Robert "Whitey" "Bob" Walgren

1934 - 2025

Robert "Bob" "Whitey" Walgren

September 19, 1934 - July 24, 2025

Robert "Bob" "Whitey" Walgren, 90, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 10:30 AM, at First United Methodist Church in Columbus. Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Wednesday from 9:30 AM until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to Higgins War Memorial at Pawnee Park or First United Methodist Church.

Robert "Whitey" Walgren was born September 19, 1934, in Platte Center, Nebraska, to Oliver and Lucille (Scheidel) Walgren. He graduated from Platte Center High School in 1952 and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in education. While at UNL, Bob met Shirley Irwin on a "blind date" and the two were united in marriage on August 21, 1955, at the Methodist Church in Lodgepole, Nebraska.

After graduation from UNL, Bob began working for Habco Manufacturing from 1957 – 1959, he then began a 37-year career with Nebraska Public Power District in Columbus. In 1996, Bob became Vice President of First Nebraska Bank, retiring in 2013 after 17 years.

Known as "Whitey" to many of his friends and people around the community, he was extremely active in several organizations. He received many awards and recognitions in these organizations too numerous to list. To highlight a few: Boy Scouts of America – receiving the highest adult honor of the Silver Beaver Award; Platte Center School Board; Columbus United Way; Columbus Chamber of Commerce where in 1994-1995 and was crowned King Ferdinand XX; American Heart Association; 68 year member of the Columbus Lions Club; Elk's Country Club; Masonic Lodge and Pawnee Shriners; AK-SAR-BEN; American Red Cross; and Friends of Music.

Whitey held memberships in the Society for Human Resources Management, Lincoln Society for Human Resources Management, American Management Association and Columbus Area Personnel Association. He served on the Central Community College Board of governors, School District of Columbus Foundation, Columbus Community Hospital Foundation, Center for Survivors, and Higgins War Memorial. Besides all of his community involvement, Whitey still had time to spend in his yard and garden.

Whitey is survived by: Wife – Shirley Walgren of Columbus, NE, Son – Chuck Walgren of Lincoln, NE, Daughter – Sue (Peter) Foreman of Champaign, IL, Son – Craig (DeLynn) Walgren of Milan, TN, Grandchildren – Christa Rosane, Zach Walgren, Nick Foreman, Stephanie Blandford, Alex Foreman, Aubrey Brannom, Maggie Walgren, and Samuel Walgren, and Great Grandchildren – Finley Rosane, Ramsay Walgren, Chaewon Foreman, Taejin Forman, Jameson Walgren, and Lynella Brannom.

Whitey was preceded in death by: Parents – Oliver and Lucille Walgren and Sister – Betty (Ray) Gattermeyer.

Condolences may be sent to www.gasshaney.com.