A gathering of family and friends will take place with visitation at 11 a.m. and services at 12 p.m. on Friday, November 19, 2021, at The Runge Mortuary & Crematory, Davenport, IA. His final resting place will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery.
Robert Earl Schertz was born on May 7, 1932 in Jefferson, IA, the oldest child of F. Lucile (Baker) and Marion E. Schertz. He graduated from Somerville High School, Somerville, NJ, in 1950.
Robert was an U.S. Army Tanker in the Korean War. Upon his return, he went to the University of Iowa on a GI-bill. He graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and MS in Industrial, Reliability & Manufacturing Engineering. While attending school, he spent his summers working at the Ohio Army National Guard, Port Clinton, OH. This is where he married Marilyn R. Krebs on April 1, 1956. She predeceased him on September 19, 1979. He then married Brenda K. Stotz on November 6, 1982, in Davenport, IA. She preceded him in death on July 14, 2021.
He spent his first few years out of college as a Project Engineer for Red Jacket Pumps, Davenport, IA. This was followed by a lengthy 35-year career with the Federal Government. Robert retired as Chief, Maintenance Engineering for Small Caliber, Large Caliber & Aircraft Artillery at the U.S. Army Armament, Munitions & Chemical Command, Rock Island, IL. In addition, he retired as a LTC in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Robert is survived by his daughters, Jacqueline (Dan) Jorgensen, Corpus Christi, TX, and Jeri (Steve) Kopp, Davenport, IA; sons, James (Gail) Schertz, Melbourne, IA, and Joel (Jody) Schertz, Fairland, IN; his step-children, Todd (Mary) Stotz, Cary, IL, and Lynne Nettleton, Bettendorf, IA; nine grandchildren: Brittney (Sid) Folland, Kristopher Jorgensen, Brieanna (Travis) Janik, Kameron Jorgensen, Lynne Schertz, Danielle (Joseph) Whiteside, Josh Schertz, Jessica Schertz and Larissa (Ethan) Schaded; four step-grandchildren: Jack, Moira and Will Stotz, and Rylee Nettleton; and seven great-grandchildren; and brother Jack Schertz, Superior, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives; a sister who died at birth; and two brothers, Lyle Schertz, West Des Moines, IA, and C. Joseph (Joe) Schertz, Rising Sun, MD.
Memorials may be made to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
