KEARNEY — Robert W. “Bob” “Zip” Zuerlein, 88, of Kearney died Sunday, April 15, 2018, at Kearney Regional Medical Center.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home with the Rev. Joseph Hannappel officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Kearney Cemetery.


Robert William Zuerlein was born on Dec. 11, 1929, in Cedar Rapids to Victor and Ruth (Williams) Zuerlein. He grew up and received his education in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Cedar Rapids High Sc

hool in 1948. Following high school, he worked for his father doing masonry work.

Bob entered the U.S. Navy on Nov. 3, 1950, and was a machine gunner on a minesweeper for three years during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on Sept. 1, 1954.

He was united in marriage to LuAnn Clother in November 1960 in Albion. The couple made their home in Norfolk, Cedar Rapids, Axtell and Minden while he continued to work in masonry. Bob and LuAnn divorced in 1976, and Bob moved to Kearney in 1978.

Bob was united in marriage to Ellen Ellingston in May 1979. They made their home in Kearney where he continued working as a mason until retiring in 1992. Ellen preceded him in death in 1993. On Oct. 1, 2011, Bob was united in marriage to Peggy Bindel in Kearney.

Bob was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eagles Club, the Kearney Bowling Association for several years and the Bricklayers Union 11 for 62 years. He enjoyed bowling, hunting and fishing. He was inducted to the Kearney Bowling Association Hall of Fame on March 23, 1996. Bob also loved playing cards at the Peterson Senior Center.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy of Kearney; two sons, Kirby Zuerlein and fiancée Linda Carroll of Red Cloud and Kevin Zuerlein and special friend Sherry Hourihan of Phoenix; four grandchildren; five stepchildren; 15 stepgrandchildren; 12 stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister, Gerry Scanlon of Marion, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, LuAnn and Ellen; an infant son, Kurtis; a daughter, Kelly Zuerlein; a brother, Gilbert Zuerlein; and two sisters, Margaret Swerczek and Betty Wilhelm.