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Robert Dean Spearow - Obituary

Robert Dean Spearow, age 86, of Stromsburg, Nebraska, passed away July 9, 2018 at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola. Celebration of Life services were held Sunday, July 15th, 2018 at 4:00 pm, at the Midwest Covenant Home Chapel in Stromsburg with Pastor Dan Spearow, officiating. Pianist will be Kathy Olson. Musical selections will be “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, and “Hymn of Promise”. Robert donated his body to the Anatomical Board of the State of Nebraska and an inurnment will take place at the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney, Nebraska at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Stromsburg United Methodist Church.

Robert was born November 9, 1931 at Sidney, Nebraska to Paul Daniel and Thelma (Baker) Spearow. He attended country school a few miles outside of Gurley, Nebraska and graduated from Gurley High School in 1949. He then attended Colorado State University for a short time before being called back home to help on the family farm. Robert enlisted in the United States Air Force March 11, 1952 and served in Tokyo during the Korea Conflict. He served at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He continued serving in the Air Reserves and was discharged from service March 10, 1960.

On September 6, 1953 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Marie Osborn at the Methodist Church in Sidney, Nebraska. To this union five children were born. In 1955 they moved to Sidney, Nebraska and started farming and raising registered Hereford cattle. In 1982 they moved to the community of Olsburg, Kansas where they lived on their retirement ranch, although they never got around to retiring and continued to raise cattle and sold Purina Feed. He was involved in many community theatre productions. He also served as lay speaker for several rural churches in Kansas.

They moved to Stromsburg in 2012 to be closer to family. Robert moved to the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg in October of 2017 where he resided until his passing.

He was a member of the Stromsburg United Methodist Church, Stromsburg Masonic Lodge #126, and was the Bronze Jordan Medal holder for the oldest living member of the lodge.

Survivors include his wife Dorothy of Stromsburg; five children: Dan (Nancy) Spearow of Stromsburg, Diane (David) Helfrich of Fayetteville, NC, Rick (Judy) Spearow of Sidney, NE, Dr. Carol (Mike) Garcia of Fayetteville, NC, and Colonel Gary (Vikki) Spearow of North Kingstown, Rhode Island; nine grandchildren, Heidi (Trent) Proskocil, Stacy (Dan) Kutzli, Jason Spearow, Ian Helfrich, Anna (Bryce) Johnson, Brandon Spearow, Jon & Justin Spearow, and Dylan Spearow; and four great grandchildren, Cody & Tad Proskocil, Eric & Elisabeth Kutzli, and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara Helfrich, and infant brother Richard Spearow.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg is in charge of arrangements. dubasfuneralhome.com

 

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