Robert R. Schirf, formerly of Brookfield and Wauwatosa, died Feb. 26, 2009, at age 91, from complications due to pneumonia.
He was born in Altoona, Pa., on June 21, 1917. One of his favorite lines was "they should make a movie" in reference to his storied life of nine decades. His most famous line will always be his signature toast, "So nice to be here."
He graduated as the valedictorian of Altoona Catholic High in 1935. Four years later he graduated from Notre Dame University with a degree in electrical engineering.
He found a home in a Brown Stone boarding house while working in Chicago at Commonwealth Edison. The women stayed on one level and the men on another level, and they would meet and socialize at a large table for breakfast and dinner. His future wife, Beverly Howe, and her brother Jack had seats at this table.
Convinced World War II was quickly approaching, he elected to enlist in officer training program of the newly formed Army Air Corps in October 1941. When the U.S. entered the war after Pearl Harbor, his two-year program was accelerated to a one-year program. In 1942, he received orders to be commissioned to India, where he spent the next three and a half years.
As a major and maintenance officer, he serviced the cargo planes flying supplies into China "over the Hump" to support the war effort against the Japanese. On one occasion after receiving a large and unexpected requisition of Australian beer, he authorized the crew of a C47 to take a test run with the full load of beer that had been sitting on the tarmac at 105 degrees. The entire base was waiting joyously at the end of the runway for the frostiest beer they had ever enjoyed.
He married and raised a family and rarely talked about the tragedy and loss they carried in their hearts. He raised his family of five in Milwaukee.
He worked his up way to become president of the Layne Northwest Co., a water well drilling company, in Milwaukee. Upon his retirement, Bob and Bev traveled before settling half of the year in Park City, Utah, and half of the year in the Tampa, Fla., area. When Bev died in 2003, Bob was starting to experiencing health-related issues with the altitude of Park City and settled in Florida.
He is survived by his children, Kathleen Phillips of Park City, Utah, Christine Coston of Largo, Fla., Bobbie Goo of Ft. Meyers, Fla., Skip Schirf of Park City, Utah, and Greg Schirf of Park City, Utah; 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
This June, the Schirf family is planning a memorial service in Park City, Utah, where Bob's ashes will be laid to rest next to his wife, Beverly, at the Park City cemetery. Until then, we ask you to raise your glasses in a toast, "So nice to have had you here Bob"!
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