Memorials › Robert Herman Bentz

Robert Herman Bentz

28 Apr 1919 – 12 Mar 2010

Birth28 Apr 1919
Death12 Mar 2010
CemeteryProspect Hill Cemetery
Norfolk , Madison County , Nebraska , USA
Added byTamara Bentz on 16 Apr 2011
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68478400

Bio

Obituary - Norfolk Daily News - 15 March 2010 Rites set for ex-banker Bob Bentz NORFOLK - Services for Robert H. Bentz, a retired banker and Norfolk civic leader, will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Olive Lutheran Church with the Rev. John Nelson, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the Prospect Hill Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 16, VFW Post 1644 and the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at Home for Funerals. Age 90, he died Friday, March 12, 2010, at Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home. Memorials can be directed to Mount Olive Lutheran Church or the Elkhorn Valley Museum. Robert H. Bentz , the son of Herman and Lizzie (Wagner) Bentz, was born April 28, 1919 in Norfolk, Nebraska. Bob graduated from Norfolk Senior High School in 1937. Later in life he took college courses in Business Law, Accounting, and Principles of Real Estate and Appraising. Bob was a World War II veteran. He entered the Army in October 1942. After basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was sent to Africa. In September 1944 during the invasion of Italy, the ship Bob was on was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk. He was hit by shrapnel. Bob, who had never learned to swim, spent 4 and 1/2 hours in the water until picked up by a Navy submarine chaser. Bob was awarded a Purple Heart and received 5 Battle Stars during his service. He saw most of Italy as a scout, He received an honorable discharge in September 1945. Bob married Gladys Kirsch June 23, 1946. They enjoyed ballroom dancing, which they taught, and square dancing. Bob and Gladys also collected antiques for many years. They had an Antique Shop on Northwestern Avenue. They were members of Mount Olive Lutheran Church. Bob was always actively involved, serving as an Elder, and multiple times as President and Treasurer of the Congregation. Bob was in the grocery business from 1937-1942 and 1945-1958. He worked at Economy Market, Owl Grocery, Hinky Dinky and Sunshine Market. In 1958 Bob joined the Norfolk First Federal Savings & Loan. In 1967, Bob became president and managing officer. When he retired in 1984, the name of the business had become Tier One Bank. During his retirement, he became a licensed real estate agent and worked with for Ringer - Partners Rel Estate Agency. Bob was a lifelong resident of Norfolk and very active in the community. He was a member of many business and charitable. organizations and usually had a leadership role in them. Bob was on the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran Community Hospital for 30 years, serving as President and Treasurer. He was on the Board of Directors and a member of the Ambassadors Club of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. Over the years Bob actively served on the Norfolk Senior Citizen's Center Board, the Elkhorn Valley Historical Society, the Norfolk Library Board, the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association, the Norfolk United Fund, and the Norfolk Lion's Club. He was involved in many other groups, too numerous to mention. The success of the community of Norfolk was important to Bob and he loved being a part of making things happen. He was preceded in death by Gladys (Kirch) wife of 58 years; parents Herman and Lizzie (Wagner) Bentz; brothers Archie, Elmer and Earl Bentz; sisters Viola Newman, Florence McGinty, Marie and Norma Bentz, Elizabeth DeVore and Alice Daniell; and nephews Kenneth Newman and Thomas Daniell.

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