Lolah Jean Rubino, affectionately known as “Grandma Jean”, age 93, passed into eternal life on Monday, January 20, 2020.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 8 at 11:30 A.M. at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff with her grandson Sam Rubino officiating. A Reception will follow at St. Francis Episcopal Church parish hall, and inurnment will be at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering at 3:00 P.M. the same day.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name can be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at St. Jude’s.org, which was one of her favorite charities.
Jean was born on November 6, 1926 in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Ray and Lolah Ward. After graduating from Lincoln High School, she met her husband Robert J. Rubino, and they were married in Mishawaka, Indiana in 1946. Bob was in the Navy at the time and stationed in Chicago. When the war was over, they eventually moved to Scottsbluff and made their home in Gering for many years.
For over thirty years Jean worked alongside her daughter, Kathy Tabor, and later with granddaughters Tiffany Mackrill and Danielle Fitzke at Tabor Dance Academy as the office manager and co-owner of The Chorus Line Dancewear Shop. Jean touched countless young lives and is remembered for her beautiful smile, wisdom, willingness to listen and offer hugs. Jean was an important part of the success of TDA. She never missed a performance and helped raise several generations of young dancers.
Jean loved music and reading, discussing politics, square dancing, and was an enthusiastic bridge player, enjoying many types of card games and other games, especially with her family. She was a devout Christian, singing in several church and community choirs. Jean believed her greatest accomplishment was her family, as she said her “gift to the world”.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, her sister, and her husband, Robert.
She is survived by her seven children: Sally Sherman (m. Ron Sherman) of Thornton, CO;Robert Rubino, Jr. (m. Buff Elting) of Boulder, CO; Judy Kiolbasa (m. Dave Kiolbasa) of Whitman, MA; Kathy Tabor (m. Len Tabor) of Scottsbluff, NE; James Rubino (m. Rachel Rubino) of Laramie, WY; Connie Vargas (m. Frank Vargas) of Whitefish, MT; and Teri Rubinoof Rapid City, SD, 14 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
