Robert William Demaree III, age 53 of Land O Lakes, Florida died on October 11th 2023 at the Melech Hospice House in Temple Terrace Florida following a cardiac arrest. Robert was born in Frankfurt, Germany On December 27th, 1969, the oldest son of Robert William Demaree II and Ramona Aleksic.
Robert served in the United States Air Force in the first Gulf War (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) in area of responsibility (1988-1992) and received the following: AF outstanding Unit award, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service medal with one oak leaf cluster, AF overseas Long Tour Ribbon, AF Training Ribbon. Robert was extremely proud of being a United States Veteran and came from a military family . Robert’s brother Nicholas served actively in the US Army during the 2nd Gulf War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and is currently serving in the US Army Reserves. Robert’s father (Robert Demaree Jr.) was a drill Sergeant in the US Army during the Vietnam Era through retirement. Robert’s grandfather (Robert Demaree Sr.) was a Purple Heart recipient that served in the US Army during WW2.
Robert graduated from Ft. Knox High School (Kentucky) in 1988. He was an avid golfer, and loved living in Florida in the warm weather. Robert had been a football player in high school, it was his favorite sport to watch on Television, and the Raiders were his favorite team. Robert looked forward each year to the NFL draft and enjoyed his ‘Red Zone’ NFL channel each Football season, and was ridiculously happy to have a tray of football snacks and a game on the TV on Sundays. His other favorite sport was LA Lakers basketball (Kobe Bryant). Robert attended one of Kobe’s last games at the Staples Center when he was living in Los Angeles. Robert was an amazing cook and grill master. He was famous for his steaks, chicken & ribs, Fettuccine chicken pasta, Breakfast Pizza and of course the Cajun turkey at Thanksgiving time.
After leaving the military, Robert began a career in the Automotive Industry. Robert’s career resulted in his family relocating from Ohio > Los Angeles > Northern Virginia > Florida. Robert’s last position was as an Account Manager for General Motors Corp.
One of Robert’s colleagues (Michael Dixon) wrote him a letter of recommendation, here is an excerpt:
“I had the pleasure of working and honor of working with Robert on two different occasions. He possesses an excellent blend of drive, passion and compassion when dealing with employees and co-workers. Every place that he has worked, he has become part of the team and showed extreme loyalty and dedication to that team. Robert has always strived to make the place better with him there than it was before he came.
There are very few people that I truly consider friends, but Robert is certainly one of them. Robert has always been the first one to congratulate me on my successes and at the same time, he has had the courage to be a moral compass of sorts to let me know if I am not living up to my potential.”
Robert was well respected and loved by all those that worked with him, however, Robert’s favorite title was ‘Dad’…. He always told his daughter Savannah that “she was his heart’. Robert was an awesome father and loved spending all the time he could with Savannah when he was not traveling for work over the years. This is an excerpt from a poem that Robert wrote and presented to Savannah on her 13th birthday:
Daddy’s Little Girl:
You have heard me say it many times,
You are the air that I breath, the beat of my heart
You have grown up so fast, setting a trail that is blazing
I can’t believe God gave you to me, it’s simply amazing.
I am so proud and humbled to be your daddy
That I could’ve said right from the start
While you may have outgrown my lap, never will you my heart
One last promise to you from me,
No matter how big you get or how far you go,
Daddy’s little girl, you will always be!
Robert’s unexpected passing is a great loss and he will be missed by many.
Robert is survived by his wife Edie Ahrman Demaree, daughter, Savannah Demaree, brother, Nicholas Demaree, Nieces, Jasmine & Darrian Demaree, Great Niece, Isabella Key, Sister-in-Law, Kelly Ahrman, Mother in Law, Eve Griffith (Gary), Aunts, Teri Nuebel (Joe), Kate Demaree, Dolores Pierra Pico (Clay), Uncle, Richard Demaree. Cousins: Karissa Leahy, Jason Nuebel, Paul Nuebel, Tommy Nuebel, Marcel Demaree, Shannon Demaree, Michael Demaree, Jessica Demaree Hawkins, Monica Anderson, Victoria Lydeen, Cassandra Frith, Clayton Demaree, and Joseph Demaree
Robert was Preceded in death by his Father, Robert William Demaree II, Mother, Ramona Aleksic, Sister In Law Alexandra Demaree, Grandfather Robert William Demaree, Grandmother Lupe Skalberg, Grandfather Glen Skalberg, Uncle John Demaree, Cousins, Neil Young, Stephanie Young, and Julie Demaree
Visitation services will be held on Thursday, November 9th from 11 am to 1 pm, funeral services will be held from 1pm to 2 pm at Veterans Funeral Care, 830 N. Belcher Road, Clearwater, FL, 33765.
Robert’s request was for his final resting place to be Arlington National Cemetery. This process takes approximately 14 months to complete. An update will be sent out prior to that time to announce details.
A fundraiser has been started for Robert’s wife & daughter to help support them financially due to his unexpected passing. https://gofund.me/4231e6e7
First and foremost, my heartfelt condolences to Edie and Savannah and Robert’s extended family. What an amazing story described in the obituary! You are in my prayers. Sincerely, Rev. Nelson Blount
What a beautiful tribute. Robert was a kind and generous person who loved life. He wasn’t afraid to go after what he wanted. He loved his family and looked out for his friends. He wanted to live life to the fullest and take it wherever it led. I think he did that. I’m a better person for his presence in my life. My deepest sympathy and most heartfelt prayers for his family, friends and all who loved him.
Robert was a very kind person and always had a smile on his face. Pray for peace to his family and his friends.
For this, I feel very inadequate to the task, as I am still processing your passing. I mean this letter to be short as I want to convey my deepest condolences to all family members. I am privileged enough to know you in 2015. Since then, you have become a father figure to me, a friend to my family in China, and most importantly, a fine dad to Savannah. The day you drove me to the Staples Center sparked my dream of becoming a professional basketball player. We bought the same clothes together, hooped together and golfed together. Those memories are so vivid that I feel they just all happened not too long ago. You named yourself the ‘Carfather’ but to me, you are a real grill master, delivering the finest grilled chicken and steak in the world. No matter where I go, those memories will never fade. Thank you for being a role model for me, and I am sure we will meet again in the future which is not that far away. Until the day comes, I know my role models – you and Kobe -will enjoy many pickup games together in heaven and watch over us.
I love you and miss you.
Andy
Hello. My name is Kym and I attended Fort Knox High School with Rob. I was a year ahead of him, so I got to boss him around.
Rob and I were in theater and show choir together. In most of our pictures from concerts and even in the yearbook we always stood… let me reiterate.. Mrs Abbott always put us opposite of each-other, infact, we we put at opposite ends of the risers because we never knew when to shut up.
I was Frosty The Snowman at our Christmas show on roller skates ….IN THE GYM !! He helped me into my costume and when the face of my costume got ruined at one show , he came up with the idea of using the fuzzy toilet seat cover with eyes cut out… you know the ones back in the day??? He never let me live that down and called me a nice name for months afterward… rhymed with zithead.
Rob was a very likable guy!!! He appeared shy at first ….then once he knew you, he would tell you about yourself.
He came to Virginia several years back on a business trip, and we were actually both in the automotive industry at the time so I showed him where I worked ,and we had lunch together and talked about the old days. The best of times we called it. When life was simple. We talked often through the magic of Facebook and text messaging , and then again at the high school reunion, but then life got a little more complicated for both of us. We both had turmoil and trauma in our lives. I regret not being able to travel more and stay in touch. I know he forgives me …. He has to cause …I’m older right??
I’d like to read my favorite poem by Linda Ellis. It is called the Dash poem.
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth, and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that – represents all the time they spent alive on earth,
and now only those who love them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider, whats true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more ,
and love the people in our lives, like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,
remembering the special dash might only last a while.
So when your eulogy is being read with your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent YOUR dash?
I love you, my friend, and I will miss you forever.