Omaha – Bob lived a full life with many accomplishments but his favorite was growing the sweetest sweet corn and the perfect asparagus. He continued the family vegetable farming business in North Omaha and, along with his wife Doris, sold produce at farmers’ markets, stores, restaurants, out of garages and truck beds and sometimes, right out of the field. He wrestled at Tech High, studied electrical engineering, physiology and then medicine at the University of Nebraska and all along farmed in his spare time. Countless school children from Ponca Elementary took annual October field trips to select a free pumpkin at the Stratbucker patch and each December local families selected the best Christmas tree at his Rockbrook Farmer’s Market.

Entrepreneur, legal consultant, studio engineer at WOWT with Johnny Carson, radiology/nuclear medicine physician, Air Force flight surgeon and occasional troublemaker, Bob stayed so busy many wondered if he slept. He was called to active duty military service during the Gulf War after spending several years in the reserves out of Offutt Air Force Base. He finished his military service as a Colonel in 1993.

He was fiercely loyal to his friends, family, students and academic colleagues. He owned HealthTech bioengineering firm for years in Omaha, held several patents, authored multiple scientific publications in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, and was a medical school professor to many students. After earning all of his degrees, his favorite titles were Dad and Grandpa.

He loved classical music, Canadian fishing trips, reciting limericks, his German heritage and visiting the mountains of Colorado.

He is survived by son, Dr. Bill Stratbucker (Amy) of Grand Rapids, MI; daughters: L. Sophia Stratbucker of Omaha, NE, Heidi Coughlin (Jim Coughlin) of Omaha, NE, Amy Ham (Shane) of Stilwell, KS, and Rebecca Jenkins (Pete) of Elkhorn, NE; his 11 grandchildren: Zella and Brayden Stratbucker, Mackenzie, Max, Jay and Sam Coughlin, Bethany, Aidan and Andrew Ham and Sadie and Cole Jenkins; brothers George (June) and Gerald (Lynne) Stratbucker, and sister, Frances (Robert) Ausenhus. He was preceded in death by his wife Doris Stratbucker; parents Herman and Ruth Stratbucker; and Elizabeth Zachariae. 

Memorials in his honor can be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association – Nebraska chapter.