Robert F. Schuetz
Retired Engineer, 79

Robert F. Schuetz of Scottsdale, Arizona, died on January 31, 2011, after a long battle with dementia. He was 79.
He was a loving husband and father, deeply committed to many organizations, and a faithful steward of the land he loved.
Bob was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Sykes Schuetz. He is survived by his daughters, Annemarie Schuetz and husband Joseph Cooke, of Callicoon, Pa. and Ellen Douglass and husband Jason of Scottsdale. He was a proud grandfather to Dwyn Cooke, and Lauren and Sarah Douglass. He is also survived by his sister Linda Neuer and brother Paul Neuer.
Some of his happiest memories came from the summers he spent in Callicoon, in a house built by his great-grandfather. He gardened with his grandfather, learned to love long, long,  hikes through the woods, watched for enemy aircraft from the local tower during WWII, had canoe races with his Aunt Norma and went to the movies in town. Most fun of all was chasing little brown bats around the house, trying to knock them out with a tennis racket before the bats scared his grandmother to death.
As an adult, Bob cared deeply about the environment, recycling long before it was cool, working to keep land free of development, and helping to nurture Arizona’s hiking trails. On the East Coast he was involved with the Appalachian Trail. His early bat-related experiences turned into a membership in Bat Conservation International and a passionate advocacy for these endangered creatures. Bob never met a fruit bat he didn’t like, he traveled extensively to see more of them, and he voluntarily got rabies shots so he could get closer to his little friends.
Through his long, terrible illness he was cared for lovingly by caregivers at Trinity Home and Harte Home in Scottsdale.
He is buried at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale.

Betty H. Girrbach
Homemaker, 78

Betty H. Girrbach of Kenoza Lake, a homemaker and lifetime area resident, died Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at home. She was 78. She was married to Oscar F. Girrbach.
The daughter of Frederick and Helen Hust Esselmann, she was born October 4, 1932 in Kenoza Lake.
Betty was a member of the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church and the Kenoza Lake Ladies Aide.
She is survived by her husband, Oscar F. Girrbach, at home; her daughter, Bonnie Boyd and her husband Raymond of Fremont Center; her son, David Girrbach and his wife Cheryl of Deltona, Fla.; four granddaughters, Janine, Jessica, Rachel and Rebecca; two sisters-in-law, Theresa Esselmann of Kenoza Lake and Gertrude Bernhardt of Ocala, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was predeceased by a brother, Carl Esselmann.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 18 at the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church, Kenoza Lake, with Pastor Bill Hagerty officiating.
Burial will be made in the Jeffersonville Presbyterian Cemetery, Jeffersonville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church, PO Box 117, Kenoza Lake, NY 12750.
Arrangements are by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, 845-482-4280.