Dr. Robert Lee Jennings, 85, passed away unexpectedly at Mercy Medical Center, Janesville, on July 4, 2013, with his loving wife at his side.
He was born on Feb. 23, 1928, in Whitehall, Mich., to Robert Lee and Mildred Evelyn (Bjorkman) Jennings.
He graduated from Whitehall Michigan High School. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill.
He spent 2 years in the U.S. Army where he served as a chaplain’s assistant at Beale and Edwards Air Force bases in Calif. Further education was undertaken at Western Michigan College (MA) and at Michigan State University (Ph.D.).
Robert was united in marriage to Geraldine (Gerry) French on Aug. 17, 1957 in Kalamazoo, Mich., who survives him as well as three daughters, Pamela (Ross) Reiling of Geneseo, Ill.; Lisa J. Munson, of Arnold, Md.; and Linda Jennings, of Indiana, Penn. He is further survived by three grandchildren, a cousin, many friends and former students.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, Art Westphal, and infant son, Brian Lee.
Robert taught choral music in Michigan at Whitehall Schools, Muskegon High School, and Western Michigan University. Then he taught at University of South Dakota, and finished the last 26 years of his teaching career as professor of music at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, retiring in 1992.
Highlights of his career at UW-Whitewater were directing and coordinating 19 years of Jul Fest Dinners and Spring Dinner concerts given by the University Repertory Singers.
In retirement, Bob founded the Whitewater Singers, a group composed of singers from around the area who raised money for various charities through their dinner concerts. Robert was also an active soloist. He and his wife (a cellist) gave 23 joint recitals at the university.
The church and his faith were very important to Bob. He was very active at the Whitewater Congregational UCC, still singing in the choir after having been the director for 17 years. He also served on various boards and helped with Meals on Wheels. He was a loyal member of the Breakfast Kiwanis Club for 50 years.
His national and state professional memberships included: Music Educators National Conference, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the American Choral Directors Association.
Bob loved to travel, attend concerts, and be with family. He and his wife led five Music Study Tours to Europe through the UW-Continuing Ed Dept.
A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2013 at the Whitewater Congregational United Church of Christ, 130 S. Church St., with the Rev. Phil Milam officiating. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater.
Memorials may be made to UW-Whitewater Foundation Robert Lee Jennings Voice Scholarship, Whitewater Congregational United Church of Christ, or the Ruth Taylor Voice Scholarship at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill.
Nitardy Funeral Home assisted the family.
For online guestbook, visit www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
