Delbert Unruh Obituary

Del Unruh, a country boy, was born in Glendive, Montana to Anthony J. Unruh and Loretta Mae (Volbrecht) Unruh December 29, 1941. He worked for his family on the farm throughout his younger years driving tractor, tilling fields, planting wheat, harvesting. It was his mother's suggestion that he attend the University of Montana where he found his passion in the theatre. At first it was as an actor and later as a designer. After he met his future wife, Ione Hutchings, he decided to make theatre a career and applied to Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois and was accepted for their graduate program. Del and Ione were married August 21, 1963 and traveled to Evanston in 1964 to begin the creation of his life-long career in the theatre as a designer, teacher, and passionate believer in the Arts.

Del passed from this life to a new journey on May 8, 2024, at 10 pm (CT). The passing was quiet, blessed with his girls surrounding him and Kermit's "Rainbow" song playing in the background. He was truly blessed for such a quiet time to leave.

His daughters, Romanda (Rome) Hines, Julia Unruh-Kracke, and Emily Loretta Stout were a blessing as a father. He loved his two grandsons who came with this blessing, Thomas Hines (18) and JP (James Porter LeRoy Stout 11) his pride and joys, and his three son-in-laws Dan Hines, Kurtis Unruh-Kracke, and Tim Stout as they are not only great kids but were the boys he had wished for when his girls were born, so he had the best of both worlds as father, grandfather and father-in-law.

Del was a Full Professor in Theatre at the University of Kansas where he worked for almost 40 years. He was instrumental in developing the Scenography program which offered the first MFA in Design outside Yale University, a pride that Del wore proudly. As part of his professional research and study, Del became a Theatre Scholar in the field of Czech Theatre Design after a sabbatical in the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia at the time) where he had gone to study with Josef Svoboda, and through a series of introductions met Jaroslav Malina who became his lifelong friend, mentor, and brother. Through Jaroslav, Del was able to bring real Czech theatre to KU which brought many students from all over the world to study with him. This program and what it offered was his passion and upon retirement he reveled in hearing from former students concerning their time with him and their careers in the theatre due to that special study he had provided for the program.

Del was the recipient of many awards throughout his career but his writing awards from USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technology), Herb Gregg Award for excellence in writing, 1986, 1992, 2003; The 2002 Kennedy Center Medallion of Excellence for Teaching, Design, and Writing; And the honor of a Fulbright Research Fellowship for further study into Czech Theatre Design in 2003, are among his favorite accomplishments. He also received many design awards for his set and lighting design both in the professional and academic theatre. These awards are too numerous to mention, as well as the publications he wrote, but can be found by an internet search of his name. His career was long, varied and full of the Arts which he loved.

He leaves behind his wife of 61 years, Ione, and their three daughters Rome Hines (Dan Hines), Julia Unruh-Kracke (Kurtis Unruh-Kracke) Emily Stout (Tim Stout), 2 grandchildren Thomas, JP, and sister, Myrt Schultz of Glendive, MT; nephew and nieces Arnold (Arnie) Schultz, Bloomfield, MT, Anita Schultz Saas, Billings MT; Tony Don Lear, Huntly, MT, Trent Lear, Sacramento, CA. His sister, Sharon Unruh Lear, and parents AJ (Tony) and Loretta Unruh preceded him in death.

Services for Del will be on May 18, at 2:00 pm at the Inge Theatre, Murphy Hall. The family is requesting former students attending the service to bring a representative piece of their work to be displayed as a tribute to Del. Memorial contributions may be made in Delbert's name to the 100th Anniversary for the KU Theatre Department and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.