Matthew Levi Schirmer's Obituary
Matthew Levi Schirmer passed away on October 19, 2023, while stationed at Fort Moore military base near Columbus, Georgia. He was born to Beth Morgon Van Nostrand and Frederick Ray Schirmer on the morning of November 18, 1994, in Gainesville, Florida. He was raised by Fred and Cindy Schirmer, along with Beth and Ken Singletary.
He is survived by his parents and siblings, Eleanor Colmenares (Bianca), Elizabeth Parks, Jayson Van Nostrand, Emily Matthews (Casey), Maya Hester (Thomas), Michael Parks, Rachael Schirmer, and Jennifer Bowman (Mike), and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Matthew spent countless hours of his childhood exploring the outdoors of North Florida. He loved fishing with his stepfather, practicing survival skills while camping, and spending time with his beloved array of pets. He was a dedicated Boy Scout, with an inherent sense of fairness and a knack for fire-starting. Many recall his natural creativity, which surfaced in drawings that far exceeded the artistic ability of his young age. Matthew joined JROTC in school and later fulfilled his dream of serving his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army upon high school graduation.
During his time in the service, Matthew was nominated for and accepted to the prestigious U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Matthew’s time at West Point was deeply influential. Despite being raised in the Florida heat, he thrived in the cold weather of Upstate New York, especially when tailgating Army–Navy football games. He honed his leadership skills, furthered his education by pursuing a degree in Human Geography, and developed lifelong friendships. Second Lieutenant Schirmer graduated in June 2022 before his exceedingly proud family and respected superiors.
Friends and family remember Matthew as a brave adventurer, a respected leader, and a true maverick. Stoic in nature, Matthew was a gentle being who fought for those more vulnerable than him. He is deeply missed, but his limited time on this earth will not be forgotten. A local memorial will be held at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 2 p.m. His final resting place will be at his beloved school of West Point.
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