Robert Thomas Staudenheimer

Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Thomas Staudenheimer, age 72, will be 10:00 am Tuesday at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church 9114 Lake Shore Blvd. Mentor, OH. Friends will be received from 6-8pm Monday at Spear-Mulqueeny Funeral Home 667 Mentor Ave. Painesville. Interment services will take place at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Kenton, OH on Wednesday.

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

Following high school graduation, he moved to Chagrin Falls, OH 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, OH. 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 Dept. 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 Fire Department, Lake County, Ohio.

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

For many years, he was a member and trustee of Lodge 3605, Fraternal Order of Eagles in Mentor.

He dearly loved the sport of freshwater fishing; studying the history of his ancestors; the technological development of woodworking tools, firefighting equipment, John Deer tractors and farm implements; and reading about the glory days of steam locomotives and railroading.

     Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to, St. Bede’s Parish, Mentor, OH; Immaculate Conception Parish; or to St. Jude’s Hospital Memphis, TN.         

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