San Andreas, CA…On Wednesday, June 14, 2017, a great man left this life and moved on to greater adventures.  Robert Eugene Schmauder was born in 1937 on a chicken ranch in San Andreas, California.  His mother always told the story that Robert was born on the 6th of September, but the doctor signed his birth certificate on the 9th of September.  It isn’t any surprise though, that a man this wonderful had two birthdays.  Robert spent the first part of his life helping his father mine for gold in the foothills of Northern California before joining the United States Air Force where he was in the band.  He had the distinct honor of playing for the Queen of England, Nikita Khrushchev, and many other politicians and civilians alike.  After the Air Force, Robert made his way with his family back to California where he worked for Howard Hughes, and was subcontracted out to NASA to help not only design, but build the thrusters for the Apollo Moon Landing. 

Later in life, Robert enjoyed gold panning, telling stories, and laughing.  He is preceded in death by his mother, Elise Maier Schmauder of Germany; his father George Schmauder of Germany; and his brother George Carl Schmauder of California.  He leaves behind his wife, Kathryn Schmauder, his children and their spouses Lisa and Alan Banks, Laura and Anthony Iaconetti, Robert and Jeanne Schmauder, Gretchen Schmauder, and Patricia and Joshua Dark as well as his grandchildren Melissa Kountz, Joshua Dial, Beth Dial, Alisa Withers, Anthony Iaconetti, Giana Iaconetti, Robert Schmauder, Marissa Schmauder, Jacob Schmauder-Dark, Ryan Dark, and Kathryn Dark as well as many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. 

He will be dearly missed, but we will always hold him close to our heart.  Robert knew the key to life was laughter and love, and we will live every day laughing and loving as he would have wanted us to.