ROBERT JAMES BRODERSEN was born May 27th, 1921on the family farm west of Herman, Nebraska to James and Sadie (Cameron) Brodersen, the youngest of six children. He passed away at the Oakland Heights Nursing Home Sunday, December 21, 2008, one day after his family gathered with him for Christmas. Bob was 87 years of age.

Bob attended Brodersen and New England Country Schools, graduating from Herman High School in 1938. In the fall of 1938 Bob attended Wayne State College, intending to become a teacher. Bob's plans changed, and he enlisted in the Army in October 1939, and was later selected to train in the Army Air Corps. He went on to pilot a B-17 in 37 missions over enemy-occupied Europe March - August, 1944.
He was honorably discharged in April 1946. He so thoughtfully kept a diary of his missions. It has been reprinted twice and was the subject of productions for the 2005 State Fair and Tekamah Veterans Programs.

After the war, Bob operated the Herman Appliance store for Punk Freeman.  Bob was somewhat a local hero, as were many of the returning veterans. He caught the eye of young Pearl Lang, and married May 23, 1948. They resided in the apartment above the old Post Office in Herman until moving to a farm just northwest of Tekamah, (now the Northridge Golf Course). They farmed two other places southwest of Tekamah, before building a new home in 1978. The couple had 3 children. Pearl died in 1993.

Bob gave opportunity to those who were down and out, as well as high school kids needing to earn some money. He was a member of the Herman American Legion, Tekamah VFW, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Crawford School Board, and Tekamah Co-op Board, and one time chaired the Burt County Democrats. He was an award-winning soil conservationist and an early pioneer of no-till farming.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Riley, Charles, and Malcolm, sisters Harriet and May, and granddaughter Jennifer Brodersen Uhing.

He is survived by his 3 children, Joan (Bernie) Clements, Herman, Mikel (Kathy) Brodersen, Lake View IA,  and Sara (Steve) Cameron, Lyons, 11 grandchildren, Heidi Johansen, Eric Clements, Adam Clements, Chad Brodersen, Allison Lorenzen, Emily Coakley, Sam Cameron, Megan Olsen, Lucas Cameron, Thomas Cameron, Kristen Cameron, and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, special nurses at Oakland Heights, and a host of friends.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 11:00 a.m. at the Herman Legion Hall in Herman, Nebraska,

MILITARY HONORS: Herman American Legion Post No. 274

BURIAL: Private Family Burial

NO VISITATION

MEMORIALS: To the Family and the Herman or Tekamah American Legion and VFW Posts

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com