Geuder, Richard Robert 1930-2016

GEUDER, HEDEMANN, MCHENRY

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 10/26/2019 at 11:23:42

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Saturday, December 24, 2016
RICHARD GEUDER

Guttenberg

Richard Robert Geuder died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at Boulder City Hospital in Boulder City, Nev. In the spring of 2017, inurnment will be in Guttenberg City Cemetery, with Pastor Shane Anderson officiating. Military honors will be presented by Guttenberg American Legion.

Richard was born the son of Ernst and Flonda (Hedemann) Geuder on July 31, 1930, in Guttenberg, where he was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He received his education in Guttenberg Community School, graduating from high school in 1948.

When Richard was 8 years old, he began his love of playing the trumpet. Richard played the trumpet in the Guttenberg school band during his high school years. When he was 16, he was playing trumpet with a road band under the supervision of his musician brother, Meril Geuder.

Richard joined the U.S. Air Force at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Neb. As lead trumpeter with the Strategic Air Command Band, he traveled nationwide to march, present concerts and with The Four Fresh Air Men and the Air Men of Note. He played taps in many cemeteries for military burials.

Recipient of a music scholarship, he majored in music at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, while playing jazz in nightclubs in Waterloo and surrounding towns.

He taught instrumental music in Henderson, Nev., for 30 years in the Henderson School District. While teaching, he earned an M.A. degree in music from the University of Nevada in Reno.

Becoming a member of the American Federation of Musicians, he played trumpet on the Las Vegas Strip for decades, backing famous performers. He became known as a musician's musician on the strip. He then played with the Royal Dixie Jazz Band on the Las Vegas Strip, at hotels in Laughlin, and many events throughout the Southwest.

Richard received his Ph.D. in music from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. While there he played at local nightclubs and also in Taos and Santa Fe.

Post-retirement afforded him the luxury of worldwide travel. Usually with trumpet in hand, not in his luggage, he traveled in South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe and Asia. He played his trumpet on cruise ships and in jazz nightclubs on remote islands, such as Majorca and Corfu, with non-English speaking musicians. He also played in St. Petersburg, Russia. Customs officers, seeing his trumpet, would request that he play for them.

Aside from playing jazz, he enjoyed classical concerts in London, Vienna and Prague.

Dr. Geuder was a beloved teacher, musican, cousin, husband, brother-in-law, son and brother, with an incredible sense of humor; he always would have a joke to share. We miss him.

He is survived by Dr. Patricia Geuder and Mr. and Mrs. David McHenry.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Rowland Geuder (Naval navigator killed June 3, 1942, in World War II over the Aleutian Islands) and his brother and sister-in-law, Meril and Betty Geuder.