Posted on 07/26/2019
Major Robert Edwin Elmwood, U.S.M.C. Ret., born November 4, 1928 passed away peacefully at his New Orleans home on the morning of July 22, 2019. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a veteran of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict, he served the country he loved for 22 years. After retiring he worked in the refrigeration and petroleum industries. Born in Bay City, Michigan, he traveled the world from Japan to Russia to Spain and delighted in speaking the language of each country he visited. He married his beloved wife Augusta in Warri, Nigeria, and settled with her in New Orleans. At the age of 69, he cycled the pilgrim's route to Santiago de Compostela. He is survived by Augusta and by his children Lynn, Otis, Elizabeth, and Victoria. He was the older half-brother of Johnny, Cecilia, Camilla, Edward, Tom, Jimmy, Richard, Margie, and Harry Konieczka. He was also the half-brother of the late Eleanor, Clifford, David, and Martha Ann Boyd. He loved the Catholic Church, American history, pub trivia, and his dog Ebony. He is beloved and will be deeply missed by many. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, 1139 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana at 11:00 am on Monday, July 29, 2019. Visitation with the family will be from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. He will then be laid to rest in his home state of Michigan. Funeral services there will be held August 2, 2019 at Rivertown Funeral Home, 209 S. Huron Rd., Kawkawlin, Michigan from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Interment will take place at Parsons Cemetery immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his honor to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at www.nmcrs.org/donate. Online condolences and memories may be left at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.
Published in The Times-Picayune on July 25, 2019