Robert “Bob” Tichota, age 90, of Blair, passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at home in Blair. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 10:30 AM at Reach Church. Graveside services will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Orum, Nebraska. Visitation will be held Thursday, February 24, 2022, with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 PM at Campbell Aman Funeral Home. Full obituary coming soon.

#2 Published by Omaha World-Herald on Feb. 22, 2022.

Tichota, Robert "Bob"

April 8, 1931 - February 16, 2022

Survived by his wife, Jennie; daughters, Marian (Ernie) Porter, and Brenda (Patrick) Jenny; son-in-law Randy Nelson; sister-in-law Joan Zessin; brothers-in-law, Jack (Marilyn) McMullin, and Jack (MaryLou) McVicker; grandchildren, Kellie (Jeremy) Pleskac, Megan (Tony) Storm, Alyson (Bruce) Meyer, Katarina Nelson, Natalie Nelson, Brooke Jenny, Ashton (Leah) Stewart, Blake (Carina) Jenny, and Jeffery (Megan) Stewart; and his nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

VISITATION: Thursday, February 24, at Campbell Aman Funeral Home from 6-8pm.

FUNERAL: Saturday, February 26, at 10:30am at Reach Church (formerly Country Bible Church), Blair.

Campbell Aman Funeral Home 444 South 17th Street Blair, NE 402-426-2191

#3-Published in the Pilot-Tribune 2/22/2022

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Robert "Bob" Tichota of Blair, passed away on Feb. 15, 2022. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at Reach Church (formerly Country Bible Church). Procession to Rose Hill Cemetery, Orum, will follow service. Following graveside services, a luncheon will be held at the Blair South Fire Station, at 218 South 16th Street in Blair. Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Bob was born on April 8, 1931, in Lincoln, and adopted on Nov. 18, 1931, by Raymond & Mildred (Schneider) Tichota. He was raised in Dodge and attended Craig High School. He met the love of his life, Jennie McMullin, in 1946 and married her on June 10, 1951. They have lived in Blair since 1956 and were blessed with four daughters.

Bob worked in various trades, but his main career and passion was driving 18-wheel trucks for "Hinky Dinky." He earned special recognition for driving over 1 million miles accident-free while employed at Hinky Dinky and represented them in state-wide truck rodeo competitions. He usually placed in the top 3 positions, if not in the top position multiple times. In the CB/trucking world, Bob was known as “Tweety Bird” as he traveled out to western Nebraska and had his favorite truck stops where he would visit with the locals and his friends. After Bob retired from Hinky Dinky, he continued to work for local businesses as a truck driver, school bus driver, grocery store delivery person, and car transport driver.

Bob had a service-oriented mindset, always giving back to the community with his time and educational messages, and willing to help others. He joined the U.S. Army in 1948 and served his country until 1950. He was a member of the Blair Jaycees, Blair Police Reserves, Blair City Planning Commission, and Blair Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (BVFD). When Bob joined the BVFD 55 years ago, he didn't realize that he had joined a family structure like no other. Bob never knew a stranger and his friendships throughout the fire service are numerous, and Bob considers everyone family. The community knows Bob best as the Fire Prevention Committee chair. He was instrumental in bringing Fire Prevention safety messages for over 30 years to the Blair Community School system to keep children safe.

During his tenure with the department, Bob served in the following roles: Second Assistant Captain; First Assistant Captain; Captain of Blair Rescue Squad; and President of the BVFD. Bob also served other fire departments statewide by his leadership in the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA). He was elected President of the NSVFA from 1994-95 and served six years on the NSVFA e-board. His other roles and committees with the NSFVA include: Chairman and member of the NSVFA Fire Prevention committee for over 25 years; member of the NSVFA Legislative Committee; NSVFA EMS Sargent of Arms; Vice President and President of NSVFA Old Timers; and NSVFA Tri-Mutual Aid and Burt County Area Rep. The friendships Bob made along his fire service journey are statewide, and his world revolved around everything fire service and fire prevention related. His life truly represented the true nature of a firefighter and service to others.

Bob also had a love for the outdoors and camping. In his retirement, he enjoyed being a campground host for Nebraska Game and Parks. His longest run was at Fremont State Lakes where he was the campground host for over 25 years, most of that time in the Cottonwood Cove campground section. As a people person, Bob loved visiting with the campers. When they arrived, he would always offer up helpful tips, help them set-up camp and then provide travel guidance on the best routes/roads to take if they were traveling through the Fremont area.

Bob and Jennie have been sweethearts for 76 years. Bob loved his family and always aspired to be a good husband and father, which if you ask Jennie, Marian or Brenda, they will say, "job well done." Bob enjoyed traveling and family vacations were spent in Minnesota, Rapid City, Yellowstone National Park and Branson, or any other state that his family suggested. He also went on many local camping trips where he would set up the camper, show his girls how things are done, then sit back, relax and soak up the outdoors while reading a western book and listening to country and polka stations.

Bob enjoyed life to the fullest and lived every inch of his 90 years. He had a steadfast determination to beat his health issues so he could spend more time with his beloved wife, family, and friends. His smile, jokes, storytelling minutes, and the sparkle in his eyes were present until his last moments here on earth. Friends that know Bob best describe him as an amazing man, a great man, a caring man, and a fire prevention legend. Bob was asked during an interview what gave him a sense of purpose. His response was "My meaning in life is to love my family. My purpose is to make sure my family is cared for". Bob certainly loved his family/fire service family, and he misses them just as much as they miss him!

Bob is survived by his wife, Jennie, daughters Marian (Ernie) Porter; Brenda (Patrick) Jenny; son-in-law Randy Nelson, sister-in-law Joan Zessin, brothers-in-law Jack (Marilyn) McMullin, Jack (MaryLou) McVicker; grandchildren, Kellie (Jeremy) Pleskac, Megan (Tony) Storm, Alyson (Bruce) Meyer, Katarina Nelson, Natalie Nelson, Brooke Jenny, Ashton (Leah) Stewart, Blake (Carina) Jenny, Jeffery (Megan) Stewart and his nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Mildred Tichota, mother and father-in-law Marion and Jennie McMullin, daughters Jennie Lynn and Deborah Kay, sisters Connie Denny and Shirley McVicker, sister-in-law Peggy Memmott and half-brothers Darrel Lahners and Thomas Lahners.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Blair Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.

#4-Published in the Pilot-Tribune 2/22/2022

'He thoroughly enjoyed life'

Longtime firefighter remembered for dedication, community betterment

From an almost 55-year career on the Blair Volunteer Fire Department to 21 years on the Blair Planning Commission, Bob Tichota was remembered by many as a dedicated and helpful man.

Tichota died Feb. 15 at 90 years old, and remained an active fire department member until his death.

Tichota also served as an honorary member on the Tekamah Fire Department, past president of the Nebraska State Volunteer Fire Association (NSVFA), area representative for the Burt County Mutual Aid Association and was the first chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee for the NSVFA.

He was also active in teaching about fire prevention in schools and was one of the first rescue squad members in Nebraska to receive his emergency medical technicians license, said Brenda Jenny, Blair firefighter and Tichota's daughter.

"He was very proud of the fact that he was one of the first ones to get his license, and he kept up with the yearly (certifications) we had to have on an ongoing basis," she said. "He was always maintaining his education, going through all the classes."

Joe Leonard, first assistant fire chief for BVFD, said fire prevention in the state of Nebraska was streamlined by Tichota, following a fire on Dec. 25, 1976.

"Bob was in a fire where a young lady was burned, and it kind of overwhelmed him and he wanted to make a difference not only in our community, but throughout the state," Leonard said. "He has been an advocate down in Lincoln for everything fire-related. He made an impact across the state."

"He was a big component when they passed the bill to ban (sky) lanterns," Jenny said. "He was part of that push of working with senators to write that bill and pushing to get the senators to pass it."

Along with serving on the fire department, Tichota dedicated his time to serving Blair as a planning commission member.

Rod Storm, Blair city administrator, said Tichota was "extraordinary" at showcasing the commitment of those who volunteer.

"People like Bob who serve on Planning Commission and board dedicate a lot of time and effort for the betterment of the community," he said. "He was particularly valuable on the planning commission. On some zoning activities the planning commission looks at, he could look at things from the standpoint of a firefighter for safety of the community."

Jenny said she has many memories of her father returning home from a call and seeing how passionate he was with his career.

"Growing up, I remember Dad coming home from fires and I just loved that smell," she said. "Dad thoroughly enjoyed life and lived every inch of his 90 years.

"Even in his ending days, he was still wanting to go respond to calls because it was just his nature, being service-oriented and giving back, being committed."

Leonard said Tichota "probably got more miles on his vehicle than most of us will ever have."

"He traveled to about every fire department in the state," he said. "When Bob would go on calls, very rarely did you see him get on an engine. He was always headed straight to the heavy rescue, which is our equipment truck. He was either the driver or in the passenger seat at all times. He called that his baby, so that's the truck we dedicate to Bob."

When speaking to younger generations and new recruits, Jenny said Tichota always had one piece of advice to give them:

"If you decide to join something, make sure you're committed, make sure you're dedicated and make sure you do the work that it takes to be part of that," she said. "That's how he lived his life."

Additional thoughts about Tichota:

Lloyd Petersen - "He was very dedicated not only to Blair, but to all those around him."

Howdy McManigal - "He had lots of stories to tell."

Randy Backman - "You can't hear the name 'Bob Tichota' without thinking of fire prevention. He lived for the fire department — it was his life."

Joe Maguire - "There's probably not a fire department that doesn't know his name."

Jerry West - "He was a good guy. Bob and I had a lot of fun together."

#5 Funeral leaflet

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In Loving Memory of Robert J. Tichota

Born: April 8, 1931 Lincoln, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest: February 15, 2022 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Service: 10:30 am Saturday, February 26. 2022 The Reach Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Rev. Gina Gile. Eulogy: Carl Rennerfeldt. Musical Selections: "Precious Memories", "Life", "Here I Am Lord", "Amazing Grace" Vocalist: Scott Wachter

Pallbearers: John Falgione, Jack Malicky, Ray Nance

Honorary Pallbearers: Blair Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department

Final Resting Place: Rose Hill Cemetery, Orum, Nebraska

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #236828654