Rev. Robert Anthony Schmacher, 80, died at 12:22 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. A memorial Mass, celebrated by Bishop John Leibrecht, will take place on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, at 11:30 a.m. in St. Agnes Cathedral, Springfield, and on Friday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Annunciation, Cape Girardeau. Fr. Schumacher donated his body to the medical school at St. Louis University.

Fr. Schumacher was born April 26, 1924, to John H. Schumacher and Agnes Bigler Schumacher in Kelso. He received his major seminary training at Kenrick Seminary of St. Louis.

The Most Reverend Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, ordained Fr. Schumacher into the priesthood on June 7, 1949. After his ordination, Fr. Schumacher served in a rural apostolate with the Catholic Motor Missions in Missouri.

Fr. Schumacher had served in the Sacred Heart Parish of Dexter.

He is survived by a brother, Leonard Schumacher of Cape Girardeau; and a sister, Mary Asip of San Mateo, Calif.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Notre Dame Regional High School, 265 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau 63701 or Birthright, 2633 Hopper Road, Cape Girardeau 63701. Arrangements have been made through Lorbert Memorial Funeral Chapel of Cape Girardeau.