Robert "Bob" Tichota Obituary (1931

Robert "Bob" Tichota of Blair, NE, passed away on February 15, 2022. Funeral services will be held Saturday February 26, at 10:30AM at Reach Church (formerly Country Bible Church) at 10:30AM. Procession to Rose Hill Cemetery, Orum, NE, will follow service. Following graveside services, a luncheon will be held at the Blair South Fire Station, at 218 South 16th Street in Blair. Visitation will be held Thursday February 24, at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair, with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00PM. Bob was born on April 8, 1931, in Lincoln, NE and adopted on November 18, 1931 by Raymond & Mildred (Schneider) Tichota. He was raised in Dodge, NE, and attended Craig High School. He met the love of his life, Jennie McMullin, in 1946 and married her on June 10, 1951. They have lived in Blair since 1956 and were blessed with four daughters. Bob worked in various trades, but his main career and passion were driving 18-wheel trucks for "Hinky Dinky." He earned special recognition for driving over 1 million miles accident-free while employed at Hinky Dinky and represented them in state-wide truck rodeo competitions. He usually placed in the top 3 positions, if not in the top position multiple times. In the CB/trucking world, Bob was known as “Tweety Bird” as he traveled out to western Nebraska and had his favorite truck stops where he would visit with the locals and his friends. After Bob retired from Hinky Dinky, he continued to work for local businesses as a truck driver, school bus driver, grocery store delivery person, and car transport driver. Bob had a service-oriented mindset, always giving back to the community with his time and educational messages, and willing to help others. He joined the US Army in 1948 and served his country until 1950. He was a member of the Blair Jaycees, Blair Police Reserves, Blair City Planning Commission, and Blair Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (BVFD). When Bob joined the BVFD 55 years ago, he didn't realize that he had joined a family structure like no other. Bob never knew a stranger and his friendships throughout the fire service are numerous, and Bob considers everyone family. The community knows Bob best as the Fire Prevention Committee chair. He was instrumental in bringing Fire Prevention safety messages for over 30 years to the Blair Community School System to keep children safe. During his tenure with the department, Bob served in the following roles: Second Assistant Captain; First Assistant Captain; Captain of Blair Rescue Squad; and President of the BVFD. Bob also served other fire departments statewide by his leadership in the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA). He was elected President of the NSVFA from 94-95 and served 6 years on the NSVFA e-board. His other roles and committees with the NSFVA include: Chairman and member of the NSVFA Fire Prevention committee for over 25 years; member of the NSVFA Legislative Committee; NSVFA EMS Sargent of Arms; Vice President and President of NSVFA Old Timers; and NSVFA Tri-Mutual Aid and Burt County Area Rep. The friendships Bob made along his fire service journey are statewide, and his world revolved around everything fire service and fire prevention related. His life truly represented the true nature of a firefighter and service to others. Bob also had a love for the outdoors and camping. In his retirement, he enjoyed being a campground host for Nebraska Game & Parks. His longest run was at Fremont State Lakes where he was the campground host for over 25 years, most of that time in the Cottonwood Cove campground section. As a people person, Bob loved visiting with the campers. When they arrived, he would always offer up helpful tips, help them set-up camp and then provide travel guidance on the best routes/roads to take if they were traveling through the Fremont area. Bob and Jennie have been sweethearts for 76 years. Bob loved his family and always aspired to be a good husband and father, which if you ask Jennie, Marian or Brenda, they will say, "job well done." Bob enjoyed traveling and family vacations were spent in Minnesota, Rapid City, Yellowstone National Park and Branson, or any other state that his family suggested. He also went on many local camping trips where he would set up the camper, show his girls how things are done, then sit back, relax and soak up the outdoors while reading a western book and listening to country and polka stations. Bob enjoyed life to the fullest and lived every inch of his 90 years. He had a steadfast determination to beat his health issues so he could spend more time with his beloved wife, family, and friends. His smile, jokes, storytelling minutes, and the sparkle in his eyes were present until his last moments here on earth. Friends that know Bob best describe him as an amazing man, a great man, a caring man, and a fire prevention legend. Bob was asked during an interview what gave him a sense of purpose. His response was "My meaning in life is to love my family. My purpose is to make sure my family is cared for". Bob certainly loved his family/fire service family, and he misses them just as much as they miss him! Bob is survived by his wife, Jennie, daughters Marian (Ernie) Porter; Brenda (Patrick) Jenny; son-in-law Randy Nelson, sister-in-law Joan Zessin, brothers-in-law Jack (Marilyn) McMullin, Jack (MaryLou) McVicker; grandchildren, Kellie (Jeremy) Pleskac, Megan (Tony) Storm, Alyson (Bruce) Meyer, Katarina Nelson, Natalie Nelson, Brooke Jenny, Ashton (Leah) Stewart, Blake (Carina) Jenny, Jeffery (Megan) Stewart and his nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Mildred Tichota, mother and father-in-law Marion and Jennie McMullin, daughters Jennie Lynn and Deborah Kay, sisters Connie Denny and Shirley McVicker, sister-in-law Peggy Memmott and half-brothers Darrel Lahners and Thomas Lahners. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Blair Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.