Robert O. Ekdahl
September 12, 1939 – January 11, 2024
FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, January 26th at 12:00 noon at the West Center Chapel, with VISITATION from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. INTERMENT: Forest Lawn Memorial Park with Military Honors by Benson VFW Post 2503. Memorials will be directed by the family. To view a live broadcast of the service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
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Bob was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Annie; son, David; daughter, Anna (Peters); grandchildren: Ian, Hannah (Peters), Ashlyn, Delaney, Isaac, Asher, and Oakley; great-grandchild, Leo; brother, Tom; sisters: Linda (Gruhn), Susan (Morris), and Cathy (Janssen); many cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Robert O. “Bob” Ekdahl went to be with his Lord and Saviour on January 11, 2024. Bob was born on September 12, 1939 ,in his grandparents’ (Nels and Anna Ekdahl) house in Wausa, Nebraska. His parents were Wilbur and Doris (Benson) Ekdahl.
Bob was raised in Wausa and attended the public schools, grades one through twelve. He graduated in 1957 and attended Wayne State Teachers College for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Army in October of 1958. Bob spent 20 years in the Army, retiring in November of 1978. In 1966 he attended Engineer Officers Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 10th of that year. In a class of 58 candidates, he was the only Distinguished Military Graduate. Bob was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1967 and Captain in 1968.
Upon retirement from the Army, Bob attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), graduating in December of 1980 with a bachelor’s degree. He continued to attend UNO and graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Political Science in May of 1982. Bob then taught Political Science for UNO off-campus at night for close to 20 years. He also worked for Marriott Hotel Reservation Center for 15 years.
Bob joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2503 and their Honor Guard in December of 2000. He was Captain of the Guard from March of 2003, to May of 2007. Under Bob’s leadership, the Guard honored more than 1400 veterans, with Bob presenting the United States flag more than 1200 times. He held many other elected positions in the Post and was Commander in 2007.
Bob was active in the Korea Baptist Church of Omaha, functioning as its unofficial leader serving the Lord’s Last Supper on the first Sunday of each month. He was also the Church’s treasurer. Bob and his wife, Annie (Pak Kum Soon) had been married for more than 63 years.
8 Comments
Bob was a good man and will be missed. I’m honored to be your son in law.
Bob was one of my favorite college professors, I took every class he taught and always enjoyed them. He also recruited me to join the VFW, My condolences to his family and friends. He was a good man.
We remember Bob as a very kind, outgoing, patriotic man and friend who always cordially welcomed us into his home and treated us like family when we were stationed in Omaha with the Air Force. We know Bob spent many of his retirement years working diligently to honor our military veterans through his participation in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Honor Guard giving veterans handmade “flag cards” created from the stars cut out of old US Flags. Bob said: “What we do is rewarding,” “We’re happy to share with anybody and everybody that the flag is to be respected and to be honored. It’s not just a piece of cloth up there. It has meaning.” As we say goodbye to Bob, we know that he rests in peace with our Lord in heaven and we send our deepest sympathies and condolences to Bob’s family.
Robert worked for me at the Marriott Engagement Center. He was a wonderful person, kind, caring, very loyal to Marriott and loved working with the customers. He was proud to have served his country, land loved his family; there wasn’t a day go by that he had a beautiful story to tell about his wife and kids. He will be missed. Goodbye Robert and I know we will see each other again. Rest in peace my friend and sending my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family. God’s Peace Ekdahl family
Prayers going up for the Ekdahl family.
What a great person who is loved and will be missed by many!
We fondly remember Bob from the VFW Post 2503. He was an honorable Commander and great man. Our condolences to the family. He will be missed.
My condolences to Mrs Anna Peters and family. I never got to meet your Dad but if he raised you, he did an amazing job with you. Love you Mrs Peters and pray that you have peace and comfort .
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