Robert J. "Husker Bob" Stolz

A funeral service for Robert J. "Bob" Stolz will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. and Scott Randall officiating.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2:00 p.m, at the Naponee Cemetery, Naponee, Nebraska, with Military Honors provided by the Hicks-Siegel American Legion Post #364 in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors Team.

Robert Julius "Bob" "Husker Bob" Stolz, 93 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege.  Bob was born on November 13, 1929, in Naponee, the youngest of five children, born to Otto and Gertrude "Gertie" (Schimmels) Stolz. He attended and received his education and graduated from Naponee High School, with the class of 1948.

In the summers of 1940-46, Bob would take the train to California to pick fruit.  He started working on the Harlan County Dam, the summer of 1947.  In 1950, he was transferred to a construction project outside of Bakersfield, California.  In the late, 1950s, Bob was inducted into the United States Marines Corps, where he spent the most of the next two years in Japan and then Korea.  He was honorably discharged in 1953, where he received the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.

He returned home and began working at KHOL TV, outside Kearney, Nebraska.  At the tv station, he produced several talent and dance shows.  His favorite show he produced was, "The Jungle Tom's Kids Show".  While working at KHOL, he met and later married Lona Bogue.  Bob and Lona moved to Holdrege in 1956 and were married on June 3, 1956 at the First United Methodist Church in Alma, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Holdrege where they enjoyed life together and grew a family of five: three daughters and two sons, who all grew up in Holdrege

Bob worked days at C.S. Nelson Furniture Store and KHOL at night.  In 1960, Bob and Norm Lucas started Bob and Norm's Floor Covering Store.  Bob sold his share in 1980 and went on the road as a floor covering Manufacturing Sales Representative, retiring in 1998.

Everyone knew of Husker Bob's love for Nebraska Football. It all started in the 1940's watching in the knothole section. 1962 was Husker Bob's first year to have season tickets which the family still has to this day. Husker Bob loved playing Tetris with coolers, grills, luggage, and food in the back of many vans and expeditions to always have the best tailgates.  Husker Bob had thousands of great Husker moments and memories. Highlighted with his last in person Husker game when Husker Bob was honored to stand post for the POW MIA chair in 2021.

Bob was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, Charter Member of the B.P.O. Elks Club; and over 70-year member of the American Legion Post #66 and Naponee Post #364.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, John; brother, Paul; two sisters, Esther and Zenda; and his wife, Lona.

Survivors include his children:  daughter, Roxanne Reeder and her husband, Marvin of Republican City, Nebraska; son, Brent Stolz and his wife, Tricia of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter, Cheryl Meyers and her husband, David of Seattle, Washington; son, Brad Stolz and his fiancée, Angie Miller of Holdrege; and daughter, Tara Rowe and her husband, Charles of Canton, North Carolina; his grandchildren: Pamela Hansen and her husband, Jeremy of Bertrand, Nebraska; Adam Reeder of Lincoln, Nebraska; Alex, Michael, Andrew, and Suzie Stolz of Omaha; Jordan Urbom and her husband, Levi of Grand Island, Nebraska; Erika Stolz of Dallas, Texas; and Kennedy Stolz of Lincoln, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren, Jayce and Karly Hansen; and Sayler Rome; along with beloved nieces and many close friends and neighbors.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Bob's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for designation at a future time.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.