Robert "Bob" Kobza

Robert "Bob" Kobza, age 80, died Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Brookestone Acres in Columbus.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 26, 2026, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. The family will receive friends briefly Wednesday, February 25, from 6:00-6:30 p.m. followed by a 6:30 p.m. vigil service, all held at St. Bonaventure Church. Private family interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery in Ulysses, Nebraska.

Robert E. “Bob” Kobza was born October 18, 1945, in Seward, Nebraska, to Joseph J. and Adella A. (Divis) Kobza, and passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 80 years.

Robert, known to everyone as Bob, grew up in Ulysses, Nebraska. He graduated from David City Aquinas High School in 1964, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field. While at Aquinas, he received the Cardinal Newman Award, voted on by the faculty and presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the ideals of the Catholic faith.

He attended the seminary for one year in Oconomowoc Wisconsin before returning to Nebraska. Bob then attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where he earned his degree in education and began his career teaching high school physics. He later received his master’s degree in High School Administration from Wayne State College.

Bob was united in marriage to Jane Kratke on August 12, 1967, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses. To this union, five children were born: Kent, Shawn, Rob, Ryan, and Aaron. Bob and Jane began their journey in Whiting, Iowa, where he taught high school physics and coached football, basketball, and track and field. During their time in Whiting, Bob also served on the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department.

They later moved to Hurley, South Dakota, where Bob accepted his first position as a high school principal, and then to Anthon, Iowa. Wanting to return to Nebraska to be closer to family, they moved to Brainard in 1979, where Bob became the high school principal at East Butler, serving until 1985. He then became the elementary and middle school principal at St. Mary’s Catholic School in David City. Bob and Jane eventually settled in Columbus, where Bob served as principal at Columbus Scotus until 1993. He later worked at Vishay until his retirement in 2020.

At every stop in life, Bob was deeply active in the Catholic Church in his community. He served for many years as a Mass lector and taught CCD in multiple parishes. He was a member of the Men’s Choir at St. Bonaventure Church in Columbus. Bob and Jane were founding members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference in Columbus and made hundreds of visits to assist the poor and needy in the community. He led the rosary before many masses and attended perpetual adoration for several years.

Bob had a deeply personal devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and made many rosaries over the years, gifting them to family, friends, and fellow parishioners. Bob, Jane, and his sister Mary Ellen made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where apparitions of the Virgin Mary have been reported since 1981.

Bob and Jane spent many cherished weekends with their children and grandchildren in Omaha and Lincoln, and enjoyed trips to Charleston, South Carolina, to visit their daughter Shawn and her family. Nothing was more important to Bob than his faith and his family, and he rarely missed his grandchildren’s activities.

Bob was an avid fisherman, and if he wasn’t at church or spending time with family, he could often be found on the water.

There are many other great stories that could be told here including his athletic accomplishments and Kobza Kettle corn, but those stories will now be shared in heaven.

Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane; his children, Kent and wife Anita of Columbus, Nebraska; Shawn and husband Rod Bungey of Charleston, South Carolina; Rob and wife Deb of Lincoln, Nebraska; Ryan and wife Jen of Omaha, Nebraska; and Aaron and wife Jen of Omaha, Nebraska. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Janessa Kobza; Joe and Lee Bungey, Sophia, and Lily Bungey; Josh and wife Laney Kobza; Cassidy, Hailey, Keslyn, Malia, Jacob, Olivia, and Isabelle Kobza; his sister, Mary Ellen and husband Art Dobesh of Seward; sister in law Rita Kobza of Hebron as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Joseph J. Kobza; his mother, Adella “Della” Kobza; his grandchildren, Kenton Kobza, Ava Bungey, and Noah Bungey; and his brothers, Joe Kobza and Bernard Kobza and niece Lynne Kobza Wilke.