Robert Gyhra

Robert H. Gyhra  “Bob” was born June 5, 1937 in Pawnee City to Leonard and Adelaide (Rucker) Gyhra and passed away July 28, 2016, at the Pawnee County Memorial Hospital in Pawnee City, Nebraska at the age of 79 years and 53 days.  He was the third of 10 children in the family.  

He grew up on the family farm southeast of Steinauer.  He attended St. Anthony’s grade school then attended high school in Steinauer and graduated in 1955.  He was a member of the US Naval Air Reserves from 1954-1962.  After graduation he attended Benedictine College for one year and attended Peru State College for another year.  He then moved to Omaha and worked at Mutual of Omaha as an actuary.  While in Omaha he played on 3 different baseball teams.  He would even change uniforms in the backseat of the car while Erma drove from one game to the next, often times running to join the game!

While in Omaha, he met Erma Wemhoff and on November 19, 1960 (Erma’s birthday), they were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church outside of Humphrey and were married 55 years.  To this marriage five girls were born, Teresa, Suzanne, Jane, Peggy and Amy.  He was never sorry that he didn’t have any boys, however he did tell the girls once when they were throwing softballs that, “You throw like a bunch of girls!”  Or that if we ate this “we would grow hair on our chest!”  We all looked at each other wondering what to do!

They moved to Steinauer in July 1964 when Bob started working at the Bank of Steinauer and The B.J. Steinauer Agency.  In 1980 along with Charles Jasa, he purchased the bank and agency where they were Vice-President & President respectively until their retirement on December 31, 1999.  He remained on the Board of Directors until his death.  

Bob was a lifetime member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Steinauer.  He was very active in the church over the years as a member of the church board, lector and he loved singing in the choir.  He served as Mayor of Steinauer from 1967 – 2015 and was on the Steinauer VFD during that time.  He was proud to serve on the Pawnee Medical Foundation for 32 years and Pawnee Hospital Board for 29 years.  He also served on the Pawnee Area Regional Revolving Loan Fund Board along with other various boards and committees. 

He loved golfing, bowling, fishing, hunting, gardening, mowing and doing odd jobs for the church and community “just because.”  He enjoyed going to his grandkids sporting events and activities, traveling with Erma and his family and playing cards at the tavern.   Basically, he loved going and doing “things!”  His love and loyalty for the church, his family and community will be hard to replace and he will be missed.

Bob is survived by his wife Erma of Steinauer, five children, Teresa Pfister and husband Paul of Omaha, Suzanne Borcher and husband Terry of Pawnee City, Jane Gyhra of Steinauer, Peg Baehr and husband Darin of Beatrice and Amy Maher and husband Nick of Lincoln; nine grandchildren:  Christen (Pfister) Pegg and husband Aaron, Jamie and Elizabeth Pfister, Garrett and Scott Borcher, Treyton and Monet Baehr, Jacob Buckner and Mya Maher.  Siblings and spouses, Jeanette (Don) Nerud of Crete, Roselyn (Charles) Jasa of Steinauer, David (Alice) Gyhra of Lincoln, Ruth (Reid) Goodwin of Florida, Emilie (Dell) Hogy of Colorado, JoAnn (Frank) Lierz of Lincoln, Mary (Ervin) Klingsick of Syracuse, Fran (Lonnie) Herrick of Steinauer.  Sister-in-Laws Nora (Wemhoff) Loughran, Marguerite (Wemhoff) Delaney, Alice Wemhoff.  Brother-in-Law Dick Wemhoff and wife Carolyn, Special God Child Msgr. Richard Gyhra, and many nieces, nephews and friends.  

Bob is preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Adelaide Gyhra, father and mother-in-law Albert and Camilla Wemhoff, son-in-law Jeremy Buckner, brother Fr. Larry Gyhra, brothers-in-law Clem Loughran, Richard Delaney and Frank Wemhoff.

Funeral Mass 10:30 on Monday, August 1, 2016, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Steinauer, Nebraska. Officiating Msgr. Richard Gyhra, Father Michael Christensen, Reverend Scott M. Courtney, KHS. Visitation on Sunday, July 31, 2016 from Noon-5 p.m., with family greeting friends from 3-5 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.  Rosary will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Steinauer, Nebraska.  Interment at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Steinauer, Nebraska.  Memorials to family choice.  On line condolence may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com

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