ROBERT DEAN REIMERS

1941-2024

Robert Dean Reimers was born June 4, 1941, to Glen and Maudie (Bettinger) Reimers near Brock, Nebraska, and died January 25, 2024, at CHI Health Immanuel in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 82 years, 7 months and 21 days.

At an early age, Bob went to live with his grandparents and attended Glenrock Country School through 8th grade. Upon the death of his grandfather and the declining health of his grandmother, he was taken in by the Fred and Bernice Lockwood family to ensure he continued his high school years in Brock. It was during this time that he found his love for athletics, playing football, basketball, baseball, and competing in track and field and excelling in all. His most notable accomplishment was being named to the Omaha World-Herald 1st Team All-State for 6-man football (quarterback). He graduated from Brock High School in 1959.

After graduation, he attended Peru State College and was a pitcher for the Bobcat baseball team, as well as a member of the Blue Devils club. He also served as president of the Phi Lamba Alpha, “P Club” (also known as the Letterman’s Club).

Bob had a monumental year in 1963. In May, he became the first member of his family to graduate from college. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church (Johnson, NE) in August, and began his teaching and coaching career at Essex High School later that same month. And then, on October 26, of that year, he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Adams, at Zion Lutheran Church.

Bob taught and coached in Essex for five years before accepting teaching and coaching assignments at Griswold in 1968. In 1973, he earned his Master of Science in Education degree from Northwest Missouri State University. During his 30-year career, he coached nearly every sport at some level: football, basketball (boys and girls), baseball, and track and field (boys and girls). Through countless hours spent at school and on the athletic fields and courts, he was a positive influence and left a lasting impact on many of his students’ and athletes’ lives.

In retirement, Bob compiled a comprehensive book of Griswold High School Athletic records, of which he was extremely proud, and he spent a lot of time reminiscing over those statistics in his later years. He was also an official at the Nebraska High School State Track & Field Championships for several years.

He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Griswold, Iowa, where he served on the church council, and was a member of the Griswold Optimist Club. He loved fishing (especially with his friend, Jay Hoogeveen), sports, and anything related to Nebraska Cornhusker football.

Bob is survived by his wife of 60 years, Donna of Griswold, his two children, Jerry (Kitty) of San Diego, and Sonya (Phil) of Maxwell, five grandchildren, Tori (Riley) Tschumper, Madison Reimers, Jacquelyn, Brock, and Mary Staudt, and one great-grandson, Sawyer Garrison; sister, Frances Kudirka; honorary sisters Denice Rathbone and Barbara (Bob) Teten; sister-in-law Corinne Robinson and brother-in-law Reinhold Teten; along with nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life funeral service will take place at Faith Lutheran Church in Griswold on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Lunch and fellowship with the family will be held at the Central Church of Christ Family Life Center, on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from noon until 3:00 PM. Interment will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Johnson, NE, on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 11:30 AM. Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family. *************