Ronnie Powell, who retired from UNMC Facilities Management and Planning in August 2022 and was known for his megawatt smile, friendliness and collegiality, died July 21, 2026. He was 69.
Powell joined UNMC in 1976, moving from housekeeping to biomedical communications to facilities management and planning, where he served as a full-time refrigeration tech and zone tech. While at UNMC, Powell attended Metro Community College parttime to earn his associate degree and do mechanical work and all kinds of repairs on the med center campus.
“I’m a Jack-of-all-trades and a master of none,” Powell joked in 2022 while sharing his story for the McGoogan Health Sciences Library’s oral history program. Read the UNMC Today story and watch the recording here.
Facilities technician lead and longtime friend Jim Gilbert said he first met Powell in 1987. “He always had a big smile and knew everyone,” Gilbert said. “That’s why he was referred to on campus as the Mayor. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Powell was “one of a kind and an irreplaceable part of the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine family,” said Tyler Busboom, executive director, facilities support services for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine. “Over nearly five decades of service, he helped care for our campus and supported the important work happening here every day. But Ronnie’s greatest impact was on people…he seemed to know everyone—and, more importantly, he made everyone feel like they mattered,” Busboom said.
“His smile, kindness, professionalism and genuine love for this community touched generations of colleagues. UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are a better place because Ronnie was part of it, and he will be deeply missed.”
During his tenure, Powell befriended faculty, staff and students across the med center campus and shared his love for both the Chicago Bears and his church, where he was a Sunday school secretary and greeter.
At the time of his retirement, Powell said UNMC had “been a second home to me….I’ve been blessed.”
Visitation will be Aug. 6 from 6-8 p.m. at Good Shepherd Funeral Services, at 3809 N 90th St, and Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to noon at Fort Street Church of Christ, 5922 Fort St., followed by graveside services at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 7609 Mormon Bridge Rd. For details on visitation and services, visit his obituary page.
Ronnie made everyone feel better about themselves and about the med center. He was the absolute best. Blessings to his family and friends.
RIP Ronnie!!
Ronnie will be remembered most for his genuine smile and neverending cheerfulness. Our paths crossed many of his years here and it was an honor to have known him. He added brightness to everyone’s day.
I loved crossing paths with Ronnie on campus! He was always a joy to work with and when he retired the campus felt the loss of this friendly and gifted colleague. Now even more so! Our deepest condolences to his family.
Ronnie will be missed and never forgotten as his smile and energy radiated joy and peace to so many who walk the halls of our academic medical center. He was the definition of “Nebraska Nice” and I am grateful for all he has done over his decades of service.
Ronnie was a friend to everyone. Always friendly and polite.
He will be remembered by many. My condolences go out to his family.
Ronnie Powell never had a bad day and he made everyone’s day better with that smile and laugh. We shared our love of the Chicago Bears every fall and I will miss that conversation this year. May he rest in peace.
This wonderful man proved the power of the smile in making the world a better place. He was a bright star in our universe.
Glow on, Ronnie Powell.
He was in a meeting once and had an institutional memory for something being discussed that no one in the room had and he literally saved a decision from being that was going to be a bad one–to changing that decision to be a good one.
You could stand me in front of a crowd of one hundred people, and that would be the first smile I’d see. Now he smiles down at us all.
I am so sad to see this news. What an incredible person he was. He always smiled and talked to me. It was special. Condolences to his family and friends.
My heartfelt condolences to Ronnie’s family and friends. Ronnie will always be remembered for his warm smile, kind heart, and friendly spirit. He will be deeply missed. RIP Ronnie!
Ronnie was a breath of fresh air. He will be missed.
Crossing path with Ronnie on campus always brightened my day. He had that power to bring joy to everyone around him. I am so sad to hear of this news. My prayers and condolences to his family and loved ones.
Ronnie was an amazing friend!
God Bless You and Your Family!
I will always remember, Ronnie’s genuine smile and kind heart. My condolences to all who loved him. May you rest in peace, Ronnie.
Ronnie’s smile and laugh was contagious. His smile and kind heart would light up the room. He was such an inspiration the way he would always focus on the good things and not the bad. I am so blessed to have met him; I will miss his smile and laugh around campus. RIP Ronnie.
The level of Ronnie’s helpfulness is and will always be unmatched. He will always be greatly missed.
His smile always made me smile and was a special soul! Rest in peace Ronnie.
My deepest condolences to the families of my dear friend, Ronnie Powell. He will forever be a big part of my heart that will live on inside of me forever. He was the best friend anyone could ever wish for. I’m truly going to miss him. I am so honored to have worked 38 years with Ronnie at UNMC. Take your rest my brother in the Lord. RIP, best friend!!!
What a guy – the comments say it all. We have lost a UNMC legend. RIP, Ronnie. U da’ man!
So sad, such a tremendous loss. He was a amazing gentleman!
Like everyone who met him, I loved Ronnie’s smile. He was also very wise about all things UNMC. We had many great conversations. 😇❤️
Ronnie was one in a million. Always a smile, always a word of encouragement, always looking around him to see whose day he could brighten. Rest in paradise, Ronnie, I’m so lucky to know you.
The world is a little dimmer without Ronnie, because of his passion for life, family and friends. You could always depend on him for whatever you needed. I miss you dearly my friend. Rest in Paradise my friend until we meet again.🧡🙏🏾
The Man with the “Gift of Gab”. RIP in peace my friend.
Ronnie was a great person to everyone He ran across, His personality, scenes of humor, Love and kindness was outstanding. I just want Him to know that He will be truly missed, and loved by everyone. My prayers and condolences are with HIS family and friends. Ronnie Powell, Rest In Paradise, My Dearest Friend.
Ronnie was a good brother who always kept a smile on his face and had good conversations for you . RIH 🙏🏿🙏🏿
Ronnie my dear friend!!! What an amazing man and dear friend. The world won’t be the same without you. You smile, your laughter and your jokes. I am honored that God allowed us to cross paths. You’ve been such an amazing. Take your rest!!👑🩷
Condolences to the family. Ronnie was a sweetheart, a good man and always made time to say hello that brightened your day. Rest in peace.
Rest in Peace, Big Brother.
My condolences to the Family.
Ronnie was truly one of a rare breed. His infestious smile and fervent spirit and ❤️ for the church and mankind is what I will remember most. I will never forget the support and uplifting words he gave me during the passing of my Mother. He gave me hope and peace. Now I can say to Him “It is well with your soul”
Ronnie was be missed dearly.
Ronnie became such an amazing addition to the Lee family as such when you entered into a room during a family gathering, you would always look around and say “where’s Ronnie.”Not in the room anymore but forever in our hearts.
Ronnie had a wonderful personality and a great smile. He brought so much joy to those around him. He will be deeply missed. Condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.