Robert "Sonny" Schirmer

Robert "Sonny" Schirmer, Jr., 85, of Mount Pleasant, SC, husband of June Smith Schirmer, passed away Friday, July 11, 2014. His Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, July 15, 2014 in J. HENRY STUHR., INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends at the funeral chapel on Monday, July 14, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Sonny was born December 12, 1928 in Charleston, SC, son of the late Robert Schirmer and Lucille Smith Schirmer. Robert graduated from Carlisle Military Academy and attended The Citadel. He worked at Jacob S. Schirmer & Sons, Rice Wholesaler in Charleston, SC. As a salesman he traveled many counties in South Carolina and made many friends throughout the state during those travels. In 1966, he started his shrimping career by building his first shrimp boat, The Sammy J. Through the years he owned other shrimp boats named Miss Charleston, The Hagg, Hot Dog, YoYo and Miss Diana, which he docked on Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. He was affectionately known by his shrimping friends as "The Hagg". He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and former member of the SC Shrimpers Association.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years; his son, Sam Schirmer and his wife, Gina, of Sullivan's Island, SC; his daughters, Leize Schirmer and her husband, Bill, of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Gloria Burbage and her husband, Ronald, of Awendaw, SC; seven grandchildren, Sass Schirmer, Grayson Schirmer, Hawkins Schirmer, Hannah West, Bubba West and his wife, Lorraine, Frank Cisa and his wife, Paige, and Ronnie Burbage; and two great-grandchildren, Rocky Walker and Cayla Wicker.

Memorials may be made to MUSC Heart and Vascular Center, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, or Piedmont Hospice, 501-A Deanna Lane, Wando, SC 29492.