Bob Fleecs

R obert 'Bob' Fleecs of Sutherland, NE, passed away at Fairview Manor in Fairmont, NE, on May 1, 2022.

Bob, the son of George and Freda Fleecs, was born on the Fleecs family farm, south of Sutherland, on June 12, 1931. He grew up working on the farm and attended East Fairview School and Sutherland High School, graduating in 1948.

On June 18, 1952, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Lila Cook, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland. Since Bob was serving in the U.S. Air Force and stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, the couple resided in Spokane, WA, for a few years. Bob worked in auto maintenance and Lila cared for their two young children and worked as a waitress.

The family returned to Sutherland in 1955 where they purchased the George Fleecs farm. Bob and Lila welcomed four more children, farmed and raised hogs and cattle. Farming had its good years and its bad, but through it all Bob and Lila were blessed to raise their family on the farm and were able to pay it off in 1990. Bob continued working until retiring in the late '90's.

He was active in the Sutherland community, was a member of Otto V. Johnson Post #208 American Legion, and a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Bob served on the parish council and was a member of Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lila, and their young son, Johnny; his father, George; mother and stepfather Freda and Charley Teply; sister, Dorothy Wills; sisters-in-law, Joan and Maria Fleecs; and granddaughter, Melissa 'Missy' Blake.

Bob is survived by his children, Ron (Nancy) Fleecs of Geneva, Tom (Vicki) Fleecs of Colorado Springs, CO, Steve (Amy) Fleecs of Cortland, NE, Angie (Brad) Blake of Marquette, NE, Patty (John) Ulbrich of Converse, TX; his sister, Shirley (Robert) Galyen of Elkton, MD; brothers, Francis Fleecs of Florida and Ron Fleecs of St. Louis, MO; brother-in-law, Bob Wills of North Platte; 18 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and many other family members.

Services will be on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rosary at 2:30 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 3 p.m. Burial with military honors will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and with family greeting from 4-7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Fairview Manor or Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  For those unable to attend, services will be recorded and posted to odeanchapel.com following the committal service.