John 'Jack' Peter Schintler Jr.

JOHN “JACK” PETER SCHINTLER JR.

Iowa City

John "Jack" Peter Schintler Jr., 95, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away Oct. 1, 2021.

To celebrate the life of Jack, a funeral service will be held Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, where his family will greet friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Camp Courageous or Burr Oak Trust.

John was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on Sept. 16, 1926, to John and Hilda (Unash) Schintler Sr. As a young boy, he and his family moved to a farm about seven miles west of Iowa City. He graduated from Tiffin High School. Jack married his high school sweetheart, Fern Amanda Fountain, on April 19, 1948, and lived on a farm near Cosgrove before moving to a family farm they purchased near the area where he grew up. The couple spent 68 memorable years together before she passed away in 2016. Jack lost a part of himself after the death of Fern.

Jack starting farming with his father following his high school graduation and continued to do so throughout his life. He not only farmed but also worked as a successful carpenter for many years. After 19 hard years, he and his wife sold the farm and Jack continued his building career while the couple lived in Coralville for many years before he retired. He was a meticulous home builder and something he took pride in.

Jack and Fern enjoyed the 27 years they wintered in Arizona, where they made many memories and lifelong friends. Time spent traveling, dancing and telling jokes were always important to Jack, but nothing brought him more joy in life than his family. Jack lived to make others laugh with his jokes and stories. He always said that due to the many ups and down in life, he learned one thing: When things are not going right, think of something funny and, once you're laughing, things usually get better.

Jack made sure to leave a note to his children with one last joke to tell at his funeral and there is no better way to end his obituary than with a joke from Jack himself. An elderly gent was on his death bed suffering from a deadly virus with no known cure and one day the doctor said to him, "George, you amaze me, you have lived seven days longer than anyone who has ever had this virus" and the old gent looked up at the doctor and said, "Doc, for years I've saved these jokes to tell St. Peter when I get to the heavenly gates, but for the last week, I can't remember them."

Survivors include his children, Edward (Dalouny) Schintler of Phoenix, Ariz., Dennis (Lisa) Schintler of Iowa City, Iowa, Suzanne (James) Clemens of Crosslake, Minn., and Joel (Melissa) Schintler of Iowa City, Iowa; his siblings, Betty Jensen, James (Brenda) Schintler, Ronald Schintler and Richard (Barbara) Schintler, all of Iowa City, Iowa; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many extended family members.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Fern; and two sisters, Ruth Karlovsky and Marie Gorski.