He was a really good guy—son, brother, uncle, cousin, husband, father, grandfather and friend—until his death on December 25, 2022 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Though he tried his best, complications from Parkinson’s Disease, Covid-19 and pneumonia were just too much for him to overcome.
Bob grew up in Holdrege. He graduated from Holdrege High School in 1966. The very strong bond between the surviving classmates of ’66 is legendary.
In 1969, he graduated from Central Technical Community College in Hastings, Nebr., with a degree in the emerging field of computer programming. It was in Hastings that Bob met his life partner Cheryl Elaine Galyen from Meadow Grove, Nebr. The couple married January 24, 1970.
Bob worked briefly for the Nebraska Department of Roads in Holdrege after college while awaiting his draft number to be called. He opted to enlist in the US Army instead and was lucky to serve out his enlistment on the East Coast, assigned to use his skills in the computer field at Army Security. He was honorably discharged.
The couple returned to Nebraska and made their life in Lincoln, living there almost continually since 1973, except for a brief time during the 1990s when they moved to Yukon, Okla. in support of Cheryl’s career.
Starting in 1973, Bob worked for many years as a computer programmer for the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services. He eventually changed focus and moved into insurance sales. At one time, he had his own successful insurance agency.
Bob and Cheryl joined the church family at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church when they first came to Lincoln and never thought of going anywhere else. Volunteering at St. Mark’s became Bob’s favorite hobby.
Bob loved being a dad and doing dad-things with the couple’s three boys. Being a grandpa was even better.
Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2010. Life adjustments had to be made but he managed it well until recent years. Cheryl was with him every step of the way.
Bob’s survivors include his wife, sons Scott (Cassidy McCord) of Knoxville, Tenn., Matthew (Leslie McWard) of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and David (Cassandra May) of Lincoln; sisters JoDell Payne (John) of Kearney, Nebr., Cynthia Peterson of Lincoln; honorary sister Ketty Moro of Toronto, Canada; sisters-in-law Mariann Von Rein (Drew) of North Bend, Nebr., Suzie Galyen of Meadow Grove. Grandchildren MacKenna Peterson, Ethan Peterson, Isabella Peterson, Samantha Peterson, Alexis McWard, Keegan McWard and Xander McWard; many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, beloved maternal grandmother Lena Conover Jackson and grandfather Archie Lee Jackson, in-laws Kenneth and Eunice (Dahl) Galyen, grandson Kayden Peterson, brother-in-law Eugene Galyen, niece Ann Payne, uncles, aunts, cousins and too many close friends.
Bob’s wishes for cremation were honored. Funeral services will be Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, 11 AM CST, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd.
Livestream at. https://livestream.com/stmarksumclincoln/stmarkslive
In lieu of flowers, memorials to The Parkinson’s Foundation or to the family for a later designation.