Robert Allen Ubbelohde was born November 9, 1942 son of
Robert August and Betty (Heling) Ubbelohde at St. Nicholas Hospital in
Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He attended Grant
School in Sheboygan until moving to Milwaukee and eventually to Wausau,
Wisconsin where he graduated from Wausau Senior High School in the class of 1961
as Senior Class President and Valedictorian.
On June 19, 1965, Robert married Susan Elise Ortwein in
Wausau, Wisconsin to who he has been married 53 years and who survives him as
do his son’s Donald Allen Ubbelohde of Sheboygan, Wisconsin and his son Robert
Alexander and daughter-in-law, Nicole (Goeden) Ubbelohde of St. Paul,
Minnesota. Also surviving are his
brother, Ronald Myron Ubbelohde and his wife, Shellie. An Aunt, Darlene (Ubbelohde) Erdmann and her
husband Bruce as well two nieces, a nephew and two grand nieces and nephew plus
numerous cousins also survive.
Robert studied at Franklin and Marshall College, The
American College, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, The University of
Wisconsin -Madison, The University of Chicago and Harvard University. He earned three professional certificates and
four academic degrees including a B. S. degree in Philosophy with Honors; a
M.S. and C.A.S. degrees and his Ph.D. in Educational Theory with a minor in
Philosophy. Other academic honors
included election to Phi Delta Kappa in 1970 and selection as a Bush Foundation
Leadership Fellow (1983-84). He was also
selected as Outstanding Teacher at Northland College in Ashland, WI.
Robert was granted the title of Knight First Class of the
Order of the Lion in the year 2000 by President Tanja Hallonen of the Republic
of Finland. He also served as the
Honorary Consul for the Republic of Finland in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
from 2003-2007. He was also received the
Arts and Letters Award of the Finlandia Foundation of New York.
While working on his advanced degrees, Robert taught at
elementary schools in Freeport, IL and Madison, WI. He also taught as a Lecturer during this
period at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After completion of his doctorate, Robert held teaching and senior
administrative positions at Earlham College, Richmond, IN; Northland College,
Ashland, WI; and Finlandia University (aka Suomi College). On a number of occasions, he taught as a
visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the University
of Memphis (aka Memphis State University).
A brief foray into the world of business let to his work at Aid
Association for Lutherans (aka Thrivent) including as Director of Training.
In 1988, Robert served as Dean of the Faculty at Finlandia
University (aka Suomi College), and then was appointed President and Professor
of Philosophy for the remaining 16 years of his tenure. He oversaw the conversion of the institution
from an associate degree to a baccalaureate degree granting institution. Post retirement he taught as an adjunct
professor at Lakeshore Technical College until 2017. Robert served in a variety of other roles
including: Member and Chairman of the
Executive Committee of Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of
Michigan; member of the Board of Directors of Upper Peninsula Power Company of
Michigan; Chairman of the Suomi College Foundation of Finland; Board of
Directors of the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America; Member,
President’s Council, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Member, Harvard
Club of New York; The Miscowaubic Club, Calumet, MI; Member, the first two
Expatriate Parliaments of Finland; member and Vice Chair of the Appleton,
Wisconsin Board of Education, and Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and
Letters.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at
11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church (2104 Geele Avenue, Sheboygan) with
Rev. Kristen Berglund officiating.
Friends may call on Thursday, at the church, from 9:00 a.m. until the
time of service. Please visit
www.ballhornchapels.com
to sign the
guestbook.
A memorial fund has been established in his name benefiting
St. Peter Lutheran Church and Finlandia University.
