Robert L. Goldberg, 79, of Bennington, died Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Immanuel Hospital of multiple organ failure.

Funeral services were Thursday, Aug. 19, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bennington. Interment with military honors provided by VFW Post 8332 and American Legion Post 71 of Arlington was at the Fontanelle Cemetery.

Robert LaVern Goldberg was born Dec. 30, 1930, in rural Washington County to Clarence and Carrie (Kruse) Goldberg. He grew up on a farm near Arlington.

He attended Telbasta School and was confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church of Fontanelle. He later was a member at St. John's Lutheran Church at Bennington.

He joined the United States Air Force and served as an MP. His fondest memories were boxing in the Golden Gloves competitions.

He was nicknamed "Goldie" and was also known as "Bud" to his family.

On May 8, 1953,he married Helen Wilds in Blair. The couple had four children. The family lived in Fremont, later moving to Rogers in 1957, where Mr. Goldberg farmed for Clifford McBurney. He decided he liked drywalling and went to work for Eliason & Knuth.

Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg bought an acre of ground in Falon Heights, near Bennington. They had a house framed and then finished it themselves. In June of 1964, they moved into their new home.

In May of 1967, he started his own business, Goldberg Drywall.

Mr. Goldberg was assistant Cub Scout master for Pack 13. He enjoyed watching his son, Steve, wrestle and play football. After his son's death in an auto accident in 1977, the couple grieved for a long time.

The couple enjoyed traveling, with New York, New Orleans and cruises among their favorites. He loved attending Cornhusker football games with his daughters and their spouses.

He was also anxious for spring to start so that he could go with his daughter to purchase tomato plants, and he won first prize at the state fair for the biggest onion.

The Goldbergs celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, then he lost his wife in November of 2005.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Curt Frost of Omaha, Judy and Randy Hokamp of Arlington, and Julie and Jeff Hayden of Bennington; eight grandchildren, Jeremy and Brandon Miller, Andrew and Ashley Hokamp, Katie Circo, Joshua and Tony Frost; Joey Hayden; nine great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Barbara Goldberg of Uehling.

In addition to his wife and son, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Goldberg; two infant brothers; and a sister, Vera Andrews.

Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Humane Society, the Nebraska Children's Home, or the Bennington Fire and Rescue Department.

Moser Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

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

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