Jacob Schrock

JACOB E. SCHROCK, 88, of Fort Wayne, IN, formerly Sarasota, FL and Arthur, IL, passed away at 2:55 A.M. on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, IN.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Sunnyside Mennonite Church, 475 E. State Rt. 133 in Arcola, IL. Rev. Tom Miller, Rev. J. R. Weaver and Rev. Joe Diener will officiate. Burial will be in the Sunnyside Mennonite Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main St. in Arcola, IL, also one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the Sunnyside Mennonite Church.

Jacob was born on March 13, 1927 in Arthur, IL. He was a son to Menno and Emma (Yutzy) Schrock. He married Fannie C. Bontrager on October 9, 1947 in Arthur, IL.

He is survived by his wife, three sons, Glenn Ray Schrock and his wife Gayle of Harlan, IN, Leon J. Schrock, and his wife Janet of Bement, IL and Ron E. Schrock and his wife Patricia of Fort Wayne, IN, five grandchildren, Barry Schrock and his wife Heather of Fort Wayne, IN, Katrina Whitenack of Auburn, IN, Rhett Schrock and his wife Kristen of Decatur, IL, Mackenzie White and her husband Steve of Dallas, TX and Morgan Largent and her husband Aaron of Decatur, IL, seven great-grandchildren and one sister Mary Hostetler of Arthur, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings.

Jacob devoted his life to serving the lord, both as a pastor and an evangelist. He retired from Prison Ministries with over 26 years of service and received several Chaplin of the year awards for Prison Ministries in the state of Florida.


JACOB SCHROCK
A CHAPLAIN FOR ALL SEASONS
It was March 13, 1927, a day of late winter approaching early spring that a boy was born in Arthur, Illinois to a humble, loving Christian family, the Schrocks.
Names, Jacob, he grew too big and strong. Over the weeks and months after his birth, the day he took his first steps, his parents watched with joyous pleasure, God was watching over him also, because he knew those first tiny steps in years to come would become big steps to follow in the path of his Son, Jesus Christ.
Years have passed, many seasons have come and gone, being a highly educated man, and very intellectual in the word of the Bible… it was in April, 1945, Jake and his girlfriend Miss Fannie prayed and decided to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and walk the walk, and talk the talk.
CONGRATULATIONS goes to both of them this month as their milestone of following the path of Jesus Christ marks 57 years.
During the first 2 years of their journey, their love for Jesus and each other grew even stronger, and on October 8, 1947 in the eyes of God, family and friends… they became husband and wife.
The years during their loving marriage, God blessed them with 3 fine sons, Glenn, Ronnie and Leon. In years to follow these sons accepted wives, and then gave Jake and Miss Fannie 5 grandchildren, who in years later gave them 3 great-grandchildren, which made their lives more joyous, their love stronger and their walk for Jesus, not just a family affair, but a happening of Christian togetherness.
Jake, a cabinet sales representative, left a high paying self-supporting job to do what he was destined to do, another full time-time job… walking the walk and talking the talk of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
During this time, the season were good to him, but also the seasons seen Jake hit hard times.
There were times they didn’t know where their next gallon of gas or a bag of groceries was coming from.
But this did not get them down, through prayer and total faith in their Savior, the gas tank became full as well did their tummies.
Just as Jesus walked the Holy ground in Galilee, Judea, and Capernaum preaching the work of God to multitudes of people, Jake walked the ground of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky journeying down to Florida, preaching and teaching the word of God, saving lost souls and spiritual uplifting the saved souls who wanted to know more about Jesus.
Having settled in Florida, and continuing their walk and talk, Jake and Miss Fannie knew this was where God wanted them to settle down and do what they do best… spread the word of Jesus Christ.
Jake in his van, on a road in many directions, God was his compass who directed his travel to a prison in Arcadia.
June 10, 1990 was a great day in the State of Florida and for the Department of Corrections, this was the inaugural Bible Study at DeSoto C.I. which, with 100% favorability of the inmates and the sights and sounds of the staff, Jake was asked and accepted the position of a full-time Volunteer Chaplain.
June 10, 2002, only 2 short months away, Jake will celebrate 12 years of unselfish, dedicated service to his Men in Blue at DeSoto.
Averaging 3500 miles a month traveling, Jake has driven 12 Spring, 12 Summers, 12 Falls and 12 Winters from Sarasota to Arcadia and back totaling 2,184,000 miles with no pay-check but he did receive compensation more powerful than money… to see the lost souls on the compound turn their lives over to Jesus Christ and become saved.
The Men in Blue are made up of non-denominational as well a 7 denominations coming from 8 foreign countries and the United States of America.
After a few short weeks, the Men in Blue realized that GOD is a lot like Hallmark- “He cared enough to send the very BEST!”
When Jake teaches the word, he not only professes it, but he possesses it.
Each week, Jake welcomes the bus of new inmates coming to DeSoto by transfer. In their orientation, the first words they here is only 3 small ones that mean something very big… “I Love You”!
These words are heard from his mouth, but are spoken with humbleness and sincerity from his heart.
John 10:27, says “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
When Jake comes to DeSoto, the flock fill the Chapel for his Bible study as well as his Church- Baptismal- Communion services conducted by his own Prison Care Ministries.
Luke 15:40, says “What man of you… if he loves one of them… does he not go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”
Jake knows his flock is secure in the Chapel, so he goes to the compound looking for that one, unfortunately that one equals hundred.
When Jake enters the compound, the flock surrounds him in a human herd of love, just to hear his spiritual wisdom and beliefs.
Our shepherd watches his flock with prayers, faith; trust… that soon – all the lost sheep will be saved. Yes, Jake is… “THE GOOD SHEPHERD”.
Jake and the Bible are exactly alike. On any given day, week, month or year, their faith, their trust and their word is consistent… it never changes.
As honest and trustworthy is the word of the scriptures… so is JAKE’S!!!
If one was to look into Webster’s dictionary for definitions of 4 words, they would find noun… Jacob Schrock. These words are commonly used every day at DeSoto. They are… VOLUNTEER, EDUCATOR, FRIEND and HERO.
Jake the Volunteer has offered and bestowed his own service of free – time for any service. Jake the EDUCATOR, is one, having an education about the average. Jake the FRIEND, is the person whom knows, likes and trusts. Jake the HERO, is the person noted for Special Achievements in a particular field.
For the soon to be 12 years, Jake the Volunteer Chaplain, as stated before with unselfish – dedicated – service, educated, befriended, and nurtured thousands of Men in Blue at DeSoto.
Jake the Educator, has taught the word of the scriptures every Tuesday during his Bible study and on any free time an inmate has and is able to come to Chapel.
Jake the Friend, has been called the color bling Chaplain. Our Jake is a friend to all! He sees all races, the red, the yellow, the black, the white… wearing blue uniforms, brown uniforms, and regular street clothes as precious people all of equal value… Friends with Christian love in their hearts.
Jake the Hero, is one who helped save the lost souls, who think their lives are nothing and that they are not important. Jake expresses firmly that God loves them and he does also.
Jake doesn’t care about the inmates’ charges or convictions, but instead their spiritual need and growth.
You know the saying, “Out of sight… Out of mind”! That not so with the inmates who leave DeSoto, either by transfer or release. Jake may be out of sight, but he is never or ever will be out of mind.
*** (read letters and cards from Josue & Scott).
*** (ask someone to spell LOVE)
Yes, in the free world, that is how one would spell LOVE, but at DeSoto, you can ask any of the thousands who have come and cone and also the ones still behind the barbed wired walls to spell LOVE and they will respond… J- A- K- E!
Over the past 12 years, Jake has been honored numerous times at DeSoto, as well in the community and the State.
Jake has been volunteer of the Year several times at DeSoto as well as being named Volunteer Chaplain Emeritus. 2001, Jake was named Volunteer Chaplain of the Year for Region IV of the D.O.C. and later named the State of Florida Volunteer of the Year, winning out over hundreds of nominations.
October, 2000 was the greatest honor of all, through a nomination sent in by the Men in Blue to the Lighthouse news, by unanimous vote, Jake and Miss Fannie were bestowed the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Joshua Award, for their walk with Jesus Christ.
Along with these numerous awards, Jake was honored in June 2000 for a Decade of Services at DeSoto by the Men in Blue and the following year, March 2001, surprise 74th Birthday celebration program was planned and executed as a complete surprise.
With all of this credited to his life’s achievements, Jake is a Hero to all.
As our HERO, the particular achievement he is the most proud of, is knowing that he has helped his flock prepare and be ready for their release.
Isaiah 40:31, says, “Yet, the strength of those who wait with the hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and shall not become weary. They will walk and shall not grow tires.”
(song- Wind Beneath My Wings)…
Anyone who has the privilege of knowing Jake, learning from Jake, or hear Jake preach can honestly say that their wings were strengthened with hope in the Lord for their flight into freedom.
As the verse was just sung… Jake… “We’ve always known you’re our Hero, Jake, You are everything we ought to be… We’re flying higher that the eagles, because, Jake… YOU are the wind beneath our wings.”
Yes, our beloved Jake, the Volunteer, the Educator, the Friend and the Hero… with his knowledge, love and personal interest, has lifted up the Man in Blue for the past 12 years both spiritually and mentally to where… “They can fly on their own”. If any of you are wondering why Jake is loved so very much by a prison full of convicted men, the answer is Matthew 25:36, “I was in prison and ye came unto me.”
For three-quarters of a century, Jake has graced the ground of God’s created earth bringing love, joy, compassion and spiritual knowledge to the multitudes of people he has come into contact with, just like Jesus did 2000 years ago.
If it’s in a Spring shower or the Summer heat, or even the brisk air of the Fall or maybe the chilling temperatures of Winter, Jake is and always will be there for us on a schedule of 24/7.
Jake the Volunteer… Jake the Educator… Jake the Friend… and Jake the Hero… is without a doubt…
“ A CHAPLAIN FOR ALL SEASONS “
THANKYOU!

Written and presented by,
Gary Allen Burnham
For Jakes 75th Birthday.

Friday September 18, 2015, 10:00 A.M. at Sunnyside Mennonite Church

Thursday September 17, 2015, 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at Edwards Funeral Home