Robert Raymond

Bob Raymond of Gothenburg passed away February 28, 2015 in Kearney, NE at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Robert Charles (Bob) Raymond was born September 28, 1941 in Lexington, NE to Robert M & Margaret E Raymond. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Cozad, NE. Where you saw Robert M, young Bobbie was not far behind.
Bob graduated from Cozad High School in 1959 and farmed with his Dad for several years following. In the summer of 1961, Bob decided he was tired of sheep in snowdrifts and cold weather and made the decision to go south for a year of college. He wrote all the big schools in Texas, and Baylor University was the first to answer. He packed up and moved to Waco, TX in August of 1961.
He started attending First Methodist Church in Waco as it was close to the Baylor campus. It was at First Methodist that Bob met his future wife, Jenny. On November 24, 1962, they were married at the old First Methodist Church in Waco, TX.
Jenny & Bob lived & worked on the family farm in Cozad, NE until 1964 when they returned to Waco where Bob finished his accounting degree at Baylor, graduating with high honors. Bob passed the CPA exam the first time he took it in May 1967, before he graduated from Baylor.
He interviewed for all of the then Big 8 Accounting firms and received a job offer from each one, but decided on Arthur Anderson in Denver.
From Waco, they moved to Denver where their son, Jeffery Charles Raymond was born in December of 1967. They lived in San Francisco for nine months in 1970, moving to Gothenburg, NE in October of 1970.
Bob opened his accounting practice in Gothenburg and over the years it grew into a large business serving clients all over the state of Nebraska as well as other states. He was totally dedicated to his clients and was always available to answer their questions.
In 1972, their daughter Mary Karol was born followed by Angela Ruth in May 1977, she died in a drowning accident in 1978. God greatly blessed his family with another daughter, Sara Marie, who they adopted in 1979.
Bob served many committees over the years, he was a Nebraska Diplomat, President of the Gothenburg GIC, and a past member of the Gothenburg Fire Department.  He was always active in Church, helping out where he could, always doing the tax returns for the pastors as a service.
He had one of the biggest hearts anyone could ever have. If someone had a problem, he would loan them money, if necessary. He wrote checks to people with health issues and other needs. He was a man who lived his faith in the way he served others.
He loved his wife and family and worked hard to provide for them. He and Jenny were married 52 years. He was totally devoted to his granddaughters and loved it when they showed up at the office for a hug, the candy drawer, & probably a trip to get ice cream. One of his favorite times was taking “his four girls” to buy cowboy boots.
Preceding him in death are his parents, daughter Angela Ruth, mother & father in law, Meb & Joe Cooper of Waco, TX.
He is survived by his wife Jenny of Paradise Hills, NE; daughters Sara of Gothenburg and her daughters MaKayla & Abigail; Mary Karol & her husband Craig McGee of Elkhorn, NE & their daughters Maddie & Lauren; son Jeff Raymond & his wife Julie of College Station, TX and their children David, Rebekah, Caleb & Lydia Raymond. Included are long time business associates and dear friends, Sharyl Munster, Kathy Gruber & Pat Stephens as well as many close friends who are as family.
Viewing will be Tuesday March 3rd from 3:00-8:00 at the Gothenburg Evangelical Free Church with the family present from 5:00-7:00.
Celebration of Life Service will be  held, Wednesday morning March 4th at the Gothenburg Evangelical Free Church at 11:00 with lunch following. Pastors serving are George Ibach of Garfield, NJ & Nathaniel Gustafson of Gothenburg, NE.
A Memorial has been established for the Raymond Family Scholarship at Gothenburg Public Schools, & The Gothenburg Evangelical Free Church Youth Building Fund and can be mailed to PO Box 12, Gothenburg, NE.