Robert Schmidt

A Beautiful Tribute to My Dad from his lifelong friend Steve Foster. Remembering Bobby I met Bobby in the third grade at Noble Elementary School, Detroit, Michigan in music class in 1950 and immediately became best friends. Our love of music bonded us. My father was a minister so I invited Bobby to our church. Bobby and I were in the kids choir so it didn’t take long before all the Schmidt’s were attending our church. I idolized Bobby’s dad and I remember going with them making the rounds filling vending machines all over Detroit on Saturdays. I remember stopping at Hires Root Beer Factory for a root beer which was the highlight of the day. Bobby introduced me to BB guns in his back yard. We both graduated to pellet guns and spent Saturdays climbing the Noble School roof to shoot pigeons. I remember going cruising on the Schmidts yacht. I had never been on a boat this large. I was only acquainted with rowboats. i remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park on the SS Set Claire Steamship. That’s where Bobby & I learned to do the Bunny Hop dance. I remember Noreen Schmidt formed a quartet to sing in church. Bobby, my brother Paul Foster, Hugh Livingston and I made up the quartet. We would practice at Bobbys house on Saturday to be ready to sing on Sunday. We also formed a small orchestra in church consisting of Martha & myself on violin, Paul on viola and Bobby on steel guitar. I remember Martha was a marvelous soprano and also soloist on Sundays. I remember while at MSU I would spend weekends with Bobby in Southfield. Marg would buy a case of beer and put it in the Chrysler Valiant trunk so we could have cold ones while we cruised Woodward Ave on the weekends. We were pretty good at drag racing and spend lots of time at Elias Big Boys looking at girls. We also found it very funny to fill a fire extinguisher with water and drive by people waiting for a bus and hose them down. This was so much fun Bobby continued this when I wasn’t in town. I remember drinking beer at Bobby’s house in Port Huron while Mr Schmidt played the organ and all of us singing all night. Also while I was at MSU, Bobby’s family moved to Port Huron. One Saturday night we attended a dance hall, I can’t remember the name. Bobby met Elaine. Bobby set up a date with Elaine for the next weekend. Due to extenuating circumstances Bobby was unable to drive to Sarnia to pick up Elaine. Being a great friend, I was nominated to drive to Sarnia to pick up Elaine to bring her back to Port Huron for the date then I drove her back to Sarnia. I don’t know what Elaine ever said to her dad about me. I remember in December 1965 Bobby was my best man in our wedding. He was helping me put on my tux and he had a hang nail that was bleeding. He accidentally got blood on my shirt. He immediately took off his shirt and gave it to me so I would look my best. I remember in 1987 meeting Bobby & Robert in Petoskey while he was looking for a house. I remember every time I would have a birthday he would call and sing “Happy Birthday” to me. I wish now that I had recorded him singing. I remember Bobby and Elaine coming to Florida and spending time with us in 2003 and visiting the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. I remember in 1996 Bobby and Elaine attending my mother’s wedding. I remember in 2010 staying with Bobby and Elaine in Petoskey. We shot one of Bobs guns on the front porch, waded in the ponds in front of his house to clean out leaves and branches and fed chipmunks. Bobby was very proud to show me how he microwaved eggs in an egg poacher. I immediately went out and bought one. I remember going fishing out of Charlevoix for lake trout with Bobby in 2010. Over the years moving to northern Michigan, Oklahoma, Viet Nam, Alabama, Daytona, Jacksonville & Lakeland we were always miles apart. The distance never weakened our friendship. Bobby was the kind of a friend that it was very easy to pick up a conversation just like we had never been apart. Now I can picture Bobby and his dad in heaven singing and playing the organ. This is the Bobby I know and will always love.

Traditions of Saginaw purchased the Classic Sympathy Dish Garden for the family of Robert "Bob" Paul Schmidt II.

Traditions of Saginaw planted a Memorial Tree in honor of Robert "Bob" Paul Schmidt II.

We have good memories of you and Bob, and the families over the years. He was a great brother in-law to Kathy and I enjoyed the times I had with him when he would just break into a song. Sorry that we couldn't be there with you at this time. Hope to see you all soon. You are all in our thoughts and Prayers. Love Marty & Kathy Wade..