Robert Paul Chaloupka

Robert Paul Chaloupka, still larger than life, went to heaven on Thursday night, February 19th, 2009, after a courageous three and a half year battle with cancer. He fought extremely hard until the last breath - just as expected, he never gave up. He was at home, surrounded by and in the arms of his close family. A Ceremony of Sharing will be held at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Home in Scottsbluff on Monday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m. The Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff on Tuesday, February 24 at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff with military honors provided by the Nebraska Army National Guard. Memorials have been established to Theatre West and Festival of Hope. Bob (Robert) was born on August 17, 1943 in Arnold, Nebraska to Paul and Rhoda (Chesley) Fidler. On May 30, 1944, his father died heroically while commanding a PT boat in the European theater, leaving Robert and Rhoda in the care of Rhoda’s loving parents and extended family in Callaway, Nebraska. In 1948, Rhoda married Dr. M.L. ""Doc"" Chaloupka, who adopted and raised Robert as his own son. He grew up in Callaway with close cousins and aunts and uncles nearby. Bob attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he met his future wife, Judy Trank of Alliance, NE. He often said many times that marrying Judy was the smartest thing he ever did. Bob and Judy were married for 42 ½ years and raised three children and enjoyed two grandchildren. On a whim, he took the law school entrance exam and graduated from, the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1968. After graduation, Bob and Judy moved to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he was stationed in the United States Army. Bob taught constitutional law to Army lawyers, was well-liked by his students, and was promoted to captain before his honorable discharge in 1970. At the end of his Army service, Bob interviewed for jobs closer to his and Judy’s hometowns. He considered a job as a prosecutor in Denver, but he had one last interview in Scottsbluff with a lawyer named R.M. Van Steenberg. The interview ended with an important job offer. Bob’s relationship with ""Van"" grew into an incredible father-son friendship, along with the development of the Van Steenberg Law Firm. With Van’s encouragement and support, Bob built a challenging and innovative trial practice, including both civil and criminal work throughout the state and around the country. In time, his firm morphed into the firm of Chaloupka Holyoke Hofmeister Snyder Chaloupka, and Longoria. Bob’s trial practice gave him the opportunity to fight for his clients and work everyday with his beloved partners. Bob took cases that other lawyers felt were impossible to win, and he won them. He never backed down from a challenge, and he never let his underdog status scare him off of a case. Where the law seemed to be against a person in need, Bob took the case, tried to change the law and frequently succeeded. He earned the respect and the friendship of judges, lawyers, and especially the clients whose lives he changed and saved. He continued to try (and win) cases even after he was diagnosed with cancer, using his emotional strength to push his physical strength in the interest of justice for his clients. In recognition of his work, Robert was listed in The Best Lawyers in America every year from 1987 through 2009. He was the president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Lawyers, and was a force in defeating tort reform proposals in the legislature that would have destroyed the right to trial by jury for injured Nebraskans. He was a member of prestigious honorary associations such as the International Society of Barristers and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Robert was also active in the community. He volunteered his time to the Scottsbluff YMCA, the board of directors of Regional West Medical Center, the Scottsbluff County Airport Authority, and the Riverside Zoo. His wife and family were his heart and soul. His children were his pride and joy. He was a teacher and best friend for Maren, a loving guide for Kirsten and a champion for Mike. He was the hero for his whole family. At the end of any day, Robert wanted nothing more than time with them. He always remained connected to his extended family in Callaway and treasured every opportunity to return for weddings, reunions, the Pioneer Picnic and the Sandhills Open Road Challenge where he could see his cousins. He loved to ride his Harley-Davidson, race his Corvette, ski, travel with Carol and Tom Holyoke, spend time with his friends, “The Guys Like That"", and work out at the YMCA. Robert is survived by his wife, Judy; his daughter Maren Chaloupka of Scottsbluff; daughter Kirsten Edelbrock of Parker, Colorado and her husband Paul; son Michael of Fort Collins, Colorado; and grandchildren Alex and Ansley Edelbrock and his uncles, Ole Chesley and Al Fidler, numerous cousins and extended family members. Bob was preceded in death by fathers, Paul Fidler and Melville (Mike) Louis Chaloupka, mother, Rhoda Chesley Fidler Chaloupka, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.