Robert Schipf

Robert George Schipf, 85, of Missoula, passed away Wednesday, January. 21, 2009.





He was born April 12, 1923, in MountVernon, N.Y., the son of Henry Schipf, a New York City fireman, and Anna Staker Schipf. He was raised and educated in and around New York City and graduated from Cathedral Boys High School in 1941.





He attended Brooklyn College where he received a B.A. degree; University of Nebraska, receiving a B.S. and M.A.; University State of New York, receiving a B.S. and the University of Oklahoma, receiving a M.L.S. degree. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II as a pilot and stayed in the Naval Reserves until his retirement with the rank of second lieutenant in 1983.





He was employed as a groundwater geologist in the U.S. Geological Survey. He also taught geology at Southwest Louisiana Institute and Humboldt State College in California. He went on to become science librarian at Southern Illinois University in 1961, and later at the University of Montana from 1968 to 1992.





He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Ann of Missoula; daughter, Karen (husband Christopher) Roholt of Riverside, Calif.; son, John (and Annette) and grandchildren, Kirsten, David, Kathryn of Highwood; son, James (and Annette) and granddaughter Ruby of Bozeman; sister, Alice (and Jack) Norton and family of Old Bridge, N.J.; and brother, Donald (and Patricia) and family, of Mehopac, N.Y.; and a sister-in-law, Martha Stocking of Palo Alto, Calif.





Robert was a longtime charter member and had served as secretary treasurer of the Weapons Collectors Society of Montana; life member of the National Rifle Association; member of the Museum of Mountain Flying; and volunteer at the Military Museum in Missoula and St. Patrick Hospital; and a member of Friendship Force of Western Montana.





A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, January. 24, at Garden City Funeral Home.





The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorials be sent to the St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Foundation.






Read Robert Schipf's Obituary and Guestbook.