Notes:

Obituary for Robert R. Thomsen
Robert R. Thomsen, 94
Kearney resident, formerly of Gibbon

Robert Thomsen, 94, of Kearney, formerly of Gibbon died Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, KS. Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Central Nebraska Veterans Memorial and Gibbon Public Schools. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

Robert was born January 7, 1925 in Curtis, NE to Knud and Rena (Rossen) Thomsen. He grew up on a farm near Curtis and received his education from the Nebraska School of Agriculture. Immediately following his graduation, Robert was drafted into the U.S. Army. He went to basic training in Texas and was sent to Camp Crowder in Missouri before his deployment to the European Theater. Robert was in Marseille, France waiting to deploy to the South Pacific when the Japanese surrendered. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in December of 1945.

On November of 1943, Robert was united in marriage to Veda Amstuz in Oberlin, KS. The couple moved to Curtis, NE where he owned and operated the Palace Café. They moved to Gibbon where Robert worked for Consumers Public Power and later owned and operated Thomsen Fuels in Gibbon.

Robert enjoyed piloting small airplanes as a young man with his brothers-in-law. He loved thoroughbred horseracing and owned several that competed at numerous racetracks. He enjoyed many camping trips with his family across the United States. After his retirement, he traveled with his wife, Veda to Denmark where he met his father’s family and visited family homesteads. His father emigrated from Denmark and since both parents spoke only Danish in the home, Robert’s first language was Danish, learning English when he went to school. He was very proud of his heritage and loved telling Danish names of his favorite foods.

He and his wife, Veda also traveled to Norway, Hawaii, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Cape Horn, and the Falkland Islands. However, his favorite adventure was an extensive camping trip to Alaska. Robert was a longtime member of the Gibbon American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Gibbon Baptist Church. He also served for several years on the Gibbon City Council.

He loved being with his family and telling many good and funny stories to friends and family. He and Veda celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in November of 2018. He was honored to have the opportunity to travel with the Buffalo County Hero Flight to Washington, D.C.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Veda; sons, Robert Kevin Thomsen of Albuquerque, NM, Einer Thomsen and wife, Susan of Omaha, Bernard Thomsen and wife, Nancy of Shawnee, KS; daughters, Sandra Parker and husband, Steve of Las Vegas, NV, Linda Beery of Wichita, KS, Jean Sidwell and husband, Scott of Kearney, Christine Krakel and husband, John of Red Feather Lake, CO, Davine Meza and husband, Ygnacio of Elkhorn, NE and Decca Gard and husband, Rusty of Fort Worth, TX; 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; sisters, Hilda Leachman, Luella Glaze, Delila Cooper and Eloise Snyder; as well as, several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; son, Oscar Knud Thomsen; grandson, Christian Thomsen; granddaughter, Brianne Meza and a brother, Harold Thomsen.

Robert married Veda J Amstuz on 30 Nov 1943. Veda (daughter of Oscar A Amstuz and Rachel W Hall) was born on 12 Jun 1926. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Denmark, Emigration Index:

Name: Thomsen, Knud Occupation: Arbejder
Age: 20 Destination: NY.
Contract no.: 104300 Registration date: 09-04-1908
Birth place: Vestervig Birth place: Vestervig
Last res. parish: Hurup Last res. county: Thisted
Last residence: Hurup Destination country: USA
Destination city: New York City Destination state: New York State
Name of ship: Oscar II
Remarks: ANM. Oscar ll. IDcode: D0708T1408

Knud married Serena Rossen on 18 Mar 1924 in Ebenezer Church, Curtis, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA. Serena (daughter of Niels Jørgen Rossen and Anna Marie Jensen) was born on 21 Jun 1899 in Lincoln County, Nebraska, USA; died on 15 Jan 1980 in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, USA; was buried in Curtis Cemetery, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Oscar married Rachel W Hall. Rachel was born on 1 Nov 1902; died on 29 Aug 1994. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Peder married Ane Katrine Knudsen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

My Mom (Pickle) remembers her Grandpa Rossen as being the nicest man who ever lived. He was a big guy who gave the best bear hugs and everybody in the Curtis area just loved him. He was a farmer when he first moved to the area and was the janitor at the school when he moved to town. She remembers when he got sick towards the end of his life, everyone in town went to visit him. Before he passed away, all of his children were at his bedside and he called them in for one last bear hug claiming there was room for everyone. When he had them all in his arms he told his wife Anna that he was going home. My Mom was 15 or 16 when he died and she remembers it as if it was yesterday. She also said he had the thickest, whitest hair. All of us Thomsens with thick hair can thank our Great Grandpa Jorgen.

Jennifer Snyder, September 2015

My mom Hilda Thomsen Edwards, Leachman was born in 1926. I asked her about Grandpa Rossen and she said when she was in HIgh School, she stayed with Grandpa Rossen in town because they lived in the country. She did this when she was a senior and she graduated in 1944. Mostly she remembers when Grandpa Rossen and his friends could not find enough people to play pinnochle, then they would have her play

Kathy Edwards, August 2015

Niels married Anna Marie Jensen on 22 Mar 1891 in Brede Kirke, Brede Sogn, Tønder Herred og Amt, Danmark. Anna (daughter of Søren Jensen and Ane Else Jensen) was born on 28 Apr 1863 in Kvaglund, Jerne Sogn, Skast Herred, Ribe Amt; was christened on 25 May 1863 in Jerne Kirke; died on 12 Jun 1937 in Curtis, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA; was buried on 15 Jun 1937 in Curtis Cemetery, Frontier County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]