Robert’s Obituary Robert Joseph Yanke age 69 of Fremont passed away Monday, January 28, 2019 at Methodist Fremont Health. Bob was born June 18, 1949 to Albert and Mary (Robinson) Yanke in Blair, NE. He was the middle child of 7.
He was raised in Tekamah and graduated from Tekamah High School. Bob loved swimming and won many medals during school. Right after school Bob joined the Marines with 3 of his buddies and served from 1968-70 during Vietnam to do his part for America.
Bob spent most of his work years at Jayhawk Box Company as dye mounter. He retired in 2013. This was a big year for him as the Ness’s and the Yanke’s went to the Missouri Valley Tournament and the BlueJays won the tournament.
In 1992 Bob married Janice (Jan) Goodier Anderson. Bob and Jan tool many trips but the best one was the surprise trip to New York to see Yankee Stadium that Jan planned for his birthday. Bob loved his “Yankees” no matter how bad they were playing.
In 2001 while shopping at Legend Field, Bob got to meet George Steinbrenner. This was probably the best moment of his life. One Bob’s dreams was to see every MLB Park.
Over the years he got to see 10 and many twice. Bob loved Nebraska Football and Basketball but not as much as Creighton Basketball. For 10 years Bob and Fred Ness had season tickets to Creighton Basketball.
He enjoyed going to the College World Series games with his friend Sonny Traut. They would go to at least one game each year for 10 years when they were held at Rosenblatt Stadium. During Bob’s Vietnam time he saw many things that he did not want to talk about.
In 2016 Bob was on the first Vietnam Veterans Honor Flight from Patriot Productions. Before he went on the flight he got acquainted with some others that were in Vietnam and became very good friends with a few. Al Crook, Jim Pederson, Ron Clayton and Ken Kelberlau were a few.
They got together on the first Wednesdays of the month for coffee and conversation. Later Bob was diagnosed with lung cancer. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gene Yanke; sister, Frances King; close friends, Dallas Hanneman and Duane Traut.
He is survived by his wife Jan; son, Robert “Matt” (Missi) Yanke of Omaha; daughter, Melissa Wagner of Fremont; brothers, Gary (Connie) Yanke and John Dale Yanke all of Tekamah, Ron Yanke and significant other Pat Kelly of Fremont; sister-in-law, JoAnn (Al) Williams; brother-in-law, Robert King all of Fremont; 4 granddaughters and 1 great granddaughter; many nieces and nephews; very good friend Desi Rae Ratkovec and his 2 four legged companions Allie and Macy. Memorial Service will be 10:30 AM Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Presbyterian Church in Fremont. Rev.
Jon Ashley will officiate. Memorial visitation with family receiving friends will be from 5-7 PM Thursday at the CHURCH. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont.
Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave. Fremont, NE 68025 402-721-4490.
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