Obituary for Neil Schilke
Neil W. Schilke, age 87 of Fremont passed away, Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at his home. Neil was born January 30, 1934 in Tobias, Nebraska to Godfrey Herman and Alice Mildred (Mapes) Schilke.
Neil lived at Tobias, Nebraska, Williamsburg, Virginia, Idaho Falls, Idaho and back to Fremont. He worked for many firms part-time in the summers and while in high school and college including Hormel, Campbell Soup, Union Pacific, Chicago Northwestern, Gamble-Skogmo, Cake & Meal, Bakers Sporting, Fremont Hatchery, Mead Ordnance Plant, Karl’s Jewelry, Jetters Plumbing, post office, Lincoln Air Base during construction, and Daubert Construction to name a few. He was a 1951 graduate of Fremont High School and received a Nebraska Regents Scholarship. Neil served in the U.S. Army During the Korean War from June 12, 1953 to May 16, 1955 at Forts Omaha, Crowder, Riley, Benning and Bragg. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree (with honors) from Midland College in 1958. Neil married Bonnie (Yates) on August 24, 1958 at Boise, Idaho. In 1961 he received his L.L.B. (now L.L.D.), from William and Mary Law School and was first in his class. He was admitted to the Virginia and Nebraska, Tax Court, Federal Court, and U.S. Supreme Court (two briefs written in the U.S. Supreme Court). He also won many writing contests while in law school (most had prize money associated with them) which helped pay for school.
Neil’s civic memberships and positions in them were many, some local ones were Young Republicans, Salem Lutheran Church, Chamber of Commerce, Fremont Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army Board, YMCA Board, Toastmasters, YMCA Foundation, Midland College Board and Alumni Association, Fremont Golf Club, Fremont Community Foundation director and founder, Nebraska Tennis Association and founder of Nebraska Tennis Foundation, Missouri Valley Tennis Association, Nebraska Softball Foundation, Teammates, American Legion Baseball Committee-chairman. His professional memberships include but not limited to, Sidner, Svoboda, Schilke, Thomsen, Holtorf & Boggy Law Firm, Midland Lutheran College lecturer of business law, banking law Banker Law Institute, Dodge County bar association, American Bar Association, principle speaker at Trial Lawyers, (School of Law and Workers Compensation Continuing Legal Education seminars), member of Who’s Who in Midwest, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Colleges. director First National Bank of Hooper and First State Bank in Fremont, Nation Council of School attorneys, Nebraska Law, Dodge County Republican Party, and continuous A-rating in national Martindale Hubbell directory.
He was principle organizer in developing the Sidner Ice Rink, established endowment for needy youth at the Sidner Ice Rink, established Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust; Fremont Senior High School tennis courts additions, wrote, printed and distributed the annual book of Strange Tennis articles, wrote 6 Christmas season books, and published and distributed them at his own cost. Neil had substantial charitable contributions for development and funding for kids including the YMCA Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust, Omaha AAA Hockey, Salem Lutheran Church for debt retirement, and many more projects they needed; to Midland Scholarship Fund, and hundreds if not thousands of children have benefited from his generosity. He was passionate about leveling the playing field for children in sports.
Neil is survived by his wife, Bonnie Schilke; daughter, Lisa (Brad) Novak; and grandson, Nicholas Novak all of Fremont; brothers, Dale (Brenda) Schilke of Oklahoma City, OK and David (Joyce) Schilke of Elkhorn, NE; sister, Marge Johnson and sisters-in-law, Roberta Schilke both Fremont and Peggy (Ben) Campbell, Boise, Idaho.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gail Douglas Schilke and sister, Hortense Wilkinson and her husband Harold.
Memorial Service will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at Salem Lutheran Church in Fremont. Live-stream may be seen at Salem Lutheran Church Facebook page, (https://www.facebook.com/salemfremont). Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4-8 P.M., and with the family receiving friends from 5-8 P.M, Tuesday also at Salem. Military Honors will be conducted at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont following the service on Wednesday.
In lieu of Flowers memorials are suggested to Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust.
Online condolences and full life story at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.
Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave. Fremont, NE 68025, 402-721-4490.
NEIL SCHILKE RESUME
PERSONAL
Born: Tobias, Nebraska 1-30-'34
Church:Baptized St. John's Lutheran, Ohioa, Nebraska; member, Salem Lutheran Church 1941 - ; interim membership St. Stephens, Williamsburg Mission Church, and member Idaho Falls Lutheran Church; 4-term member Church Council, Sunday School Superintendent teacher of adults, catechetics and youth classes, committee member Nebraska Synod; incorporator Church Foundation and board member, vice chairman council, chairman of board, president of Church, chairman call committee for Pastors Berry and Uden.
Armed Services:Army 6-10-'53 - '55; Forts Omaha, Crowder, Riley, Benning and Bragg; 16 weeks infantry basic at Riley, 4 weeks leadership school at Riley, 4 weeks jump school at Benning, 18 jumps, squad leader corporal proposed sergeant rank but too short time as corporal all Bragg, member battalion rifle team, (did not make division team - knee injury).
Pre-Law Work:
Worked for many firms part-time and in summer in Fremont while attending high school and college including Hormels, Campbell Soup, Union Pacific, Chicago Northwestern, Gamble-Skogmo, Cake & Meal, Bakers Sporting, Fremont Hatchery, Mead Ordnance Plant, Karl's Jewelry, Jetters Plumbing, post office, Lincoln Air Base construction, Daubert Construction, National Guard lawn care, Fremont School substitute teaching, officiated football, basketball, baseball and softball, coached and managed American Legion midget baseball team. In law school, construction at Fort Eustis and law library (summer 1958, worked 40 hours at Campbell Soup and 40 hours at Chicago Northwestern and officiated ball games on weekends.
EDUCATION
1951 . Fremont High School with Honors
Winner in Nebraska Regents Scholarship competition
1951-1958 B.A. Midland College with Honors Blue Key Honorary Fraternity Midland Outstanding Student Award
President, Nebraska Student Education Association
Vice President, National Student Education Association, and in Student handbook, numerous college organization activities and offices
Letters in baseball and tennis
Received Goodwin Scholarship to College of Law, William and Mary Offered law scholarship to Duke University
Offered Fellowship in Sociology, University of Wisconsin Who's Who American Colleges
92 percentile Graduate Record Exam (highest score of all Midland seniors)
92 percentile score in Law School Admissions Test taken at University of Chicago
Offered teaching position in Santa Anna, California at $4,500 (Fremont then paid $3,800)
1958-1961 L.L.B. (now L.L.D.), William and Mary Law School, First in Class Outstanding Student Award
Law Review staff (3 years), Associate Editor and Editor Moot Court participant in regional competition (2 years)
Circuit Director and National Vice President, Student Bar Association Winner, Virginia state-wide Title Insurance Will Contest (money prize) Winner, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Writing Contest (money prize)
Winner, local Roman law writing contest (money prize)
Award, Best Student Law Review Writing and wrote and had published in Law Review (distributed to all law libraries), article, case comment and book reviews
Admitted: Virginia and Nebraska, Tax Court, Federal Court, and U.S.
Supreme Court (two briefs written in U.S. Supreme Court)
CIVIC
1957 Young Republicans, State Director and State Treasurer
1962 Chamber of Commerce, member Board of Directors (2 terms)
1962-69 Fremont Jaycees
1962- Kiwanis Club (member Board of Directors)
1964-2007 Salvation Army Advisory Board, chairman
1963-2007 YMCA Board of Directors (president 2 terms), chairman Capital Fund
Drive, co-chairman 2 additional drives,
1966-67 Toastmasters
1967- Fremont Tennis Association (Director), Director and originator men's
league; initiator and director Junior and Development Clinics, team tennis
director, state chairman Volvo tennis league
1975-2007 YMCA Foundation, Director
1970-86 Midland College Board of Trustees vice chairman, chairman (2 terms)
1958 Midland Alumni Association, president
1955- American Legion
1962 Numerous other fund drive chairmanships and participation in general civic
work, coached youth baseball teams, initiated and directed first junior tennis
league, organized and directed mens tennis leagues, referee Fremont Open
tennis tournament, organized Michelob MSTA tennis league teams,
coached boys' baseball and basketball, started mens city basketball league
in 1962, volunteer coach boys Fremont High School tennis team 9 years,
assisted Fremont High School girls tennis 3 years
1968 Fremont Golf Club, director and president
1980 President's Council, William and Mary
1983 Fremont Community Foundation, director and founder
1974- Nebraska Tennis Association, director and president, organized and formed
Nebraska Tennis Foundation, president and director
1991 Advisory Board, Fremont Community Foundation
1987 Missouri Valley Tennis Association director
1989 U.S. Tennis Association committee member
1997 Nebraska Softball Foundation director
2009 Teammates mentor and 2 years board member
1962-2007 Initiator or leader of all YMCA development projects
Youth mentor project initiated with agreement of probation office and
juvenile court judge, mentored 2 boys on probation
1991 Member and chairman, American Legion baseball committee
Initiated, organized and obtained construction of 8 tennis courts at the high
school with 4-party agreement
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
1961-1962
1963-2006
Corporate counsel Phillips Petroleum, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Member law firm of Sidner, Svoboda, Schilke, Thomsen, Holtorf & Boggy, lecturer of business law and communications law Midland Lutheran College, banking law Bankers Institute, member Dodge County Bar Association, president, American Bar Association and committees on
Uniform State Laws and Real Estate and Probate, participant on panels, prepare papers and speak at legal conference and seminars (principle speaker at Trial Lawyers, School of Law and Workers Compensation Continuing Legal Education seminars), director First National Bank of Hooper, director First State Bank, member and director Nebraska Council of School Attorneys, county chairman Nebraska Law, and 2 speeches to high school (6 years), member Judicial Selection committee (5 years), member and chairman Bar Association District Committee on Ethics Inquiry, Justice of Peace Dodge County (4 years), chairman Dodge County Republican Party, continuous A-rating in national Martindale Hubbell directory, started before required time for A-rating
OTHER
Principle organizer in development ice rink
Initiated, organized and conducted Secret Santa program for children over Christmas holidays and financed all costs (program stopped without notice by YMCA when changed to eliminate hockey portion and include adults and obtain city funding)
Established endowment for needy youth at the Sidner Ice Rink to the YMCA for kids)
Arranged for transfer of Sidner funds for all youth enrollment to fund free skating for all children in Fremont community ages 14 and under at ice rink Establish Schilke-Novak Kids Sports Trust and obtain IRS 50l(c)(3) status to provide funding for needy kids to pursue participation in a number of sports (established perpetual endowment for Schilke-Novak Kids Sports Trust) for needy youth all in excess of annually adjusted principal payable first for maintenance of fields and the balance for needy youth
Manned Salvation Army Christmas buckets continuously (with 1 exception) since 1962, accompanied by Nick in recent years
Wrote, printed and distributed book of annual Strange Tennis articles originally written for annual North Saunders County Tennis tournament Wrote 6 Christmas season books and paid all costs of printing, illustration and distribution - distributed without charge to members of Salem, Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Hope in Fremont, hospital in Fremont, and others all without charge (for some suggested for contribution to Kids Sports Trust)
Substantial charitable contributions for development of project and funding
for kids including the YMCA, Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust, Omaha AAA Hockey, to Salem for debt
Retirement and for security system, Lutheran Outdoor Ministry, Midland Scholarship Fund, Samaritans Purse and annual pledge to Salvation Army, additional gifts to Midland, Salem, Salvation Army, Samaritans Purse, and many other regular smaller gifts to local and national charities.
AWARDS
1966 Outstanding Young Man Award city of Fremont 1966 Outstanding Young Man Award State of Nebraska 1988 Fremont Tennis Association service award
1992 Midland Journalism award
19? Kiwanis Service to Youth award
1987 Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame, Fremont Tribune 2016 Fremont Tribune Ambassador award
2015 Fremont Area Community Foundation Philanthropic award to self and Bonnie
Who's Who in American Colleges, Midwest, Law, and America
HOBBIES
Tennis:
Member winning team Nebraska 4.5 Michelob Tennis tournament winner Equitable family mixed doubles tournament winner with daughter Winner Missouri Valley sectional tournament mix doubles with daughter Ranked#l 45 singles 1979 and 1980
State ranked #1 45 doubles 1986 and 1988
State ranked #1 55 singles 1989
Winning team State Volvo tournament at 4.0 and runner up at Kansas City and Springfield 1985 - 1988
Member National Championship U.S. Tennis Association Seniors 4.0
tournament after winning State, Sectional, and National tournaments 1994 Missouri Valley Tennis Association Community Service award
1995 U.S. Tennis Association National Community Service award (1 of 4)
Missouri Valley Tennis Association Outstanding Tennis Family award Winner many city doubles and singles tournaments
Winner and runner-up in many regional and sectional tournaments in
singles and doubles
Basketball:
Member winning team YMCA basketball 4 on 4 leagues each year 1979-87 Winner adult city league basketball open division once in years 1980-84 (high point was 17 in 1984)
Golf:
Member winning Krupinsky Golf Winner Second Flight club tournament
Winner Tom-Tom golf tournament (low gross) Runner-up First Flight golf club tournament Most Improved Golfer award
Bowling:
Entered Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis bowling tournament
Participated on 2 teams national tournaments Indianapolis and Reno Participated on winning team for State City tournament Champion of Champions at Fremont lost in State tournament in North Platte
Softball:
Member 3 city championship teams and team winner of several tournaments and participated in State tournaments
All Star city team (asked to pitched and pitched 1 fast-pitch game, asked to
play and played on 2 slow-pitch teams - hated it)
Baseball:
Midland team won district championship qualified for national tournament in California (college had no money and we did not go)
Creighton with Bob Gibson pitching played against us
Played shortstop Cedar Bluffs American Legion, junior shortstop Cedar Bluffs in tri-county league, given sportsmanship award for kids team I coached in Prague tournaments
Other:
Participant in handball tournament with William and Mary football players Member winning team in city volleyball league at Idaho Falls
Winner junior doubles YMCA tournament at Lincoln
Helped daughter to horse pleasure championships in district, state and Aksarben
Played horseshoes, snooker, pool, football (touch and tackle), football in
service, captain law school intramural teams in touch football, basketball,
and softball, participated with fraternity and independent teams, named to
intramural all star teams in each event.
Inducted into the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
Participated with no tournament involvement in pool, snooker, horseshoes, skydiving, horsemanship, gardening, bridge, reading, and other hobbies (All Sports Day in which Eric Wiegert and I played against 2 college athletes - Kenny Christensen and an athlete from Chicago - events in pool, tennis, basketball, bowling, and some card game they knew but we had never played - we won the All Sports - Kenny Christensen was a good bowler but I bowled 220 to win that event. At approximately the same time I won a wall-sitting contest against Walt Olson, Midland's starting quarterback and outstanding athlete - I was pleased by his deep embarrassment)
Wrote and published collection of articles as "Strange Tennis", "True and Complete History of Santa Claus", "Recent Lessons and Experiences of Santa Claus", "True and Complete History of the Three Wise Men", "Giant Jim's Christmas", and "A Wise Buffalo Speaks" (written and to be published).
HEALTH:
Chronic back problem with spondolethesis since 7ili grade probably caused by too much heavy work with buckets of grain, water and hay bales
Knee problems currently 60% disability as a result of knee injury in the Army, substantial hearing loss as a result of time on rifle team in Army, tears in rotator cuff muscles - probably tennis serves, arthritis through back and neck - probably from tennis and a host of other activities, foot problem as a result of likely strained or tom ligament in a tennis game against Wobken at the YMCA
Other than my books I have been requested to give an autograph only once. I was on a basketball team with Wiegert in a regional tournament at Bamston, Kansas against former K State and Kansas players. This was a big deal for the local community and kids were getting autographs from all the players. They didn't know I was nobody but I am certain I helped them in their effort to get the most autographs. I was too old and didn't play much. When I finished leadership school at Fort Riley, volunteers for airborne were solicited. I volunteered. In order to qualify it was necessary for the soldier to have some minimum score on the Army test and pass a physical training test. A group of about 20- 30 of m; took the test which included all the basic Army tests, pushups, pull ups, squat jumps, sit ups and shuttle run, most with time limitations, and they score in each total.
When I completed the sergeant up front asked Private Schilke to come forward. I went forward, the sergeant had been in the German Army in WWII. He leaned down and asked me, "That's German, isn't it?" I responded, "Ja". He announced that I had the highest score in the test. I went home on leave after that and then by some miracle found my way to Fort Bragg and shortly thereafter to Fort Benning and then back to Fort Bragg where I
finished my service during which time I hitchhiked home twice and hitchhiked partway after discharge. I did not want to run the risk of being AWOL and so never hitchhiked back to Fort Bragg but when by train and bus. In one instance dad and mom and, I believe Hortense, drove me back to Fort Bragg. They also drove me back to Fort Riley with Grandpa Mapes in one instance. While at Fort Bragg I was given the opportunity to attend a clerk-typist training course at another base. That would have led to me being a company clerk which I did not want so I declined - foolish! I was also offered an opportunity to enroll for officer-candidate school. That would have meant a commission but also would have required that I extend my service time for a likely 2 years. In hindsight, I wish I had done that.
In 1957, I met and visited with President Eisenhower in his White House office. On my return to Fremont I gave a speech to the NEA Teachers Convention in Lincoln.
At a late date I visited the Inns of Court in London for a trial lawyers' seminar and had the opportunity to visit in an English barrister's office and watch a criminal trial. When I returned, I spoke to Kiwanis concerning that trip as I had earlier concerning the attributes of the American Indians.
Supplement:
Established permanent YMCA endowment for needy kids's expenses of skating at the Sidner rink.
Established a permanent endowment as Kids Sports Trust for needy kids
in Nebraska for expense of participation in organized sports.
Initiator, major organizer and planner for Sidner Ice Rink.
Initiated, organized and directed Secret Santa for kids to skate free and have drop in hockey over Christmas vacation (the YMCA later stopped that program without consulting me and sought city funding for program without hockey and involving kids and adults).
Listed for several years in "Who's Who in America".
Recipient with Bonnie of Betsy Mulliken Philanthropy Award through Fremont Area Community Foundation.
Named Fremont Ambassador by the Fremont Tribune in 2016.
Built and rebuilt Schilke ball fields.
Volunteer head coach for Fremont high school boys' tennis for 9 years and assisted girls' tennis coaching to volunteer for 3 years thereafter.
Arranged four party agreement to enable construction of 8 new tennis courts at the
high school.
Subsequently led plans and drive to build new indoor courts at the YMCA and 2 new outdoor courts at the YMCA and 4 new additional courts at the high school.
Served as the director of Missouri Valley Tennis Association.
Taught adult Bible classes at Salem Lutheran.
Conducted North Saunders County Tennis Tournament for many years. President, Dodge County Bar Association.
Chairman, Nebraska Association Discipline Committee. Member, Nebraska Bar Fiducial Selection Committee.
Addendum to Resume 2/16
• Principle organizer and development - ice rink
• Established needy youth endowment at the Sidner Ice Rink
• Organized, directed and developed baseball-softball complex that opened 6/30/13, rebuilt in 2015-2016.
• Established perpetual endowment for maintenance of the fields and needy youth at the Sidner Ice Rink and other sports, and guaranteed maintenance of endowment Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust.
• Established Schilke-Novak Kids Sports Trust, obtained IRS 50l(c)(3) status with some reprovisions as attached
• Self and wife Bonnie received 2015 Fremont Area Community Foundation Philanthropic Award
• Participated in Salvation Army blood continuously (with one exception) since 1962 and with Nick for last 8 years
• Wrote four annual Christmas books and paid all cost of printing and illustration and secretarial work and distribution - distributed without charge to members at Salem, Children's Hospital in Omaha, Hope in Fremont, Hospital in Fremont, and others all without charge - suggestion for contribution to Kids Sports Trust
• Served two years on teammates board after having previously served as mentor - discontinued due to hearing loss
• Continued 58-year practice of teaching adult classes at church (with some interruptions)
• Wrote, printed and distributed book of Strange Tennis articles
• Law school - worked for Law Review each of three years, case comment, book review and article, printed and distributed to all law schools
• Total charitable contributions for development of projects and funding for kids at the YMCA, Omaha AAA hockey, Kids Sports, Salvation Army, debt retirement at Salem Lutheran Church, many others.
• No financial assistance possible from personal or wife's family. Worked part-time at William and Mary and wife worked full-time. Somewhere after graduation before marriage worked 40 hours at Gambles warehouse and 40 hours as railroad clerk and umpired ball games weekends. (Lost 20 lbs.)
• Damaged knee in Anny in two instances, paratroop jump and football. At worst 50% disability.
• Spent time on battalion rifle team in Anny, cut at regiment level because of weakness in standings freestyle shooting at 200 yards. Hearing damaged that progressively worse - presently 30% loss.
• At law school, for money I entered four writing contests for cash awards and won cash prizes for each.
• Highest rating by peers for Martindale-Hubble National Law Directory granted sooner than usual and before the experience minimum.
• Wrote two briefs filed with US Supreme Court
• Served in establishing and continuing Fred Mytty and Jamie Charleston Trusts without charge
• Organized Fremont Ice Association as a YMCA approved booster organization at my expense
• Member of Who's Who in Midwest, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in American Colleges
• Received honorary doctorate from Midland Lutheran College
• Second member inducted in Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame
Neil lived at Tobias, Nebraska, Williamsburg, Virginia, Idaho Falls, Idaho and back to Fremont. He worked for many firms part-time in the summers and while in high school and college including Hormel, Campbell Soup, Union Pacific, Chicago Northwestern, Gamble-Skogmo, Cake & Meal, Bakers Sporting, Fremont Hatchery, Mead Ordnance Plant, Karl’s Jewelry, Jetters Plumbing, post office, Lincoln Air Base during construction, and Daubert Construction to name a few. He was a 1951 graduate of Fremont High School and received a Nebraska Regents Scholarship. Neil served in the U.S. Army During the Korean War from June 12, 1953 to May 16, 1955 at Forts Omaha, Crowder, Riley, Benning and Bragg. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree (with honors) from Midland College in 1958. Neil married Bonnie (Yates) on August 24, 1958 at Boise, Idaho. In 1961 he received his L.L.B. (now L.L.D.), from William and Mary Law School and was first in his class. He was admitted to the Virginia and Nebraska, Tax Court, Federal Court, and U.S. Supreme Court (two briefs written in the U.S. Supreme Court). He also won many writing contests while in law school (most had prize money associated with them) which helped pay for school.
Neil’s civic memberships and positions in them were many, some local ones were Young Republicans, Salem Lutheran Church, Chamber of Commerce, Fremont Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army Board, YMCA Board, Toastmasters, YMCA Foundation, Midland College Board and Alumni Association, Fremont Golf Club, Fremont Community Foundation director and founder, Nebraska Tennis Association and founder of Nebraska Tennis Foundation, Missouri Valley Tennis Association, Nebraska Softball Foundation, Teammates, American Legion Baseball Committee-chairman. His professional memberships include but not limited to, Sidner, Svoboda, Schilke, Thomsen, Holtorf & Boggy Law Firm, Midland Lutheran College lecturer of business law, banking law Banker Law Institute, Dodge County bar association, American Bar Association, principle speaker at Trial Lawyers, (School of Law and Workers Compensation Continuing Legal Education seminars), member of Who’s Who in Midwest, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Colleges. director First National Bank of Hooper and First State Bank in Fremont, Nation Council of School attorneys, Nebraska Law, Dodge County Republican Party, and continuous A-rating in national Martindale Hubbell directory.
He was principle organizer in developing the Sidner Ice Rink, established endowment for needy youth at the Sidner Ice Rink, established Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust; Fremont Senior High School tennis courts additions, wrote, printed and distributed the annual book of Strange Tennis articles, wrote 6 Christmas season books, and published and distributed them at his own cost. Neil had substantial charitable contributions for development and funding for kids including the YMCA Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust, Omaha AAA Hockey, Salem Lutheran Church for debt retirement, and many more projects they needed; to Midland Scholarship Fund, and hundreds if not thousands of children have benefited from his generosity. He was passionate about leveling the playing field for children in sports.
Neil is survived by his wife, Bonnie Schilke; daughter, Lisa (Brad) Novak; and grandson, Nicholas Novak all of Fremont; brothers, Dale (Brenda) Schilke of Oklahoma City, OK and David (Joyce) Schilke of Elkhorn, NE; sister, Marge Johnson and sisters-in-law, Roberta Schilke both Fremont and Peggy (Ben) Campbell, Boise, Idaho.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gail Douglas Schilke and sister, Hortense Wilkinson and her husband Harold.
Memorial Service will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at Salem Lutheran Church in Fremont. Live-stream may be seen at Salem Lutheran Church Facebook page, (https://www.facebook.com/salemfremont). Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4-8 P.M., and with the family receiving friends from 5-8 P.M, Tuesday also at Salem. Military Honors will be conducted at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont following the service on Wednesday.
In lieu of Flowers memorials are suggested to Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust.
Online condolences and full life story at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.
Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave. Fremont, NE 68025, 402-721-4490.
NEIL SCHILKE RESUME
PERSONAL
Born: Tobias, Nebraska 1-30-'34
Church:Baptized St. John's Lutheran, Ohioa, Nebraska; member, Salem Lutheran Church 1941 - ; interim membership St. Stephens, Williamsburg Mission Church, and member Idaho Falls Lutheran Church; 4-term member Church Council, Sunday School Superintendent teacher of adults, catechetics and youth classes, committee member Nebraska Synod; incorporator Church Foundation and board member, vice chairman council, chairman of board, president of Church, chairman call committee for Pastors Berry and Uden.
Armed Services:Army 6-10-'53 - '55; Forts Omaha, Crowder, Riley, Benning and Bragg; 16 weeks infantry basic at Riley, 4 weeks leadership school at Riley, 4 weeks jump school at Benning, 18 jumps, squad leader corporal proposed sergeant rank but too short time as corporal all Bragg, member battalion rifle team, (did not make division team - knee injury).
Pre-Law Work:
Worked for many firms part-time and in summer in Fremont while attending high school and college including Hormels, Campbell Soup, Union Pacific, Chicago Northwestern, Gamble-Skogmo, Cake & Meal, Bakers Sporting, Fremont Hatchery, Mead Ordnance Plant, Karl's Jewelry, Jetters Plumbing, post office, Lincoln Air Base construction, Daubert Construction, National Guard lawn care, Fremont School substitute teaching, officiated football, basketball, baseball and softball, coached and managed American Legion midget baseball team. In law school, construction at Fort Eustis and law library (summer 1958, worked 40 hours at Campbell Soup and 40 hours at Chicago Northwestern and officiated ball games on weekends.
EDUCATION
1951 . Fremont High School with Honors
Winner in Nebraska Regents Scholarship competition
1951-1958 B.A. Midland College with Honors Blue Key Honorary Fraternity Midland Outstanding Student Award
President, Nebraska Student Education Association
Vice President, National Student Education Association, and in Student handbook, numerous college organization activities and offices
Letters in baseball and tennis
Received Goodwin Scholarship to College of Law, William and Mary Offered law scholarship to Duke University
Offered Fellowship in Sociology, University of Wisconsin Who's Who American Colleges
92 percentile Graduate Record Exam (highest score of all Midland seniors)
92 percentile score in Law School Admissions Test taken at University of Chicago
Offered teaching position in Santa Anna, California at $4,500 (Fremont then paid $3,800)
1958-1961 L.L.B. (now L.L.D.), William and Mary Law School, First in Class Outstanding Student Award
Law Review staff (3 years), Associate Editor and Editor Moot Court participant in regional competition (2 years)
Circuit Director and National Vice President, Student Bar Association Winner, Virginia state-wide Title Insurance Will Contest (money prize) Winner, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Writing Contest (money prize)
Winner, local Roman law writing contest (money prize)
Award, Best Student Law Review Writing and wrote and had published in Law Review (distributed to all law libraries), article, case comment and book reviews
Admitted: Virginia and Nebraska, Tax Court, Federal Court, and U.S.
Supreme Court (two briefs written in U.S. Supreme Court)
CIVIC
1957 Young Republicans, State Director and State Treasurer
1962 Chamber of Commerce, member Board of Directors (2 terms)
1962-69 Fremont Jaycees
1962- Kiwanis Club (member Board of Directors)
1964-2007 Salvation Army Advisory Board, chairman
1963-2007 YMCA Board of Directors (president 2 terms), chairman Capital Fund
Drive, co-chairman 2 additional drives,
1966-67 Toastmasters
1967- Fremont Tennis Association (Director), Director and originator men's
league; initiator and director Junior and Development Clinics, team tennis
director, state chairman Volvo tennis league
1975-2007 YMCA Foundation, Director
1970-86 Midland College Board of Trustees vice chairman, chairman (2 terms)
1958 Midland Alumni Association, president
1955- American Legion
1962 Numerous other fund drive chairmanships and participation in general civic
work, coached youth baseball teams, initiated and directed first junior tennis
league, organized and directed mens tennis leagues, referee Fremont Open
tennis tournament, organized Michelob MSTA tennis league teams,
coached boys' baseball and basketball, started mens city basketball league
in 1962, volunteer coach boys Fremont High School tennis team 9 years,
assisted Fremont High School girls tennis 3 years
1968 Fremont Golf Club, director and president
1980 President's Council, William and Mary
1983 Fremont Community Foundation, director and founder
1974- Nebraska Tennis Association, director and president, organized and formed
Nebraska Tennis Foundation, president and director
1991 Advisory Board, Fremont Community Foundation
1987 Missouri Valley Tennis Association director
1989 U.S. Tennis Association committee member
1997 Nebraska Softball Foundation director
2009 Teammates mentor and 2 years board member
1962-2007 Initiator or leader of all YMCA development projects
Youth mentor project initiated with agreement of probation office and
juvenile court judge, mentored 2 boys on probation
1991 Member and chairman, American Legion baseball committee
Initiated, organized and obtained construction of 8 tennis courts at the high
school with 4-party agreement
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
1961-1962
1963-2006
Corporate counsel Phillips Petroleum, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Member law firm of Sidner, Svoboda, Schilke, Thomsen, Holtorf & Boggy, lecturer of business law and communications law Midland Lutheran College, banking law Bankers Institute, member Dodge County Bar Association, president, American Bar Association and committees on
Uniform State Laws and Real Estate and Probate, participant on panels, prepare papers and speak at legal conference and seminars (principle speaker at Trial Lawyers, School of Law and Workers Compensation Continuing Legal Education seminars), director First National Bank of Hooper, director First State Bank, member and director Nebraska Council of School Attorneys, county chairman Nebraska Law, and 2 speeches to high school (6 years), member Judicial Selection committee (5 years), member and chairman Bar Association District Committee on Ethics Inquiry, Justice of Peace Dodge County (4 years), chairman Dodge County Republican Party, continuous A-rating in national Martindale Hubbell directory, started before required time for A-rating
OTHER
Principle organizer in development ice rink
Initiated, organized and conducted Secret Santa program for children over Christmas holidays and financed all costs (program stopped without notice by YMCA when changed to eliminate hockey portion and include adults and obtain city funding)
Established endowment for needy youth at the Sidner Ice Rink to the YMCA for kids)
Arranged for transfer of Sidner funds for all youth enrollment to fund free skating for all children in Fremont community ages 14 and under at ice rink Establish Schilke-Novak Kids Sports Trust and obtain IRS 50l(c)(3) status to provide funding for needy kids to pursue participation in a number of sports (established perpetual endowment for Schilke-Novak Kids Sports Trust) for needy youth all in excess of annually adjusted principal payable first for maintenance of fields and the balance for needy youth
Manned Salvation Army Christmas buckets continuously (with 1 exception) since 1962, accompanied by Nick in recent years
Wrote, printed and distributed book of annual Strange Tennis articles originally written for annual North Saunders County Tennis tournament Wrote 6 Christmas season books and paid all costs of printing, illustration and distribution - distributed without charge to members of Salem, Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Hope in Fremont, hospital in Fremont, and others all without charge (for some suggested for contribution to Kids Sports Trust)
Substantial charitable contributions for development of project and funding
for kids including the YMCA, Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust, Omaha AAA Hockey, to Salem for debt
Retirement and for security system, Lutheran Outdoor Ministry, Midland Scholarship Fund, Samaritans Purse and annual pledge to Salvation Army, additional gifts to Midland, Salem, Salvation Army, Samaritans Purse, and many other regular smaller gifts to local and national charities.
AWARDS
1966 Outstanding Young Man Award city of Fremont 1966 Outstanding Young Man Award State of Nebraska 1988 Fremont Tennis Association service award
1992 Midland Journalism award
19? Kiwanis Service to Youth award
1987 Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame, Fremont Tribune 2016 Fremont Tribune Ambassador award
2015 Fremont Area Community Foundation Philanthropic award to self and Bonnie
Who's Who in American Colleges, Midwest, Law, and America
HOBBIES
Tennis:
Member winning team Nebraska 4.5 Michelob Tennis tournament winner Equitable family mixed doubles tournament winner with daughter Winner Missouri Valley sectional tournament mix doubles with daughter Ranked#l 45 singles 1979 and 1980
State ranked #1 45 doubles 1986 and 1988
State ranked #1 55 singles 1989
Winning team State Volvo tournament at 4.0 and runner up at Kansas City and Springfield 1985 - 1988
Member National Championship U.S. Tennis Association Seniors 4.0
tournament after winning State, Sectional, and National tournaments 1994 Missouri Valley Tennis Association Community Service award
1995 U.S. Tennis Association National Community Service award (1 of 4)
Missouri Valley Tennis Association Outstanding Tennis Family award Winner many city doubles and singles tournaments
Winner and runner-up in many regional and sectional tournaments in
singles and doubles
Basketball:
Member winning team YMCA basketball 4 on 4 leagues each year 1979-87 Winner adult city league basketball open division once in years 1980-84 (high point was 17 in 1984)
Golf:
Member winning Krupinsky Golf Winner Second Flight club tournament
Winner Tom-Tom golf tournament (low gross) Runner-up First Flight golf club tournament Most Improved Golfer award
Bowling:
Entered Nebraska-Iowa Kiwanis bowling tournament
Participated on 2 teams national tournaments Indianapolis and Reno Participated on winning team for State City tournament Champion of Champions at Fremont lost in State tournament in North Platte
Softball:
Member 3 city championship teams and team winner of several tournaments and participated in State tournaments
All Star city team (asked to pitched and pitched 1 fast-pitch game, asked to
play and played on 2 slow-pitch teams - hated it)
Baseball:
Midland team won district championship qualified for national tournament in California (college had no money and we did not go)
Creighton with Bob Gibson pitching played against us
Played shortstop Cedar Bluffs American Legion, junior shortstop Cedar Bluffs in tri-county league, given sportsmanship award for kids team I coached in Prague tournaments
Other:
Participant in handball tournament with William and Mary football players Member winning team in city volleyball league at Idaho Falls
Winner junior doubles YMCA tournament at Lincoln
Helped daughter to horse pleasure championships in district, state and Aksarben
Played horseshoes, snooker, pool, football (touch and tackle), football in
service, captain law school intramural teams in touch football, basketball,
and softball, participated with fraternity and independent teams, named to
intramural all star teams in each event.
Inducted into the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.
Participated with no tournament involvement in pool, snooker, horseshoes, skydiving, horsemanship, gardening, bridge, reading, and other hobbies (All Sports Day in which Eric Wiegert and I played against 2 college athletes - Kenny Christensen and an athlete from Chicago - events in pool, tennis, basketball, bowling, and some card game they knew but we had never played - we won the All Sports - Kenny Christensen was a good bowler but I bowled 220 to win that event. At approximately the same time I won a wall-sitting contest against Walt Olson, Midland's starting quarterback and outstanding athlete - I was pleased by his deep embarrassment)
Wrote and published collection of articles as "Strange Tennis", "True and Complete History of Santa Claus", "Recent Lessons and Experiences of Santa Claus", "True and Complete History of the Three Wise Men", "Giant Jim's Christmas", and "A Wise Buffalo Speaks" (written and to be published).
HEALTH:
Chronic back problem with spondolethesis since 7ili grade probably caused by too much heavy work with buckets of grain, water and hay bales
Knee problems currently 60% disability as a result of knee injury in the Army, substantial hearing loss as a result of time on rifle team in Army, tears in rotator cuff muscles - probably tennis serves, arthritis through back and neck - probably from tennis and a host of other activities, foot problem as a result of likely strained or tom ligament in a tennis game against Wobken at the YMCA
Other than my books I have been requested to give an autograph only once. I was on a basketball team with Wiegert in a regional tournament at Bamston, Kansas against former K State and Kansas players. This was a big deal for the local community and kids were getting autographs from all the players. They didn't know I was nobody but I am certain I helped them in their effort to get the most autographs. I was too old and didn't play much. When I finished leadership school at Fort Riley, volunteers for airborne were solicited. I volunteered. In order to qualify it was necessary for the soldier to have some minimum score on the Army test and pass a physical training test. A group of about 20- 30 of m; took the test which included all the basic Army tests, pushups, pull ups, squat jumps, sit ups and shuttle run, most with time limitations, and they score in each total.
When I completed the sergeant up front asked Private Schilke to come forward. I went forward, the sergeant had been in the German Army in WWII. He leaned down and asked me, "That's German, isn't it?" I responded, "Ja". He announced that I had the highest score in the test. I went home on leave after that and then by some miracle found my way to Fort Bragg and shortly thereafter to Fort Benning and then back to Fort Bragg where I
finished my service during which time I hitchhiked home twice and hitchhiked partway after discharge. I did not want to run the risk of being AWOL and so never hitchhiked back to Fort Bragg but when by train and bus. In one instance dad and mom and, I believe Hortense, drove me back to Fort Bragg. They also drove me back to Fort Riley with Grandpa Mapes in one instance. While at Fort Bragg I was given the opportunity to attend a clerk-typist training course at another base. That would have led to me being a company clerk which I did not want so I declined - foolish! I was also offered an opportunity to enroll for officer-candidate school. That would have meant a commission but also would have required that I extend my service time for a likely 2 years. In hindsight, I wish I had done that.
In 1957, I met and visited with President Eisenhower in his White House office. On my return to Fremont I gave a speech to the NEA Teachers Convention in Lincoln.
At a late date I visited the Inns of Court in London for a trial lawyers' seminar and had the opportunity to visit in an English barrister's office and watch a criminal trial. When I returned, I spoke to Kiwanis concerning that trip as I had earlier concerning the attributes of the American Indians.
Supplement:
Established permanent YMCA endowment for needy kids's expenses of skating at the Sidner rink.
Established a permanent endowment as Kids Sports Trust for needy kids
in Nebraska for expense of participation in organized sports.
Initiator, major organizer and planner for Sidner Ice Rink.
Initiated, organized and directed Secret Santa for kids to skate free and have drop in hockey over Christmas vacation (the YMCA later stopped that program without consulting me and sought city funding for program without hockey and involving kids and adults).
Listed for several years in "Who's Who in America".
Recipient with Bonnie of Betsy Mulliken Philanthropy Award through Fremont Area Community Foundation.
Named Fremont Ambassador by the Fremont Tribune in 2016.
Built and rebuilt Schilke ball fields.
Volunteer head coach for Fremont high school boys' tennis for 9 years and assisted girls' tennis coaching to volunteer for 3 years thereafter.
Arranged four party agreement to enable construction of 8 new tennis courts at the
high school.
Subsequently led plans and drive to build new indoor courts at the YMCA and 2 new outdoor courts at the YMCA and 4 new additional courts at the high school.
Served as the director of Missouri Valley Tennis Association.
Taught adult Bible classes at Salem Lutheran.
Conducted North Saunders County Tennis Tournament for many years. President, Dodge County Bar Association.
Chairman, Nebraska Association Discipline Committee. Member, Nebraska Bar Fiducial Selection Committee.
Addendum to Resume 2/16
• Principle organizer and development - ice rink
• Established needy youth endowment at the Sidner Ice Rink
• Organized, directed and developed baseball-softball complex that opened 6/30/13, rebuilt in 2015-2016.
• Established perpetual endowment for maintenance of the fields and needy youth at the Sidner Ice Rink and other sports, and guaranteed maintenance of endowment Schilke Novak Kids-Sports Trust.
• Established Schilke-Novak Kids Sports Trust, obtained IRS 50l(c)(3) status with some reprovisions as attached
• Self and wife Bonnie received 2015 Fremont Area Community Foundation Philanthropic Award
• Participated in Salvation Army blood continuously (with one exception) since 1962 and with Nick for last 8 years
• Wrote four annual Christmas books and paid all cost of printing and illustration and secretarial work and distribution - distributed without charge to members at Salem, Children's Hospital in Omaha, Hope in Fremont, Hospital in Fremont, and others all without charge - suggestion for contribution to Kids Sports Trust
• Served two years on teammates board after having previously served as mentor - discontinued due to hearing loss
• Continued 58-year practice of teaching adult classes at church (with some interruptions)
• Wrote, printed and distributed book of Strange Tennis articles
• Law school - worked for Law Review each of three years, case comment, book review and article, printed and distributed to all law schools
• Total charitable contributions for development of projects and funding for kids at the YMCA, Omaha AAA hockey, Kids Sports, Salvation Army, debt retirement at Salem Lutheran Church, many others.
• No financial assistance possible from personal or wife's family. Worked part-time at William and Mary and wife worked full-time. Somewhere after graduation before marriage worked 40 hours at Gambles warehouse and 40 hours as railroad clerk and umpired ball games weekends. (Lost 20 lbs.)
• Damaged knee in Anny in two instances, paratroop jump and football. At worst 50% disability.
• Spent time on battalion rifle team in Anny, cut at regiment level because of weakness in standings freestyle shooting at 200 yards. Hearing damaged that progressively worse - presently 30% loss.
• At law school, for money I entered four writing contests for cash awards and won cash prizes for each.
• Highest rating by peers for Martindale-Hubble National Law Directory granted sooner than usual and before the experience minimum.
• Wrote two briefs filed with US Supreme Court
• Served in establishing and continuing Fred Mytty and Jamie Charleston Trusts without charge
• Organized Fremont Ice Association as a YMCA approved booster organization at my expense
• Member of Who's Who in Midwest, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in American Colleges
• Received honorary doctorate from Midland Lutheran College
• Second member inducted in Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame