Robert E. Rueggeberg Obituary

Robert E. Rueggeberg
Weirton Daily Times
Sun., Jan. 15, 2006

CONCORD, N.H. – Robert Ernest Rueggeberg, Professor Emeritus of Manufacturing Engineering at Miami University, died Sunday, Jan. 1,2006, at the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association’s Hospice House.
Professor Rueggeberg was born Dec. 19, 1919, in Steubenville, Ohio. He graduated from Steubenville (Ohio) high School in 1937. Known to his friends and colleagues as Bob, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University in 1941 with a major in mathematics and minors in physics and chemistry. During his college days, Bob was a member of the Miami Fencing Club. He competed with the saber and the foil. Even as an undergraduate at Miami, Bob was planning for a career in education. He was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education’ Phi Delta Kappa, a professional association for educators; and Kappa Phi Kappa.
Following graduation from Miami in 1941,Bob was employed by the Westinghouse Corp, in Pittsburgh. World War II intervened, and Bob was drafted in March 1942. Knowing that it wouldn’t be long before he would go overseas, Bob married his longtime Miami girlfriend, June E. Hill, in Richmond, Va., in August 1942.
Bob served as staff sergeant with the Company A 926th Signal Battalion in U. S. Army through October 1945. bob landed in Normandy during he D Day invasion. He fought his way through Northern France and Central Europe in the Ardennes and Rhineland battles and campaigns. He was wit the American troops who liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Bob received the Good Conduct Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Service medal with five Bronze Stars.
Bob returned to Miami in 1946 and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. Bob joined the Miami faculty in 1948 as a member of the Industrial Education Department. In 1983, he became a member of the Manufacturing Engineering Department, retiring in 1985. His professional life revolved around being an educator and teaching his students to excel at being teachers themselves. Bob was convinced that his students kept him young. His enthusiasm made him a popular professor, and outside class his students called him “Rueggie.” Bob continued to help Miami students after his retirement. His alumni Contributions always went to the Women’s Athletic Department, because Bob never felt they received their fair share in the budget..
At Miami, Bob was quite proud of the four laboratory areas he designed for his students. Bob also found time to start the Industrial Education Department at Wilmington College. Bob belonged to many educational and professional associations. He served as the Ohio President of Epsilon Pi Tau, the honorary fraternity for outstanding practitioners in the teaching profession.
Ob leaves behind a long Miami tradition. His mother , Marie (Floto) Rueggeberg; his sister, Phyllis Rueggeberg Miller; two sisters-in-law; his wife, June (Hill) Rueggeberg and her father; his son, Christopher Rueggeberg; and numerous cousins, all graduated from Miami.
Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, June; his son Christopher; his daughter –in-law, Gail; and his granddaughter, Emily Elizabeth.
Memorial services were held on Jan. 7, at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord, where he was a member.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, Hospice House, P.O. Box 1797, Concord, NH 03302-1797