Merrill B. Matchett
From Albion, Nebraska. Born on August 22, 1939. Passed away on September 20, 2023. No service information at this time. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Robert Frederick Abbott
Robert Fredrick Abbott born November 20, 1962, and died September 18, 2023, with his adoptive family holding him. My dear Robert, You were so adored by your many friends whom you reciprocally adopted as Family. I love that you celebrated every day, announcing the day each morning with a, “It’s Friday, whew! We made it to Friday” and “I Love My Fridays! And even “It’s Monday, it’s a workday. We Made It!” Your enthusiastic announcement of each day always brought joy to those around you. You worked at Valentinos for 18 years and had so much fun interacting with your co-workers and customers. Veronica helped you be your best self at work. You started your days with “go-go juice” and you loved that red wagon she drove. I know she and Valentinos were sad to see you retire in February 2023. Robert, you were the sweetest man. I admired you for not putting up with mean people. If you saw someone being mean in person or on television, your emphatic pronouncements of, “Sleezebag!” or, “He’s UGGGGLEEEE!” always made me giggle. You had no time for bullies, and I know you had already faced many bullies in your young years of life. Instead of becoming mean, you were kind, sensitive and caring. You enjoyed your independence and in December of 2002 you moved into your new extended family home with your “Dar Dar.” You flourished with full access to your environment. I loved that you no longer feared storms or had to be concerned about food. You fully enjoyed your new family complete with your fish, dogs, cats, and humans who loved you. You always had a special bond with your kitties and gave them nicknames, so Freddy became “Bogart”, or “Eddie Spaghetti” and Scrim became “Shrimp” and Tink Tink became “Tinky Stinky.” Your laughter was infectious, and you were known for your Robert-isms. “That’ll get her!” “That’ll wake em up!” “That’ll fix him!” “Paint her red wagon GREEN!” “Wear the seatbelt” “Beep the horn at em.” “Take a SNOOZE in it!” “You Got Me!” “LalaPalooza!” “Stinker” “Squirt- Butt” “Coffee Wafee” and I always got a “Boogity!” at the end of our visits. You loved Christmas. I know you would have chosen to keep your Christmas tree up year-round and full of lights and ornaments. I especially enjoyed our Christmas shopping trips and that you would start making plans to get your shopping done as soon as Halloween was approaching. You would always say you didn’t know what you were looking for and reply, “not really,” if I suggested an item. Once something caught your attention though, you would immediately light up and request it be placed in the cart. You did such a thoughtful job of searching for just the right thing for everyone on your list and I loved watching you pick out a new Christmas decoration to add to your treasures. Buddy, there will not be a day I won’t think of you and your zest for life. You brought pure joy to all who knew you. You were loved beyond measure. I smiled each time we told you we loved you and assuredly, you responded, “I know.” Robert, buddy, we adore you and we’ve got you, forever and always in our hearts. Robert Frederick Abbott is survived by his adoptive family, Darla Wiesel, Helen (Cassidy) Dougherty, Bobbie Jones, Paedyn Harsh, Millie Fitz, Denise Ballard, Dana Wiesel, Harold Thies, Bob and Dawn Holland, Bob Glanz and their families and his friends, Joanne, Naola, Nancy, Veronica, Sonya, Zach, Kristin, Nona, Sharon, Andy, Semira, Chris, Denise and Dave. A potluck celebration of life will be held on a TBD date. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Barbara Jo DiBernard
Barbara DiBernard, daughter of Josephine (Esposito) DiBernard and Vincent DiBernard, was born in Dover, NJ. Her grandparents Anna (Togano) DiBernard and Cesario DiBernard, and Incarnata (Ceddia) Esposito and Luigi Esposito, all immigrated from southern Italy, and Barbara was very proud of her Italian heritage (manifested mostly through food, including her signature baked ziti and Christmas cookies). She left this life on September 19, 2023. She graduated from Wilson College and SUNY Binghamton and spent her adult life as a teacher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an identity that was very important to her. In a life-changing event, she was asked to teach women’s literature, and spent the rest of her career teaching women’s literature and lesbian literature through the Women’s & Gender Studies Program. Barbara and Judith Gibson became life partners in 1988 and married on June 15, 2015, the day the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. They had a wonderful life in their accessible light-filled home designed and built by Lee Schriever, hosting many gatherings, watching birds, with flowers blooming inside and outside all year long. Barbara was also a traveler, drawn mostly to oceans and birds. She and Judith visited the sandhill cranes every year, and birded in the Nebraska Sandhills, South Carolina, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as locally. Some of Barbara’s most memorable trips were to Baja, Alaska, Midway Atoll, Belize, and Micronesia. Her lesbian identity was also central to Barbara’s life and work. She was active in lesbian politics and found a spiritual home at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival. Barbara has an extended circle of friends, including many former students. She is survived by her spouse Judith Gibson; her daughter Sarah Gibson; her sister Joan Stopa; her niece Lauren Stopa Fitzpatrick (Kevin) and great-niece Nora Fitzpatrick; her niece Stefanie Stopa Marchetti (Tony), and great-niece and nephew Sarah and Josh Marchetti; and her nephew Justin Stopa. Much appreciation goes to HoriSun Hospice nurses and others who provided warm and generous care to Barbara and her family. Barbara requested cremation. There will be no services. Memorial gifts may be sent to ACLU Nebraska, the Lesbian Herstory Archives, or the UNL Women’s & Gender Studies Program. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Robert “Bob” Denys Chamberlain Rokeby
Bob Rokeby died on September 17, 2023, following a long fight with cancer. He was born to Helen and Thomas Rokeby on March 21, 1949, in Guelph, Ontario. When Bob was in elementary school, he moved with his family to South Dakota, and the family settled in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Bob attended the University of Arkansas, where he met his wife of 53 years, Vicki Rokeby (Schmieding). Bob graduated from the University in 1971, and the couple relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska. Bob was a lifelong learner and almost always had a big or small project in the works. Even at the very end of his life, he was exploring ideas. Bob, along with his wife, was instrumental in the preservation of the Havelock Business District, through business ownership and rehabilitating several buildings, as well as the Professors Row area of the East Campus neighborhood. Bob was also active in the Porsche Club of America Porsche Palooza and as a board member for the Schmieding Foundation. Bob loved to drive. Long or short distances, it did not matter as long as he was behind the wheel. He was proud that in over 58 years of driving he never once received a traffic ticket. He is survived by his wife Vicki (Schmieding) of Lincoln, Nebraska and Eureka Springs, Arkansas; children Jennifer Rokeby-Mayeux (Ben Mayeux), of Lincoln; Steven Rokeby (Gilles Hoppenbrouwers) of St. Brieuc, France; and Richeala Rokeby (Phillip Dulcich) of Lincoln; his most-excellent grandchildren Max and Lucy Mayeux; Brother Richard Rokeby (Anne); sister Penelope Rokeby; brother-in-law Larry Schmieding (Michelle); many nieces and nephews; and many, many friends. Memorials can be made in Bob’s honor to the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools, designated for the Driver’s Education Fund; any animal rescue organization; or a charity of the donors’ choosing. No service information at this time. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
James A. Schwisow
Born on December 23, 1948. Passed away on September 15, 2023. No service information at this time. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
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