Robert A. "Bob" Piechota

Robert A. “Bob” Piechota, 90, of Ashton, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Ashton. The Revs. Richard Piontkowski and Alex Borzych will concelebrate the Mass.

Inurnment will follow in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by The United States Air Force Funeral Honors Team.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Bob was born Jan. 2, 1935, in Grand Island to Frank and Barbara (Wesierski) Piechota, the youngest of nine children. He grew up in Ashton where he attended St. Francis Catholic School and later graduated from Ashton High School in 1953.

After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force, training at Lackland AFB in Texas and was assigned to Sembach, Germany, where he spent three years working in Administration and Personnel. He was discharged in 1957 and briefly worked for Burlington Railroad before he re-enlisted in 1959.

He was united in marriage to JoAnn A. Kaslon on April 4, 1959 in Ashton, and together had two children, Robert and Cheryl. They first made their home in Denver, CO where Bob was assigned with the Air Force, though that job took him many other places, as well. He was stationed in the United States in both Washington State and Colorado Springs, as well as abroad in Greenland and Turkey with a tour in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He was last stationed at NORAD/Cheyenne Mountain at Peterson AFB where he retired in 1977 with a rank of E7. After retiring from the Air Force, Bob then worked at Ent Federal Credit Union in Colorado Springs for 15 years. He and JoAnn then moved back to Ashton. Upon his return he worked in sales at a number of car dealerships, including Anderson Ford and Cornhusker Toyota in Grand Island for the next 17 years.

Bob loved to travel often with JoAnn, and they particularly enjoyed cruises and Hawaiian vacations together. They also enjoyed shorter trips back to Colorado, as well.

Bob was a big sports fan and would watch any live sporting event, though his favorite teams were the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the Denver Broncos and the New York Yankees. His love of sports had him coaching little league for several years while living in Ashton. He was also active in his local community, belonging to the American Legion, and was involved in the church and other community activities. He loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his children and spouses, Robert and Jeanne Piechota of Sioux City, IA and Cheryl and Mike Kosmicki of Ashton; and five grandchildren, Courtenay Piechota; Zach and Tawsha Paremske; Cameron and Elizabeth Piechota; Connor Piechota; and Jordan Kosmicki; and three great-granddaughters, Josie, Emily and MacKenzie Paremske.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, JoAnn who died on July 29, 2015; brothers, Hubert, Jim and Phil Piechota; and sisters, Alice McDermott, Cashmere “Cashie” Apperson, Floriann “Flossie” Hahn and Phyllis Lukasiewicz.