Robert David Altmaier

ALTMAIER Robert David (Bob) Altmaier, died in his sleep on October 7, 2005 at Bortz Health Care of Petoskey. He was born on October 23, 1919 in Columbus, Ohio, to Mary Kaufman Altmaier and Oscar Charles (Dutch) Altmaier. Bob attended the Columbus Academy and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Science from Harvard University. He then went on to pursue his love of flying with a Master's Degree in aeronautical engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Bob worked briefly at the Curtiss-Wright airplane manufacturing company in Dayton before enlisting in the Navy in 1944. He served in aeronautical intelligence in the Philippines during the war. He returned home on Christmas Eve, 1945, and met the love of his life, his future wife Betty Loving, at a Christmas party that same year. They were married in a double ceremony with Betty's twin sister Pat and her husband to be Dan Hixenbaugh on May 15, 1946. Bob and Betty had two children. Son Dutch was killed in an accident at the Altmaier's summer home in Cedarville, Michigan in August, 1959. Daughter Lisa lives with her husband Dale Dunn and their son Dale Robert in Cedarville. Bob was an executive in the family oil cloth business, Columbus Coated Fabrics, for 25 years. He was active with the Masons in Columbus, and was also a Big Brother through Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. Above all, Bob was devoted to his family. He was there for his family in good times and bad, giving help in his quiet way wherever it was needed, without a thought to himself. He will be sorely missed by all the people whose lives he touched with his generosity, kindness and gentle humor. Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, his wife Elizabeth Jane Altmaier (Betty) and his son Charles William Altmaier (Dutch); his brother, John Martin Altmaier and his sister, Mary Altmaier Dunn; his sister-in-law Patience Lou Hixenbaugh, brothers in-law William and Edwin Loving, and niece Christine Altmaier Craven. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Dunn; son-in-law, Dale Dunn and grandson, Dale Robert Dunn; granddaughter, Lisa Zyble and family; sister-in-law, Elaine Altmaier and family; brother-in-law, Dan Hixenbaugh and family; brother-in-law, Donald Dunn and family; sister-in-law, June Loving and family; sister-in-law, Jo Loving and family; brother-in-law, Charles Loving and family; cousin, Jack Kaufman and family and cousin, Nancy Ninde and family. A graveside service will be held at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 22nd, 2005. Donations may be made in Bob's memory to Bortz Health Care of Petoskey, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, Buckeye Boys Ranch, The United Way, the Les Cheneaux Education Foundation, or the Les Cheneaux Community Library.