Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Happy 33rd Bob!! The boys and I released 3 Birthday balloons for you today. Austin also wanted to pick up a small birthday cake for you, so we will sing and eat cake for you too. I'll be sure and have a beer for you!
I love you & miss you Bob. Happy Birthday!

deb

October 28, 2003

Feliz Cumpleanos a ti,
Feliz Cumpleanos a ti,
Feliz Cumpleanos dear Roberto,
Feliz Cumpleanos a ti.

Michelle Stanze

October 27, 2003

Every single day we think about you. We will never forget you or what you mean to us still. Happy Birthday!

Anonymous

October 27, 2003

You will always be remembered. I consider myself very honored to say I served with you. I will always remember those days in the Seventh! You are a true HERO. Thank you.

Deputy J. Ackermann
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
Colorado Springs, CO

DEPUTY J. ACKERMANN
EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF

October 22, 2003

You will always be remembered. I consider myself very honored to say I served with you. I will always remember those days in the Seventh! You are a true HERO. Thank you.

DEPUTY J. ACKERMANN
EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF

October 22, 2003

I really, really miss you Bob. You know where to find me. I'd love to hear from you.

Anonymous

October 17, 2003

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Anonymous

September 27, 2003

You died a hero and I know your family grieves for you each day. My prayer is that God will grant special grace and peace to your wife and your family. I am deeply saddened at their loss-a young widow, children losing a father, never knowing their father. God Bless you all! My your precious memories sustain you during those especially "hard" days.
9-25-03

Anonymous

September 25, 2003

Hi Michelle

I just read the reflection you left to Officer Morales wife, and you are so right by talking to the kids about their daddy, my husband Emilio was killed when my daughter was 4 and my son was 7, and today almost 15 years later we still talk about their dad as if he was still here with us. My son is 22 and my daughter is 19 and they are both very good, healthy and they love their daddy very much.

Keep up the good work with your children and don't ever forget that Robert is always there with you...

God Bless you and your family.

Terry Miyares
widow, Officer Emilio Miyares
Hialeah Police Dept., Florida
4/24/59- 11/6/86

Terry Miyares,
Hialeah Police Dept.

Michelle,

I want to thank you for the posts you have placed on other officer's pages as an encouragment to others who are going through the pain you have experienced. I can only imagine the nightmare that you are living, and think of you and your children often.

Please know that our prayers are with you, and we would do anything to help you. God bless you and your children. Your husband will never be forgotten.

Renee Creek
Wife of Boulder County, Colorado Deputy

Rest in Peace my dear friend. I pray that God looks after your family and all of those that loved you dearly. We will one day all be reunited at those Gates of Heaven with all of our loved ones, but till that day, Rest well and Peace be with you forever......

Joseph Caragiulo
Miami Police (retired)

BOB!!

WE MISS YOU ALL THE TIME. WHAT WE WOULDN'T DO TO HEAR YOU SAY, "TCK, TCK, HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ONE?"

WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO MOVE ON, BUT WITHOUT YOU, IT IS REALLY HARD. WHY'D YOU HAVE TO BE EVERYONE'S BEST FRIEND?

I KNOW YOU ARE STILL WITH US HELPING US THROUGH ALL OUR ISSUES, WE MISS YOU!!!

Anonymous

Bob, this is your 4th anniversary, and I can't believe it's been that long...I remember shaking your hand on your wedding day as you tried to appear calm...you hated being the center of attention I know, and unfortunately that is what you have become in a tragic way.

I miss your dry sense of humor and chatting hockey with you on the phone and on the 'net. It's lonely out here late at night without seeing you pop up on the ' buddy list ' or exchanging humorous e mail's.

You know that Michelle has always been " family " to me, so I guess that makes you the best brother-in-law anyone could ask for. I never got a chance to express how grateful I was for the way you stood by Michelle and helped her through some tough times...and I am certain that you helped make her strong enough to handle this and will continue to give her strength, as well as your friends and family that miss you so much . The very least that we can all do, for YOU, is to make sure that the family that you loved so much is taken care of....nothing can replace you, not even close ; but know that they are not alone.

So rest peacefully until we meet again -- I hope that wherever you are, you have a tee-time every morning, a football game to watch every afternoon, a hockey game to watch every night, and cold beer at reasonable prices....
" John Smith "

Anonymous

As someone that was fortunate enough to know Bob , I feel it is imperative to let all of the kind people out there know that Bob the son/husband/uncle/neighbor/father/friend was every bit as wonderful and caring a person as Bob the police officer.

Most of you are sending kind words and prayers based on the fact that it is always tragic to lose a police officer. Even more tragic is the fact that some of us simply miss our friend.

BOB = We should all be so fortunate to leave such a legacy as you have left for us. Your family is now surrounded by so much love that there is no doubt that what once appeared as an unbearable situation will blossom into a future filled with hope and dreams for Michelle and your 3 beautiful kids. What you gave to us will now be given back to your family ten-fold, in your honor.

This is not a goodbye; just a note to say we miss you, and we'll see you further up the road.

Anonymous

Bob,

Wow, how life has changed? Think how many times we talked about this, but I know neither of us really believed it would ever happen. There are still many days when I feel so lost without you. Sometimes I still wake up at 2am expecting you to come home. I find myself listening for your footsteps on the floor, the crackling sound of your radio, or the sound of the leather pieces of your belt rubbing together. I never thought I'd miss being woken up by the sound of the velcro as you were taking off your vest, but I'd do almost anything to hear that sound just one more time. Life for me and the kids is going to be such a far cry from what it was supposed to be. I know in my heart, however, that my 5 1/2 years with you, my soulmate, was better than a lifetime with the wrong person. You were my hero in every way, and I promise that you will be the children's hero too. You were, and are, my "everything". I will do my best to carry on our dreams and plans for the children. I pray to God everyday that you will be here with us through it all. You are the one who taught me to believe in myself, and the one who gave me the strength and courage to persevere through times like this. How many times was it that I told you you were my angel on earth? Now you truely are my angel in heaven. Thank you for the three beautiful "gifts" you have given me. We have a long road ahead of us, but, when my job here is done, I look forward to the day I can lay in your arms again. I love you.

Michelle

May Officer Stanze Rest In Peace, and the Lords blessing be with his wife and family forever.

Deputy Sheriff David Ehrhard
St. Louis Sheriffs Dept.

Bob,

We miss you every day. We tell the same stories of you over and over, knowing that there will be no new ones to tell. There is not a day that goes by that we don't think about you and wish you were back in our lives. Although Timmy never says it, he is lost without you. We love you always.

Anonymous

your dady wore a badge, she said, so cry your grieving tears, then dry your eyes and lift your head; he lived to lessen fears.

he wore a badge with pride, she said, and justice was his dream; he lived to serve and serving died, and though it may not seem, that one cop's death could make this land a better place to be, his life was where he took a stand and forced the blind to see.

so dry your tears and lift your head and make your daddy proud; be strong in heart, for he's not dead--- just lost amid the crowd. his dream lives on in you, my son (the widow softly spoke). she squeezed his hand, then sorrow won; i watched as her heart broke.

then something changed: a sigh half-sighed escaped her lips unfinished. she straightened up; although he'd died, his life was undiminished!

your daddy wore a badge, she smiled,

be proud of who he was.

he did his job, (she hugged her child)

because, my son, because........

 
a poem written by lisa k. borchers,  january 16,1986

 
our hearts go out to you and your family . my father and brother and several friends are police officers. everyday i pray that they come home , please know that we pray always for you and your family and the loss of your heroic husband. he will never be forgotten by anyone of us and i know without saying that he will always live on in your heart!
 i never met him but because of his ability to go out everyday and face the hardships of life on the streets, i realize how wonderful he and every other officer on this earth truly is !      just remember, that he still is above watching over all of you and loving you very much!!!!!!

tmw
stlco pd

You have down a great job now as you walk with god protect heavans gate as you did for the millions of citzens you served so proudly.

GOD BLESS YOU

J Dillow
Va Special Police

While in the 10 mile funeral procession, for Bob Stanze, I was moved to see hundreds, maybe thousands of citizens line the streets of South St.Louis to pay respects for an officer they had never met. The one sight, however, I will never forget is a 10 year old girl standing on the side of the road bearing a handmade sign reading "we will pray for you".

From one Mobile Reserve Unit officer to another..god bless.

Anonymous

As a former police officer injured in the line of duty, it saddens me to hear of the untimely death of this fine man. I am a former resident of the city of St. Louis and my great uncle retired from the city police many years ago. I hate to see anyone die so young, but an officer of the law is terrible. May the good Lord look over his family and comfort them during their time of need.

Anonymous

On August 8, 2000 we lost a member of our "police family". I have worked at the police department for 33 years and have seen "several" police tragedies.  When something like this happens, it always hits home how "vulnerable" we all are and how we forget that we are here for such a short time. My son is also a police officer and I pray for him each and every day that not only will he be safe but that he never ever has to pull his weapon and use it on another human being.  I also know that the fact is that there are some really bad people out there and sometimes there is no choice.  I just hope that if any good comes from a tragedy such as this, it is that officers "everywhere" across the United States will take that extra "5 minutes" and be safe. Take the extra precautions, it's "your" life that's on the line.  God bless each and everyone of you and please be aware and be safe!

Anita Beckmann
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Robert,

Even though I never met you you have touch my life forever.

I will always remember you and I will keep you in my prayers.  Thank you for what you gave up for us.

Anonymous

To the family of Robert Stanze, My deepest sympathy goes to your family.  My sister is also an Officer of the St. Louis City Police Dept. and the news of your loved one hit hard.  You just never think that something like that could happen to one of your loved ones until it happens to someone close to you.  Most people dont understand the bond that Officers families have even though we've never met.  We feel the pain, the anxiety, and the fear for each of the men and women who protect our families and loved ones.

You are in our every thought and prayer.  We are very sorry for the loss of your husband. 

Anonymous

"A Patrolman's Departure"

They are standing straight and stoic, they are standing glove-to-glove,

It is sunny, it is hot, but they stand for pain and love.

Their hat-brims hide the hatred and the torture in their eyes,

They cannot help but feel the void when one of their own dies.

The service now is over and the widow staggers out,

All arms now at attention as the bagpipes cry and shout.

Flag-draped casket on six shoulders, could this day get any worse?

A salute's the silent answer as they load him in the hearse.

The speeches done, the songs are sung, it's time now for a ride,

The cortege is enormous, like a head-of-state has died,

The lights roll infinitum and the grief is crawling past,

St. Louis citizens just stand there, they are watching to the last.

We wonder at the pagentry, our heads shake in despair,

We think, as the three-shot volley pierces through the morning air,

"Oh, this didn't have to happen, what an awful tragic day,"

"In this sea of hurt and anguish, how will Justice find its way?"

But as the ranks disperse and as they trudge back to their cars,

We know that for the killer awaits in four walls of iron bars.

They'll put aside their grief just like they're trained so well to do,

For even crafty killers can't evade this mass of blue.

So the funeral has ended, and the mayor has gone home,

I've heard some people question, "are we well within the zone,"

"To put on such a costly show for cops just pounding pavement?"

But how can we sit 'round and judge a slain cop's final payment?

To say it's innapropriate, to question it with scorn,

Shows that you know nothing of the target that is worn,

On every good cop's shirt or vest, on every trooper's heart,

It calls out like a bullseye, it is simply called the badge.

Bob;

The tears have been shed at the loss to us, but the gain to up above. Everyone was there to say goodbye, but one day we know we will see you again.  Your wife, son, and soon to be twins are in good hands.  They now have fathers across the area.  Help us all to be safe and help the emotional healing of Officer Dodge. Rest in peace brother.  God bless those of us who protect.

Anonymous