Robert J. (Bob) Schickler: Bob passed into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, January 17, 2026. Bob was born March 15, 1932, near Rochester, N.Y., one of 10 siblings in a farming family. He attended grade school at Holy Ghost Catholic School, high school at Aquinas Institute, then college at St. Bonaventure and St. John Fisher University, graduating in 1956. Bob was a tough young wrestler, competing in the Charity Mission Bouts. He started snow skiing in 1949 and was one of the first Ski Patrol groups in Western N.Y.

Bob married Marilyn (Ladd) in 1955 in Rochester. She held him off for 5  years wanting to, as she said, “make sure the marriage would last.” They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last July ... clearly the marriage lasted!

As a mason, Bob knew how to build just about anything. In When Marilyn, pregnant with her 3rd child said, “I can’t put three cribs in this small apartment,” he said, “no problem,” and he built his first house at age of 26. Once they had 5 under 5, at age 37, again Bob went out and built a new house for their growing family. The 6th came a few years later.  Bob built 2 more houses after that for clients.

Bob became a licensed Realtor for Nothnagle Real Estate where he was among the top 10 salespeople and promoted to General Manager. He moved to Century 21 as a Realtor/Broker and also became a licensed appraiser. He was an active member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and its Aching Arms volunteer work group. The Bristol Hills was a favorite retreat, where he purchased an old family cabin and fixed it up for years of family enjoyment.

In 1993, Bob and his wife packed up two U-Hauls and moved cross country to Colorado Springs joining their 6 children. There he resumed masonry, rebuilt his real estate/appraisal business and was a longtime member of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors. Bob was an avid downhill skier, golfer, and greatly enjoyed spending time with family and friends (everyone he met was a friend). He attended St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus service organization, and Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church. Bob was a devoted husband and father, known for his faith, perseverance, sense of humor, kindness and how he treated others with respect, especially his wife and his mother. He was known to say that anything can be fixed: “Just shim it up”, “Tomorrow’s another day,” and “Get after it, Tiger.” He always insisted he wasn’t sleeping, “Just closing my eyes for a minute.” Bob has finally closed his eyes in peace after a life well lived, leaving behind countless people who loved him dearly!

Bob was preceded in death by parents, Marcella and Joseph Robert Schickler; siblings, Chuck, Eugene and Edward Schickler, Mary Benner, Myrtle Peter and Doris Kepler.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Schickler; siblings Paula Rudger, Alice Doctor and John Schickler; children Laura Lollar, Lisa Bachman, Cynthia Francis, Eric Schickler, Jeffery Schickler and Paul Schickler; grandchildren Wilder, Brett and Kimberly Benjamin, Cassandra and Bryce Bachman, Amanda Mehalovitz, Kate and Gregory Francis, Christopher and Sean Schickler; great-grandchildren Liam and Sophie Benjamin, Isaiah Aquino, Alice Schickler and Ronan, Sawyer and Estelle Mehalovitz, and hundreds of nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, 11020 Teachout Rd., Black Forest, CO 80908, at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, with a reception to follow at the Parish Center. The Mass will be live-streamed. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Bob’s memory (ourladyofthepines.org/stewardship).

A Celebration of Life is planned for March 6, 2026, in Monument, Colorado.