Robert Earl “Bob” Dempster
DIXON — Robert Earl “Bob” Dempster, 83, Dixon, died July 22, 2024, at Providence Medical Center, Wayne.
Funeral services were July 27 at the Faith Community Church, Laurel, with the Rev. Doug Collins officiating.
Burial was at the Laurel Cemetery, Laurel. Pallbearers were Brandon Abts, Jesse Mandina, Ty Krommenhoek, Trey Mandina, Dustin Showen and Camden Stephenson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brook Krommenhoek, Chaylea Mandina, Bailey Abts and Granger Abts.
Visitation and a prayer service were Friday, and continued one hour prior to services. Arrangements were under the direction of the Bob Dempster
Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.
Robert Earl was born March 1, 1941, in Omaha, to Wayne Ross and Bernice (Whitney) Dempster. He grew up in rural Laurel, and graduated from Laurel High School. Bob attended the Logan Center Church. He grew up farming with his family. Bob married Vonda Lee Herfel June 18, 1961, in Maskell. Bob and Vonda moved to Dixon in 1961, where he worked for Johnny Young in the service station. Shortly after, they both moved to Wayne, and he worked at the Ford Garage. Bob then began a career as a mechanical engineer at the Northern National Gas which lasted 47 years as a faithful employee.
Bob had cows and calves on the farm and loved raising, training, trading and shoeing his horses, which numbered over hundreds through the years. He also worked with teams of horses.
Bob liked to hunt and fish, and took many trips to hunt grizzly bear, moose, elk, deer – which even took him to Alaska.
Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years, Vonda, Dixon; three daughters, Denise (Richard) Abts, Dixon; Nancy Krommenhoek, Allen; Penny Mandina, Omaha; six grandchildren, Brandon Abts, Jesse Mandina, Ty Krommenhoek, Trey Mandina, Brook Krommenhoek and Chaylea Mandina; one great-grandchild, Granger Abts, and one on the way; and a sister, Betty (Richard) Doerr, Bloomfield.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Bernice Dempster; and a son, Clint Dempster, at the age of 18 years.