Robert "Bob" Gangel, 89, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Sunday, April 25, 2021, at his home in Columbus.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, April 30 at 10:30 AM, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church with Fr. Mike Swanton celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Bonaventure Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM Vigil Service, both at the church. Visitation will continue on Friday from 9:30 AM until service time, also at the church. Memorials are suggested to Columbus Community Hospital Foundation, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Scotus Foundation, or University of Nebraska at Kearney Scholarship Foundation. The funeral service will be broadcast live on Gass Haney Funeral Home Facebook page.

Robert L. Gangel was born December 31, 1931, in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Joseph and Jane (Wilson) Gangel. He graduated in 1953 from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and ROTC, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Following graduation, Bob served in the United States Air Force as a communication officer in Tokyo, Japan.

Bob was united in marriage to Marilyn Coupe on December 10, 1955, in Nebraska City. They moved to Columbus in 1956 where Bob was employed at Becton-Dickinson. In 1960 they moved to Broken Bow, Nebraska, where Bob was the first manager of the new B-D operation. In 1965 they returned to Columbus where he became plant manager. After leaving B-D employment, he pursued various business opportunities with First National Bank, Equitable Savings & Loan, and Nebraska Public Power District. At NPPD, he served as vice president of administration, chief financial officer, and acting CEO before his retirement in 1996.

During his business years, Bob always found time to serve the community in various ways. He was on the St. Mary's Hospital Board when the merger of hospitals occurred. Bob later served on the Columbus Community Hospital Board and chaired a fund drive. He also served as a director of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce; United Way Board; Columbus Library Foundation; and the University of Nebraska Advisory Council to the college president. Bob was also on the Tasty Toppings, Inc. Board of Directors; president of Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow; and a member of the Columbus Planning Commission.

Other business associations include serving as President of the Nebraska League of Savings & Loans; Columbus Industrial Team; board member of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority; board member of General Telephone Company of the Midwest; and director of Nebraska Association of Commerce and Industry. During Columbus Days in 1986, Bob was named King Ferdinand in recognition of his years of community service.

As a member of the Elks County Club, Bob enjoyed golfing for many years at the Club. A long time parishioner of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Bob was a member of the Perpetual Adoration Society and the Knights of Columbus.

Bob has been a Husker fan and a season ticket holder for over fifty years. He and Marilyn enjoyed Husker alumni trips to football games in other states. They enjoyed five European trips and traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona, in the winter.

Bob is survived by:
Daughter – Alice (Charles) Ward of Raleigh, NC
Daughter – Mary (Matthew) Sommers of Kearney, NE
Grandchildren – Molly Ward of Brooklyn, NY; Samuel Sommers of Sundance, WY; and Sarah Sommers of Kearney, NE
Sister-in-law – Charlene Gangel of Omaha, NE
Many nieces and nephews

Bob was preceded in death by:
Parents – Joseph and Jane Gangel
Wife – Marilyn Gangel
Brother - William "Bill" Gangel

Service Folder Information
May the LORD bless you
and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor
and give you his peace.'

Numbers 6:24-26




In Loving Memory Of

Robert "Bob" Lee Gangel

Born
Thursday, December 31, 1931
Nebraska City, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest
Sunday, April 25, 2021
Columbus, Nebraska

Mass Of Christian Burial
Friday, April 30, 2021 10:30 AM
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
Columbus, Nebraska

Celebrant
Fr. Michael Swanton

Music
Jan Moser – Organist
Tracy Augustine – Cantor
Sarah Sommers – Soloist

Casket Bearers
Dick Tooley
Gary Parker
Ron Lambert
Fred Chittenden
Mike Gangel
Tom Gangel

Honorary Casket Bearers
Lee Rupp
Bill Peters
Lloyd Castner

Interment
St. Bonaventure Catholic Cemetery
Columbus, Nebraska