August 29, 1947 - December 22, 2023
Born August 29, 1947 in Cedar Falls Iowa to Hilmar Schmidt and Jeanne Jensen. Bob passed away from complications of Parkinson’s dementia, on Friday, December 22, 2023, in Hospice House of Spokane, Washington. Shortly after Bob completed high school, he went to State College of Iowa in Cedar Falls, majoring in music 1965-1966. He entered the Air Force in 1967, where he served 25 years and retired as Air Force Captain in 1986. He earned a Master’s in Telecommunications Management 1995 at Alaska Pacific University. Bob worked as a Cellular Engineer at Alaska Communication Systems where he met his wife, Ruth. They married in May 2000 in Anchorage and both retired in 2006 and moved to Spokane Washington. Bob studied music since 9th grade and took singing lessons from Les Hale of Cedar Falls IA for 30 years. He sang with the Tops in Blue in the Air Force, where he had the honor of singing the national anthem at Tampa Bay-49ers game in 1986, where he was presented with the game ball signed by Joe Montana and all the players. In Alaska he sang with the Alaska Chamber singers for 14 years and then with the Spokane Symphony Chorale. He ended his singing career at St Mark’s Lutheran Church chancel choir in 2020 due to complications from Parkinson’s. Bob loved his home and family, grandchildren and his many and varied interests and hobbies that he threw himself into with passion, including music, history, woodturning, and taking drone pictures for local realtors and for his own interests. Bob was happiest at home and loved to drive around his neighborhood on Baltimore Rd on his lawn mower, visiting neighbors and their dogs, always with a bag of dog treats. He will be missed by all who knew him. Bob is survived by his wife Ruth Schmidt of Spokane WA; son Robert Schmidt of Anchorage AK, stepsons Bill (Sarah) of Wenatchee and Nick Lyons of Spokane; eight grandchildren; sister Nancy Zetlmaier of Seattle WA, brothers Richard (Lois) Schmidt of O’Fallon IL and Jeffrey (Kimberly) Schmidt of Cedar Falls IA. and several cousins. He was preceded in death by parents Hilmar J & Jeanne E Schmidt; sister Kristi A Schafer, brother in laws Robert Zetlmaier and Michael Wright and several aunts and uncles. Arrangements are being made by Pacific Northwest Crematorium South Hill on Grand Blvd in Spokane WA. Funeral is at 11 am Friday, January 12th at St Mark’s Lutheran Church at 316 E 24th Ave, Grand Blvd, Spokane, WA with reception with light refreshments to follow at the church, followed by Committal and Honor Guard Ceremony at Washington Veteran’s Cemetery at 21702 West Espanola Road, Medical Lake, Washington at 2:15 pm, for those who wish to attend. Family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St Mark’s Lutheran Church.
