Add a Memory
Make a Donation
1923
2012
(NEWS ARTICLE) Robert P. Bauerschmidt, a 40-year Blade employee who helped the newspaper navigate new technology, died Thursday in his Orlando, Fla., home. He was 88.
Mr. Bauerschmidt, formerly of Perrysburg, learned he had cancer last summer, his wife, Sandy, said.
He retired from The Blade at the end of 1985 as assistant plant engineer, and his duties often required being on call nights and weekends. He was promoted to that job in 1972.
As newspaper production changed from Linotype machines and type cast in hot lead to computer typesetting, "Bob was sent by The Blade to various schools in Chicago and New York to learn about the new equipment and see about the installation and teach the staff," his wife said.
His daughter Mary added: "He always wanted to learn. He was like a sponge."
When he was hired in 1947, his father, Joseph, had been a Blade printer for more than 20 years. The younger Mr. Bauerschmidt became a machinist assigned to keep the Linotypes in operating order.
"He was a very easygoing guy, and everybody liked him," said Lou Hogan, a onetime Linotype operator who retired as a composing room assistant foreman.
He formerly was on the executive board of the Toledo Typographical Union. He had been shop chairman, served on the pension committee, and received training in electronics at the union's headquarters. He was especially proud, his daughter said, of his role on the Toledo Record, a paper put out by striking Blade union workers during the 1966-67 labor dispute.
He was born May 26, 1923, to Frances and Joseph Bauerschmidt and grew up on West Harrison Street in Maumee. He was a 1942 graduate of Maumee High School.
He was in the Army Signal Corps during World War II and served in Brisbane, Australia, where he met his first wife, Ethel. They married in July, 1944, moved to Perrysburg after the war, and raised a family. She died April 10, 1985.
He was Roman Catholic and dedicated himself to serving people through his church, St. Rose in Perrysburg. He considered becoming a deacon and took classes in the Bible and religion at Lourdes College. At St. Rose, he met Sandy Naumann, and they shared rides to Lourdes after discovering their class schedules were nearly identical.
"I would say we were soul mates on a spiritual level. We were very blessed," she said.
They married Dec. 4, 1987, and he became a father figure to her four children, then ages 9 to 18.
"Bob was mentally and physically very young at heart," she said. "And he loved families, and it's a great tribute to his first wife and all his children that he loved marriage and family and would say yes to a second family."
Surviving are his wife, Sandy, whom he married Dec. 4, 1987; daughters, Mary Berning and Debra Ferguson; sons, Robert T., Michael, and Kerry Bauerschmidt; stepson, Robert Naumann; stepdaughters, Holly Bruinsma, Jennifer Naumann, and Cathy Pague; sisters, Pat Dickey and Frances "Sis" Waltman; brothers, Don and Jim Bauerschmidt; 22 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is to be Tuesday from 3 to 9 p.m. in the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee, with a recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services are to be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rose Church, Perrysburg.
The family suggests tributes to a charity of the donor's choice.
Contact Mark Zaborney at: [email protected] or 419-724-6182.
18 Entries
So sorry to hear of your Fathers passing. Am so sorry for your loss. Elaine
September 16, 2013
we will all miss bob at the family reunion my prayers always include you christine Oconnor (bauerschmidt)
christine Oconnor
May 27, 2012
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. He will be missed.
In Christ.
Rob Garver
May 9, 2012
So sorry to hear of Bob's passing. He was always such a nice guy. I remember him liking blueberry pancakes at Bob Evans. We had some fine conversations there.
Diane Youngston
May 9, 2012
Our deepest sympathy to you and your whole family. With love and prayers. David and Renee Marazon
renee Marazon
May 8, 2012
Sandy and family,
Sorry to hear of Bob's passing. He was a remarkable man. Bob will be missed by many. He always had a smile on his face when I saw him.
Kim Moore
May 8, 2012
Bob rest in peace. I enjoyed talking with you and playing golf on Wed. mornings at Winter Park Golf course. May God bless your family and comfort them.
Charlie Cozart, Lexington, NC
May 8, 2012
Mary, What I am feeling right now is hard to put into words. So I will rely on all our memories. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Marianne Geisbuhler (Kozlowski)
May 7, 2012
I am so sorry for the loss of your father Debbie. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Nancy Heffelfinger
May 6, 2012
My sincere condolences to the family. It is hard to lose someone close to us.
But please know that God does not forget our loved ones or us as we have to cope with this loss. We are encouraged to throw all our anxieties upon him because he cares for you".
1 Pet 5:7)
May 6, 2012
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time. Bob was a great father-in-law and he will always be in my heart
Karen Donnelly
May 6, 2012
Sandra, we will dearly miss our friend, neighbor and brother-in law...may his spirit surround you with love and comfort...always, Tim and Dolores
May 6, 2012
To Bob, and all the Bauerschmidt family;
I am so sad to read about your terrific father's passage of this life, but rest assure that he is in a better place. We all know that your father was as fine a citizen as could be, and he served his country well in WWII. We owe our way of life to people like him.
May I extend my deepest sympathy in your time of utmost grief.
Tim, and John Quilter
May 6, 2012
Rest in peace Grandpa B
jessica nohl
May 6, 2012
Sandy I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find comfort in your time of deep sarrow. All my love to you and your family. Nicole Marazon Everhardt
Nicole Marazon Everhardt
May 6, 2012
Mary and Family:
sorry to read of the loss of your father.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time..
Carol and Rich Bader
May 6, 2012
I wish to extend to you and to members of your family my deepest sympathy on your loss. May the Lord's loving promises comfort you and give you strength as you walk through this difficult time. On behalf of a greatful nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your loved one. “Honoring Those Who Served-Ministry” (If you wish a personalized memorial card mailed to you with history of playing of taps, 21 gun salute, meaning of each fold of the flag as a keepsake, please send me your home address to where the card be mailed. Send to: Chaplain Richard Reuer, 1206 6th St SW, Minot, ND 58701. This is a free service to fallen veteran families.)
Chaplain Richard Reuer
May 6, 2012
Sandy and family, so very sorry for your loss, It was a round-a-bout way that we learned of his passsing. His grand-daughter works with our cousin Barb, as a nurse at St.V's (i think), and she mentioned it to Barb, who immediately started calling around and telling the family here in Toledo. Bob will be remembered in a novena of masses to be celebrated by some of my classmates at the Passionist Monastery in Chicago. God bless and care for you and the whole family in these hard times.
Bill Nauman & Stanley Plott
May 6, 2012
Showing 1 - 18 of 18 results
Please consider a donation as requested by the family.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more