Obituary of Bruce Raymond Shobaken

Bruce Raymond Shobaken, 93, of State College died on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Foxdale Village. He was born March 26, 1928, in Minneapolis, MN, a son of the late Arthur Raymond Shobaken and Edna Mae Hanson Shobaken. He attended Central High School in Minneapolis. A World War II veteran, he served as an Aerographer's Mate in the Navy. After the war he received a bachelor of arts degree and master of fine arts degree from the University of Minnesota in art. While an undergraduate he worked two summers at Yellowstone National Park. He married his wife Marilyn on September 19, 1953. They left the day after their wedding for Paris where Bruce had a Fulbright Scholarship and they attended Atelier 17 in Paris France, studying etching and engraving. After returning from France he taught for two years the University of Minnesota. During this period he also worked at the Walker Art Center. He then taught two years at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. In 1968 he moved to State College and taught art at Penn State until he retired as Professor Emeritus in December of 1991. He was the head of the printmaking area of his department. He also served as acting department chair several times, and was a fellow of the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies. He received teaching awards from the Alumni Society, the College, and the Atherton Teaching Award from the University. His work, drawings, paintings and prints, is in numerous public and private collections and he showed his work in numerous juried and invitational national and international exhibits. Marilyn and Bruce enjoyed traveling throughout much of the world. He enjoyed playing tennis and supporting his son Ben in his activities. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Marilyn; son Ben Shobaken and Ben's wife Amy of Downingtown, PA; sister Sue Kinney, of Minneapolis; sister-in-law Sandra Birkholz and brother-in-law, John Birkholz, of Alicante, Spain and Treasure Island, FL; and two grandsons Erik C. and Brian P. Shobaken of Downingtown, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be private at the convenience of the family. The arrangements are under the direction of the Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Bruce Shobaken Printmaking Award, The College of Arts and Architecture, Penn State University, University Park, PA 26803 or to the Foxdale Community Fund, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., State College PA, 16801.