Krier, 77, founded Main Street Media
John "Jack" Ronald Krier, 77, of Warsaw, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He suffered a massive heart attack Oct. 9.
Jack was born Sept. 24, 1940 in Mitchell, S.D., the son of John M. Krier and Bernadette J. Michels of Emery, S.D.
Jack was raised in Alexandria, S.D. and graduated from AHS in 1958. He graduated from South Dakota State University, Brookings, in 1962 with degrees in journalism and print management.
Jack started working in the newspaper business when he was in the eighth grade as a "printers devil." In high school he started writing sports stories for the paper and the dream of owning his own paper someday began.
After college, he joined the National Guard. His first job was for Jack Lough, owner of the Albion News and president of the National Newspaper Association in Albion, Neb. Six months later he met Kathleen Carver and told her immediately that he was going to marry her. They were married Feb. 6, 1965.
In June 1965, they purchased the Bridgewater Tribune, Bridgewater, S.D. Their first two daughters, DiAnn and Julie, were born while there. In 1968, they sold the paper and Jack worked for The Dickie County Leader, in Ellendale, N.D. to help out because of a tragedy at the paper.
In 1970, they purchased the Optic-News, Wellsville, Mo. Daughter number three, Sheryl, and a son, James, were born. In 1976, they moved to Audubon, Iowa and purchased the Audubon News-Advocate and the Exira Journal. Eventually they bought out the Nishna Valley Tribune. The company expanded by forming Jumbo Jack's Cookbook Co., and specialized in printing cookbooks as fund-raisers. Daughter number four, Nicole was born.
Jack retired in 1991 and moved to Kimberling City, Mo. Retirement wasn't what he wanted, so the hunt for another paper was on. They bought the Table Rock Gazette in Kimberling City and sold it. Next they started a new paper, The Stone County Gazette, and sold it.
Then, instead of one or two newspapers, he bought three and grew that group in Missouri: Carrollton Democrat; Lexington News; Higginsville Advance; Norborne Democrat-Leader; Santa Fe Times, Alma; Glasgow Missourian; Windsor Review; Cole Camp Courier; Lincoln New Era; St. Clair Courier, Osceola; Appleton City Journal; Humansville Star-Leader and Rich Hill Mining Review.
In 2000, he purchased the Lyons Daily News in Kansas, but later sold the newspaper, then bought the Russell County News and the Natoma Independent. This was the beginning of Main Street Media.
They went on to purchase the Ellis Review; Plainville Times; Phillips County Review, Phillipsburg; Downs News & Times; Smith County Pioneer, Smith Center; Cawker City Ledger; then in Nebraska the Red Cloud Chief; Franklin Chronicle; Harlan County Journal, Alma; Blue Hill Leader; then back to Kansas for the Lindsborg News-Record; Gove County Advocate, Quinter, and, just recently, the Sterling Bulletin.
In 2015 the Kriers sold the majority percent of the stock in Main Street Media, Inc. to Frank Mercer and Joe Blum, both business associates and friends.
Jack retired again to Warsaw, Mo. where he couldn't sit still. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church and on the parish council, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, and editor of the church bulletin.
His hobbies included watching the Cleveland Indians, and all baseball. Above most things he loved following Lincoln Cardinal sports.
Over the years he was a member of the Jaycees, Lions Club, American Legion, several community economic development groups and more.
Surviving Jack is his wife of 52 years, Kathy; a son, James (Kami) Krier of Warsaw; four daughters, DiAnn Bills of Warsaw, Julie (Ken) Pingrey of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Sheryl (Peter) Kao of Southlake, Texas, and Nikki (John Plumlee) Krier of Branson West; eight grandchildren, Miranda Bills, MacKenzie Bills, Wilson Pingrey, Levi Pingrey, Makena Kao, Olivia Kao, Ashton Plumlee and Kennedy Krier; two brothers, Dick (Pat) Krier, Idaho, and Don (Faye) Krier, South Dakota; and two sisters, Delores Rudie, Minnesota, and Judie (John) Hritz, California.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother and a brother-in-law, Stanley Rudie.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Nov. 25, 2017 at St. Ann Catholic Church, Warsaw, followed at noon by a Celebration of Life and Fellowship at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Warsaw.
—————
If you would like to send a card to Jack's wife, here is the address:
Kathy Krier
19419 Stone Meadow Trail
Warsaw, MO 65355-5973