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Robert L. “Bob” Monke, 82

Robert L. “Bob” Monke, 82, of Fremont, died Wednesday March, 4, 2015, at Nye Legacy in Fremont.

The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, at the First United Methodist Church in Fremont with a luncheon to follow. The committal will be in Salem Lutheran Cemetery at Fontanelle with military honors by the Fremont Honor Guard (VFW Post 854 and American Legion Post 20). Visitation is 2-8 p.m. Sunday at Ludvigsen Mortuary with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Bob was born Nov. 30, 1932, to Luther and Wilmeth (Williams) Monke in Fremont.

He was raised on the family farm east of Fontanelle, baptized Feb. 26, 1933, and confirmed in 1946 at Salem Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Bob graduated from Arlington High School in 1949.

Bob joined the U.S. Navy in 1953 and was stationed in Hawaii. On May 12 of that year, Phyllis Rowe, the love of his life, boarded a plane in California and flew to Hawaii to marry Bob that same night. The first years of their marriage were spent in Navy housing, and Tom was born in Hawaii.

They returned home to farm north of Arlington, and Bob was engaged in farming and agribusiness all his life. Daughters Cindy and Jean eventually joined the family.

Late in the 1950s, Bob and his brother Bill started selling anhydrous to neighboring farmers. This business grew to be Monke Brothers Fertilizer, incorporated in 1960. In the 1980s, Bob became a stockholder and joined the Board of Directors at Arlington State Bank (now Two Rivers Bank), eventually serving many years as Chairman of the Board. After a farm accident took his hand and he realized there would be things he could no longer do as a farmer, Bob became a realtor and sold farms for a short time.

Bob had a real zest for life. He was an avid Husker fan and season ticket holder from the time Bob Devaney came to Nebraska until present, rarely missing a game. He and Phyllis traveled to many bowl games, including the National Championship game in Miami, 1994. He had a passion for golf and was a longtime member of the Fremont Golf Club.

Bob was a Shriner for many years, a member of the Arlington Masonic Lodge, also the Jesters out of Omaha, driving a mini bike in many parades. Bob was a member of the Nebraska Fertilizer and Agriculture Institute, and served on the Board of NET TV. He was Grand Marshall of the Washington County Fair Parade in 2014. Bob enjoyed many pitch games, especially the Thursday afternoon group.

Bob will be remembered for his great sense of humor and adventure, his entrepreneurial spirit and his great love of family, friends and people in general. Bob loved his work, and he and his brother Bill were almost inseparable for most of their lives. We rejoice to think that they are reunited again now spreading fertilizer over heavenly fields and enjoying a few gin games.

He is survived by wife Phyllis of Fremont; son Tom (Rose) Monke of Arlington; two daughters: Cindy (Dean) Lindgren of Ankara, Turkey, and Jean (Jon) Katt of Herman; nine grandchildren: Mike (Tricia) Monke of Arlington and children Braden, Wes and Grant, Brian (Kelly) Monke of Fremont, Sarah (Ben) Bradley of Kansas City, Kan., Zach Lindgren of Omaha, Heidi Lindgren of Istanbul, Turkey, Holly Lindgren of Minneapolis, Minn., Justin (Jada) Katt of Elkhorn and their children Barrett and Beau, Jordan Katt of Lincoln and Austin (Michelle) Katt of Omaha; sister Muriel (Jim) Keeler of Fremont; brother-in-law Ron (Connie) Rowe of Fremont and sister-in-law Helen Monke of Fremont.

He was preceded in death by his brother William “Bill” Monke, sister Ruth Teebken and his parents.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Nye Legacy for the professional, loving care for Bob.

For many years, Bob took therapy at Legacy, especially enjoying and benefiting from the pool therapy. The therapists, nurses, techs and staff were truly kind and compassionate, both to Bob and to his family. They made his life better. Also, our thanks to Drs. Sellon and Tella for their wonderful care.

Memorials are suggested to the Fremont Area Community Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.

An on line guestbook is available at www.ludvigsenmortuary.com.

Omaha World Herald 7 March 2015

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Monke, Robert L. "Bob" Age 82 Fremont, NE. Survived by wife Phyllis; son Tom (Rose) Monke of Arlington; 2 daughters, Cindy (Dean) Lindgren of Ankara, Turkey, Jean (Jon) Katt of Herman; 9 grandchildren, Michael (Tricia) Monke and children, Braden, Wes, and Grant, Brian (Kelly) Monke, Sarah (Ben) Bradley, Zach, Heidi, and Holly Lindgren, Justin (Jada) Katt and childen, Barrett and Beau, Jordan Katt, Austin (Michelle) Katt; sister Muriel (Jim) Keeler of Fremont; brother-in-law Ron (Connie) Rowe of Fremont and sister-in-law Helen Monke of Fremont. He was preceded by his brother William "Bill" Monke and sister Ruth Teebken. FUNERAL SERVICE will be 10:30am Monday, March 9th at the First United Methodist Church, Fremont. The committal will be in Salem Lutheran Cemetery at Fontanelle with Military Honors by the Fremont Honor Guard (VFW Post 854 & American Legion Post 20). VISITATION at the Ludvigsen Mortuary, Sunday 2-8pm with the family present from 6-8pm. Memorials to Fremont Area Community Foundation or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research. Online guestbook at: www.ludvigsenmortuary.com LUDVIGSEN MORTUARY Fremont, NE 402-721-4440

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~