Robert Leo Friederick

Robert Leo “Bob” Friederick was born on Jan. 6th 1924 on a farm outside Tecumseh, Nebraska to Walter and Margaret (Anson) Friederick. He was raised in the Omaha area and was a graduate of Technical High School in Omaha. He worked at the Martin Bomber Plant during the early World War II years. He would rush to work at the plant on his Indian Chief motorcycle. During his High School years he met the love of his life Eileen Miller. They would wed at 18 years of age, and a month ago, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. After World War II, their only child was born, Gloria Jean “Jeanie”. Bob enlisted in the US Army and served in the Army Air Corps, and the Army Signal Corps. He had extensive electronics training. After the war, Bob worked as a service technician on both Radio and Television. Bob and Eileen were both true entrepreneurs’ and they built their own business, Florence Appliance and TV Company. They sold and serviced a wide variety of clientele until they both retired in 1979. Bob and Eileen not only worked everyday together they enjoyed each others company. They moved from Omaha to Elkhorn 32 years ago and enjoyed the small town atmosphere. Bob’s hobbies were few, but his interest’s were large. He enjoyed the “Cottage” that he and Eileen built as an escape from the business. They enjoyed almost 40 years of just tinkering around at the river. Bob enjoyed Air Boats, motorcycles, anything with a motor that he could work on and improve. He was constantly improving, repairing, or creating something new. He never met a project he could not tackle. He was constantly reading to improve his knowledge, and not be caught in the past, but looking toward the future. Bob was a kind and generous person who would always lend a hand to help his family, friends and neighbors. He didn’t ask for help, but was quick to give it. He was a proud and loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Bob passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at the Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 83 years and 361 days. He is preceded in death by his father, Walter his mother, Margaret, and his brother, Donald. Bob is survived by best friend and wife, Eileen of Elkhorn, his daughter and son-in-law Jeanie and Jim Rowe of Elkhorn; granddaughter Kristen and her husband Jeff Baxter, great grandsons Jacob, Nicholas and great granddaughter Sara Baxter of Nixa, Missouri; grandson Scott A. Rowe and his wife Erica and great grandson Evan of Omaha, Nebraska; James R. Rowe and his wife Lindsey of Omaha, Nebraska and many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Courtesy of Reichmuth Funeral Homes