Died 21 December 2008

Published in Pilot Tribune on 23 December 2008

Veteran-World War II

Robert J. Brodersen, 87, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, at the Oakland Heights Nursing Home, one day after his family gathered with him for Christmas.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at the Herman Legion Hall in Herman, with military honors provided by the Herman American Legion Post No. 274. A private family burial will be held.

Robert James Brodersen was born May 27, 1921, in Washington County to James and Sadie (Cameron) Brodersen. He attended Brodersen and New England country schools, graduating from Herman High School in 1938. In the fall of 1938, he attended Wayne State College, intending to become a teacher. His plans changed, and he enlisted in the Army in October 1939, and was later selected to train in the Army Air Corps. He went on to pilot a B-17 in 37 missions over enemy-occupied Europe, from March through August of 1944. He was honorably discharged in April 1946. He kept a diary of his missions, which has since been reprinted twice and was the subject of production for the 2005 State Fair and Tekamah Veterans Programs.

After the war, Mr. Brodersen operated the Herman Appliance store for Punk Freeman. He was somewhat of a local hero, as were many of the returning veterans. He caught the eye of young Pearl Lang, and the couple married May 23, 1948. They resided in the apartment above the old Post Office in Herman until moving to a farm just northwest of Tekamah (now the Northridge Golf Course). They farmed two other places southwest of Tekamah, before building a new home in 1978.

Mr. Brodersen gave opportunity to those who were down and out, as well as high school youths needing to earn some money. He was a member of the Herman American Legion, Tekamah VFW, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Crawford School Board, and Tekamah Co-0p Board, and at one time, he chaired the Burt County Democrats. He was an award-winning soil conservationist and an early pioneer of no-till farming.

He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Joan and Bernie Clements, of Herman, Mikel and Kathy Brodersen of Lake View, Iowa, and Sara and Steve Cameron of Lyons; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great- grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces , nephews, cousins, special nurses at Oakland Heights, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl, in 1993; brothers, Riley, Charles, and Malcolm; sisters Harriet and May; and granddaughter Jennifer Brodersen Uhing.

Memorials are suggested to the family, the Herman or Tekamah American Legions and VFW Posts.

Pelan Funeral Services in Tekamah is in charge of arrangements.

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

Find a Grave Memorial # 76415214