Robert J. Golka, father of Archbishop-designate James Golka, dies March 5 at age 92

GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA. Robert J. Golka, father of Archbishop-designate James Golka, died peacefully at age 92 on March 5 — two months to the day after the death of his wife, Patricia, on Jan. 5. Robert and Patricia were married for 64 years and had 10 children.

A vigil will be held on March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grand Island, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated March 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the cathedral.

Robert Golka was born Oct. 6, 1933, one of seven children. He grew up on a farm near Elyria, Nebraska. His father died suddenly in a truck accident when he was 11 years old, leaving him and a younger brother to run the family farm as teenagers. He graduated from Ord High School in 1953 and shortly afterwards was drafted into the U.S. Army during the waning months of the Korean War. He never saw active combat, but he was briefly stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, where his son James would later be ordained the diocese’s third bishop.

After being discharged from the Army, he earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. That was also where he met Patricia. The couple married in August 1961 and settled in Grand Island, where Robert worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Patricia taught at Grand Island Central Catholic High School.

In addition to raising their 10 children, Robert and Patricia were active in their parish, St. Leo. Robert was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, becoming a Fourth Degree Knight in 1968.

Shortly before his death, Robert traveled to Denver and was present when James was introduced as the city's next archbishop on Feb. 7. 

In addition to Archbishop-designate Golka, Robert is survived by children Deacon Ron (Chris) Golka, John (Pam) Golka, Barb (Scott) Brokaw, Cindy (Jim) Jussel, Greg (Tiffany) Golka, Sheri (Mike) Genereux, Gary (Tanya) Golka, and Tim (Jenny) Golka; brothers-in-law Lee (Joyce) Ostdiek, Larry (Diane) Ostdiek, and Allen (Nancy) Ostdiek; sister-in-law Doris Bradley; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Along with his wife Patricia, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Jean Golka, and six siblings.