Robert C. "Bob" Mann, age 89 years, of Beatrice, formerly of Blue Springs died Tuesday morning, August 13, 2013 at the Beatrice Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born October 15, 1923 on a farm east of Blue Springs to Clyde J. and Florence (Hardy) Mann. He lived in that area his entire life and was a 1940 graduate of Union Center High School. Bob and Betty moved to Beatrice in December 2012. He farmed following graduation, and then served in the U. S. Navy from Nov. 6, 1942 to Nov. 4, 1945. He married Betty Lewis on April 21, 1945 at the Blue Springs Evangelical United Brethren Church. He then was a repairman for Sears for 15 years, and later for Montgomery Ward. He also operated his own repair business. Bob was owner and operator of the Wymore Truck Stop for 15 years, and continued to farm his entire adult life. He also drove a school bus for Wymore-Blue Springs Public School and was treasurer and maintainer operator for his township.
He was a member of the former Blue Springs Christian Church until it closed in 1970, and transferred his membership to the Wymore Church Of Christ where he was a deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher. He served on the Prairie Cottage Rural School District #145 board and was a leader for the Blue River 4-H Club. He was a member of the Little Britches Rodeo Association and the Blue River Riders. He was a past commander of the former Calkins-Woods V.F.W. Post #9989 and was a member of Anderson Post #25 of the American Legion. His hobbies included his horses and dogs, and tinkering with electrical gadgets.
Bob is survived by his wife Betty; by three children, Kent Mann and his wife Cyndee of Grand Island; Janene Fitzwater and her husband Scott of Beatrice; and Mike Mann and his wife Kay of Omaha; by six grandchildren, Katie Bohling and her husband Cory; Kenzie Mollring and her husband Jay; Kurt Mann and his wife Lindsey; Ben Fitzwater and his wife Anne; Robert Fitzwater and his fiancée Amanda Wendland; and Jacob Mann; by six great grandchildren, Theo and Brock Bohling; Delaney, Easton, and Briley Mann; and Sam Mollring; by a brother, Clyde Mann and his wife Linda of Jefferson City, Missouri; by sister-in-law, Betty Lewis of Olathe, Kansas; by a close family friend, Marcia Moss of Chillicothe, Missouri; and by nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, by an infant son, Clinton; by his sister, Gladys Fessler; by a sister-in-law, Jean Lewis; and by a brother-in-law, Everett Lewis.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 18, 2013 at the Wymore Church of Christ, Hwy 77 and M Street, with Clayton Lundstedt and Kent Mann officiating. Military service will be conducted at the Blue Springs Cemetery by Anderson Post #25. The body will lie in state at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday, and at the church one hour preceding the service. Memorial to the church with Gail and Gloria Portenier in charge. His register book may be signed online at