Died: Friday, December 19, 2014
Age: 92
Robert Frederick Schmidt died Dec. 19 at his residence in St. Louis.
Mr. Schmidt was born on June 15, 1922 in Rush Tower and was raised there on the family dairy farm. He attended Rankin College, training as a tool and die maker.
He entered the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, where he served from Southern Italy to France as a flight mechanic. After World War II, he attended Shurtleff College, graduating with a bachelors degree in liberal arts. He returned to the machine shop, working at Century Electric and St. Louis Shipbuilding and Steel.
He worshiped at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Rush Tower during his youth and later served in various positions of trust at Crusade Baptist Church in Lemay.
Survivors include his sons, Vernon (Debbie) Schmidt, John (Jennine) Schmidt and Paul (Belle) Schmidt, all of St Louis; and four grandchildren, Christopher (Amy), Paul Jr., Elizabeth and Elijah Schmidt.
Mr. Schmidt was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Kathryn Louise (nee Cook) Schmidt; brothers, Milton (Gertrude) Kiepe of Rush Tower and Harold (Marie) Kiepe of Fayette; sisters, Irene (George) Westmeyer of Burnsville, Minn., and Dorothy (Wayne) Rouggly of Rush Tower; and parents, Adolph and Elizabeth (nee Klienschmidt) Kiepe Schmidt.
A private burial, officiated by Rev. Randy Casey, took place Dec. 23 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
A memorial service will be announced for early 2015.