For over four decades, Jack Rummel was a cherished voice on KGNU, hosting Ragtime America and Old Grass Gnu Grass, programs that became beloved staples of our station’s music lineup. A true volunteer and supporter of the KGNU community, Jack’s passion for music and radio was evident in every show he hosted.
Join us in celebrating Jack’s remarkable contributions to KGNU and the world of radio.
Obituary:
Jack Thomas Rummel, 85, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2025. He was born August 17, 1939 in Tacoma, WA to Bartlett and Augusta Place Rummel.
Jack graduated from Stadium High School, then the University of Puget Sound (UPS) and finally Oregon Health & Sciences University, graduating with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). While in high school he shot rifles competitively, winning over 30 medals.
He met the love of his life Lynne Hartshorn Rummel at UPS. They loved to tell the story of how their first date was collecting pond scum samples for Biology class. That’s true love. They were married August 26, 1962.
Following dental school graduation, Jack enlisted in the Army. He served 4 years, the last 3 of which were in Germany. While in Germany, Jack and Lynne welcomed their two children: Gretchen (1966) and Tom (1968).
After the Army, Jack and his family settled in Boulder, Colorado because Lynne, who was from Denver, said 8 years in the rainy Northwest was enough. Jack established his dental practice which he ran for nearly 40 years. He was a kind, compassionate and fair dentist; his staff and patients staying with him for decades.
In 1972 Jack joined a Rotary Group Study Exchange program (GSE) to Wales for 6 weeks. Thus began his Rotary career and his love of Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Jack served as president of the Boulder Rotary Club, director of Rotary Youth Exchange for district 5450, and ultimately District Governor in 1995-96. He and his family hosted 6 exchange students, some of whom he was still in touch with. Later on he led a GSE team to Australia. In addition to all of his local charitable pursuits, he volunteered 5 times in Guatemala for a month each, caring for the dentistry needs of the indigenous Guatemalans.
Music was Jack’s main passion outside of work. He was an avid Ragtime piano player; something he began when he was 12. He recorded 3 CDs, created 3 folios of his own compositions and helped found the Rocky Mountain Ragtime Festival (1987-2002). In 1980 he began his Ragtime America program on Boulder station KGNU which he did for 44 years. In addition, he was a featured performer and MC at Ragtime festivals around the country from St. Louis and Sedalia, MO (the national home of Ragtime music) to Fresno and Sacramento, CA, to Evergreen and Boulder, CO.
Bluegrass was Jack’s other musical passion. He played the banjo nearly all his life starting with folk music and progressing to bluegrass. He played with two main bands, Colorado Country for over 40 years and more recently Hwy 66. As children, Tom and Gretchen loved to listen to the spirited energy of the music. His sister Lynda still has a portfolio he made for her.
Model trains, particularly HO gauge, were Jack’s other main hobby. His layouts always took up half the basement wherever they lived. He created the TLC (Tabernash Lumber Company) Railroad Line which ran continuously on his railroad in addition to the California Zephyr delivering people to the town. He was a member of the Boulder Model Railroad Club for many years, editing the newsletter up until his death. The club held regular competitions many of which he won. He also had a small Z gauge set in his dental office that delighted adults and children alike for many years.
Lastly he had a passion for photography. He took a trip of a lifetime to Kenya doing a photo safari which produced an exquisite photo of cheetahs in a tree looking for lunch.
Jack was passionate about all his hobbies but his main passion was his family. He instilled a love of travel in his children which they continue today. He and Lynne visited over 70 countries together and took their grandchildren on trips to Guatemala, Disneyland, England & Wales and the Pacific Northwest.
Jack was predeceased by his parents, his wife of 60 years, Lynne, and brother-in-law Rolf Zerges. He is survived by his children Gretchen Dixon (Bob) of Longmont, CO and Tom Rummel (Kristee) of Austin, TX as well as 5 grandchildren, Paige Halliday (John) of Liverpool, England, Laura Dixon soon to be of Aarhus, Denmark, Amanda Dixon of Longmont, CO, Dylan and Austin Rummel of Austin, TX, sister Lynda Rummel Zerges of Keuka Park, NY and two sisters’ in law Sue Patterson of Antigua, Guatemala, and Catherine Hartshorn of Berkeley, CA.
A Celebration of Life will be held in May. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to KGNU radio station, the Boulder Model Railroad Club, and TruCare Hospice.
We invite you to revisit an article from the 2018 KGNU Program Guide that captures the essence of his incredible journey. Jack’s dedication to the art of broadcasting, his love for traditional American music, and his unwavering support for community radio leave a lasting imprint on the station and all who had the privilege of listening.
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Nearly every week for 38 years, Jack Rummel has hosted Ragtime America on KGNU. Jack tells KGNU about falling in love with ragtime music, its significance in American music, and the strange twist of fate that brought Ragtime American to KGNU’s airwaves.
Over the years, KGNU’s programming has ebbed and flowed with the times and demands of our programmers and listeners. As a result, there are very few shows that have endured over the years. And when they do, you know they’re something special.
In April 2018, Ragtime America, a show dedicated solely to ragtime music, celebrates 38 years on KGNU’s airwaves. Jack Rummel, the show’s founder and main host since its inception, describes the shows initial creation as “an accident of fate.”
“There was a restaurant on Pearl Street called Don’s Cheese and Sausage Mart. They didn’t have a lot of seating so they had communal tables; I was sitting eating lunch, sat down next to somebody that I didn’t know and just casually struck up a conversation. Turned out to be David Grimm; he was closely associated with the station.” Jack, a long-time ragtime musician and aficionado, mentioned the possibility of doing a ragtime show. Two months later, David called Jack to see if he wanted to get started. “So I went down there when I was supposed to show up and they gave me 15 minutes of instruction on how to proceed and off I went.”
The show’s name, coined “Ragtime America” by Jack himself, pays homage to Jack’s interest in in the genre. In Jack’s opinion, ”Ragtime is America’s first truly original music. It’s a combination of the White musical styles of Europe, because it’s based on the European march. And it’s a mixture of that and the Black African polyrhythms that came to this country with the slaves. So, it’s the syncopation that made it unique. Every popular music style today utilizes syncopation, which came from ragtime.”
Jack first got interested in ragtime music in high school when he first heard “Crazy Auto Medley,” a popular song that featured syncopated ragtime rhythms. He was also taking piano lessons with a local bandleader in his hometown, Tacoma, WA. “He showed me how to play some ragtime and taught me three basic pieces of ragtime which I still perform occasionally.” In addition to performing ragtime and hosting the Ragtime America radio show on KGNU, Jack was the President of the Rocky Mountain Ragtime Festival in Boulder for 13 years, and still emcees at ragtime conferences all across America. “Having been at it for almost 50 years, they view me as one the old guard, I guess.”
Not only as one of the old guard, but as possibly the only radio host still producing a show solely devoted to ragtime music. “I appreciate the support that the station has given to me over the years,” Jack says, recognizing that the art form is “just a little tiny genre on the big scope of things.” But this tiny genre has many fans, and Ragtime America is recognized by ragtime lovers all over the world.
As for the future of Ragtime America, Jack plans to host the show for as long as he can. “I love the music, and I want to promote it,” says Jack, also mentioning his hope of finding other hosts with an equally deep love for ragtime to help with the show going forward. Listen to Ragtime America on Thursday evenings from 8-9pm on KGNU, and catch Jack on Old Grass Gnu Grass, KGNU’s bluegrass show, on Saturdays as well.
