Robert R. "Bob" Rauner - Obituary

Robert R. "Bob" Rauner, 93 of Sidney, passed at the Sidney Regional Medical Center Extended Care, Sunday, October 9, 2016.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 15 with Rosary Services at 6 p.m., Friday, October 14. Both Services will be in the St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Father Jim Heithoff officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Greenwood Cemetery following Mass. Cremation has been held. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday until 4 p.m. to sign Bob's register book and leave condolences for the family. Memorial contributions may be made in Bob's name to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Bob's care and funeral arrangements.

Robert Raymond Rauner, the son of Frank Anton and Minnie E. (Korhummel) Rauner was born on January 11, 1923 at Gilead, NE. At the age of six the family moved to Sidney where he attended St. Patrick's Academy. Bob continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy where he received his Naval Commission and Navy Wings. Following the war Bob returned to the University where he met Jane Marie Sutton. They were united in marriage June 21, 1947 in Valley, NE, beginning their married life of sixty-nine years together. They returned to Sidney where he was owner-operator of a wheat, irrigated corn, alfalfa and cattle farm. Bob was part owner and secretary of the Dinklage Feed Yard and served on the Board of Directors of the Sidney National Bank. He was one of the founders of the Nebraska Wheat Growers and served as president and chairman of the Nebraska Wheat Commission. He represented the Foreign Agriculture Service and the Wheat Growers in the first trade fairs at Vienna, Austria and Munich, Germany in 1956 and U.S. wheat growers in Japan in 1968. Bob was actively involved in the Democrat Party including State Chairman of Farmers for Kennedy, Area Chair for Zorinsky and the National Platform Committee.

Survivors include his wife: Jane; (4) children: Nancy Gurzo, Robert "Rob" Rauner Jr. and wife Cindy, Frank Rauner and Mary Hazelwood and husband Steve; (9) grandchildren: Christine Ward, Robert Rauner III, John Gurzo, Mike Gurzo, Beau Rauner, Mark Gurzo, Jaime Smith, Luke Rauner and Allyson Judson; (20) great-grandchildren; (3) great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law: Harold Tremain and numerous extended family members and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents: Frank and Minnie Rauner; brother: Raymond, sisters: Ellen Hruska and husband Herb Sr., Maybelle Hruska and husband Frances, Millie Cook and husband Foster, Margaret Mintken and husband Cornelius, Betty Tremain and Yvonne McNeal and husband Gene and (1) grandson: Zack Rauner.