Bend Couple Funds Stolen Bike Replacement

“He was devastated, and I think any of us that have things stolen, robbed or whatever, you feel invaded — you feel very violated,” Sue Kay, Bob Warr’s mother, said Sunday.

Last Thursday morning, 50-year-old Bob Warr woke up to find his modified black and gray Northrock bicycle, the one thing he cherished, missing from his Bend driveway.

Warr was born deaf, and the bike was his only mode of transportation. He had spent years working to make it unique.

But what’s even more special are the people who stepped up to help after hearing the news.

Nick and Rachael Schuetz of Bend have family in Warr’s neighborhood on Northeast Norton Avenue, and they saw Bob riding his bike regularly.

“We saw the story and just wanted to help,” Nick Schuetz said Sunday. “We figured donating the money to help towards the replacement of his bike was the least we could do.”

The magic behind the money might be the best surprise yet.

“We were on vacation a couple weeks ago, saved up for a long time to go, and it was on a cruise,” said Nick Schuetz. “One of the days when you’re not at the port, you’re doing activities on the boat, so we went and played bingo for the first time. She actually won — and she was very excited.”

Rachael Schuetz won $600 playing bingo — as it turns out the exact amount it will cost to replace Warr’s bike.

“When you win something like that, it should go to something good,” she said. “And when Nick saw the story, it just clicked.” Rachael Schuetz said.

“You know, we are both community members, we’ve been here a long time,” her husband said. “And when you see these stories, you really want to help when you can — and we just happened to have that amount.”

Meeting the Schuetzes for the first time on Sunday, Bob and his mom had to hold back the tears.

“I was just so touched that someone would care about him as much as I care about him,” Kay said.

For these two families, it’s just about people helping people.

“It restores your faith in all people and the good, just meeting nice people, Bend is just such a good place,” Rachael Schuetz said.

“It was just very touching. Very touching,” Kay said.