Robert Jerome Sydnor

Robert Jerome Sydnor of Troy, Missouri passed away on Sunday, March 20,2022 at the age of ninety. He was the fourth child born to Eugene Baird Sr. "Gene" and Elizabeth Mary "Betty"
(nee Kreutzmann) on September 30, 1931, the Feast of St. Jerome, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years, Patricia "Pat" (nee Schenewerk) and his children; Renee (Dennis) Boyd of Moscow Mills, Craig Sydnor of Troy, Missouri, Michelle (Jeff) Snyder of Cottleville and Tammy (Ted) Reller of Old Monroe. Grandchildren, Katie (Lucien) Storm, Stephen Boyd, Jacob and Hannah Snyder, one great-grandchild, Willow Storm and sister Carole Ann (nee Sydnor) Rapp.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Betty, his sister and brothers, Elizabeth "Betty" Husmann (nee Sydnor), Eugene Baird Sydnor Jr. and John "Jack" Sydnor.

Bob was born and raised in St. Louis where he attended Our Lady of Presentation grade school and McBride High School, class of 1949. The Monday following his high school graduation, he entered the Carpenter's Union apprenticeship program. In 1951, during the conflict in Korea he was recruited by the Navy, to serve our country as a member of the United States Naval Construction Force, known as the Navy Seabees. The Seabees build temporary and permanent infrastructure at United States military installations throughout the world. He was stationed on Guam and Kwajalein Island, building dry docks, barracks, and fresh water systems. He was a proud veteran.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he completed his apprenticeship and for the next fifty years, he supported his family as a general contractor. Architecture and design were a passion of Bob's and this love fueled his enthusiasm to construct numerous commercial and residential buildings in Missouri and Illinois. Many blue highway trips ended in locations, where his children were educated by his wide depth of knowledge in surveying, placement of buildings and historical events.

Bob and Pat moved to St. Charles County in 1964 to raise their family. They were parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cottleville for many years. Their children attended the parish school and later, schools in the Francis Howell School District. The couple were active in their children's education often participating in school activities. Bob was also a founding member of the Harvester Lions Club. In 1970, he collaborated in the purchase of thirteen acres on Central School Road, where over the years, the group raised funds and built a playground, ball fields, and a community center. Lions International is a service organization, dedicated to improve the lives of the visually impaired.

Bob's father told of Mayflower ancestors, this intrigued him and he became an expert detective, scouring the country for clues to an expanding family tree, which he readily shared with his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Bob did not find any Pilgrims, but he did discover that he had many ties to Colonial America with some of his ancestors living in the Plymouth, Massachusetts and Jamestown, Virginia Colonies.
At this time, ten of his ancestors have been proven to have fought in or rendered aid or supplies to the cause of freedom in the American Revolution. The descendants of these veterans of the Revolution settled in Lincoln County in the 1830's. The Sydnor family of Lincoln County were founding members of local churches, schools and social organizations, some which are still in existence today. They were also early investors in the development of infrastructure, commerce and farming practices. Many in the family left the area for St. Louis, Texas, California and other destinations seeking a better way of life and fortune after the devastation of the
Civil War.

He completed the circle by moving back to Lincoln County, the home of his ancestors, in 2005. He will be buried among them in Troy City Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the Veterans Administration for their years of excellent care, kindness and consideration Bob received.