Robert Schmitz

Waunakee - Robert Wayne Schmitz, age 85, passed into the presence of the Lord on Monday, September 5, 2011 surrounded by his family at the HospiceCare center in Fitchburg. Born in Kenosha on February 27, 1926, son of Anthony and Maude (Sutton) Schmitz, he graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1943. Immediately after high school, he enlisted in the Navy and trained at Great Lakes. Bob was promoted to Petty Officer Second Class and assigned to the USS Princeton, CVL 23 Aircraft Carrier Battle Group 3rd Fleet in Pearl Harbor. He and his shipmates participated in several major fighting engagements in the Pacific Theater until sunk by an enemy dive bomber on October 24, 1944 in the Sibuyan Sea during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. After rescue by the destroyer USS Irwin, Bob was assigned to Joint Communications ACT, Navy, on Guam until 1946.

Bob married Alice (Olstad) on June 21, 1947 at St. James Catholic Church in Madison, by the late Msgr. Wilfred J. Schuster. He attended the University of Wisconsin and Madison Business College and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He joined General Casualty Companies as a claims adjuster in Eau Claire, and later transferred to Milwaukee, as branch manager. There he served as Vice-Chairman and Director of the Boy Scouts in the southwest district of Milwaukee. Bob also enjoyed coaching Little League Baseball teams in Hales Corners. He was transferred to Madison, and was promoted to Senior Vice President of the General Casualty Insurance Company, and was responsible for coordination of marketing, underwriting and administration of field operations. He served on the Board of Directors of the General Casualty Companies until his retirement in 1984 after 34 years. He volunteered as a Santa to the residents of Central Colony of Dane County for the physically and mentally disabled for 21 years.

After retirement, he and Alice relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida where they joined the Isla Del Sol Country Club and enjoyed meeting new friends sharing interests in golf and bridge. He was elected President of Isla Del Sol Association and served on the Board of Directors while a resident there. Bob also served the Outreach Ministry at St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Church, St. Petersburg, and was Chairman of the 75th Diamond Jubilee restoration in 1995.

After returning to Wisconsin in 1997, he served as lector and Eucharistic minister of St. Mary of the Lake Church in Westport. He had faithfully made 30 annual retreats to the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh. He is eternally grateful for the love of his wife in providing him with strength and dignity during his illnesses. He was a loyal and avid Packer and Badger fan.

Bob loved and is survived by his wife of 64 years, Alice; and four children, Tom (Syrie), Sherri (Darryl) Veit, Mark, Robert (Kris); ten grandchildren, Matt (Kristin), Amber (Troy) Eberhardt, Casey, Cole, Rob, Alyssa, Zachary, Karli, Bobby and Kira; two step-grandchildren, Nicole (Jesse) Ziegler and Brandon Veit; three great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and his beloved Yorkie, Benji. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Maude; brothers, Charles, Ellsworth (Helen), Roger, Harold, William (Julie); and sister, Rose (Ed) McDonough.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7450 University Avenue, Middleton with Msgr. Douglas Dushack officiating. A visitation will be held at church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Memorial donations may be made to the HospiceCare Foundation Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711, or to St. Bernard's Parish, 7450 University Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562. We thank all the Drs. and nurses for their support and special care that was given to Bob and the family at the HospiceCare center in Fitchburg.

May God hold you in the palm of his hand until we all meet again.