June 2011
Jack C. Schneiker, L2150, a longtime member of FMCA who, along with his wife, Belle, recruited more members to the association than any other family, died at his Tucson, Arizona, home on April 1, 2011. He was 87.
Jack was born February 17, 1924, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and served proudly as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific during World War II. In the early 1950s he spent two years as the director of the International Relief Organization Children’s Village in Bavaria, Germany, for displaced orphans. Upon his return he met and married Ruth Davis, and they moved to Tucson in 1952. He started American International Travel (later shortened to International Travel) in 1953, and was the owner, president, and head of sales and marketing of the company until he sold it in 1973. During this period he and Ruth divorced, and he married Belle on July 7, 1975.
Jack joined FMCA in 1968 and later became a life member. He helped recruit a record 1,737 members to FMCA. Although the Schneikers were able to “sell” FMCA membership more successfully than any other family members, Jack didn’t think it was a major achievement on his part, considering all the benefits members receive at such a low cost.
The Schneikers helped start numerous chapters and were staunch advocates of chapter membership whenever they would speak to others about joining. Jack was national director of the Prevost Prouds (one of the chapters the Schneikers helped form) for more than 20 years. He also served at the national level on several committees, including Membership/Member Services (1978-1980); Convention (1979-1980); Nominating Elect (1993-1994); Nominating (1994-1995); and as part of the President’s Council (1981-1982, 1998-2001). He was instrumental in developing and promoting FMCA’s Life Membership program to raise funds for the purchase of the national office building, and helped implement and build FMCA’s commercial membership.
Jack also was a consultant for both Revcon Motor Homes and Prevost Car Inc. According to his son, Henry, Jack helped design one of Revcon’s best-selling motorhomes and was instrumental in getting Prevost involved in the motorhome industry. “He convinced Prevost to bring three shells (without seats or interior finish) to a convention in the Northeast area, and to Prevost’s surprise, not only were those three shells sold, but by the end of the convention, they had taken deposits on five other shells,” Henry said. “Prevost provided Dad’s first coach, including conversion costs, in exchange for him being their RV industry sales ambassador and helping them set up converters.” Jack also worked with both companies in research and development; building; and testing.
In addition to his wife, Belle, Jack is survived by daughters Mona Marks (Chris Seguine), Pam Marks (Peter Wholers); former wife, Ruth Schneiker; sons, Conrad and Henry; daughters Katherine Tanner (Charles) and Mary Ann Lawson (Fred); and seven grandchildren. Donations may be made in his name to the individual’s favorite children’s charity.