Robert "Bob" Oetter

He grew up in Neligh and ran around with many friends also in the surrounding areas of Oakdale, Tilden, Meadow grove, Elgin, Norfolk; Literally every town in the 5 to 6 counties surrounding.

He made a vast amount of friends in those times. A lot of them, life long friends, He graduated from Neligh High School in 1971 and by that time had decided he was going to be a wanderer. He had developed an itch and his feet had become restless to roam.

He experienced the movie "Easy Rider" and that was the last straw. It was now in his blood. He started traveling all over the country. Truck driving, wheat harvest, pick up truck, motorcycle, Hitchhiking; (Walked across Montana once but that is a different story some people already know).

Bob had known his wife Jeri Sanne since they were kids. The first time he noticed her was in church when they were children and he developed a childhood crush. He grew into his late teens years running around making memories with his many friends, and on his 19th birthday he met a 15 year old girl from Elgin Debby Meyers; and this started a life long love. They were together for a while and then went their separate ways. Then when she was 20 and he was 24 they came to be together again. Found they were still in love. They were together at that time until the "wonder lust" touched his feet again. And at the end of that year he showed up, snow falling in huge flakes falling straight down from the sky and said he was leaving again. There were never bitter goodbyes. They always parted ways with a calm understanding of how their love was. They went their separate ways again.

He married Jeri in 1978 the girl he had a crush on from childhood. And they had their daughter Samantha in 1982. Deb married also and their lives went on. 

Bob became many things. He was an expert carpenter, a mason, and master concrete finisher, did some logging, became a foreman and ranch hand raising highlander cattle and rottweilers on the ranch.

He and Jeri divorced in 1987,  he remained her life long friend and stayed a true dad to their daughter Samantha. He adored her. She was his shining achievement in life. He had roamed and settled in Washington state. But in 1997 he decided to return to Nebraska where upon the wonderment of life's happenings, he and Deb connected again 18 years later. She had married and divorced and had 6 children that they raised together along with Samantha who joined them when she was 14. They had reconnected the day before Mother's day in 1997 when Deb was 40 and he was 44. And he started a new adventure and new journey as father and Papa. During that time he worked concrete for Ron Petersen and Don Murray, and Brett Morrison as builder and fabricator. Deb and Bob were together every day for the next 27 years until Bob's leaving once again for the last time on April 1st 2024. Deb was by his side. Finally letting him go again with love on his last journey alone. His last words being "Hey, I love you, you know." This time though, he left her in tears. Taking her heart from her chest along with him. 

He is survived by his ex wife Jeri Valenta (John) Kiln, MS; Their daughter Samantha Oetter and fiance Cody Duprey from Pass Christian, MS. Melanie Detlefsen (Jeremy Cleavland) Orchard, NE; Lindsay Imus (Andy) Albion, NE; Dustin Robertson (Molly) Hickman, NE. Cameron Classen (Megan) Orchard, NE; Catarina Meyer (Chancy Stewart) Orchard, NE; His soulmate, partner, companion and mother of the children they raised together, Deb (Meyers) Laible Orchard, NE; Sisters Ann Miller (Bill, Also a life long friend) Kansas City Missouri; Kathy Wollberg (Royce) Melrose Wisconsin; Brother Don Oetter(Jacque) Creighton, NE; Nieces and nephews Jeffrey Wollberg (Linda); Amy Hamack (Derek), Anna Simmons (Brian) her children Blake, Kale, Aubree and Cam; Stephanie Miller; Sarah Miller her children Haylee and Taylor. Many, Many numerous friends and one special long best friend Frank Flenniken Neligh, NE; his 18 grand kids; Destiny Detlefsen, Gavin Gilsdorf, Pyper Ertz; Jacob Tabbert, Autumn Imus (Fiance Steven Frisch); Walker Robertson, Ashton Imus, Avery Imus; Porter, Karley, and Kayla Roberston; Oakland Classen; Jeremy, Payton, Honor, Izaak, Meyer and River Mefferd; 3 great grandchildren Lakkin, Paxten, and Aspen Matthies. 

He was preceded in death by his Paternal and Maternal Grandparents; Parents James and Lois Oetter; In-laws Less and Fern Farris and Gene Meyers; Ex Father in-law Stan Sanne; Stepson Jeremy Miller; and Great granddaughter Lyllian Hovious. Also, a sad number of some of those close childhood friends.