Robert (Bob) James Dietze
Robert (Bob) James Dietze, 88, passed away at his home in Gretna, NE on May 26, 2020.
Bob was born in Ashland, NE on October 24, 1931 to Fred and Gladys Dietze. He grew up in a family of 5 children in Gretna, NE. He graduated from Gretna High School in 1949 where he excelled in basketball and baseball. On February 15, 1952 Bob married Darlene Hansen at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Gretna, NE and then was drafted into the Army in July of 1952. He was sworn in at Fort Omaha, NE and traveled to southern Missouri for Orientation then assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for Boot Camp. After completing heavy equipment operator school he became a bulldozer instructor and Darlene moved to Ft. Leonard Wood to join him. In the fall of 1953 Bob was stationed at Darmstadt, Germany as part of the Army of Occupation and Darlene then moved back to Gretna to wait for his return. Bob was assigned as a bulldozer operator to the 547th Engineer Battalion (Combat) where his unit was tasked with bridging the Rhine River with pontoon boats in the event of a Soviet attack.
During this time Bob also played basketball on the Company team that traveled around Germany playing other Army teams. Bob was discharged from the Army as a Corporal on July 12, 1954 and returned to Gretna to join his wife and raise their family of 4 children: Alan, Susan, David and Bill. Bob farmed and raised livestock in the Gretna area until he retired in 1999. Bob enjoyed camping and fishing, square dancing and throwing horseshoes. He was an avid card player and enjoyed cribbage and bridge. His pride and joy were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Gladys, sister and brother-in-law Virginia and Robert Bergsten; brother and sister-in-law Ray and Aldine Dietze; sister and brother-in-law Lois and Ralph Dohse; and son-in-law Roger Clegg.
Bob is survived by his wife Darlene; son Alan (Ann) Dietze; daughter Susan Clegg; son David Dietze (Darcy Iske) all of Gretna; son Bill (Cathy) Dietze of Reston, VA; sister Delores (Willard) Bishop and brother-in-law Harold Hansen, all of Gretna. Grandchildren Paul (Mindy) Dietze, Patrick (Tamara) Dietze and Christopher (Jessica) Dietze; Andrew (Sara) Clegg and Melanie (Cory) VanBlarcom; Andrea (Mike Stark) Dietze, Bryan (Kristina Johnson) Dietze and Sara (David) Lease; Jared (Kellie) Dietze and Miranda Dietze. Great-grandchildren Alexzandra and Skylar; Izsobella, Illythia and Indyanna; Gabriella and Anastazya; Joshua, Thomas and Charles; Abram and Veda; Abby, Ashleigh and Joseph; William and Samuel; Taylor and Piper; Many nieces and nephews, family and friends. Bob was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, a life member of the Gretna VFW Post 10725 and a lifelong member of The Gretna American Legion Post 216.
Visitation Monday, June 1, 2020 from 3:00-4:30 PM (Following CDC Guidelines) at Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone Dr., Gretna, NE followed by a Private Memorial Service. Memorials to Resurrection Lutheran Church in Gretna.
Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone Gretna, NE 402-332-0090 www.roedermortuary.com
