Robert V. “Bob” Ogrodnik, 87, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025.

Bob joined the Greater Mound City Stamp Club on April 1, 1996, member #331.

Robert is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Carol (Morin), daughters Karla Boresi, Erika (Oscar) Yepes, and Tanya (Michael) Haber, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stella (Rekas) and Joseph Ogrodnik, and sisters Jeanne (Martin) Hartigan and Dolores (Terry) Bower.

A graduate of La Salle Academy and the University of Rhode Island, Bob had a 40-year career with Emerson Electric, where he served as the president of several manufacturing divisions, and the extensive work he did evaluating international acquisitions and partnerships allowed him to fulfill his childhood dreams of traveling the world.

One of the greatest honors of Bob’s life was serving 15 years as the Honorary Counsel for the Republic of Poland in Missouri. His accomplishments included establishing the first consulate in St. Louis since 1920, assisting Polish citizens to exercise their right to vote in Polish elections and to renew their passports, and acting as a liaison with the Polish government.

A passionate philatelist from the age of 7, Bob’s extensive collections focused on stamps from Poland and the Vatican. He also collected United States stamps as a side collection. He served as President of the Polonus Polish Philatelic Society from 1995-2002, and was proud of his gold-medal winning exhibit “First Polish Airmail after WWII.”

Organizations such as the Lupus Foundation, National Kidney Foundation and the Bach Society benefited greatly from Bob’s time and talents. Bob enjoyed tennis, golf, and travel.

David was a former member of the Mound City Stamp Club and a fixture in the Philatelic community along with his late father for decades,

Beloved husband of Cheryl Semsrott (nee Tabers) for 56 years; loving father of Rebecca, Danielle (Jason) and David; adoring grandfather of Evelyn and Lillian Shook, Matthew Welter and the late Michael Welter; dear son of the late Wiiliam and Ruth Semsrott; dear brother of William (the late Donna) Semsrott. Our dearest uncle, great-uncle, cousin and friend to many.

David was a lifelong resident of St. Louis County, after a long career at Henkel Corporation, and upon his retirement he turned his longtime hobby of stamp collecting into a business. He opened in 2009 and operated The David Semsrott Stamp Shop in Kirkwood, Mo.