James F. “Jim” Schubert

James F. (Jim) Schubert of Lawrence died August 5, 2015 at the age of 100 years. He was born on February 19, 1915 at his family’s farmhouse to Victor and Mary Ellen Price Schubert. The farm was located near the small German settlement of Schubert, MO.

Jim was the first-born of five children. He attended a one-room parochial school at St John’s Lutheran Church in Schubert through the 5th grade, Forrest Hill from 6th – 8th and graduated from Jefferson City High School in 1933. He began his working career in the retail business with Montgomery Ward and was a store manager at many of the company’s locations in the midwest.

Jim married Ruth Marie Overman of Jefferson City, MO on November 19, 1936. They had three children, Marilyn, Virginia, and Richard. Jim and Ruth eventually tired of the many moves necessitated by the company’s needs. Of the eleven cities they had lived in during Jim’s 17-year tenure with Wards, the city of Lawrence held a special appeal to them and they settled here.

Jim started his own business, a ladies’ ready-to-wear store, the Jay Shoppe, in 1952, where he worked until retirement at the age of 70. Ruth worked there as a bookkeeper for many years. Due to the store’s popularity, he opened a second store, The Campus Jay Shoppe, where the Oread Hotel is currently located. He employed many associates over the years whom he considered to be extended “family.”

Jim always made friends wherever he went and did so with humility and grace. He expressed kindness and respect to everyone he met. He loved the city and the people of Lawrence and displayed his love by giving back to the community. While managing his business and raising a family, he took part in many civic activities. He was elected to the City Commission in 1963 and Mayor of Lawrence in 1966; served as Director of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, as Vice-President in 1956, chaired the Retail Merchants Division (1955) and co-organized the Chamber’s Seniors Council (1988); was Drive Chair for the March of Dimes; appointed to the City Traffic Commission (’60, Chair in 1962-3); Director of the Lawrence Building and Loan Association; Director of Columbia Savings Association (1956, V.P. in 1958) served 30-plus years; President (1957) and Director of the Lawrence Sertoma Club. He was Chairman of the Kansas Retail Council (1971). Along with other retailers on Massachusetts, he helped organize the Downtown Lawrence Association in 1972. Jim also served as Director of O’Connell Youth Ranch, the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, and the Achievement Place for Boys, to name a few.

In his 80’s, he began volunteering as an escort for the LMH Auxiliary. He was president of the Lawrence Country Club. One of his great pleasures was the game of golf which he enjoyed playing with good friends until the age of 96. In 2000, Jim was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce as “Citizen of the Years” for his community contributions. He was the Lawrence Sertoman of the Year (1979), and was given the Kiwanis Club Citizenship Award (1967). He received the Non-Rotarian Paul Harris Fellow Award for his many civic accomplishments, and the Outstanding Leadership and Achievement Award from Baker University in 2007.

He was a lifelong Lutheran, attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lawrence, and was involved in many church functions and committees over the decades, serving, too, as President of the Church Council.

He is survived by his three children, Marilyn Wooldridge of Ames, IA, Virginia Curran (Peter) of Lawrence, and Richard Schubert (Marie) of Lake Lotawana, MO as well as four grandchildren, John Curran, Jay Curran (Debra), Shari Hamby (Kip), and Randy Wooldridge (Shelia), thirteen great-grandchildren, twelve great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by Ruth, his wife of 62 years; his parents Victor and Mary Ellen; brother William Schubert, and sisters Dorothy Thompson, Margie Oetting, and Mary Gerwert; son-in-law, Ronald Wooldridge; granddaughter, Cindy Wooldridge Hockett; great granddaughter, Allison Hockett Erb; and great-great grandson, Asher Greene.

Family will visit with friends at Warren-McElwain Mortuary from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2015. A Memorial Service will be at 1:30 p.m. on August 14, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 2104 Bob Billings Parkway (15th & Iowa St.) in Lawrence. A private interment will take place at a later time at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2104 Bob Billings Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66049 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.