Remembering David Salyards

Salyards, David P. Jul 8, 1955 – Apr 22, 2017 Of Omaha. David Peter Salyards, 61, passed away April 22 following a short illness. A fourth-generation Nebraskan and lifelong resident of Omaha, Dave was born July 8, 1955, to Harry E. Salyards Sr. and Margaret E. (Skow) Salyards. He was a 1973 graduate of Benson High School and a 1978 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where his particular passion was music. A proud member of the Cornhusker Marching Band, he participated in a variety of other music ensembles. Indeed, music became his lifelong avocation; he was arranging a number of original works for keyboard, guitar, percussion and strings at the time of his untimely passing.

VISITATION: Wednesday, 5-7pm; FUNERAL SERVICE: 1:30pm Thursday, at Roeder Mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Jack and Mary Alice Snider Fund, c/o the University of Nebraska Foundation. ROEDER MORTUARY-108th St. Chapel 2727 North 108th St. 402-496-9000 www.RoederMortuary.com

Read his entire obituary from the Omaha World-Herald.

Remembering Robert F. “Bob” Elwell

Bob Elwell
Robert F. “Bob” Elwell

Our condolences go to the family and friends of Robert F. “Bob” Elwell, age 61 years, of Seward, who passed away Jan. 5, 2016. Bob played tuba in the marching band in the mid- to late-70s.

Signing of Remembrance Book: 1- 8:30 p.m. with family receiving friends 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, all at Zabka Funeral Home, Seward. Memorial service/celebration of life: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward; Pastor Scott Bruick, officiating. Graveside service and inurnment: Seward Cemetery. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, to the donor’s choice in care of the Elwell family. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Zabka Funeral Home, Seward. Condolences, www.zabkafuneralhome.com

Bob’s obituary in the Lincoln Journal Star.

Remembering Kathy Kriegler

Photo of Kathy Kriegler
Kathy Kriegler

Kathleen Ann Kriegler of Ames, Iowa died on December 3, 2016 at Mary Greeley Medical Center, Oncology Unit after a nearly two year fight with ovarian cancer.

Kathy was born July 16, 1955 in Omaha, Nebraska and was adopted on December 21, 1956 by Peter Paul and Bernice Matilda (Smidt) Kriegler. She grew up in South Omaha, Nebraska, moved with her parents to Willow Park, Illinois, and then moved to and graduated from Grand Island, Nebraska in 1973.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University Of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. She received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Kathy taught music at Archbishop Ryan High School in Omaha, and as an Education Tech in the census division of Omaha Public Schools. Kathy worked as a therapist in Eppley Treatment Center at Methodist Hospital in Omaha and then became the Program Coordinator of Counseling & Student Development at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

In the spring of 2004, she moved to Ames, Iowa to begin her life with Norma J Dowell, daughter of Simeon Gordon and Eva Olene (Cain) Dowell. Kathy and Norma married on May 23, 2009. Kathy worked for UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, the Richmond Center in Ames, Iowa and then became a sole practitioner with Fifth Street Mental Health Professionals in Ames where she worked until she was forced to retire because of her illness in the fall of 2016.

Kathy was an accomplished euphonium player in her youth. Upon moving to Ames, she became a member of the Ames Municipal Band, played in small ensembles, and participated in Tuba Christmas.

Kathy was proceeded in death by her adopted parents, her brother Paul Kriegler, and her biological parents, Grace (Luna) Rodriguez, and Edward Frank Schaeffer. Left to cherish her memory is her wife, Norma Jean Dowell, her son Jordan Paul Kriegler, her sisters, Dee (Craig) Demuth of Union, Maine, Chris Pedigo (Dan) Brown of Flagstaff, Arizona, Loretta Bennett of Stockton, California, Irene Schaeffer of Phoenix, Arizona, Carol Schaeffer of Prescott, Arizona, Louise Schaeffer of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Brenda Schaeffer of Flagstaff Arizona, her brothers, Frank Schaeffer and Jim Schaeffer of Phoenix, Arizona, and a host of in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Read Kathy’s full obituary here.

Memorials may be sent to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Remembering Chris Werner

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Chris Werner, who lost his two-year battle with esophageal cancer on December 8, 2016. He was 40 years old.

Chris Werner
Chris Werner

Prior to joining Lakeland University’s faculty in 2013 as assistant professor of music and band director, Werner served as instrumental music teacher and music department chair at La Crosse (Wis.) Central High School. He was conductor of the Central Wind Ensemble, pep band, Grand Central Station Show Band and instructor of music theory.

Werner received his Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2005 where he was also a graduate assistant with UNL Bands. He has the distinction of being the first University of Nebraska DMA recipient of the Wind Conducting degree and also the first Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts F. Pace Woods Scholar in Music. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and master of music degree in wind conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Werner often returned to UNL to be a clinician at the UNL Middle School Band Camp. His last visited in July 2016.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Medford with Father Phil Juza officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 AM until the time of services at 11 AM. Cremainal interment will take place at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery, Medford. More information is available here.

Remembering Tony Rischling

Tony Rischling
Tony Rischling

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Anthony “Tony” Rischling, 36, of Grand Island who died Friday, June 17, 2016. He taught band for the Grand Island Public Schools for the past 10 years. In addition to teaching band, Rischling played for 16 years as a member of the 43rd Army Band in the U.S. Army National Guard, where he attained the rank of sergeant. Rischling also played trombone II in the Hastings Symphony. He was a member of the Cornhusker marching band in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

Rischling and his wife, Marla, who teaches orchestra for Grand Island’s middle schools, have three children: Audra, Lucas and Hadley.

Mass of Christian burial for Rischling will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island. Online remembrances may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.

You can read more about Tony Rischling in the Grand Island Daily Independent article, “Tony Rischling remembered as a true friend, teacher who loved his students” or read his obituary.