Obituary of Bruce Schermer

Bruce A. Schermer, age 54, of McKean, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2015 at his home in the arms of his loving wife, Laura Shontz Schermer. He was born August 1960, the first son of the late George and Elaine Schermer of Kearsarge. He was predeceased by his parents, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, step grandmother, Aunt Emma Schermer, uncles; Charles Schermer, Russell Wright, Walter Martz and cousin Mike Schermer. He was a lifelong resident of Northwestern Pennsylvania. He grew up on a small family farm, with five sisters, and a brother on Zimmerly Road. He graduated from McDowell High School, with a carpentry certification from Erie County Technical School. He briefly resided in Meadville, where he met his beloved wife & soulmate Laura Shontz Schermer. They eloped after a brief courtship of 5 1/2 weeks, and enjoyed thirty-five committed years of marriage. They raised their daughter, Adrienne Schermer of Charlotte, North Carolina and son, Brandon Schermer of Asheville, North Carolina in the Edinboro/McKean area. They lived in McKean for 29 years. Bruce loved his life. He was passionate about providing for his family and his job as a LDL transportation driver for Fed Ex Freight, where he was employed for fifteen years. He was dedicated to his job and his customers, many of which had become close friends. He was a lifelong hunter and fisherman. In his later years he picked up snowshoeing and archery. He taught and passed down his love for these activities to his son. He was passionate about nature and preserving the environment. Bruce was a skilled, meticulous carpenter and handyman, it was rare there was a job he couldn't do. He shared these skills with his friends, family, neighbors, and customers who were proud of the decks, roofs, plumbing, electrical, and other projects he skillfully completed for them. Bruce regularly plowed the driveways of his friends, family, and neighbors without being asked. He and his wife worked side by side to flip two boarded up homes. They were landlords to Penn State Behrend students for fourteen years, and members of The Apartment Association. Bruce was passionate about helping people in need. He was inspired by his brother-in-law, Jeff Shaw of Millcreek to become a blood donor. In a span of eight years h donated over five gallons of blood to the Erie County Blood Bank. He also inspired his wife to join him in donating blood. He and his wife enjoyed may activities together with their two Yorkies, Brewster & Adella Rose including boating at Kinzua Dam, camping at his families' Broken Arrow camp in Tidioute, PA, visiting local wineries, and taking trips to explore the tri state area. He was very proud of his son and daughter for earning college degrees from Penn State University, and of his son for serving in the US Navy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and at the Pentagon. Although Bruce's time on this earth was brief he is leaving too many friends to mention, siblings, in laws, several nieces & nephews. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, kind spirit, Hawaiian shirts, signature mustache, and love for life. Laura, Adrienne, Brandon, & Liz would like to thank all of their friends, family as friends, and family for their amazing care, love and support over the past ten months, while Bruce bravely battled bladder cancer. A celebration of Bruce's life will be held Saturday, May 23rd at noon at McLane Church, 12511 Edinboro Rd. Edinboro for adult friends and family. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club, PO Box 3605, Erie, PA 16508. Send condolences to the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. Erie, PA.