Norm Ruebling, Columbia businessman and band leader, dies

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

Norm Ruebling, the cofounder of a Columbia airport shuttle business and longtime local musician, died on Thursday.

Ruebling helped found the MO-X Doc & Norm direct shuttle service in Columbia, taking people to and from the St. Louis and Kansas City airports. The business posted about his passing on Facebook on Friday afternoon.

"Our team and all of Mid-Missouri lost a beloved friend with the passing of Norm Ruebling," the post states. "His spirit and sense of humor were loved by all who knew him."

Ruebling came to the University of Missouri in 1971, according to a story written by the school in 2020, and joined the ranks of Marching Mizzou. Ruebling spent many years in Columbia and Mid-Missouri playing around town with the Norm Ruebling Band, including at Mizzou and Columbia College athletic events.

Missouri Cancer Associates shared Ruebling's story of diagnosis and recovery in 2020.