Robert F. Wollenburg (Bob)

5/20/1937 – 1/17/2017

Bob was born at home on May 20, 1937 to Otto E. and Katherine C. (Bergmeier) Wollenburg in DeWitt, NE. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in DeWitt. He attended country school until moving into town and graduated from DeWitt High School in 1954. He served in the United States Air Force after his graduation until his Honorable Discharge in 1957. He attended and played football at Doan College in Crete, NE. He met Judith L. Skalnik while working on a harvest crew. They were united in marriage on April 23, 1960 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Plymouth, NE from this union they had three children. In 1959 he started working for Western Electric in Omaha and he worked there until his retirement in 1996. They lived in Omaha until moving to Gretna in November of 1967. Bob’s many joys were his faith, family, hunting, fishing, playing cards, golf, traveling and the HUSKERS. His biggest joys were spending time with his family, attending his grandchildren’s events and ballgames as well as attending the ballgames of his nieces and nephews. Bob was an active member of the Gretna Volunteer Fire and Rescue, serving his community for 40 years. He taught Hunter Safety for 30 years. He was also in many other community events and activities. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and served in various offices. He was also a member of the Gretna American Legion Post #216. He enjoyed helping Santa for the Fire Department for 20 years. He enjoyed all the children but his greatest joy was going to the hospitals and nursing homes for Santa.

Bob passed away peacefully January 17, 2017, surrounded by his family at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond (Katie), John (Phyllis), Ernest, sisters Gertrude (Mike), Louise (John), Ruth (Eugene), sister-in-law Lorraine, and brother-in-laws Jack and Stan, and his father and mother-in-law Milo and Anita Skalnik. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Judy of Gretna, daughter Joni (Dean) Stein of Fostoria, IA, sons Jeff (Tracy) of Gretna and Jon (Cindy) of Omaha, brothers Otto (Annie), Alfred, and Donald (Shirley), sisters Lucille, Vernes, and Kathryn (Gary), sister-in-law Jane (Rick) Carlson and brother-in-law Jerry Skalnik. Seven grandchildren Julie (Jon), Jordyn, Johnna, Tyler, Andrew and Jessica (Tracy) and Tanya (Bryant) and five great-grandchildren Nova and Aura and Kiersten, Elizabeth and Brantley.
Visitation Friday 5-7 PM at Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone Gretna, NE. Funeral Service Saturday (1/21/17) 11:00 AM Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Gretna, NE. Interment Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Memorials to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or Gretna Fire Department