Robert E. Schmitt

Robert E. Schmitt Sr., 85, of Toledo, passed away Sunday, January 18, 2009, at St. Anne Mercy Hospital. He was born June 11, 1923, in Sandusky, OH and was the son of Joseph and Beatrice (Schoen) Schmitt. Robert (Bob) served his country during WWII as a deep sea diver repairing ships in the Pacific. This made Bob eligible to join the Conn-Weissenberger American Legion Post 587, VFW Post 2898 and Jude Thaddeus Catholic War Veterans Post 1675. When he learned about the Lucas County Burial Corp. doing gravesite services he joined them. He loved the opportunity to be part of a group that gave a fellow veteran their final farewell. Other than providing the best for his family, Bob's hobbies were his love for dancing and his passion giving life to others by donating blood and blood platelets. He started by donating whole blood back in the 1940's after WWII. Bob was credited with 715 donations by the Red Cross up to January 2002. The Red Cross was unaware of his donations as a member of the Vampires in the 1950's at the old Flower Hospital at Cherry St. and Collingwood Blvd. when he was making donations for hemophiliacs. One of his co-workers had a child with this bleeding disorder that needed blood quite often. We believe that this was the key factor that motivated him to keep giving blood. His donations at Flower Hospital took his total donations over 100 Gallons. We know that he would have continued to give blood and blood platelets up to the end but a rare infection set in on his right knee during a knee replacement. The family would like to thank the staff especially the nurses and aids at Heatherdowns Care Facility for their loving care of Bob during his 20 month stay with them. Bob is survived by his sisters, Lizette King, Mary Heferle, Sister Mary Michel Schmitt SND; his brother-in-law, Gaylord Antener; sister-in-law, Eleanor (Harry) Rumis of San Diego, CA; dear friend, Phyllis Glowacki; children, Robert (Barbara), Ronald (Lois), Denise Sparks, Michael, Daniel (Kim). Also surviving are 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to visit from 2-8 p.m. Thursday, in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, where the rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. followed at 7:30 p.m. by Conn-Weissenberger American Legion Post services. Prayers will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, from the funeral home, followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m., in Blessed Sacrament Church, with Father P. Martin Donnelly officiating. Interment will be in Toledo Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the Conn-Weissenberger American Legion Post Memorial Fund, American Red Cross or the donor's favorite charity.