Funeral services for Robert L. “Bob” Colligan age 92 of Wisner, NE will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church in Wisner, NE. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Wisner Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Minnick Funeral Home in Wisner and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Bob passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at the Wisner Care Center.
Bob was born in Thurston County, Nebraska, growing up in the Pender and Thurston areas. He graduated from Thurston High School where he participated in football, basketball, and track. While working on area farms and construction, Bob met and dated Marlene Marie Von Seggern before joining the army. He served in Germany starting in 1954, shortly after the Korean War, and returned home in August of 1956. He was a member of the VFW and remained proud of his service for the remainder of his life. Marlene had written to him nearly every day while he was gone, and they were united in marriage at Christ Lutheran Church in Wisner NE on September 28, 1956, just one month after he returned.
In January 1959 the couple purchased the home they had been leasing at 1001 12th Street in Wisner and began their family just 2 months later. They continued to live on top of the “Hill” for the next 63 years where they were blessed with 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. In August of 1967, Bob became a partner in Erb Feed and Supply where he had been employed and later sold out and became employed as a regional sales representative for Agri-King. There he won numerous sales awards as he built his business and many friendships along the way. He continued to work for Agri-King until age 80 as well as helping Marlene with her gift shop. Until late 2021 Bob was still working for Nebraska Vet Services, manning a store servicing the livestock industry, along with a smile, a cup of coffee, and plenty of conversation for anyone who had the time.
Bob was dedicated to his community. He served on the city council, and the school board where he took pride in having handed each of his children their high school diploma. Bob was a Gidion and known for filling in as a lay minister at various churches in the area. For roughly 30 years he also performed services at the Wisner Manor one Sunday a month, and he and Marlene were both Sunday school teachers. In later years they volunteered for the Teammates mentoring program. Prior to that they were also recipients of the Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor award.
Bob was proceeded in death by his wife Marlene, his son Mark Colligan of Lincoln, parents Louis and Margret Gilster of Pender, brother Donald Colligan and his wife Joan of Selby IA, and Brother-in-law Luther Von Seggern of Norfolk NE.
He is survived by son Thomas Colligan (Monica) of Omaha, granddaughter Jennifer, (children Landon, Jordyn) and grandson Sean. Son Michael of Sunnyvale CA, granddaughter Nicole. Daughter-in-law Jean (Mark), granddaughter Jessica (Mike), grandsons Max and Sam. Son Robert Colligan (Susan) of Lincoln, granddaughters Cara (Arrin) (children Eden, Scottland, Ramona), Amie (Ethan), grandsons Grant (Emma), Jacob (Briann). Julie Snell (Jason) of Omaha, grandsons Ryan, Kyle, Evan. Brother Louis Gilster of Texas and nieces and nephews. An extensive network of friends of which so many he also considered family.