Ode to Rick Schreiner

We’ve come to remember Rick Schreiner

As a man they don’t come any finer

The thing that they say

And you’ll hear it today

Is his penchant to give wasn’t minor

I’m guessing he had a great mother

He lived to give service to others

He’d not hesitate

To step up to the plate

He was truly the ultimate brother

He’d greet you by saying “Hey buddy!”

And sometimes he’d be rather nutty

Show up with a smile

And talk for awhile

His identities made quite a study

Rico Suave was one of his names

Grand Poohbah was part of his fame

He might wear a skirt

But he’d give you his shirt

‘cause joy was the name of his game

They say he had Music Tourette’s

He’d break out in song, you could bet

In the midst of a task

Without being asked

The troubadour sang you a set

He studied at Michigan State

To develop his mind to create

A life that would matter

With no silver platter

Fulfilling his God-given fate

He served in the Navy to fly

His spirit belonged in the sky

The P-3 Orion

Is what he was flyin’

A multiple crew kinda guy

  

He migrated into the airlines

Eventually losing his hairline

But he had a great stache

That gave him panache

A studly young man by design

And one day they heard him say “Dammit!”

This just can’t be true now, or can it?

When into his sight

On one of his flights

He came to behold lovely Janet

As part of the plan from above

It grew from a “wow” into love

He eventually asked her

They went to the pastor

The eagle would fly with the dove

When nightly together they lay

They grew in a family way

Hanky met panky

And babies they spanky

Wonderful kids here today

Later in life came the grands

Bringing such joy to the man

Smiling together

No matter the weather

Holding a precious young hand

Rick was a man of the Lord

Serving in peace, never bored

When building a set

Or flying a jet

A man of the heart, not the sword

He loved to have fun with his peeps

His sportsmanship credo ran deep

You could always depend

On this agile old friend

His teamwork a promise he’d keep

You might see him out on the court

Running around in his shorts

A ball with a pickle

He’d give it a tickle

With maybe a grunt or a snort

The sport he especially loved

Like slipping a hand in a glove

Was out on the slopes

He never said nope

To a chance to ski down from above

Racing since seventy-eight

And speeding his way through the gates

Held with esteem

By all of the teams

His stature not up for debate

Holding so many positions

And racing in different divisions

He’d do what it takes

Whatever the stakes

Bringing each win to fruition

One year the team lost its President

And Schreiner was not the least hesitant

He couldn’t refuse

To step in the shoes

And assume the position in residence

Younger guys still are amazed

That Rick could still race in the A’s

In suit made for speed

He occasionally peed

But left the young bucks in the haze

He also had fun in the car

He’d drive to wherever you are

Big Red was his steed

To Indy he’d speed

No location was ever too far

He relished the mentoring role

Helping you get to your goal

Rather than chairman

He served as Check Airman

Imprinting on many a soul

The very best gift he could give

Was in showing us all how to live

Being observant

A wonderful servant

His sands have now gone through the sieve

We remember his life with a smile

And he’s with us today all the while

We cherish you, Rick

We know that God’s picked

His best pilot to fly the last mile. 

Rest in Peace, brother Rick

From all of us,

Dick Plush