Dr. Robert R. Billiar

  Dr. Robert R. Billiar, 90 of South Sioux City passed away Thursday, September 29, 2022 and went to be with his Lord and Savior.  Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at Hope Lutheran Church in South Sioux City.  Visitation will be Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. all held at the church.  Burial will be held at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery.  

  Robert was born the son of George A. and Tillie Sipek on November 9, 1931 in Crete, Nebraska.  He was confirmed in the Missouri Synod Lutheran faith and was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, where he was Stewardship chairman for many years and served as an Elder and also Vice President of the congregation.  He graduated from Crete High School in 1949.  He joined the Nebraska National Guard Field Artillery when he was 17 years old and served three and a half years.  He attended Doane University in Crete, then went on to Kansas State University where he graduated with a BS degree in Zoology in 1954.  He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1958 and practiced veterinary medicine primarily with dogs and cats for 57 years, retiring at 83 years of age.  He owned the South Sioux Animal Hospital for most of those years.  He then practiced part-time at the Elk Creek Animal Hospital in Sioux City for several years.  Dr. Bob, as he was known, belonged to the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association, the Interstate Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

  Bob married Shirley Jensen in Olathe, Kansas in 1954 and to them were born Jeffrey Robert, Dr. Timothy Robert, Dr. Suzanne Terese, and Samuel Robert.  He divorced and later married Shirley Putzier Smith of Climbing Hill, Iowa.  They made their home in South Sioux City, Nebraska.

  Dr. Billiar was past president of the Sioux Valley Kennel Club, South Sioux Sertoma Club, and South Sioux Optimist Club.  He was a board member of the Siouxland Humane Society where he served as building chairman for their present facilities and later was named as an honorary board member. 

  Bob enjoyed many activities with his family including raising and showing dogs, boating, snowmobiling, fly fishing, and riding and showing quarter horses as well as having miniature horses for many years.  Later in life he took up golfing and spent much time at that.  His main hobby through life was painting, using both acrylics and pastels.  Some of his medical illustrations have been published.  He traveled to many foreign countries including Africa twice for wildlife studies with his profession.  He was always a Husker football fan.

  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be directed to Hope Lutheran Church, Siouxland Humane Society, or Scholarships at Nebraska Veterinary Medical Centennial Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 296, Alliance, NE 69301.

  Dr. Billiar is survived by his wife, Shirley Billiar; children, Dr. Timothy (Dr. Edith) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Suzanne (Brian Davis) of Morriston, Florida, and Samuel (Cindy) of Beresford, South Dakota; grandchildren, Edie, Isabel, and Alex Billiar, and Andria Sivill, Danielle Seim, Amber Sandquist, and Marcell Powell; sister, Georgia Lee Deming (Darrel Crider) of Sunrise Beach, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.

  He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Floyd Ahl; first wife, Shirley; oldest son, Deputy Sheriff Jeffery Robert Billiar; infant brother and sister; older brother, Dr. Donald E. Billiar; younger brother, Rhinehart Billy Billiar; and sister, Mary Lou Billiar.