Lee Harvey Rottman

Lee Harvey Rottman 83 of rural Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at his home in rural Pawnee City. He was born on January 6, 1938 in Falls City, Nebraska to Harvey and Helen (Frederick) Rottman.  He was baptized at Christ Lutheran Church in Falls City.  Lee spent  his early years on the farm and began his education at Woodhill country school near Table Rock until moving with his parents at the age of 11 to Baudette, Minnesota and then returning at age 14 to Table Rock. 

Lee graduated from Table Rock High School with the class of 1955.  After working for a year, he began college at Peru State College in the fall of 1956, graduating in1960 with a bachelors’ degree in education.  He received a graduate assistantship to attend Indiana State Teacher College in Terra Haute, Indiana, graduating with at Master of Science in Education in 1961. His first teaching job was in Merrillville, Indiana, where he taught industrial arts and math.  After two years there Lee received a teaching fellowship to again attend Indiana State in Terra Haute for another year.  Throughout all of his college years he worked every summer for the Army Corps of Engineers aboard the Meriwether Lewis now in dry dock at Brownville, Nebraska.  He financed all of his college education with this job.  He was inducted into the River Rat Hall of Fame in 2012 for his service aboard the Meriwether Lewis for seven summers.  Lee then took a teaching job in Table Rock for two years before going to Heidelberg, Germany, to teach in the American school for one year.  He travelled extensively in Europe while there.  Upon his return from Germany, Lee taught again in Nebraska schools while attending Emporia State College in Kansas during the summers where he earned the Specialist in Education degree Ed.S in 1971.  He then served in several Nebraska and Missouri schools as as Superintendent of Schools for the next 24 years.  He was a member of the Nebraska State Education Association and both the Nebraska and Missouri Administrator  Associations.  Lee retired to the farm in Pawnee City in 1997.  Lee married Carolyn Sue Uhri in 1966. To this union were born two daughters, Cara Lee and Ellen Sue.  They later divorced.

He took great pleasure in raising cattle and managing his land for the remainder of his life. Lee and Ann (Elliott) Jacobsen were married in 1997 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He also enjoyed many trips with his wife Ann.   

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Helen Rottman.

Lee is survived by his wife Ann, his two daughters and their spouses, Cara Rottman Fisher and her husband Kurt of Juniata, NE and Ellen Rottman Tilghman and her husband  Matt of Lincoln, NE, his grandchildren, Jordan (Rachel) of Iowa City, IA, Mercedes, Alexis and Jenna Fisher of Juniata, NE, Madison and Mason Tilghman of Lincoln, NE , step-children, Melissa Jacobsen of Plattsmouth, NE, Amy Jacobsen and Dave Ulferts of Omaha, NE,  Aaron and Deb Jacobsen of Junction City, KS, step-grandchildren, Eben Kohtz and Anna Ulferts of Omaha, NE, Anson and Avery Jacobsen of Junction City,  KS, a sister Rosemary Lucky of Bellevue, NE, and a brother Dan Rottman of Tecumseh, NE. 

Memorial service: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Officiating Reverend Tim Llewellyn.  Visitation on Friday, March 5, 2021 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 at the Pawnee City Cemetery. Masks are required at the services and graveside. Memorials to the Zion Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.

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