Robert W. “Bob” Driml

Robert W. “Bob” Driml

September 11, 1926 – October 1, 2020

 Preceded in death by wife, Elizabeth J. “Betty” Driml.  Survived by many relatives and friends.

VISITATION following CDC guidelines: Monday, October 5^th from 6pm to 7pm, at the West Center Chapel followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Tuesday, October 6^th, 10am, Christ the King Catholic Church (654 S. 86^th St.)  INTERMENT: Calvary Cemetery with military honors by So. Omaha American Legion Post 331.  Memorials are suggested to a charity of your choice or Christ the King Catholic Church.

To view a live broadcast of the Vigil, Mass and Graveside Services, go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Service” button on the homepage.

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“The Life Story of Robert W. “Bob” Driml”

(This story is written by Bob.)

I was a true SOB (South Omaha Boy) born on September 11, 1926 near 20^th & “Q” Streets. I went to Brown Park School in the 1930s and in 1939 I entered South High School.  After years of hitting the books, I made the National Honor Society several times. My after school hours and weekends were spent helping my Mom (Mary) and Dad (Louis) in the Red and White grocery store which they owned. In June of 1943 I graduated from South High School at the age of 16 and received a scholarship from the University of Omaha.

In June of 1944, after one year at UNO, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy with my “Second Best Friend” Dan Koukol and was sent to Farragut, Idaho for basic training, and then to Yeoman School in San Diego, California.  After 28 days and nights of crossing the Pacific Ocean, and hearing about the Atomic bomb that was dropped, word came that the War was over.  I was stationed at the headquarters of the Philippine Sea Frontier doing the work of the Yeoman…until I was shipped back to the United States in 1946. 

I enrolled in the University of Nebraska in the school of Engineering and Architecture.  It was in April of 1947 that I met my “one and only” on a blind date…her name was Betty Higgins.  After about two years of dating, my “bride to be” informed me that we had to get married. We were married in Omaha in August of 1949.  Guess what happened?…after over 63 years of marriage, I was still waiting for the blessed event…either that, or it was the longest pregnancy on record.  To support my new bride, I went to work for Snell Sash & Door Co. and continued my studies in Engineering by attending night classes at UNL.

In May 1951 with the beginning of the Korean War, I was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Navy.  I was assigned to a ship…the PC-1145…operating out of Peral Harbor, Hawaii.  After several months of sailing out of the Naval Base and including a seasick voyage to Johnson Island, the ship returned to Pearl Harbor. It was there that a true miracle happened in my life.

While lying in my bunk one night saying my evening prayers, I told God that I was truly lonesome for my lovely wife and could He do something about it.  That was when the miracle occurred. The very next morning a Sailor based on land at Pearl Harbor called the ship asking for the Yeoman on duty which was me.  He asked if I would be willing to swap sea duty for shore duty…I immediately said yes for this would mean that my wife could join me in living on the base.  At that moment I told God “thanks” for the for miracle. Betty joined me in a few weeks, and we had many beautiful days of living in Hawaii, which lasted for almost a year.

After being discharged from the Navy for the second time, in 1952, I returned to Nebraska and once again re-entered UNL, along with other studies.  In February 1955 I was presented with a BGE degree from UNO, and when asked what “BGE” stood for, I replied with: “By God I’m Educated.”

It was in 1952 that I first started work as an Architectural Home Designer for Thornton Construction Co…then later Loeck & Tobias, and still later for many years of self-employment.  I was always involved in real estate, designing homes, and remodeling in the Omaha area accounting for almost 2000 different jobs.

Betty and I joined Christ the King Church “way back in the Peony Park days” and have been members since.  I was involved in the first Knights of Columbus Council for many years, also helping with Nocturnal Adoration Society.  We both remember our priest friends like Fr. Hupp, Fr. Raus, Fr. Shane, Fr. Gass, Fr. Peschel, Fr. Pietramale, Fr. Stillmunks, and all those we can’t remember. 

In my retirement years I enjoyed traveling, wood carving, drafting for home builders (until computers put me out of business) and just “being around.” I also was a member of the West Omaha Cosmopolitan Club for over 40 years.

Some time ago, Betty was asked, “Why didn’t you and Bob have a family?”…to which she replied, “Well what do you expect from a CANCELLED CZECH?”