Robert L Poppe

Robert “Bob” Poppe

Robert “Bob” Poppe, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home on February 25, 2026.

A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at First United Methodist Church in Hastings with Pastor Lance Clay officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Per his wishes there will be no viewing. To continue Bob’s generosity, the family is establishing a Poppe Housing, Utility, and Rental Assistance fund. Memorials may be given to this fund in care of First United Methodist Church.

The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Robert’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Bob was born on February 10, 1937, in Carleton, Nebraska, to Frank and Emma (Wiess) Poppe. He was the tenth of eleven children.

On September 15, 1956, Bob married Deyona “Dee” Bower at the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, Nebraska, with Dr. Fay Mills officiating. Their marriage of 69 years was a testament to love, commitment, and partnership.

Bob began his working life in Hastings as a printer for Cornhusker Press and later served as manager of Tribune Graphics Arts. In 1974, he began his career as a professional Realtor with Gateway Realty of Hastings. In 1978, he purchased the company and led it with dedication and integrity for many years. He concluded his remarkable 50-year career in real estate in 2024 with Ruhter Auction & Realty, leaving a lasting impact on the community he faithfully served.

Bob graduated from Deshler High School in 1954 and attended Hastings College, where he was a member of the 1954 championship football team. A lifelong Husker fan, he held season tickets since 1971 and attended many bowl games over the years.

In high school, Bob read an Edgar A. Guest poem, “Sermons We See,” and adopted its message as his life’s motto:

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day. I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give, But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.”

Throughout his life, Bob led by example—in his family, in business, and in service to others.

His greatest joy during his 50 years as a Realtor was helping young couples buy their first home—often the largest financial decision of their lives. At times, he even loaned buyers part of their down payment to help them complete a purchase. His generosity extended into community leadership as he served as president of the Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, HEDC, and as an elected City Councilman.

At age 13, when his family moved from the farm into Deshler, Bob began working part-time for the Deshler Rustler after school and on weekends. He proudly said that from that time until his retirement in 2024, he never had a single day without a job. Shortly after leaving the printing industry to become a Realtor, Bob was contacted by a national printing supplier recruiter, who told him research showed he was one of only two people in the United States capable of performing every task in offset printing—from layout to printing to delivery.

True to his motto, Bob believed in quiet service. Rather than simply encouraging people to join organizations, he often paid their membership dues for a year so they could experience the

benefits firsthand. He delighted in doing good anonymously—whether snow-blowing neighbors ’sidewalks or serving for years as a Secret Santa.

Bob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dee; three sons, Rick (Nancy), Russell (Jacque), and Mitchell; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister Orva (Hartley) and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Emma Poppe; brothers Leonard, Harold, Lavern, and Virgil; and sisters Francis, Bernice, Phyllis, Lula and Lois.

Bob was a longtime member of the National Association of Realtors, a Master Mason, Shriners, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, and the National Rifle Association. He was also a ten-gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross.