10/29/2026
Robert (Bob) James Dietze was born on October 24th, 1931 in a small house in Ashland, Nebraska. As a child, he moved around with his family until they settled in Gretna, Nebraska. In High School, Bob excelled at baseball and basketball, and graduated in 1949.
Bob married Darlene (Hansen) on February 15th, 1952 and was drafted into the Army on July 12, 1952. He was sworn in at Fort Omaha, NE and traveled by train to southern Missouri for 1 week of orientation. He was issued his uniforms and gear and then assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for Boot Camp. After Boot Camp, he was assigned to the heavy equipment operator school. Once he completed the training, he was chosen to be a bulldozer instructor with the Engineering Battalion, and Darlene moved to Ft. Leonard Wood to join him.
In the fall of 1953, Bob received orders to Darmstadt, Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. Darlene moved back to Gretna, and Bob was assigned as a bulldozer operator to the 547th Engineer Battalion (Combat). This unit was tasked with bridging the Rhine River with pontoon boats in the event of a Soviet attack. They also supported the local towns and villages, helping in the reconstruction by building athletic fields. During this time Bob also played basketball on the Company team, traveling around Germany to play other Army teams.
Bob was discharged from the Army as a Corporal on July 12, 1954 and was mustered out in the Chicago area. He returned to Gretna to join his wife and raise his family. Bob farmed in the Gretna area for many years, growing crops and managing livestock.
Bob passed away at his home in Gretna, NE on May 26, 2020. He was 88 years old. He spent much of his life farming in the Gretna area with his brother Ray, directly feeding thousands of Americans, like all farmers do. There were lean years, and times of plenty. Good times and hard times. Blizzards, floods, drought, tornados, sickness, and poor crop prices were all hazards he and his wife Darlene faced together, while raising us 4 kids. Besides farming, he helped build the house where he lived. Many family gatherings for birthdays and holidays were shared in that house.
Bob won many trophies for bowling and horseshoes and was an avid card player. He loved the outdoors. He took his family camping, fishing, and hunting. Even after he retired from full-time farming, he would tend his apple trees and plant a large garden including 1/2 acre of sweetcorn. A Dietze tradition was to gather one summer day when the corn was just right and "put up" many quart bags of corn to be frozen and enjoyed all winter long.
Bob left a great legacy in the Gretna area, with grand and great-grandchildren living and going to school in the area.
