Robert Thomas Schopp, 94, of Maryville, IL., passed away May 14, 2018, at Meridian Village Care Center, Glen Carbon, IL.  He was born November 5, 1923, in Pontiac, IL. to Thomas and Rose (Tyler) Schopp.  He is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Ivens) Schopp. They met at Lannon Fields, WI, where they were both counselors at a summer camp for kids. They were married in Okauchee, WI on June 15, 1950, and married almost 68 years.

Robert grew up in Pontiac, IL and was raised in the Catholic faith along with his sister, Elaine Teske, who preceded him in death in 1999. He graduated from Ottawa H.S. in IL in 1942. He was in the Marine Corps from 1943-1946. He served in the aviation branch in Okinawa, Japan. He attended the University of IL from 1947- 1951, where he received his B.S. and his M.S. in biology. He then attended the University of WI where he got his PhD in physiology in 1956. While getting his degree, he was also teaching physiology as an instructor. He worked as an assistant professor at the Univ. of Colorado Medical School in Denver for many years teaching physiology. That was followed by an associate professorship at the Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery in MO in 1967. In 1969, he and his family moved to Edwardsville, IL where he was a professor and chairman of the Dept. of Physiology at the School of Dental Medicine at Southern IL Univ. at Edwardsville. He retired in 1985 and moved to Tucson, AZ for twenty years of fun in the sun, before moving back to this area in 2005.

Robert enjoyed teaching his physiology students, but perhaps even more, he loved teaching fencing. His interest in the art of sword play began at 25 and he fenced until he was 70, earning many trophies along the way. Robert enjoyed camping trips with his family when they were younger, doing woodworking, reading, watching TV westerns, and refurbishing his old TR-4 sports car. He was a believer in the benefits of exercise and continued exercising into this 94 ^th year, proving to be a great role model to us all.

He was a member of the American Physiological Society, US fencing Assoc., Knights of Columbus, NRA, and the Marine Corps League.

Robert is survived by his four children: Susan (Bill) Wittenborn of Glen Carbon, IL, Dan (Scheenan) Schopp of Maryville, IL, Jamie (Noel) Lane of Macomb, IL, and Lori (George) Schopp of Cape Girardeau, MO. He is also survived by his five grandchildren: Tasha Valleroy, Kyla Dirnberger, Shawna Valleroy, John Lane and Stephen Lane and four great-grandsons: Juniper and Emrys Lane, Sawyer Dirnberger and Hayden Felter.

There will be a private family memorial. Robert will be cremated and buried in the family plot in Delafield, WI at a later date. Online condolences can be made through this online guestbook.

Robert will be remembered for his love of family, his quest for learning and his dry sense of humor and wit, which he retained until the very end.