Robert J. Blankenau, 78, of Dodge, died Sunday April 25, 2010 at Nebraska Veterans Home in Norfolk. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am. Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Dodge with Reverend Patrick McLaughlin as celebrant. Wake services will be 7:30 pm. Tuesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with the family present one hour ahead. Burial with military honors will be in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:00 pm. until 8:00 pm. Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Stokely Funeral Home of Dodge is in charge of arrangements. Robert was born March 23, 1932 at Dodge to Frank and Margaret Rueschoff Blankenau. He grew up in Dodge and attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic Grade school and graduated with the class of 1949 from Dodge Public School. He continued his education at Creighton University, graduating with a degree in Business Administration in 1953. Bob then joined the United States Navy and served for 4 years. On October 2, 1956, Bob married Arlene Bos at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells. The couple lived their married life in Dodge. Bob ran the family business, Blankenau Motor Company, a Ford Dealership, established by his father until retiring in 2005. Robert was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church where he served as cantor and sang in the choir, He was a member of the West Point Knights of Columbus, Dodge American Legion and VFW, and sang in the Archdiocesan choir. He was an avid collector and hobby enthusiast, enjoying all nature of pastimes including photography, Ham radios, gardening and numerous other passions. Survivors include his wife Arlene of Dodge, son Guy of Omaha, daughter Lisa (Chris) Clausen of Clarkson, granddaughters Beth Clausen and Ginger Ingersoll, brother John (Bunnie) Blankenau, and sister Agnes (Joe) Schneiderwind both of Omaha. He is preceded in death by a grandson Rob Clausen and his parents.