‘He treated us all like family’: Lincoln celebrates life of Ramos Pizza owner
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Dozens of family and friends gathered Monday night to celebrate the life of Jeff Dodge, the beloved owner of Ramos Pizza.
“He ran his pizza shop like a small-town mom and pop pizza shop,” Dale Bailey said. “And he treated us all like family.”
Bailey worked for Dodge for 29 years, from the first day that Dodge bought Ramos.
Dodge died from natural causes on May 6.
People gathered at Rosie’s Bar and Grill on Monday to share their favorite stories and talk about what they loved about Dodge.
“He knew a lot of people, and he was friends with a lot of people,” Bailey said.
Bailey said Dodge was involved in the restaurant business, the pizza business and a band.
He loved to play the trumpet and was a part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln marching band.
And Bailey said Dodge was more than just a boss, which is why it makes it hard to continue at Ramos without him.
“I don’t know, you could just talk to him about things, life issues,” Bailey said. “And if you had problems, you’d go talk to him.”
At the celebration, they served pizza from the restaurant: pepperoni with cream cheese, Dodge’s specialty.
Dale said Ramos will continue on with business as normal.
He said that’s what Dodge would have wanted.
“He would want Ramos to continue on in the way that he built it up to be,” Bailey said. “He wouldn’t want it to change to anything else. And that’s all we’re trying to do.”
