Schmitt, Robert Jacob -- 1922 - 2012
SCHMITT, SOUKUP, MOUDRY, STINE, THOMPSON, TIMP
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/15/2012 at 17:14:51
Robert Schmitt, age 89, of Spillville, IA died at his home Sunday February 19, 2012.
Bob donated his body to the University of Iowa, a memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 17, 2012 at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville.There will be visitation after 10:00 at the church on Saturday.
Born Robert Jacob Schmitt on November 22, 1922, on his family’s farm a mile and a half northeast of Spillville, Bob was the fifth of seven children of Jacob and Mary (Soukup) Schmitt. He attended St. Wenceslaus School and the public high school in Spillville.
Bob’s life was affected by illnesses he suffered as a youth, including tuberculosis, which left him partially paralyzed. But through a lifetime of trials, he was sustained by deep faith, including devotion to the Blessed Mother, positive thinking, a quick wit and his personal philosophy: “Resist adversity as long as possible, but if you can’t buck it, accept it.”
Bob had a curious mind, evident in his lifelong interest in mechanics, engineering, construction, anatomy, plumbing and, in general, how things work. As a young man, he invented an improvement to corn planters. He took a correspondence course in watch repair while bedridden and did watch and clock repair for about a dozen years. Into his old age, Bob enjoyed reading about and discussing automobiles and aerodynamics. He drew well and throughout his life sketched out many of his ideas and projects. His nieces and nephews, who affectionately called him “Unc,” fondly remember the miniature working toys he made for them.
He worked in wood as a finish carpenter, including installing the woodwork in his home in Spillville, to which he moved when he was 34. He once built a houseboat that he designed. He also did upholstery and, in later years, found great satisfaction in restoring furniture, painstakingly completing much of the work by hand with great attention to detail.
In addition to his home businesses, Bob worked as the manager of a lodge in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and later as a school bus driver, both in the 1960s.
Bob was also interested in nature: anything growing and blooming and animals. To facilitate bird watching, he built sophisticated bird houses.
Another of Bob’s interests was music. As a teenager, with limited formal instruction, he learned to play the tuba and bass horn, and a highlight of his young life was playing with the Spillville band. He also sang bass in the church choir.
Bob touched many lives with his positive attitude, resilience and determination. He was a giving and caring person who demonstrated courage, drive and spirit.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Florence Moudry, Edward Schmitt, Edmund Schmitt and Mary Stine. He is survived by his sisters Doris Thompson and Helen Timp, both of Spillville; thirteen nieces and nephews; thirteen grandnieces and grandnephews; and one great-grandniece.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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