Died Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at Methodist Fremont Health
He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Rosemary and Robert C. Therien, Sr. Bob graduated from Omaha North High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, in 1966 marrying Janet Erickson the following year. He furthered his studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, completing a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1968.
Following his education, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as an operating room specialist at Offutt AFB in Omaha. After his service, he began a long and fulfilling career as a professor of art at Midland Lutheran College. For four decades, he shared his passion for painting, drawing, art history, printmaking, and airbrush techniques with his students. Teaching and mentoring young artists were one of his greatest joys.
Bob's love for creating art began in his youth and remained constant throughout his life. His preferred mediums included oil, watercolor, and graphite. Subject matter varied, contingent on medium. Portraiture, still life, floral, and aquatic scenes, drawing inspiration from the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, the Lied Jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo, and Summerhaven Lake. Bob's work thematically tended towards realism, creating compelling scenes capturing the ephemeral nature of light, shadow, translucency, and reflection. His art has earned many awards and is included in collections across the country. Even after retiring from Midland in 2011, he continued to work until his passing.
In addition to his dedication to art, Bob was an avid outdoorsman, cherishing time spent hunting and fishing with friends and his beloved dogs. He was known for his sharp wit, great sense of humor, and fun-loving personality. He brought immense happiness to all of those around him.
Bob will be deeply missed by his wife of 58 years, Jan; his children, Erik (Jill), Alex (Alicia), and Allyson (Matt), grandchildren, and many dear friends, colleagues, and former students.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held this summer. Memorials can be made to the Fremont Area Art Association or the Alzheimer's Association, or to the organization of the donor's choice.
Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(6)
Dick Kreutz
Temecula, CA Tuesday, March 25, 2025 I had not seen Bob since he married my second cousin in 1967. We both enlisted in the military during the Vietnam War. He in the Air Force and I the Army. He was smart and served in an air unit in Nebraska. I somehow ended up in a helicopter battalion in what was then South Vietnam.I reconnected with Jan a few years back. At that point Bob’s health was beginning to deteriorate. I always followed his art exhibits on the Internet and was so pleased he retained his incredible talent with color until he passed. Prayers for his family as they have lost a very special member.
Dick and Wendy Kreutz
Myrna & Ray Meister
FREMONT, NE Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Bob was a mentor, and as a teacher, was always encouraging. I was mesmerized by certain paintings of his, such as the turtle underwater with many reflections.Farewell.
Eileen & Bob Thornburg
Fremont, NE Monday, March 24, 2025 Jan & family,We are so sorry for your loss.
Bob was devoted to family and the arts. He was a brilliant artist.
May you reflect on his life & share stories of the memories that help you smile.
Sincerest sympathy,
Eileen & Bob Thornburg
Jan Anders Nelson
Grapeview, WA Sunday, March 23, 2025 While there are a lot of influences that had me studying in the arts, seeing Bob's exhibit at Midland when he first started teaching there was the catalyst that focused my creative journey.I have fond memories of dinners with Bob and Jan, of his keen intellect, humor and grace as my mentor, guiding me to attend the University of Wisconsin, earning a Master of Art. That experience introduced me to professors Bob had worked with as well, with a series of professional artists and led to my meeting my friend and mentor, painter Don Eddy.
I enjoyed meeting Bob and Jan again when returning to Fremont for a Midland reunion choir concert my father conducted. We had a wonderful evening dinner and an extended visit at Bob and Jan's home the next day, where I was thrilled to see what was on his easel.
The last thing Bob said to me at the door, as I was leaving was, "Remember that you are descended from Rodin and possibly Brancusi. Think about what you are going to do about that." In classic Bob fashion, he was again having a teaching moment with an old student. Bob was referring to the pedigree of a shared professor at the UW, who had studied under Josef Albers at Yale, and the begats that had come from before Albers.
Bob, you are with me every day in my studio. Our conversations surface while I paint. I was thrilled to be able to include one of Bob's watercolors in an exhibit and magazine issue of Poets & Artists, along with one by Don Eddy, the two men who are the bookends of my mentors. That magazine, and Bob's artwork is memorialized as a part of the "Lunar Codex", and will live forever as part of the record of contemporary artists on the Moon, and in another launch into interstellar space.
I miss you Bob, and thank you for helping me find my path.
Jan Anders Nelson
Grapeview, WA
Lorraine Sweany
Granite Falls, WA Sunday, March 23, 2025 I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Cousin Bobby. I had a huge crush on him when I was young and later admired his art. My heart goes out to his family. I wish we would have been closer. RIP my Cousin.....Ned Therien
Olympia, WA Saturday, March 22, 2025 We were not close. Last time we saw each other was about 1974. I appreciated his art. I especially remember admiring the painting of an orange slice that hung in his parent's house back then. It looked so real, you could almost taste it. Goodbye cousin Bob.