Harry "Bob" Bridgmon

Harry Robert Bridgmon was born March 27, 1926 to Harry and Harriet ‘Hattie’ (Britt) Bridgmon. He was the youngest of 5 children.

Always known as Robert or Bob, he lived his life in Pawnee County. He grew up living and working on a farm with his parents. He attended school in Table Rock, NE through the 9th grade when, at the age of 15, his father died. He quit school to work to support his mother, his sister, and himself. He could not legally be paid until he was 16, so his boss withheld his pay for several months until he turned 16, so his boss was able to pay his mom for the work he had done.

Bob worked to purchase a farm located east of Pawnee City where he was to spend much of his life. There he farmed and cared for his ailing mother who lived with him. He got much enjoyment from his many nieces and nephews. His mother succumbed to her health problems and passed in 1965.

Bob met his future wife on a blind date on Halloween night. His friend had been dating a woman from Waterville, Kansas. This couple decided they should play match-maker so they set Bob up on a blind double date with her friend, Margaret (Jacobson) Specht also from Waterville. After a whirlwind romance, the two married the day after Christmas, December 26, 1965 in a beautiful ceremony at the United Methodist Church in Waterville, Kansas.

When Bob married Margaret, he took on the challenge of a ready-made family, as Margaret was widowed and had a 4 year old daughter, Lori, from her previous marriage. He legally adopted Lori and became her father, raising her as his own.

Bob and Margaret had their first child together, a daughter named Teresa, was born December 6, 1966.  Their son, Alan, was born to them on May 30, 1968.

Farming was dear to him and he always took pride in being able to raise his family on the farm. This life was as important to his children as it to him. In addition to farming, Bob worked full time for the Williams Chevrolet and International Harvester dealership in Pawnee City as their tractor mechanic. He worked there for 17 years until they closed. He then worked for a short time at the John Deere implement in Humboldt, Nebraska. In 1982 he embarked on self-employment as a mechanic. He loved working on tractors and enjoyed the camaraderie of the farmers that owned them. Bob taught 5th & 6th Grade Sunday School at the Pawnee City Methodist Church for years. He also held several positions on the board of the Pawnee City Rural Fire Department.

His wife, Margaret, died suddenly and unexpectedly on March 26, 1988.

On February 15, 1995 he married Sharon (Barber) Wolter at the United Methodist Church in Pawnee City. They had found a connection with each other as each of them had recently lost their spouse.

As age set in, the upkeep on the farm and care of his cattle became more and more daunting. He sold his farm in 2001. He and Sharon bought a small home in Pawnee City at 415 F Street. In 2012 Bob and Sharon sold their home in Pawnee City to move to Ridgeview Towers Assisted Living located in Tecumseh, NE. His wife, Sharon, experienced medical difficulties that needed further care, so he moved to Belle Terrace in 2016 so they could remain together.

Bob passed away Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh at the age of 92 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Edward and Harriet “Hattie” (Britt) Bridgmon, first wife, Margaret (Jacobson) Bridgmon, siblings, Hazel (Bridgmon) Ritzinger, Charlie Bridgmon, Mae (Bridgmon) Krofta and Verlea (Bridgmon) Frank.

Bob is survived by his wife, Sharon Bridgmon of Tecumseh, NE, children; Lori Bridgmon-Corum of Lincoln, NE, Teresa (Bridgmon) Hoover and husband Jack Hoover, Jr. of Lincoln, NE,  Alan Bridgmon and wife Becky (Ahl) Bridgmon of Memphis, TN, step children; Brian Wolter and wife Jennifer of Fremont, NE, Brenda (Wolter) Klepper and husband, David of Pawnee City, NE, Danny Wolter of Elkhorn, NE, grandchildren; Ashley (Hoover) Lewis and husband Justin of Lincoln , NE, Kristen (Hoover) Parkinson and husband Keith of Belleville, KS, Jordan Bridgmon of Omaha, NE, Jack Hoover III of Lincoln, NE, Nicholas Hoover of Lincoln, NE, Weston Corum of Lincoln, NE, Christopher Hoover of Lincoln, NE, Jacob Bridgmon of Memphis, TN, step grandchildren, Adrian Klepper, Dakota Wolter, great-grandchildren, Tray Lewis, Mara Bridgmon, Aiden Lewis, Kameron Parkinson, Brayden Hoover, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial service 2:00 p.m., Saturday June 30, 2018 at the United Methodist Church, Pawnee City, Nebraska.  Officiating Pastor Sherry Sklenar.  Visitation on Friday, May 29, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.  Inurnment will be in the Pawnee City Cemetery.  Memorials to family choice. Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.

Wherry Mortuary- 919 G Street- Pawnee City, Nebraska 68420 (402) 852-2387

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