Funeral Information
Location:
Ruby Funeral Services & Crematories
Date: 11-17-2023
Time: 10:00 AM
Time: 10:00 AM
Visitation Information
Location:
Ruby Funeral Services & Crematories 1520 East Washington Street, Springfield, Illinois 62703
Date: 11-17-2023
Time: 9:00 AM
Time: 9:00 AM
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Obituary
We pause to remember a life well-lived, the life of Jesse William Schluter. He was known by names such as “Dad,” “Uncle Dewey,” “The Monk,” and an “Urban Legend.” He is remembered as a debonair dresser and a great story teller who had you spellbound and laughing.
Springfield, Illinois
He was born November 28, 1932, to the union of Cleota (Ross) Smith and Jesse Schluter, Sr., in Springfield, IL. He was the oldest of four children who comprised Cleota’s nuclear family. His siblings were Ann Ramsey, Phyllis Liggins, and Don Schluter.
The family survived through challenging times. Jesse matriculated through Lanphier High School. Jesse’s father worked at a manufacturing plant called Allis Chalmers. He got Jesse Jr. a job there. You may remember one of Jesse’s famous stories (and there are many) about what happened when he brought his first paycheck home of $90, which back then was good money. He attempted to give his mom, affectionately known as “Mimi,” $20 to help take care of the family, and he kept $70. Well, in the end, Mimi took the $70 and gave Jesse the $20 and said, “Boy, you got sisters and brothers!” And that was the end of that. But that was not the end of Jesse supporting his family.
The World
After Jesse got out of high school, the family was not well off enough to send him to college. So instead, Jesse would soon enter the United States Air Force, enlisting in June of 1951 and being honorably discharged in February of 1959. While enlisted, Jesse was stationed at bases almost all over the world in France, Germany, and in the USA from East to West to Alaska. During those years, he was always sending money home to Mimi to help raise Don, Ann, and Phyllis. After leaving the Air Force, Jesse lived for a short time in Milwaukee, WI. For a short time, he worked at a steel mill. He finally settled down in Chicago, IL.
Chicago, IL
In Chicago, Jesse would begin an eventual 38-year career at the US Postal Service as a Clerk. He married and had children and raised them. In 1987, he retired from the Postal Service and continued to do some of his favorite activities. He was a jazz enthusiast. Jesse loved visiting jazz clubs and jazz concerts. His jazz collection of records and tapes could fill a walk-in closet. He was a sports database. He knew all the stats. He knew all the players. He watched sports on his big screen TV day-in and day-out. Another activity he did that kept him going so long was walking. Jesse walked about three miles a day from 48th Street and Lake Park Drive to McCormik Place in downtown Chicago and back every day, in the rain, in the snow, and in the sunshine. In Hyde Park where he resided, he became an Urban Legend as people saw him on Lake Shore drive every day, walking with his headphones on, listening to his jazz music. How many people were encouraged to keep physically fit by watching his example, we’ll never know.
One of Jesse’s favorite events was a yearly trip to visit family in Springfield, IL, going from Aunt Ann’s house to Uncle Don’s house to Derek’s house. Everywhere he went, he was slipping the kids some money. He loved going with the family to the Illinois State Fair.
Back at home in Chicago, Jesse frequently made donations to many organizations that strived to help others like the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and many others.
For 36 years after his Postal retirement, Jesse continued to live and thrive and be happy and help others. In April of 2023, his health began to fail in a significant way until he was going from the hospital to rehab to the emergency room and back again.
The sun finally set on Jesse’s life in the early morning hours of Monday, November 6, 2023.
What will continue to live on is Jesse’s influence on the people’s lives whom he has touched. There are many more stories and funny memorable things about Jesse that could be told.
We, the family of Jesse W. Schluter, Jr., encourage you to do as he has done: live a life well-lived in helping others so that God can say over your life, “Well done.”
Springfield, Illinois
He was born November 28, 1932, to the union of Cleota (Ross) Smith and Jesse Schluter, Sr., in Springfield, IL. He was the oldest of four children who comprised Cleota’s nuclear family. His siblings were Ann Ramsey, Phyllis Liggins, and Don Schluter.
The family survived through challenging times. Jesse matriculated through Lanphier High School. Jesse’s father worked at a manufacturing plant called Allis Chalmers. He got Jesse Jr. a job there. You may remember one of Jesse’s famous stories (and there are many) about what happened when he brought his first paycheck home of $90, which back then was good money. He attempted to give his mom, affectionately known as “Mimi,” $20 to help take care of the family, and he kept $70. Well, in the end, Mimi took the $70 and gave Jesse the $20 and said, “Boy, you got sisters and brothers!” And that was the end of that. But that was not the end of Jesse supporting his family.
The World
After Jesse got out of high school, the family was not well off enough to send him to college. So instead, Jesse would soon enter the United States Air Force, enlisting in June of 1951 and being honorably discharged in February of 1959. While enlisted, Jesse was stationed at bases almost all over the world in France, Germany, and in the USA from East to West to Alaska. During those years, he was always sending money home to Mimi to help raise Don, Ann, and Phyllis. After leaving the Air Force, Jesse lived for a short time in Milwaukee, WI. For a short time, he worked at a steel mill. He finally settled down in Chicago, IL.
Chicago, IL
In Chicago, Jesse would begin an eventual 38-year career at the US Postal Service as a Clerk. He married and had children and raised them. In 1987, he retired from the Postal Service and continued to do some of his favorite activities. He was a jazz enthusiast. Jesse loved visiting jazz clubs and jazz concerts. His jazz collection of records and tapes could fill a walk-in closet. He was a sports database. He knew all the stats. He knew all the players. He watched sports on his big screen TV day-in and day-out. Another activity he did that kept him going so long was walking. Jesse walked about three miles a day from 48th Street and Lake Park Drive to McCormik Place in downtown Chicago and back every day, in the rain, in the snow, and in the sunshine. In Hyde Park where he resided, he became an Urban Legend as people saw him on Lake Shore drive every day, walking with his headphones on, listening to his jazz music. How many people were encouraged to keep physically fit by watching his example, we’ll never know.
One of Jesse’s favorite events was a yearly trip to visit family in Springfield, IL, going from Aunt Ann’s house to Uncle Don’s house to Derek’s house. Everywhere he went, he was slipping the kids some money. He loved going with the family to the Illinois State Fair.
Back at home in Chicago, Jesse frequently made donations to many organizations that strived to help others like the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and many others.
For 36 years after his Postal retirement, Jesse continued to live and thrive and be happy and help others. In April of 2023, his health began to fail in a significant way until he was going from the hospital to rehab to the emergency room and back again.
The sun finally set on Jesse’s life in the early morning hours of Monday, November 6, 2023.
What will continue to live on is Jesse’s influence on the people’s lives whom he has touched. There are many more stories and funny memorable things about Jesse that could be told.
We, the family of Jesse W. Schluter, Jr., encourage you to do as he has done: live a life well-lived in helping others so that God can say over your life, “Well done.”