On Thursday, March 19, 2026, a kind and loving, honest, hardworking, husband, father and grandfather was called by the Lord.

Franklin “Frank” Kenneth Roby was welcomed into the world by his parents Kenneth L. and Ruth F. Roby on November 29, 1949, in West Point, Nebraska.  He was a 1968 graduate of Scribner High School.

On September 14, 1973, he met Birgit Habermann and they were married May 15, 1976, at Salem Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska.  They were blessed with two children, Sarah and Matthew.

Frank was a member of the United States Army Reserves separating as a Sergeant in 1977 and he also served with the United States Air Force Reserves, retiring as a Staff Sergeant. Frank worked for the Fremont Police Department from 1973 until 1983 and during that time he attended (then) Midland Lutheran College graduating in 1982 with his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting.

Unable to see himself chasing “bad guys” as he aged, Frank decided to change professions in 1983 and started his 23-year career with the Internal Revenue Service as a Criminal Investigator working in the Grand Island and Lincoln offices.  During a portion of his career, he was tasked with Secret Service (Presidential) protection details for Robert “Bob” Kerry, Geraldine Ferraro, and Barbara Bush, among others.  Frank was also selected to a protection detail for Ahmet Needet Sezer, the (then) President of Turkey, during the United Nations Millennium Conference in September of 2000.

After mandatory (age) retirement from the IRS Frank became the Anti-Terrorism Coordinator for the Nebraska National Guard here in Lincoln and after his second retirement he worked for NASDA as a numerator and was promoted to supervisor a few years later. He finally retired for good shortly after the COVID outbreak began.

After retirement, Frank enjoyed gardening and caring for the nicest looking yard in the neighborhood using his knowledge as a Master Gardener.  He took up learning more German and did some genealogical investigating.  Frank’s morning routine included reading his newspapers and doing the crosswords in ink.

One of Frank’s greatest joys was being able to spend time with his grandchildren and being present at their activities. He and Birgit enjoyed traveling in Europe and around the United States. They were long-time Husker football season ticket holders.

Left behind to cherish Frank’s endless love and memory are his wife, Birgit; daughter Sarah (Drew) Peters and son Matthew “Matt” (Lindsey) Roby along with grandchildren Henry, Kathleen, and Andrew Peters, Colt Roby and Reagen Siebrandt; sisters Nancy (Loren) Marlette and Janet ”Jan” (Vance) Douglass; his aunts Frances Spencer and Della Wolford, six nieces, five nephews; cousins, and other family members; plus his close childhood friend, Tom Zieg and numerous other friends.  Preceded in death by parents, in-laws Erwin and Edith Habermann, sister Rita (Richard) White, beloved aunts: Donna, Rose and Betty, long-time friends, Merlin Kottman and “twin” George Berry.

The Service of Resurrection for Frank will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Southwood Lutheran Church located at 4301 Wilderness Hills Rd in Lincoln NE.

Memorials are suggested to Southwood Lutheran Church or Lincoln-Lancaster County Food Bank.

“No day shall ever remove you from the memory of time.” (from Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid).

Source: https://aspenaftercare.com/obituary/franklin-k-roby/