Robert H Westerbeck

Funeral Services for Robert H. Westerbeck will be held on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.at the Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, Nebraska with Reverend Gale Dorn officiating. Following the traditional funeral, cremation will take place and a private inurnment will be held at a later date, at the Alma Cemetery with military honors.

Robert Harold Westerbeck, 90 years of age, of Alma, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society - Colonial Villa in Alma. Bob was born on July 15, 1927 in Maywood, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of three sons born to Raymond and Leah (Correll) Westerbeck. He received his primary education from Arapahoe Public Schools in Arapahoe, Nebraska until the 4th grade, when his family moved to Alma. He then continued his education at Alma Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1945.

Following his graduation, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy and entered into Active Service on June 20, 1945 and completed his training at the United States Navy Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois. Bob served as a Seaman First Class during World War II and received the Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged on August 12, 1946 in Shoemaker, California. Bob returned to Alma and began working for Claussen, Olson and Benner Company of Holdrege, Nebraska, a dirt construction company.

On September 26, 1948, he was united in marriage to Lenora M. Warnken at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Hildreth, Nebraska, and to this union three children were born: Darrel, Brian and Janis. When the couple was first married, they lived in Alma and Bob worked for his father. They later moved to Lenora's family farm near Hildreth, Nebraska. They were members of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, where Bob served on the church council and was a member of the Lutheran Brotherhood.

When Bob's father passed away, the family moved back to Alma and he continued to manage his company. A few years later, he became the owner of The Westerbeck Construction Company. The Westerbeck Construction Company has been in the soil conservation and dirt moving business in Harlan County and the surrounding counties, for four generations, from 1946 until the present. Bob was proud to help with the construction of the Harlan County Dam, but most of all, he was proud to have worked alongside his boys. In 1994, Bob passed the business on to his sons: Darrel and Brian.

Bob enjoyed hunting, football and later enjoyed many weekends, boating and camping with family and friends at the lake. He enjoyed working on "odd" jobs and loved fixing machinery; he truly was a jack-of-all-trades. Above all else, Bob was a family man and cherished his time spent with them.

Bob was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, where he served on the church board for many years. He also was a member of the Fay-Cady American Legion Post #118 in Alma for over 50 years; served on the Alma City Council; and was a longtime Jaycees Member.

After his retirement, Bob and Lenora enjoyed travelling throughout the United States, including Hawaii. The couple enjoyed taking cruises; to Alaska and a Disney Cruise, to the Bahama's. Later, they spent many winters in Arizona, until Bob's health began to fail.  Besides his parents; Bob was preceded in death by three brothers-in-law: Dale Johnson and wife, Darlene, Herbert Warnken and his wife, Colleen, and Franklin James; and a sister-in-law, Irene Hubert and her husband, Lester.

Bob leaves to celebrate his life; his loving wife of almost 70 years, Lenora Westerbeck of Alma; his sons: Darrel Westerbeck and his wife, Gwen and Brian Westerbeck all of Alma; his daughter, Janis Hogeland and her husband, Robert of Kearney, Nebraska; 6 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Donald Westerbeck and his wife, Ruth of Dallas, Texas and Richard Westerbeck and his wife, Ruth of Mt. Vernon, Washington; two sisters-in-law: Myrna Augsburger and her husband, Jack of Placerville, California; and Lorraine James of Lincoln, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

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

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

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.