Robert Rathjen
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Bob “the Coyote Hunter” Rathjen, age 82 of York, NE, went home to be with his heavenly father on Sunday, December 27, 2020 in Lincoln. Bob was born on October 4, 1938 in Lincoln to Christian and Marie (Hendler Watermann) Rathjen. He was baptized at home in Ohiowa on November 25, 1938. Bob joined the United States Army and Reserves 131st Infantry, Illinois from 1957 – 1961, receiving an Honorable Discharge. Bob pulled mobile homes for Champion Homes for many years before becoming an over the road truck driver, working for Eberly and Son Trucking, Aurora and then for his self before his health forced him to give it up and retire. He would still see a semi-truck and say, “I’d love to jump into a big rig and just take off”. Bob enjoyed hunting, watching the Chicago Bears and Nebraska Cornhuskers, and woodworking.
He married Hazel Schryer, on April 17, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, to this union 2 children were born, Patricia Ann and Robert Jr. Hazel preceded in death in 1962. He later met and married Helen “Cookie” Nickels Smith on February 4, 1977, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cookie preceded in death in 2007. Bob, then married Kathleen (Rohde) Buller on October 25, 2014, in York. They enjoyed retirement with friends and family.
Surviving is his wife Kathy of York, daughter-in-law Angie (Doug) Fye of Polk, NE, stepchildren: Dale (Joyce) Smith of Seward, NE, Dan (Peg) Smith of Holmen, WI, David (Sara) Buller of York, NE and Wanda (Royce) Buller of Hampton, NE; grandchildren and step grandchildren: Ashley (Benjamin) Hamilton of Blue Hill, NE, Ryan (April) Rathjen of Des Moines, IA, Tyler (Cassie) Rathjen of Polk, NE, Mandy (Chad Forney) Smith of Seward, NE, Dale (Angie) Smith of Columbus, NE, Stephanie (Mike) Spoerl of Murfreesboro, TN, Christine (Seth) Lade of Columbus, NE, Aaron (Carissa) Smith of Holmen, WI, Brian (Nichole) Smith of Seabrook, TX, Hunter Smith of Holmen, WI, Eric Buller of Lincoln, NE, Haley (AJ) Oaks of Lincoln, NE, Ben (Stephanie) Buller of Hampton, NE, John (Alicia) Buller of Lincoln, NE; 34 great grandchildren, sisters: Claire Ann Mussman of Geneva, NE and Roberta Endorf of Omaha, NE, brother-in-law Don Lammersfeld of Chicago, IL, sisters and brothers-in-law Connie Nickels of York, NE and LaVera (Ron) Martin of Panama, NE, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceding him in death are his parents, wife Hazel, daughter Patricia, son Robert Jr., granddaughter Christina Rathjen, wife Cookie, grandson Adam Smith, stepson Kevin Buller, brother Wilhelm Watermann, sister Helen Lammersfeld, brothers and sisters-in-law Dallas Mussman, Herman Endorf, Dean and Pat Nickels, LeRoy and Annette Nickels, Richard and Nora Thompson, nephews and great nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, York with the Reverends Mike Neidow and Ben Kaiser officiating. Bob’s service will be webcast live on the church’s website at http://www.emmanuelyorkne.com/. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2:00 pm that afternoon at the Ohiowa Cemetery, Ohiowa, NE. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 1pm-8pm at the mortuary. No visitation on Friday. COVID 19 Funeral Guidelines will be implemented with limited spaced seating (75% occupancy), 6 feet of separation between household units and masks required.
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.
He married Hazel Schryer, on April 17, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, to this union 2 children were born, Patricia Ann and Robert Jr. Hazel preceded in death in 1962. He later met and married Helen “Cookie” Nickels Smith on February 4, 1977, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cookie preceded in death in 2007. Bob, then married Kathleen (Rohde) Buller on October 25, 2014, in York. They enjoyed retirement with friends and family.
Surviving is his wife Kathy of York, daughter-in-law Angie (Doug) Fye of Polk, NE, stepchildren: Dale (Joyce) Smith of Seward, NE, Dan (Peg) Smith of Holmen, WI, David (Sara) Buller of York, NE and Wanda (Royce) Buller of Hampton, NE; grandchildren and step grandchildren: Ashley (Benjamin) Hamilton of Blue Hill, NE, Ryan (April) Rathjen of Des Moines, IA, Tyler (Cassie) Rathjen of Polk, NE, Mandy (Chad Forney) Smith of Seward, NE, Dale (Angie) Smith of Columbus, NE, Stephanie (Mike) Spoerl of Murfreesboro, TN, Christine (Seth) Lade of Columbus, NE, Aaron (Carissa) Smith of Holmen, WI, Brian (Nichole) Smith of Seabrook, TX, Hunter Smith of Holmen, WI, Eric Buller of Lincoln, NE, Haley (AJ) Oaks of Lincoln, NE, Ben (Stephanie) Buller of Hampton, NE, John (Alicia) Buller of Lincoln, NE; 34 great grandchildren, sisters: Claire Ann Mussman of Geneva, NE and Roberta Endorf of Omaha, NE, brother-in-law Don Lammersfeld of Chicago, IL, sisters and brothers-in-law Connie Nickels of York, NE and LaVera (Ron) Martin of Panama, NE, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceding him in death are his parents, wife Hazel, daughter Patricia, son Robert Jr., granddaughter Christina Rathjen, wife Cookie, grandson Adam Smith, stepson Kevin Buller, brother Wilhelm Watermann, sister Helen Lammersfeld, brothers and sisters-in-law Dallas Mussman, Herman Endorf, Dean and Pat Nickels, LeRoy and Annette Nickels, Richard and Nora Thompson, nephews and great nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, York with the Reverends Mike Neidow and Ben Kaiser officiating. Bob’s service will be webcast live on the church’s website at http://www.emmanuelyorkne.com/. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2:00 pm that afternoon at the Ohiowa Cemetery, Ohiowa, NE. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 1pm-8pm at the mortuary. No visitation on Friday. COVID 19 Funeral Guidelines will be implemented with limited spaced seating (75% occupancy), 6 feet of separation between household units and masks required.
Condolences may be emailed to Metz Mortuary Messages will be given to the family.