Robert V. Craft (Foster)

Services for Robert Craft, 87 of Foster, Ne will be held 10:30 Thursday, May 28th, 2015 at the United Methodist Church, Plainview, NE with Pastor Alice Shomari officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 27th, 2015 from 5-8 at Ashburn Funeral Home, Plainview, Ne with Masonic Service at 7:00. Burial will be Plainview Pleasant View Cemetery following the service. Robert died at the Veterans Home in Norfolk, NE on May 24th, 2015.

Robert V. Craft, son of Vernon Craft and Esther (Holmes) Craft, was born March 12th, 1928 in Foster, NE. He graduated from Plainview High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy from May 1946 to March 1948 stationed at Pearl Habor.

Robert married Helga E. Becker from Mannheim, Germany in 1957 at Plainview, Ne. They lived on a farm, south of Foster, where they raised their children Mark and Ingrid. They were involved in the breeding of purebred, S.P.F. Duroc hogs which were sold throughout the U.S., and to China and Mexico. Winning the Nebraska S.P.F. producer award in 1985, 1988 and 1990.

Robert’s passion was for the promotion and betterment of Agriculture and the Pork Industry. He held many offices in the Pierce County Pork Producers and served as President of the Nebraska Pork Producers from 1972-1974, becoming a member of the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement in 1995.

Robert was also very involved in the community serving for eight years on the Plainview Public School Board and eight years as Pierce County Commissioner serving on various boards during his tenure.

Robert was a member of the United Methodist Church in Plainview, NE. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Plainview, NE, Scottish Rite Valley of Norfolk, and Shrine – Sesostris Temple – Lincoln. He was also a member of the Plainview Legion Post 148 and VFW.


Robert is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helga Emmy (Becker) Craft of Pierce; son Mark Craft and wife Susan (Coulter) of Hadar; daughter Ingrid Gansebom and husband Clark of Osmond; four grandsons, Anthony Craft and wife Brittney of Hadar; Clayton Craft and fiancé Margaret Kildare of Norfolk; Tyler Gansebom and wife Tiffany of Norfolk and Alexander Gansebom of Lincoln; two great granddaughters Abigail Craft and Harper Gansebom and brother-in-law James Biba of Geneva, NE.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ruth Biba and grandson Marshall Craft.

The family would like to thank the Norfolk Veteran's Home for all the support and care given to Bob during his stay. It is greatly appreciated.