Robert T. Madej
Sep 24, 1948 – Nov 18, 2016
age 68 years, of Bellevue, Nebraska.
Preceded in death by parents Thaddeus and Kathryn Madej. Survived by wife Diane (Anderson) Madej; children Eric Madej (Jodi Bernth), Lisa Kelly, and Brad Madej (Laurie Murphy); grandsons Jordan, Michael, Reece, Noah, and Riley; granddaughters Madison, Brianna, Alexus, Maggie, and Emma; brothers Ray, Ronald (Deb Klaushie), and Ken (Sandy Rockwell); sister-in-law Mary Jo Madej; many nieces and nephews Visitation at Ambassadors Worship Center (5417 N. 103rd St) Monday, November 21st, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Funeral Tuesday, November 22nd, 10:00 a.m. at Ambassador Worship Center. Memorials requested to the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home. |
Steve Lockard’s tribute to Bob on Facebook 11/18/2016:
I was informed this morning that Bob Madej passed away today. He and I were in jump school together in October of 1968. We reported to Ft. Oakland the same day, traveled to RVN on the same plane, got shipped up to Pleiku, then Kontum, and reported to 2nd brigade LRRPs together. We spent 6 months at LZ MaryLou. When I screwed up at 2nd brigade and was getting shipped back to K Company he wouldn’t let me go alone. We spent our last 6 months at K Company.
Bob was soft spoken and built like a weightlifter. He had a lot of the best that the midwest has to offer, while I was just a city kid from the east coast. We wouldn’t seem to be natural friends, yet we kept in touch for 47 years. Our wedding anniversaries are just days apart, and my wife, Valerie and Diane get along as well as Bob and I did.
For a number of years I had been trying to coax Bob into coming to a reunion. He confided to me that he hadn’t spoken to anyone but me since overseas and he’d feel funny about it. Then just this past winter he agreed to go San Diego if I picked him up. All was set until he needed an operation on his back. Even though he couldn’t attend the reunion, we couldn’t go across country without seeing them. I wish that we had spent more time together, but at least we had a few hours.