Dr. Robert B. O'Keefe

Dr. Robert Bernard O'Keefe, 81, of Scottsbluff, died Saturday, January 12, 2008, at his home with his beloved wife Gracie at his side. His funeral mass will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Gering with Father Gerald Harr officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday in Calvary Cemetery at Alliance with military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard. A rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Robert “Bob” O’Keefe was born February 17, 1926 to Dr. Everett and Helen O’Keefe in Alliance Nebraska. He graduated from St. Agnes Academy in Alliance Nebraska and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Bob served in the Navy Air Corps during World War II. He married Darlyne May McCormick on October 8, 1946 and together they had eight children. His wife Darlyne died in 1979. He was employed by the Nebraska Certified Potato Growers Cooperation before returning to the University of Nebraska where he was a Professor of Horticulture for thirty years and Acting Chairman of the Department of Horticulture from 1969 to 1971. Bob was leader of the Potato Improvement Program at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff Nebraska and retired from the University of Nebraska in1988. After retiring from the University, Bob continued his work on his beloved “potato” as a consultant to King’s Foods of Canada. Robert married Wilma “Gracie” Hesselgesser in Gering Nebraska on December 15, 1984. Bob and Gracie traveled the world assisting other countries with horticultural endeavors. Robert was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Gering Nebraska and served with the Knights of Columbus. Robert’s smile and laughter over a “Good Irish Joke” will be greatly missed by his wife Gracie, seven surviving children as well as his large extended family: Lyne and husband Bob Jack, Rob O’Keefe and wife Alana, Kathy and husband Gary Martin, Mark O’Keefe and wife Dawn, John O’Keefe (deceased) and former wife Deanna, Daniela O’Keefe, Dori O’Keefe, Phil O’Keefe and step daughter Theresa and husband Jim Blake. Bob is also survived by fifteen grand children and eleven great grandchildren, his sisters Dorothy McCune, Eileen and brother in law Ted Percival, and a long list of nieces and nephews. Bob lived life to the fullest and his family and friends wish him “God Speed”. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nebraska Boy’s Ranch, the Smile Train and Christ the King Catholic Church.