technical representative and Aeronautical Center flight safety officer. From 1983 to 1989 as Accident Prevention Program Manager in the Kansas City Flight Standards District Office, he conducted accident prevention seminars for airplane pilots and mechanics in the western half of Missouri and northeastern Kansas.
After retiring in 1989, his dedication to aviation safety led him to continue as a part time contract instructor at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City with primary emphasis on the Evaluation of Aviation Management Systems for FAA inspectors, aviation industry representatives and international civil aviation directors.
Jerry received appointment by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management as a Grievance and Appeals Examiner for FAA. He held memberships in the Assoc. of Aviation Psychologists, U.S. Pilots and Missouri Pilots Assoc., American Assoc. of University Professors, Phi Delta Kappa fraternity for professional teachers, and the National Assoc. of Priest Pilots. He was listed in Who’s Who in the Midwest in 1990. He was a past member of Airline Pilots Assoc., Assoc. of Secondary School Principals, National Forensic League, Aerospace Education Assoc., Amer. Educational Research Assoc. and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assoc. He also held the office of executive treasurer for the National Catholic Theater Conference. In 2001 he felt honored to have assisted the author, retired airline executive Capt. Sal Fallucco, in editing and publishing Aircraft Command Techniques – Gaining Leadership Skills to Fly the Left Seat, which unfortunately was published posthumously.
Jerry based his spiritual life on the sacramental life of the Church especially his daily reception of the Eucharist and on his fervent alliance with the Holy Spirit. He advocated being an “Apostle of the Holy Spirit” by recommending membership in the lay group Apostles of the Holy Spirit in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He manifested his love for and devotion to the Blessed Mother by daily reciting the Rosary and in regular attendance at the weekly novena to Our mother of Perpetual Help. His dedication to the Most Holy Trinity reflected his love of God that motivated his deep love for his wife, Nadine. That love carried over to family, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Margaret Schmeltz; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Margaret Kirila and Dr. Andrew Kirila; brothers Joseph (Jim) and Michael Francis Schmeltz; a niece, Susan Schmultz and two nephews, Joe and Tom Schmeltz. He is survived by his wife, Bernice Nadine; sister and brother-in-law, Charlene and Bob Mulloy of Kansas City; brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Gwen Schmeltz of Eldorado Springs, MO; two sisters-in-law, Dortha Little of Golden, MO and Lois Neeley of Olmsted, IL; brother-in-law, Ed Price of Watauga, TX; 5 nephews, Pat, John and Ted Schmultz, Mike and Jim Mulloy; 8 nieces, Nancy Schmultz, Lisa Lyons, Diane White, Cindy Zing, Becky McGee, Marcie Hulsey, Dr, Carol Kirila and Mary Ann Wojciehowski.
Visitation will be 9:30-10:30 am on Friday, September 9th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS. Resurrection Mass 10:30 am on Friday at the church following the visitation. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, KS; Sisters Servants of Mary, KCK; Little Sisters of the Poor; or Our Lady of Mercy Country Home, Liberty, MO.
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