Robert R. Thomsen, 94 Kearney resident, formerly of Gibbon Robert Thomsen, 94, of Kearney, formerly of Gibbon died Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, KS. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Central Nebraska Veterans Memorial and Gibbon Public Schools.
Condolences may be shared online at www. osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
Robert was born January 7, 1925 in Curtis, NE to Knud and Rena (Rossen) Thomsen. He grew up on a farm near Curtis and received his education from the Nebraska School of Agriculture. Immediately following his graduation, Robert was drafted into the U.S. Army.
He went to basic training in Texas and was sent to Camp Crowder in Missouri before his deployment to the European Theater. Robert was in Marseille, France waiting to deploy to the South Pacific when the Japanese surrendered. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in December of 1945.
On November of 1943, Robert was united in marriage to Veda Amstuz in Oberlin, KS. The couple moved to Curtis, NE where he owned and operated the Palace Café. They moved to Gibbon where Robert worked for Consumers Public Power and later owned and operated Thomsen Fuels in Gibbon.
Robert enjoyed piloting small airplanes as a young man with his brothers-in-law. He loved thoroughbred horseracing and owned several that competed at numerous racetracks. He enjoyed many camping trips with his family across the United States.
After his retirement, he traveled with his wife, Veda to Denmark where he met his father’s family and visited family homesteads. His father emigrated from Denmark and since both parents spoke only Danish in the home, Robert’s first language was Danish, learning English when he went to school. He was very proud of his heritage and loved telling Danish names of his favorite foods.
He and his wife, Veda also traveled to Norway, Hawaii, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands. However, his favorite adventure was an extensive camping trip to Alaska. Robert was a longtime member of the Gibbon American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Gibbon Baptist Church.
He also served for several years on the Gibbon City Council. He loved being with his family and telling many good and funny stories to friends and family. He and Veda celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in November of 2018.
He was honored to have the opportunity to travel with the Buffalo County Hero Flight to Washington, D.C. Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Robert Kevin Thomsen of Albuquerque, NM, Einer Thomsen and wife, Susan of Omaha, Bernard Thomsen and wife, Nancy of Shawnee, KS; daughters, Sandra Parker and husband, Steve of Las Vegas, NV, Linda Beery of Wichita, KS, Jean Sidwell and husband, Scott of Kearney, Christine Krakel and husband, John of Red Feather Lake, CO, Davine Meza and husband, Ygnacio of Elkhorn, NE and Decca Gard and husband, Rusty of Fort Worth, TX; 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; sisters, Hilda Leachman, Luella Glaze, Delila Cooper and Eloise Snyder; as well as, several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; son, Oscar Knud Thomsen; grandson, Christian Thomsen; granddaughter, Brianne Meza and a brother, Harold Thomsen. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert R. Thomsen please visit our Sympathy Store.
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