Robert Lucas

Robert P. "Bob" Lucas, 63, of Kearney died February 15, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. A Celebration of Life service will be 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the First Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Reverend Eric Lesher and Reverend Rebecca McDermott officiating. Interment will be at the Kearney Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Navy Honors Team in conjunction with the VFW Post 759 and American Legion Post 52. Visitation will be on Fri day from 5-7, at the O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home. Cremation will follow the visitation Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church Elevator Fund or to First Lutheran Youth Group. Online condolences may be submitted to www.osrfh.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney. Bob was born November 12, 1949 in Columbus, Ohio to Ralph and Louise (Vashaw) Lucas. He received his education in California, graduating from the California State University - Fullerton. He worked as a forestry fire fighter before entering the Navy. He served in Vietnam where he received the Bronze Star. After his discharge he started to work as a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. He continued his law enforcement career with the University of California at Irvine. He was married to Norma Schroeder on June 7, 1997 in Laguna Niguel, CA. They made their home in California. After his retirement he decided to move to the “best place on earth” - Kearney, Nebraska. He was a member of First Lutheran Church were he served on the personnel and archive committees. He was a car enthusiast. He built a reproduction of a 1962 Austin Healy 3000. With that he was active in the Central Nebraska Car Club. He was instrumental with the development of the indoor car display during Cruise Nite. He volunteered at the Trails and Rails Museum. He loved to travel the back roads of Nebraska, reading every historical marker on the road. He also was an avid reader. Bob had many friends and will be missed by those who knew him. He was a survived by his wife, Norma of Kearney, brother, James Shorton of Southern California, mother-in-law, Laveda Schroeder of Kearney, brother and sister-in-laws, Jerry and Judy Schroeder, James R. Schroeder, John and Jennifer Schroeder, Dan and Nancy Newman all of Kearney, uncle, Will Vashaw of Southern, CA and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Becky Shorton and his father-in-law, Robert A. (RAS) Schroeder.

Robert Lucas

November 12, 1949 - February 15, 2013