Robert E. Siegel

The greatest generation dwindled by one on June 6th when Robert Earl Siegel passed away at his home in the presence of family. Robert was born and raised in east Toledo and attended Waite High School where he was the number one tennis player before enlisting in the Navy when World War II broke out. He served in three branches of the military; he was a medic in the Navy, he trained as a Marine field medic at Camp Le Juene, NC., and he participated in the invasion and capture of Iwo Jima where he was assigned duty with the 90th C.B.. Battalion as a medic and dental technician. Bob received his degree in pharmacy from the University of Toledo in 1949 following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Gilbert and Carlton, who owned pharmacies in Toledo. Bob owned the Norwood Pharmacy from 1949-1959, and established and owned apothecaries in various Josephs Supermarkets. He was instrumental in establishing the first pharmacy within the Toledo Health Department which he operated for nine years. He held various positions while at the health department including Medical Services Administration Officer, Chief of the Division of Alcohol and Drugs, and Registrar of Vital Statistics for Lucas County. Bob furthered his education by obtaining a law degree in the late 1960s. His son Greg followed the Siegel tradition by becoming a pharmacist and holding a law degree. Soon after taking his early retirement in 1980, he pursued his interest in precious stones, studied diamonds with the Gemological Institute of America and was licensed as a Certified Diamond Grader. Bob also spent several years as a pharmaceutical consultant to various nursing homes and assisted at several pharmacies in the area including Churchills in Sylvania, Parkview Hospital and Hampton Drug at the corner of Monroe and Secor. He also worked part time as a staff pharmacist for Heartland Health Care from 1994 - 2002. Bob’s presence lit up any room he graced and he was the life of the party. He always had a smile on his face and had a joke ready - he really enjoyed making people laugh and reaching out to those who needed a smile or a handshake; he did so with a sense of duty. He also enjoyed a good game of poker with those near and dear. Bob was as smart as they come and was also a tough guy with a heart full of love for all of his family and friends. He shared his strength, life, knowledge and wisdom with multitudes of people. Especially in his later years, he expressed his gratitude and love daily for his prosperous life, his loving family, his dedicated wife, his great country, and for his Lord and Savior. Bob’s hobbies were golf, tennis and traveling. In the 70s Bob took a trip around the world that included countries such as Turkey, Iran, India, and Thailand. He toured Europe several times including Spain, Portugal and North Africa. In that decade a junket was made to Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Later he toured the Soviet Union including Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Odessa. Other excursions were made to Central America, South America and Mexico. Bob and Ginny Marie took a cruise in the late 90’s to Greece, Egypt and Israel. He traveled to all 50 states, but New Orleans remained one of his favorite vacation spots. Although he loved Toledo and Northwest Ohio, for the last 17 years he wintered in Florida for several months each year with his wife, Ginny Marie. Bob’s memberships included a lifetime membership of the Old Newsboys, the American Society of Consulting Pharmacists, Lucas County Academy of Pharmacy, lifetime member of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island x-4, and the Joseph W. Diehn Post No. 468, Sylvania. Bob also held a private pilot’s license. Bob is survived by his wife, Ginny “ Marie” (Smith); daughters, Lynne (Tom) Chandler of Newport, Oregon, Lesley Siegel of Lafayette, California; and daughter-in-law, Patty Siegel (Gregory, deceased) of Perrysburg; grandchildren, Matt (Abigail) Siegel, Jeff Siegel, Elizabeth Siegel and Christina Veatch; step-children Natalie (Eric) Smalley of Tremont, Illinois, Joel (Karina) Zapiecki of Sylvania; and step-grandchildren, Daniel, David and Grace Smalley. Bob will be joined in heaven by his departed- from-earth loved ones his parents William and Edith Pearl (Hudson) Siegel, brothers, Gilbert and Carlton and son, Gregory. Visitation at Walker Funeral Home will be on Thursday, June 9, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The memorial service will be held on June 10, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. In the Chapel of Peace in Toledo Memorial Park, 6382 Monroe St Sylvania, OH 43560 where he will be laid to rest with military honors. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Old Newsboys, McCord Road Christian Church or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. “The dust returns to the ground it came from - the spirit returns to God who gave it”.