Robert A. “Bob” Reisdorff was born Aug. 7, 1951, to Leo and Lydia Reisdorff in Norfolk.
He attended Battle Creek High School and graduated in 1969. After high school, he went on to receive a degree from Norfolk Junior College, graduating in 1971. He continued his education at The University of Nebraska in Lincoln, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1974.
He married Becky Kanter on Dec. 1, 1973. They moved to Seward to start his career. He worked at Hughes Brothers from 1974–1989. He earned his Professional Engineering Degree in 1979. In 1989, Bob, Doug Kotil, and Merrill Peterson created RDM. In 1992, Bob, Doug, and Keith Wright formed Laminated Woods System and re-introduced laminated wood structures to the industry.
During his 30 years with LWS, Bob was always an innovator and problem solver. He is responsible for 6 U.S. patents, 3 Canadian patents, and numerous innovative products that changed the utility industry all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Australia, and even as far as Chad, Africa.
During Bob’s tenure, LWS designed and supplied about 25,000 engineered structures, 12,000 Phase Raisers, 60,000 Pole Enforcers, and hundreds of Adjustable Vault Reinforcement Systems. Bob traveled on approximately 1,000 business trips in his career to attend and participate in hundreds of presentations, sales calls, and trade shows. That equates to over one million airline miles, thousands of hotel stays, and hundreds of rental cars.
He was a 50-year member of the Seward Fire Department. He served on the Seward City Council in the 1980s and from 1992–2000. He was the Village Engineer for several villages in southeast Nebraska.
Bob is survived by his wife, Becky of Seward; daughter, Stacey (Ron) Fryc of Seward; sons, Tony (Nicholle) Reisdorff of Papillion, and Tim (Brandy) Reisdorff of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; grandchildren, David Fryc and Taylor Thorne, Katie and Clint Yocum, Cody and Savannah Fryc, Casey and Mallori Fryc, Seth Reisdorff, Kody and Kayson Reisdorff, Tyson Reisdorff and Beth Hurd, and Tiki Reisdorff; great-grandchildren, Kinly and Cayston Yocum, Huntleigh Gilligan, Colter Fryc, and Mikayla Fryc; bonus grandchildren, Morgan, Izabelle, and Abigail Craig; siblings, Joyce and Dale Wegner, Bill Reisdorff, Mike and Connie Reisdorff, Vicki Rensink, and Steve and Punky Reisdorff; in-laws, Pam Barry, and Jim and Barb Kanter; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Lydia; his in-laws, Charlie and June Kanter; siblings, Nancy and Bob Buechler, Margaret Reisdorff, and Tom Reisdorff; brother and sister-in-law, Rod and Denise Kanter; and nieces and nephews, Darlene Sivesind, Donna Marcelle, and Bill Reisdorff Jr.
A gathering of family and friends will be Sunday, May 31, from 2 – 5 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Monday, June 1, at 1:30 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with a private committal at the Seward Cemetery.
Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
