Dr. Robert G Ruetz

Dr. Robert G. Ruetz, 94, of Omaha NE, passed away peacefully on Thursday June 30th, 2022, surrounded by family. He was born March 28,1928 in Racine, Wisconsin. He lived most of his early life in South Bend, Indiana attending St. Joseph Grade School, Central Catholic High School, and the University of Notre Dame. In 1950, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in music. He was a member of the Notre Dame Men’s Glee Club from 1946-1950 and a soloist and Vice-President during that time. He married Pierrette (de Repentigny) on August 25, 1956, at St. Thomas Church in Fort Thomas, Kentucky.

He is survived by daughters Denise (Ruetz) Jensen (spouse Gregory), Louise (Ruetz) McConnell; son, Robert J. Ruetz (spouse Joni); grandchildren, Kayleigh (Ruetz) Rissover, Eric, Christina, Chloe, Lorelei, Matthew, and Ava; two great-grandchildren Robert and Roland; sister Marjorie, and sister-in-law, Carolyn (Krol) Ruetz.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years Pierrette (de Repentigny); his son Michael J; parents Joseph F. and Margaret Neona, siblings Genevieve (Ruetz) Collins, Joseph H. Ruetz, Raymond J. Ruetz, Reverend Edward J. Ruetz, Thomas J. Ruetz; first cousins Msgr. Louis J. Miller, Sister Virginis (Hedwig) Miller, and Clement Miller. Also deceased are sisters-in-law Genevieve (Cook) Miller Ruetz, Jane (Ditsch) Ruetz; and brothers-in-law, Charles Collins, and Donald Narducci.

He served in the U. S. Army's 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division in Japan and Korea and saw combat during the Korean War. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal, Far East Theater Medal, and Korean War Service Medal.

After the war, he continued his passion for music by earning a Master of Music degree in voice and performance from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati (1956), and a Doctor of Music degree (1965) from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.

During his teaching career, he was a member of the faculties of Benedictine Heights College in Tulsa, OK; Missouri State University in Springfield, MO; and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he retired in 1990 as emeritus professor of music after 25 years on the UNO faculty. He was founding director of both the SMS Opera Workshop and the UNO Opera Theatre. He also served as Dean of UNO's College of Fine Arts.

Dr. Ruetz was a performing tenor in recitals, concerts with numerous symphony orchestras, and in operas in many parts of the United States. In addition, he served as chorusmaster of the Tulsa Opera Co. and Opera Omaha while also serving on Opera Omaha's Board of Directors for nine years. He was active, at the same time, on the boards of other arts organizations both nationally and in the Omaha community; reviewer for the Metropolitan Opera's magazine Opera News for 20 years, a judge of the Metropolitan Opera National Council's district and regional auditions around the United States for 40 years, and an opera radio host on stations KTXR in Springfield, MO; KVNO in Omaha, NE and KIWR in Council Bluffs, IA.



An emeritus member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), he also was a member of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, and Vice President of both the Missouri Music Teachers Association and the Nebraska Music Teachers Association.

He and his wife Pierrette founded and developed a scholarship endowment at the University of Nebraska Foundation in their late son Michael’s name, The Michael J. Ruetz Memorial Award in Music, to support student scholarships in the UNO Department of Music. He later added The Pierrette D. Ruetz Prize for Music Excellence, an apprenticeship program for performers in opera and concertizing, after his wife’s passing in 2002.

Bob had a positive attitude about life no matter how difficult things were. He had a sense of humor and was always there to offer a word of encouragement and see the positive in people and situations. He was a man of great faith and believer in the power of prayer and looked for the face of Jesus in everyone he met. He loved spending time with his precious family that he adored and was so proud of. He let us know he was praying for us and always told us how much he loved us. He loved watching Notre Dame football, memorizing French and Italian poetry, and if you were taking care of him, he might have given you an Italian Opera name.

Memorials may be made to the "Ruetz Family Excellence in Music Fund-01071151" at the University of Nebraska Foundation, P.O. Box 82555, Lincoln, NE 68501-2555. Checks should be payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation; include on the memo line or enclosed note that the gift is in memory of Robert Ruetz and provide the fund name and number. Please visit nufoundation.org to make an online gift.