Bill was the oldest of 4 children growing up on the family farm near Deshler, NE. He was baptized into the Christian faith by his grandfather, Pastor John Hieronymus, and was also confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church. Bill attended Deshler Public School, Peace Lutheran Elementary School, and graduated from Deshler High School in 1974. Upon graduation, he received the University of Nebraska Regents Scholarship, but was needed on the family farm so he did not attend the University of Nebraska. Bill married the love of his life, Debbie Kassebaum, on February 5, 1982, and they recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. This union was blessed with three children: Ashley, Derek, and Bradley, and 4 beautiful granddaughters. Bill was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He cherished spending time with his children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and the family’s dogs, especially Molly. He coached many of his children’s sports teams and attended CNA classes with his daughter. Bill also enjoyed music and was a talented singer and trombone player. He had a mischievous sparkle in his eyes and a great sense of humor. Bill was a friend to all, those he knew and those he had just met.
In 1990, Bill and Debbie left farming and moved to Seward Nebraska where they raised their family and formed life-long friendships with many in the community and among their church family at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Bill Earned his associate degree in Machine Tool and Die Design Technology at Southeast Community College in Milford. He began his career at Molex, Inc. in Lincoln, as tool maker and die designer. He earned several promotions and eventually held the title of Stamping Innovation Manager. Bill traveled to Molex plants all over the United States, and to China, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to teach the employees there how to operate the machines and dies he designed. Using his wide array of knowledge and experience, his patented innovations revolutionized the stamping industry. In 2018 Bill received the Molex Fellows award. Since Molex was founded in 1938, there have been around 25 current or retired employees recognized as Fellows from approximately 45,000 people employed by Molex annually. Bill was nearing 30 years of employment at Molex at the time of his death. He had great respect for Molex and valued the many life-long friends he worked with.
Bill is preceded in death by his grandparents, Pastor John & Ella Hieronymus and William & Anna Pohlmann, his father, Elmer, and his father & mother-in-law Ernest & Carlean Kassebaum, sister-in-law Rita Kassebaum, infant niece, Shari Kassebaum.
Those left to mourn his passing include his wife Debbie, daughter Ashley, sons Derek (Kate) and Bradley (Jaclyn), granddaughters Mary Jolene “JoJo” & Magnolia Hope Pohlmann, and Lillian Marie & Juliet Rose Pohlmann, mother Julia, siblings Kathryn (Steve) Duffy, Howard (Lori) Pohlmann, Wayne (Marty) Pohlmann, and siblings in-law Darold Kassebaum, Cheryl Hedegaard, LaVonne (Bonnie) Kassebaum, Rick (Trudy) Kassebaum, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
The funeral service will be held at St. John Lutheran church in Seward, NE on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. followed immediately by a luncheon. Burial at 2:15 pm at Hebron City Cemetery in Hebron, NE.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Roper and Sons South (3950 Hohensee Dr) from 4-7 p.m.