Robert L. Placzek

Robert L. Placzek, age 75, of Kearney, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at CHI Health – Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha. Memorial services will be on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. There will be no visitation. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island with military honors provided. Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Area Animal Shelter or the Minden American Legion Post #94. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a message or condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Robert Lyle Placzek, 75, of Kearney and Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy in Omaha, Nebraska, with his fiancé Carol Carlson present. Robert “Bob” was born in Central City, Nebraska to Ida Mae Keller and adopted by Carl Stanley Placzek when he was twelve years old. Robert grew up mainly in Gibbon, Nebraska, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969, serving at Fort Buchner in Okinawa as a truck driver and at Fort Ord, California, where he was discharged in 1974, having served four and a half years. Bob returned home to attend Central Community College in Hastings, where he obtained a degree in auto body. He worked for Turner Body Shop and left to work at Eaton Corporation for over thirty years. Bob married Donna Jean Sager of Hastings on the banks of the Platte River near Shelton on July 7, 1979. Donna had three children by a previous marriage, David, Brad, and Kim. Donna passed away on March 30, 2016. Bob then met Carol Carlson of Holdrege in April of 2018 and the two became inseparable. Bob loved motorcycling, hunting, fishing, camping, bowling, gardening, canning foods from the garden, playing cards, watching Husker and Packers football, birdwatching, his two chows Sooki and Kiko, and his Maltese Lil’ Lady. Bob loved life and made the most of each day. Bob was a proud veteran and was a current member of the American Legion Post 94 in Minden, American Legion Riders Post 53 of Grand Island, Eagles Posts #2722 of Kearney and #3132 of Holdrege, and VFW Post 759 of Kearney, Nebraska. Bob supported many poker runs on beautiful Saturday mornings across Nebraska. Bob is survived by his sister, Carla Placzek of Chicago, Illinois; nephew, Nicholas Jones and wife Amy of San Francisco, California; his significant other, Carol Carlson; seven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Donna; a brother; three stepchildren.

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Robert L. Placzek

December 11, 1950 - January 24, 2026