September 23, 2011 -- A sad day for KCS
Today KCS lost the greatest man in the world, Bob Kotan, Senior, a WWII veteran, friend, mentor, husband, and fantastic father.
Here is his Obituary:
Bob was born in 1920 and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
After being released from the Service, he met and married "Bernie" in 1946 and over the next 31 years, they raised six children. Bernie passed away in March, 1978 after a lengthy illness.
Bob worked in the Office Machine sales and service field in Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota for many decades, including owning Kotan Business Equipment in Omaha. Bob retired from the business in 1991 when he developed Macular Degeneration and was unable to drive himself to work each day.
Not one to sit and just watch television, Bob became deeply involved in the Nebraska Regional Group of the Blinded Veteran's Association, having served as President and Secretary until 2009.
In 1986, he met Julie and remained together until the day he left us.
In May, 1987, Bob developed cancer and continued to fight the hard fight, beating it down for over 20 years. In 2009, it spread to his left lung and in 2010, it spread to his brain and could not be stopped in time.
Today, September 23, 2011, cancer won, and Bob stepped into the arms of loved ones on "the other side" at the ripe young age of 91.
He is survived by his Significant Other of 25 years, Julie Karasek of Omaha. Of Bob's and Bernie's six children, five survive him, as well as four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
"To know Bob Kotan", says son Jim, Founder, President and CEO of KCS, "is to not just like him but to truly love him. What an amazing man he was, and such a driving force in the process of KCS becoming what it is. Every customer and every member of the KCS team with whom he came in contact thought the world of him. 'He will be missed' does not even scratch the surface of how great a loss this is. God rest that wonderful man's soul."
Funeral arrangements are:
Here is his Obituary:
Bob was born in 1920 and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
After being released from the Service, he met and married "Bernie" in 1946 and over the next 31 years, they raised six children. Bernie passed away in March, 1978 after a lengthy illness.
Bob worked in the Office Machine sales and service field in Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota for many decades, including owning Kotan Business Equipment in Omaha. Bob retired from the business in 1991 when he developed Macular Degeneration and was unable to drive himself to work each day.
Not one to sit and just watch television, Bob became deeply involved in the Nebraska Regional Group of the Blinded Veteran's Association, having served as President and Secretary until 2009.
In 1986, he met Julie and remained together until the day he left us.
In May, 1987, Bob developed cancer and continued to fight the hard fight, beating it down for over 20 years. In 2009, it spread to his left lung and in 2010, it spread to his brain and could not be stopped in time.
Today, September 23, 2011, cancer won, and Bob stepped into the arms of loved ones on "the other side" at the ripe young age of 91.
He is survived by his Significant Other of 25 years, Julie Karasek of Omaha. Of Bob's and Bernie's six children, five survive him, as well as four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
"To know Bob Kotan", says son Jim, Founder, President and CEO of KCS, "is to not just like him but to truly love him. What an amazing man he was, and such a driving force in the process of KCS becoming what it is. Every customer and every member of the KCS team with whom he came in contact thought the world of him. 'He will be missed' does not even scratch the surface of how great a loss this is. God rest that wonderful man's soul."
Funeral arrangements are:
- Visitation at Dworak Mortuary, 2466 South 16th Street, Omaha, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Thursday September 29, 2011
- Funeral at St. Gerald's Catholic Church, 9602 Q Street, Omaha, at 10:00 Friday September 30th, 2011
- Memorials to the Blinded Veterans' Association (http://www.BVA.org)
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