Robert Portwood

Hastings resident, Robert E. Portwood, 86, of Perkins Pavilion, died Friday, October 24, 2008 at Perkins Pavilion.

Memorial service will be Wednesday, October 29, 2008; 11:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church Hastings, Nebraska, with Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Private family inurnment at Schuyler Cemetery, Schuyler, Nebraska at a later date. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church or Hastings Community Foundation.

Mr. Robert (Bob) E. Portwood was born May 1, 1922, to Wilber & Bertha (Enearl) Portwood in Nelson Nebraska (Nuckolls County). He attended the University of Nebraska, in Lincoln, and graduated in 1943 with a degree in Business Administration. Following, he entered Officers Training School at Ft. Benning, Ga., and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. On January 9, 1944, he married his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary Jean Varejka, in Lincoln, NE. He went on to served in the78th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge and with the German occupation force in WWII and was awarded two Silver Stars, a Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation and the Combat Infantry Badge. Bob was a member of both the VFW and American Legion. After serving his country, Bob returned home to Nebraska, and in 1946, joined the JM McDonald Company in McCook, Nebraska, as the McCook store manager. Bob was named McCook's Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1952, and was also recognized in 1982 as one of Mc Cook's Centennial Celebrities. In 1954 he was promoted and relocated to Hastings, NE, at the corporate headquarters, where he served for many years as Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager. In 1982, he retired from JM McDonald and founded Portwood & Martin Advertising Agency with partner Ann Martin, retiring once more in 1992. Bob was a member of First United Methodist Church and was involved in many community and civic activities including serving on the Board of Directors of the Hastings Community Foundation, President of the Adams County Senior Services Board of Directors, member of the Hastings Rotary Club, and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Margaret Lepper.

He is survived by his wife, daughters Barbara Bollinger of Sun City, AZ., Carol Nicolarsen of Cheyenne, WY, sons Douglas of Houston, TX, and Richard of Hastings, Brother John D. of Norfolk, NE, ten grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.