SUQUAMISH — Charles “Rob” Schmidt, 68, of Suquamish passed away unexpectedly Dec. 14 at Harrison Medical Center, with Dee, his wife of 25 years, by his side.

He was born in Tacoma in 1949 to Floyd and Eleanor Schmidt. He attended Mount Tahoma High School, graduating in 1967.

After high school, he enlisted in the Navy. He was a torpedoman’s mate, rising to the rank of master chief petty officer TMCM (SS), as well as being a Navy diver. He retired in 1991 and returned home to the Pacific Northwest, where he married Dee Jacobsen in February 1992. He completed a course at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building in 1993. He worked for Sound Publishing from 1994-2009 in the post-press department.

In 2009, he began his dream job at the Port of Poulsbo — he was working on the water, with boats, and thrilling all who would listen to his sea stories. He retired in 2017 because of health issues.

He enjoyed telling stories, camping, cruising, fishing, shrimping, and trapping the wily Dungeness crab.

He is survived by his wife, Dee; sons, Chris (Sairey), Brian, Charles Jr., William, and Jacob; and two sisters and three brothers. He was an extremely proud grandfather of four (Alex, Beau, Jayla and Hunter).

Two additional sisters preceded him in death.

Celebration of life arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (https://donate.nmcrs.org) or Naval Base Kitsap – Bangor, 1001 Tautog Circle, Bldg. 1001, Silverdale, WA 98315-1001.

— Family of Charles “Rob” Schmidt