Robert L. Gerken, 73, of Wayne, died Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 at his rural farm home near Wakefield.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wayne. Visitation will be Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial with military rites will be in Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wayne.
Memorials may be directed to the Gerken family for later designation.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home in Wayne.
Robert Leo Gerken was born Feb. 29, 1948 in West Point to Leo and Genevieve (Goeken) Gerken. He attended Guardian Angels Central Catholic in West Point. Robert served in the United States Navy beginning in 1965, with the Seabee’s MCB-6 Mobile Construction Battalion, during the Vietnam War. He received an honorable discharge in 1971. Robert earned his private and commercial pilot's license and became FAA Accredited in 1983. He worked at Westside Garage in Omaha from 1972 to 1978. Robert owned and operated his own business in Omaha from 1978 to 1997, “Bobs 2020 Garage.” He moved to a farm northeast of Wayne in 1997, where he enjoyed farming and ranching. For many years, Robert was employed by Kelly Hansen, driving truck and working hogs. In 2016, he started driving truck for Heithold Family Trucking. Robert was partial to Ford Mustangs and John Deere tractors. He enjoyed fishing, pheasant hunting and farming, and had fond memories of his childhood dog, Brownie. Robert also served as a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his son, Lee (Mary) Gerken of Honolulu, Hawaii; daughter, Chareese (Mark) Greenwald of Denver, Colorado; four grandchildren; sisters, Diane (Dudley) Persson of Oakland, Mildred “Millie” Mausbach of Peoria, Arizona, Eileen Wilson of Fremont, Mary Jean (Tom) Rinker of Boylston, Massachusetts, Dorothy (Joe) Citta of Reno, Nevada; brothers, Steven (Marlene) Gerken of Beemer, and Michael Gerken of West Point.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Donald Gerken and Richard Gerken.
