Robert J. Yllescas

KILLEEN, Texas - Captain Robert J. Yllescas, 31, of Killeen, Texas, passed away Dec. 1, 2008, at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2008, at the Osceola Downtown Auditorium in Osceola with Pastor Robert Perry officiating. Interment will be in the Osceola Cemetery with Military Rites by the Nebraska National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team.

Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Osceola Downtown Auditorium.

Rob was born Oct. 7, 1977, to Otto Roberto and Barbara Louise (Schott) Yllescas in Guatemala City. He graduated from Inter-American School in Quezaltenango, Guatemala in 1996. He then received a BS in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2001.

On July 29, 2000, he was united in marriage to Aldena Faye Gissler at the United Methodist Church in Osceola. To this union two daughters, Julia Faye and Eva Grace, were born.

In May of 2001, Robert was commissioned into the United States Army. He then attended Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Ky. He was then stationed at Fort Riley, Kan. and was deployed to Iraq from 2003 to 2004. He was deployed to Iraq again in 2005 to 2006. In 2006, he attended the Captains Career Course and in 2007, also attended Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga.

Rob took command of Bravo Troop 6-4 CAV 3rd Brigade 1st Infantry Division in May of 2008. On July 3, they were deployed for Afghanistan. On Oct. 28, Robert was injured by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).

On Oct. 31, he was transferred to Landstuhl, Germany for medical treatment. On Nov. 4, he was flown to Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he remained until his passing.

On Nov. 10, while in Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Robert was awarded the Purple Heart which was presented by President George W. Bush.

He enjoyed his daughters and family, Husker football, his truck, boating and wakeboarding.

Survivors include his wife, Aldena of Killeen, Texas; two daughters, Julia and Eva of Killeen, Texas; father, Otto Yllescas of Quezaltenango, Guatemala; mother, Barbara Yllescas of Lincoln; brother, Christopher (Ana Lucia) of Columbia, Mo.; two sisters, Jennifer (Shane) Winterbauer of Lincoln and Natalie (Daniel) Yllescas of Guatemala City, Guatemala; grandparents, Raymond and Esther Schott of Lincoln; in-laws, Alan and Bev Gissler of Osceola; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jose and Eva Yllescas.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg is in charge of arrangements.