Bob Kautz

R obert "Bob" Kautz, longtime resident of Hershey, NE, was surrounded by his family when he peacefully passed away on May 2, 2025, at the age of 96.

Bob was born February 26, 1929, to Benjamin and Lydia Kautz in the Nichols community, east of Hershey .  He graduated from Hershey High School in 1948 then married the love of his life, Clarice Wilson, a year later on June 5, 1949.

Bob started working for his brother Bill in 1947, driving a grain truck.  He went to work for Denver-Chicago Trucking Co. in 1951, driving from North Platte to Denver, then was drafted into the U.S. Army later that year but joined the U.S. Navy instead.

He served in the navy from December 1951 to 1955 and was aboard three carrier escorts with Com. Car. Div. 17 as a teleman.  His last 18 months were spent at North Island Naval Station, Coronado, CA.  After his discharge, he moved to Denver with his family and resumed his previous job hauling grain and drove the Denver to Chicago route.

In 1959 he purchased his own truck so the Kautz family returned to Hershey and moved into their forever home on Patterson Street in 1960.  Four years later, the family returned to Denver so Bob could go back to his old trucking job, this time driving the Denver to West Coast route.  In 1966, they returned to the Hershey community and their home on Patterson Street. Bob continued hauling grain until 1988 when he supposedly retired; instead he went on to work for Simplot until finally retiring in 2008 and settling down. His passion was trucking and he loved what he did.

He and Clarice were married nearly 76 years, raised three sons, welcomed many grandkids, and were active members of the Hershey United Methodist Church.  His family was always most important to him and one of the last things Bob said was, "Be a good person and keep on trucking!"

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Lydia, and siblings, Marion, Bill, LaVina and David Kautz and Marie Wever.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Clarice; sons, Alan (Deborah) of Castle Rock, CO, Craig (Lesa) of Hastings and Chris (Becky) of Gering; grandchildren, Dr. Jordan Kautz (Dara), Jed Kautz (Erin), Lydia Kautz, Ryan Kautz (Megan), Dr. Megan Collins (Casey) and Dr. Erin Opara (Ike); great-grandchildren, Asher, Avery, Noah, Landry, Beckham, Revan and Eleanor; and other family.

Celebration of Bob's life is 10 a.m., Friday, May 9, at the Hershey United Methodist Church.  Inurnment with military honors will be at 1 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.  The guest book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials are to American Legion Post #279, Hershey Volunteer Fire Dept, or the church.