Robert S. Schindler

Dr. Robert Schindler, 71 of Stevensville, went to be with his Lord on August 26, 2002, at this home and in the presence of his family, after a battle with cancer for nearly five years. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, with the Rev. Duane Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Hickory Bluff Cemetery, Stevensville. Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. The family invites you to send a message to the family guestbook at www.starks-menchinger.com The family requests that memorial gifts can be made either to the Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation (from which donations will be divided among the ELWA Hospital in Liberia, MAP International, the Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations), or John Schindler Ministries, Lakeshore Baptist Church, or the Berrien County Cancer Society. Dr. Schindler was born in Berne, Ind., the son of Vilas and Mary Schindler. He attended Wheaton College for three years, and received his undergraduate degree from New York University in 1954. He attended New York Medical College for his Medical Degree (1958) and did a surgical residency in Saginaw, Mich. He married Marian Wilson in 1954 in Schroon Lake, N.Y., where they both were involved in youth work with Word of Life and he was a member of Life Hour Quartet. Following his surgical residency, Dr. and Mrs. Schindler left for Liberia, West Africa, as missionaries with SIM International in 1962. He founded the ELWA Hospital near Monrovia, where he continued to be the Medical Director until 1975 when they returned to the States with their two sons then in high school. He then joined the Southwestern Medical Clinic, where he had continued to practice general surgery, and had been able to return to Liberia periodically for short term visits at the hospital there. He loved the people and the work in Liberia, and the people expressed their deep love for him. Dr. Schindler was honored with decorations from the Liberian government during those years as Knight Grand Commander, and Knight Grand Band, Humane Order of African Redemption, the highest award bestowed upon foreigners. He also was honored with Doctor of Humane Letter from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, in 1986. Professionally, Dr. Schindler was certified by the American Board of Surgery, and a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Schindler was Past President of the Christian Medical & Dental Society, USA, and more recently finished a four-year term as President of the International Christian & Dental Associations. He served on a number of boards, including MAP, International of Brunswick, Georgia, the Philadelphia International Foundation of Wilmore, Kentucky. Locally he served on the Board of the Lakeland Regional Health System, and the Berrien County Cancer service, as well as the Board of Directors of Southwestern Medical Clinic. He was a member of Lakeshore Baptist Church in Stevensville. He is survived by his wife and their two sons, Robert Jr. of Seattle, Wash., and John of Milwaukee, Wis., plus his sister, Gyneth Luginbill of Berne, Ind. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Habeggar of South Bend, Ind. Dr. Schindler was known for his love for people. He was also known for his beautiful bass singing voice. He will be greatly missed.