(veteran)

(pictures)

Robert Wilkins

Robert F. “Bob” Wilkins, 94, of Fremont, formerly of Arlington, died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at Fremont Area Medical Center.

He was born April 2, 1917, to Grover and Fern (Schafer) Wilkins. He grew up in rural Kennard and graduated from Kennard High School in 1934. He then attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for one year. After college, he entered the Army Air Force and served from Jan. 13, 1942, to Oct. 8, 1945, at Normandy, Northern France and England. Bob moved to rural Arlington in 1965, where he farmed and raised livestock. He moved to Nye Legacy in Fremont in July 2009.

Robert married Marian Menking on Feb. 22, 1944, in Arlington. She died Aug. 26, 1995.

He was a member of Arlington Community Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8332 Arlington. He served on the State Fair Board for 32 years. He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Kennard which later merged with Arlington. He was a former 4-H leader, served on the former March School Board and had been on the Washington County Board of Supervisors.

Survivors include; sons, Dennis Wilkins of Kennard and Tom (and wife, Mardell) of Fremont; a daughter, Beverly (and husband, Norbert) Cent of Columbus; a brother, Dr. Gene Wilkins of Ennis, Mont.; a sister, Ruth (and husband Gene) Kruger of Elkhorn; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Bill, Joe and James Wilkins; a sister, Eva Pearson; and great-grandson, Lucas Wilkins.

The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Arlington Community Church with the Rev. John Hogue officiating. Visitation will be from 8 p.m. Friday at Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service tine Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery with military honors conducted by members of VFW Post 8332 and American Legion Post 71 of Arlington.

Memorials may be directed to the church or the Arlington Education Foundation.

Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com