Robert D. Grammer

Robert DeWayne Grammer was born August 6, 1937, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to Charles “Aldo” and Helen Werner Grammer. He entered the Kingdom of Heaven and earned his angel wings on March 29, 2015, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
He attended school in Endicott and Fairbury, graduating with the class of 1956, and attended Fairbury Junior College.

Bob was married to Colleen Swartz Easter Sunday, April 21, 1957, at the United Methodist Church, in Endicott. To this union, they were blessed with two daughters Julie and Lana.

For a short time, Bob worked on the Dr. Rice farms and showed out-door movies. We worked on the Railroad, and at Montgomery Wards and a salesman and was the manager for Sherwin-Williams paint company. He later became the office manager at Stanton Farm Services, where he worked many years before his physical health forced him to retire in 1989 at the age of 42.

Bob was a sports fan at heart. His love for sports started playing basketball in high school, and was the pitcher for the legion baseball team. Nick Carabotos arranged for him to try out with the New York Farm Club and the Kansas City Blues minor league baseball teams. Unfortunately, a pitching injury prevented him from advancing his baseball career.

His love for sports continued throughout his life. He was a true sports fan, loving and watching all sports. He had every sports channel, ball game, coach and coaching staff, player, stats and specific plays committed to memory. To say he was an avid Husker fan is an understatement. He loved the Huskers. He knew about Husker athletics better than the Athletic Director. He especially loved Husker football. He knew more about the players, on and off the field than any reporter. He was also a St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan.

Bob had a passion for fishing and hunting. He hunted for several years until he was no longer physically able. He started taking his grandsons hunting at an early age. Bob loved to fish, a hobby continued until his untimely death. His love for fishing carried down to his grandsons and great grandsons, buying each of them their fishing pole and tackle box, including their own fishing lures he made.

Bob was a reputable horse rider. He and Colleen, with Julie and Lana in toe, travelled from town to town participating in horse shows with many of his friends. His horse Zipper was one of the fastest horses around, and if he wasn’t riding in a particular event, he lent his horse to one of his friends. There were few, if any events he or his friends didn’t win. One of his proudest accomplishments was as a Rock Creek Rider participating in the Pony Express Re-ride through Nebraska and Kansas in 1960. He has lent some of his memorabilia to Rock Creek Station for display.

Bob was diagnosed with a rare, debilitating arthritic disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis in 1978, at the age of 41. He was the first person in the state of Nebraska to be diagnosed with this disease. He was instrumental in the learning process of his disease. Medical students from several states would participate in his routine visits. He not only allowed the medical students to interview him, but allowed them to perform whatever physical exam and testing necessary to help in this learning process. Literally, hundreds of photos, x-rays and videos have been taken to document the progression of his disease, and are found in the pages of medical textbooks yet today. He graciously participated in a research study for the diagnosis, treatment and progression of his disease through the University of Texas, Houston.

Throughout his life, Bob has had many tragedies, but none more tragic than the loss of two of his four grandsons. On April 3, 2008, he lost his oldest grandson, Derek. A part of him died that day. Tragedy struck again on March 28, 2012, when he lost his grandson, Mack. A part of him died that day too. True to the man he was, Bob remained strong through adversity. He was very in tuned to their presence, often making phone calls to Julie and Lana to relate instances that Derek and Mack had been to visit.

Bob has also endured many setbacks and survived when most would not. Aside from his disease, he has survived two heart attacks, prostate cancer and a reconstructive back surgery.

Bob’s greatest passion and love in life was that for his family. He loved his wife Colleen, daughters Julie and Lana, grandsons, Derek, Dain, Mack and Zeb and great grandsons, Caleb, Jerik and Colton. He loved them deeply and he loved them unconditionally. He taught them not through words, but by his action and his example. He taught them not through instruction, but by his guidance and his wisdom. He taught them not by talking, but by listening. He taught them not by rash decision, but by his patience.

Bob is survived by his wife Colleen of Endicott, daughters, Julie and husband Bill Siefers of Plainville, Ks, and Lana Rempel of Endicott; 5 grandchildren, Dain Zabokrtsky of Fairbury, Zebulon Rempel of Endicott, Alicia and husband D. J. Basgall of Las Vegas, Nevada, Rebecca and husband Brett Clem of Basehor, Kansas, and Adam Siefers of Hays, Kansas: 3 great- grandson, Jerik Zabokrtsky of Beatrice, Caleb McKernan of Beatrice and Colton Clem of Basehor, Kansas, and a very special friend he thought of as a daughter, Debbie and husband Kevin Royer, Jessi and Ashton of Plainville, Kansas.

He is also survived brothers and sisters, Georgene Hoffman of San Antonio, Texas, LeRoy and wife Bonnie Grammer of Omaha, Terry and wife Jolene Grammer of Fairbury, Gail and wife MaryAnn of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Carol and husband David Horner of Westin, Karen and husband Bill Horner of Ceresco and George and wife Robyn of La Vista, several nieces, nephews and family, as well as hundreds of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents and grandsons, Derek Zabokrtsky and McKinley Rempel and granddaughter, Raini Mitchell.