A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Thomas Staudenheimer will be held at St. Bede’s Catholic Church, Mentor, Ohio at 10 A.M. on Tuesday May 24, 2016. Burial will take place on Wednesday May 25th in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio with graveside services being conducted at 10 A.M. by clergy of Immaculate Conception Church.

          Robert Thomas Staudenheimer was born on February 21, 1944 at San Antonio Hospital in Kenton as the third son of Leo M. and Clara M. (Bonifas) Staudenheimer. He was a graduate of St. Anthony’s School and a 1962 graduate of Kenton High School.

          Following high school graduation, he moved to Chagrin Falls, Ohio and joined the maintenance staff at Red Raider Camp for Boys. He studied brick and stone masonry at the Max Hayes Trade School in Cleveland, graduating from there in 1965. He worked at the trade of masonry as an apprentice bricklayer and eventually as a journeyman mason. He also trained as an apprentice plumber alongside his father-in-law, Frank Gafric of Chesterland, Ohio. He became an inspector of construction on the staff of Herron Testing Laboratories, specializing in the areas of concrete and stone masonry and working on many complex commercial construction projects in Cleveland and its’ eastern suburbs.

          A lifelong fascination with firefighters and firefighting equipment led to his joining the Chagrin Falls Volunteer Fire Department. After several years with that department, he was elected as Lieutenant of firefighters. While serving as an officer in that department, he continued his education and eventually was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. He retired as an EMT with the Concord Township Fire Department, Lake County, Ohio.

          In 1967, he married Sheryl Lynn Gafric at St. Anselm’s Parish, in Aurora, Ohio. They became the proud parents of two children.  Their marriage ended with a civil divorce. He is survived by one son, Joseph Mark Staudenheimer; daughter-in-law, Jen Staudenheimer; and one daughter, Susan Marie (Staudenheimer) Loughley and son-in-law, Brian Loughley; two grandchildren, Alexander Loughley and Emily Loughley; and four step-grandchildren Kaylea, Alayna, Emiley and Ryan. He is also survived by three brothers, Thomas and sister-in-law Donna, of Fern Creek, Kentucky; William of Los Gatos, California; and James and sister-in-law, Carol, of Powell, Ohio. He is also survived by his partner of many years, Susan Carol Ledbetter of Mentor, Ohio, who faithfully tended to his needs during the nine years of his final illness. Also faithful to the end was his friend and companion, his beloved dachshund, Beans.

          For many years, he was a member and trustee of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge in Mentor.  He dearly loved the sport of freshwater fishing; studying the history of his ancestors; the technological development of woodworking tools, fire fighting equipment, John Deere tractors and farm implements; and reading about the glory days of steam locomotives and railroading.

          Bob was immensely proud of his hometown; he loved to reminisce about his high school years in FFA and playing tackle for the football Wildcats; heaving the shot put in track and singing in the Varsity Choir. He had a prodigious memory and, sixty years later, could describe in precise detail every house and every customer he had served on his Kenton Times paper route. He loved singing with a robust, bass voice and enjoyed cooking and baking from the recipes passed down to him by his parents.

          Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to St. Bede’s Parish, Mentor, Ohio; Immaculate Conception Parish, Kenton, Ohio; and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis. Tennessee.

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