Robert Karas was born on November 8, 1932, on a farm northwest of Pawnee City, NE, and moved to a farm north of Table Rock in 1933. His parents were Lewis and Otylie (Kotalik) Karas. Robert attended elementary school at Bunker Hill north of Table Rock and graduated from Table Rock High School in 1950 as salutatorian of his class. Robert farmed until 1953. He was drafted to the US Army in February of 1953 and served overseas through October 1954 as Occupation Forces, Salzburg, Austria. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Warnke on December 31, 1954. They lived on a farm north of Table Rock for eight months, then moved to Tecumseh, where he was employed at Campbell Soup and Warnke’s Grocery. In 1957 they moved to Beatrice where he began a manager training program with the F.W. Woolworth Company. After two years his job moved them to North Platte where he became assistant manager. They moved again in 1961 to Sterling, Colorado, where he was assistant manager. In 1963 he was transferred to Vernon, Texas, to manage his first store. In 1965 they transferred to Hays, Kansas. Within a short time, he decided to change professions and move back to Pawnee City to assist his father-in-law in the grocery business. As a sideline he took a home study course in TV and electronics repair which enabled him to work independently helping others, giving him the opportunity to interact with people, something he loved to do. In 1970 he went to work for Campbell Soup Company and remained there until his retirement in 1995 after 25 years of service. During this period he also sold and serviced Kinetico water softeners.

Robert accepted Christ in 1963 in Vernon, Texas, and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Pawnee City. He has been a 50-year-plus member of the ZCBJ fraternal organization and a lifetime member of the VFW in Pawnee City, Post 5289.

Robert was a loving husband and father with interests in photography, recording DVDs, following the NBA, camping/traveling, garage sales and shopping at Menards. His greatest joy was his grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

He was always very proud of the fact that he was of 100% Czech heritage and that he was born on the day when FDR was elected president. Much time was spent forming opinions on politics, he always enjoyed a great debate and no one he met left as a stranger. Being economically minded, he loved a bargain and always advised to "Never leave home without duct tape or guy wire," in case of an emergency. 

Robert passed away on March 3, 2016, at Bryan West Hospital following several health complications having reached the age of 83 years, 3 months and 24 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Otylie Karas, and sisters, MaryAnn Stoddard, Erma Bstandig and Irene LeSeur. Robert is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and seven children: Marcia Binder, and her husband Kim, of Atchison, Kansas; Robert Jr., and his wife Wendy (Gyhra), of Pawnee City; Karen Cossel, and her husband Terry, of Beatrice; Richard, and his wife Sharon (Nelson), of Beatrice; Roger, and his wife Teri (Ramirez), of St. Charles, Illinois; Trish Fisher, and her husband Donnie, of Pawnee City; and Debra Fralin, and her husband Bryan, of Beatrice; 36 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, March 28, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church, Pawnee City, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will go to the Pawnee City Assisted Living Project. On Line condolence may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.  Arrangements entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Pawnee City, Nebraska.