Robert “Bob” Josef Schlotzer
September 11, 1933 - January 12, 2020

Robert “Bob” Josef Schlotzer, 86, died peacefully at home on January 12, 2020 in Land O’ Lakes, FL. Born in Sombor, Serbia on September 11, 1933, Robert, or “Robi” Slocer became an electrician who longed for a life away from the communist regime that had taken control of his country post-WWII. In 1957 he managed to defect to Germany and would not return to Eastern Europe until after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was in the city of Goeppingen in Southern Germany where he met Anna Gross in 1959 and they were married in 1963. Both Robert and Anna were employed by the Traub company, which lead to an opportunity to transfer to their New York facility and immigrate to the United States in 1967. Living in Northport, Long Island, Bob and Anna Schlotzer would spend some of the best years of their lives living and boating around Northport Bay. They welcomed their first child, Yvonne in 1971. Two years later they moved to the Chicago suburbs and had a second child, Eric, in 1973.

In 1978 Bob went into business for himself selling and reconditioning manufacturing equipment and later running a machine shop. He retired in 2007 at the age of 75 to spend more time with his wife and his hobbies. Bob had lifelong interests in photography as well as playing the piano and organ. He was an avid Amateur radio buff, starting with the call sign N9CVA and finally NV9R (Amateur Extra class) in 2007.

Bob proudly adopted the name “Opa” in his role as Grandfather and enjoyed spending weekends with his grandchildren at their home in West Chicago. Opa often chauffeured the children around his yard on his riding mower and installed an impressive tree swing in the back yard, which served as a backdrop to hundreds of photos that Bob took of the kids.

In 2018 Bob and Anna moved to Florida to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They also wanted to make sure that Anna would get the appropriate care for her chronic medical issues. Over the course of the next year, Bob tirelessly remained by his wife’s side, her constant caregiver, as she battled dementia and lost her mobility. In December of 2019 Bob received an unexpected incurable cancer diagnosis. He intended to fight his cancer with everything he had, wanting only to be around long enough to continue caring for his wife. Unfortunately, complications took him from us much sooner than anyone had expected.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Anna Schlotzer (Gross), daughter Yvonne (Mitchell), granddaughter Arianna, of Land O’ Lakes, FL and son Eric, grandchildren Evangeline, Rafe and Rook of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Bob wanted to be remembered for the life he lived and the lives he touched. He requested specifically that there be no formal gathering or celebration of life. He didn’t want anyone to “make a fuss.”

Please send condolences or donations in lieu of flowers to:

Robert Schlotzer 3989 Round Table Ct. Land O Lakes, FL 34638

All donations will go to the continued medical care of Bob’s wife, Anna.

Rest In Peace.