Robert Lee “Bob” Wilke was born March 18, 1937, in Taylor, Nebraska to Donald and Marjorie (Wellington) Wilke and passed away Jan. 31, 2022, in York, at the age of 84 years, 10 months and 13 days.
Bob grew up in Taylor, where he attended Rosemont Elementary School, Almeria grade school and Taylor High School through his sophomore year before moving with his family to Lincoln, where he attended and graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1954. He joined the U.S. Army on July 10, 1956, where he served in the 101st Airborne Division. Bob was honorably discharged on April 9, 1959. On July 21, 1959, he was united in marriage to Delores Bargman at Calvary United Methodist Church in Lincoln, and to this union, two children were born, Roger and Jacki.
Bob worked for the railroad as a lineman for a short amount of time and then worked as a bricklayer. He worked at JED Construction as a foreman from 1969, until his retirement in 1999. After retirement, Bob and Delores enjoyed traveling in their RV and wintering in Texas and Arizona. Bob raced motorcycles throughout Nebraska in his younger years, winning many trophies. He enjoyed watching his kids play sports and coached some of their baseball teams. He and his family loved to go fishing and camping. He loved the mountains and took many family vacations there. He also liked hunting with his son and brother. He was known for giving out special nicknames to every new grandchild, niece, and nephew. The family were members of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Lincoln. Bob was also a member of the Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Delores Wilke; brother, Richard Wilke; granddaughter, Rebecca Wilke; grandson, David Brooks Wilke. Survivors cherishing Bob’s memory include his children, Roger and wife, Shirley Wilke, York, Jacki and husband, Mark Allensworth, Lincoln; three grandchildren, Russell and wife, Terra Wilke, Chad Allensworth, Kylie Allensworth; two great-grandsons, Ryker Lee Wilke and Wyatt James Wilke; sisters, Kay Wilke, Phoenix, Arizona, and Debra and husband, Jon VanHoutan, Lincoln; sisters-in-law, JoAnne Wilke, Kearney, LaVern Hyde, Staplehurst; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, great-grandnieces and nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Visitation is from 1 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral service is at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, at the funeral home with interment at the Centerville Cemetery in Martell. Condolences may be left for the family online at /www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
