Robert A. Schumacher

Robert A. Schumacher (Subdeacon Athanasios) passed into life on 3 Feb. 2021, after a valiant fight against kidney cancer. He was born Jan. 10, 1942, in Bronx, N.Y., to Raymond Schumacher and Mildred Barr.

Raised in Lakewood, N.J., Bob attended schools there, and upon graduation, went to the Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia, where he became skilled in automotive and diesel engine maintenance. He was drafted in 1964, went to basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, and served a year in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, with the Big Red One as a shop foreman for the base and special forces.

Upon return from service, he moved to Eastern Colorado, where he found a job as an authentic cowboy on a 60,000-acre cattle ranch; literally riding the fence lines, roping and branding cattle. Finding that the salary was mostly “romantic,” he applied for and landed a job with FedEx as a manager of vehicle maintenance for the Western region.

He met the love of his life, Elene Plastino, when coming to Spokane to inspect the vehicles, and decided to stay at a friend’s house rather than a hotel. They courted for two years over the phone and on one of his visits, he attended Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with her and he fell in love with Orthodoxy, was Chrismated and took the name Athanasios.

They married in 1983, making Bob an instant father to Stephanie and Matthew, and they moved to Issaquah, Wash., where they lived for 16 years.

The church became a primary focus for Bob. After retiring in 1998, they moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, and attended St. John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church in Post Falls, where he was tonsured a sub-deacon.

Bob served the church in Post Falls, and also for nearly 15 years at Holy Trinity in Spokane, polishing altar items, shoveling snow, vacuuming and assisting in many services. Because of health, he stepped down from serving the church in May of 2020.

Bob leaves behind his wife of 38 years Elene; children, Stephanie Garcia Palanuik (Andre) and Matthew Smith; brother, Jim-Two Crow Schumacher (Athene); and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Bob’s service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church. (4718 E. Horsehaven Ave. Post Falls, ID 83854) To sign Bob’s online memorial, please visit www.belltowerfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a Vietnam veteran association of your choice, Hospice of North Idaho, St. John’s or Holy Trinity Orthodox Churches.

May his memory be eternal.