Rob Schipke
Meriden, CT on 31 January 1946
Dunedin, FL on 30 January 2015
68 years
Details
A Celebration of Life memorial will be held at Harbor Light Towers (1270 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767), on February 28th, at 2:00 PM . In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Suncoast Hospice - “In memory of Rob Schipke", and mailed to 2675 Tampa Rd., Palm Harbor, Fl. 34684
The Story
Husband Extraordinaire, loving step dad, brother, friend, world traveler, and engineer with an optimistic, courageous fighting spirit, His body finally surrendered to a long, hard battle with cancer on January 30th, 2015, but his spirit lives on. My beloved husband went to his eternal resting place where he suffers no more. He fought with everything he had in him. While he suffered greatly and spent a lot of time in pain, he always put on a good face and never wanted people to see him as the sick guy with cancer. He never wanted people to feel uncomfortable around him or feel sorry for him…he always thought about children fighting cancer, and because of that, he never complained. He fought his battle with dignity and grace, and lived his life to the fullest.
He retired from Lockheed Martin (Orlando Division) in 2010 as an Aerospace Engineer where he enjoyed his career for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Meriden, CT and lived a wonderful boyhood life there. Rob was raised Catholic, attended Catholic school, and served as an alter boy for several years. Even though he wasn’t a big fan of organized religion, he reconciled his own personal relationship to God and was at peace before he passed. He was charitable to several organizations that he truly believed made a difference in people’s lives.
He settled in very quickly to his little beach condo in Clearwater, Fl.. He loved his wife with all of his heart, and his family and friends, loved his beach life, he loved cars, especially his, he loved to fish, swim, dive, kayak, work out at the gym, travel, ski, and sit on the beach with his wife and friends where he spent many wonderful days soaking up the sun and enjoying the wonderfulness of friendships that began there.
For those of us who mourn his loss, he wanted celebrations of his life where friends and family could gather together to celebrate his life and share stories that were unique to him. He always recognized and was grateful that he lived a blessed life. He will always be loved and missed, and he left all of us who knew him with rich, wonderful memories that will last for a lifetime.
Rob is survived by his wife Trish, Adam Long, his stepson, Andrew Schipke, his brother, Rose Schipke, his Aunt, Braden, Melissa, and Ryan Schipke, his niece and nephews, Connie Schipke, his Cousin, and the rest of his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert N. Schipke and Ethel Schipke.
He retired from Lockheed Martin (Orlando Division) in 2010 as an Aerospace Engineer where he enjoyed his career for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Meriden, CT and lived a wonderful boyhood life there. Rob was raised Catholic, attended Catholic school, and served as an alter boy for several years. Even though he wasn’t a big fan of organized religion, he reconciled his own personal relationship to God and was at peace before he passed. He was charitable to several organizations that he truly believed made a difference in people’s lives.
He settled in very quickly to his little beach condo in Clearwater, Fl.. He loved his wife with all of his heart, and his family and friends, loved his beach life, he loved cars, especially his, he loved to fish, swim, dive, kayak, work out at the gym, travel, ski, and sit on the beach with his wife and friends where he spent many wonderful days soaking up the sun and enjoying the wonderfulness of friendships that began there.
For those of us who mourn his loss, he wanted celebrations of his life where friends and family could gather together to celebrate his life and share stories that were unique to him. He always recognized and was grateful that he lived a blessed life. He will always be loved and missed, and he left all of us who knew him with rich, wonderful memories that will last for a lifetime.
Rob is survived by his wife Trish, Adam Long, his stepson, Andrew Schipke, his brother, Rose Schipke, his Aunt, Braden, Melissa, and Ryan Schipke, his niece and nephews, Connie Schipke, his Cousin, and the rest of his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert N. Schipke and Ethel Schipke.
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Lovingly memorialized by
Adam Long
Rob's Step Son
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"I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love." Leo Buscaglia Rob, you are missed. In thinking of what to share, and because Rob's passing came so close to my Dad's passing, it has just seemed too emotional to express feelings until now. Rob and my Dad had such a sweet friendship with mutual respect and love for each other. They both knew they were facing their mortality and were able to talk and share feelings about it together. Rob was so courageous till the end. Driving off in his "purple mobile" to workout, even if it was for 10 minutes showed his strength and will to live life to the fullest. His love for Trish, and Trish for him, is what novels are written about. His love of the beach was legendary and he never tired of the nightly sunsets that Trish has documented. They cherished every last moment together. It was a priveledge to have know him. "May every sunrise hold more promise, every moon rise hold more peace." Author Unknown
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