Robert Roy Dahlgren

Robert Roy Dahlgren, 81, of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away on Monday, June 23, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He was born to Roy and Opal (Pestinger) on October 3, 1943 in Gordon, Nebraska.  Bob lived with his family in Merriman until they moved to Hastings, where he started school.  In 1948, the family moved to Pawnee City. Bob joined the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout.  While in high school, he enjoyed playing drums in the band. Bob worked for Sawyer's Clothing while in high school.  He graduated from Pawnee High School in 1961.  His higher education included an Associate's Degree from Otero Junior College in La Junta, CA in 1969, a Master's Degree in Writing from the University of Hawaii in 1972, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Nebraska in 1988 and in 2021, received a Doctor Honoris Causa from Ryder University in the San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences.  

Bob had a very interesting work history over the years. He worked as a nurse's aide in Glens Falls, N.Y. and the Pawnee County Hospital.  He became a Boy Scout leader in New York.  He taught the scouts Indian dances and how to make costumes, later taking these boys to the World's Fair to perform.  Bob brought them back to Nebraska to visit and all 40 boys stayed at his mother's house for five days!  While in New York, Bob played in a Scottish band as a drummer.  He also performed on Broadway in the show Oklahoma as the sheriff.  In 1963, Bob attended the inauguration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.  He worked in Beatrice at the Martin Luther Home.  Bob then moved to La Junta, CO in 1969, and while there he was hired by a group of Boy Scouts called Koshare Indians.  Bob was hired to research dance steps and costumes of native Indian tribes.  These boys learned the dance steps and made costumes and traveled all over the United States to perform.  While he was there, Bob became a very good friend with native American artist Woody Crumbo and also painted with him.  Bob would on occasion in Colorado go on an archeological dig with friends and acquired some treasures along the way. 

He moved to Hawaii and sold encyclopedias and painted for three years.  He then moved back to Lincoln and started college at UNL.  After graduation from UNL, Bob was employed by the State of Nebraska as a foster parent to five fine young men.  He traveled many different places with these kids.  After doing this for a number of years, Bob was employed at Lincoln High School where he retired in 2008.  After retirement, Bob started writing books and has written over 100.  Bob also was in the United States Air Force.  

His hobbies included writing books, Native American beading, painting, converting VHS movies to CD, traveling with Dustin, and spending time with family.  

He is survived by his brother John Dahlgren and wife Cheri of Pawnee City, sister Barbara White of Houston, MO, nieces, Tamara Dahlgren and Amy Micek and husband Steven of Lincoln, uncle Kenneth Eichenberger, former sister-in-law Susan Dahlgren and many great nieces and great nephews and cousins. 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents. 

Memorial services were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Officiating Pastor Lauri Beach.

Graveside Inurnment will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 3, 2025 in the Pawnee City Cemetery with military honors provided by the Air Force Honor Guard and the Pawnee City  American Legion Post #168 and Dalton-McHugh VFW Post #5289.

Memorials may go to the Pawnee County Hospital Foundation or the Capital City Humane Society in Lincoln, Nebraska.   

Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.

Services are entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Pawnee City, Nebraska.

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