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Joe “Mr. Music Man” Wandscheer

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Birth	:	1 Jul 1908 Springfield, Bon Homme County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	19 Mar 1992 Sioux Center, Sioux County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.0680000, -96.1720000
Description	:	Wandscheer was called Sioux Center's "Mr. Music Man" One of Sioux Center's most remarkable and colorful citizens died Thursday morning. Joe Wandscheer, 83, was known to many as "Mr. Music Man of Sioux Center." The nickname certainly fit because Wandscheer not only loved music very much, but he also shared it - with thousands of young people and adults. He Is credited by many as helping develop Sioux Center's music program. He was the director of the American Legion Chorus in the mid 1930s (which later became known as the Sioux Center Chorus) and which continued to give concerts in... Read More	Wandscheer was called Sioux Center's "Mr. Music Man" One of Sioux Center's most remarkable and colorful citizens died Thursday morning. Joe Wandscheer, 83, was known to many as "Mr. Music Man of Sioux Center." The nickname certainly fit because Wandscheer not only loved music very much, but he also shared it - with thousands of young people and adults. He Is credited by many as helping develop Sioux Center's music program. He was the director of the American Legion Chorus in the mid 1930s (which later became known as the Sioux Center Chorus) and which continued to give concerts in churches and for organizations and community gatherings until the mid 1950s. The chorus was described as "a very active organization" and was an important part of the city's life. Wandscheer's wife, Clarine, was accompanist to the chorus. Wandscheer was also the director of the band and vocal chorus at Sioux Center High School. He did both, and then as both departments grew he was the director of the band during most of the 1960s. What is even more noteworthy is that Wandscheer directed and led the town band for many years before the school had a band of its own (the school took the band under its jurisdiction in about 1945). During those early years in the 1930s and early 1940s, Wandscheer gave lessons and organized band trips, especially during booster trips In 1941 when Sioux Center celebrated its 50th anniversary. Another major impact Wandscheer had upon the community was his directing the summer band. The band gave concerts in the band shell at Central Park every Wednesday night. The park was packed with people as almost everyone came to town to listen to the concerts. At times there were other events which Wandscheer interspersed into the programs, such as tap-dancing contests and audience sing-alongs. The summer concerts were described as "big social events." When asked to describe Wandscheer, these are some expressions by which Sioux Center residents offered about him: "a legend." "a very accomplished musician," "a cheerful man who liked to make people happy," "what I know about music all came from Joe," "a natural musician" and "a big help." Another friend described Wandscheer as having "a cheerful disposition." Wandscheer liked to make people happy. He was known for his surprise serenades he would give, often on his clarinet, especially if the person was celebrating a birthday or some other special event. Wandscheer would go to the person's home or place of business, and play "happy birthday" on his clarinet or some other instrument which he played. Those serenades were then accompanied with a lot of laughter and joking. Wandscheer loved to laugh and he would make wisecracks about himself, too. He told one man: "Musicians are nuts, just remember that". During World War II, Wandscheer was a civilian flight instructor for the Navy's beginning students, at Le Mars. He started flight instruction shortly after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Wandscheer received his own flight training at Le Mars and Des Moines. Wandscheer died early Thursday at about 2:30 a.m., at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. Some of his last hours were centered on music. He had trouble breathing and his wife thought at first that he was moaning. But he wasn't moaning. He was humming the notes of the scale, even humming the chromatic musical scale that singers usually do when they are warming up. Clarine also said that his last afternoon was a happy time in which they laughed together, reminiscing about past events; he also recalled names of his students and then would ask Clarine whom the student had married and where they were living now. Memorial services were Saturday at Central Reformed Church, with the Rev. Dennis Wilcox officiating. Burial was at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center. Wandscheer was born on July 1, 1908, in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. He married Clarine DeVries on May 30. 1940, In Sioux Center. In addition to his musical career in Sioux Center, Wandscheer worked as a professional musician, including five years as a staff musician at Radio Stations WCCO and KSTP in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He also traveled extensively, and sang with such well-known singers as Bing Crosby, Kay Kayser and Phil Harris. Wandscheer was a member of Central Reformed Church In Sioux Center, and often assisted In directing the choir there at special occasions. He is survived by his wife, Clarine, of Sioux Center; a daughter, Jolene and her husband, Max Bochmann, and a grandson, Adam, all of Naperville, Illinois. Sioux Center News 1992-03-25. (Thanks to Wilma Vande Berg GSCGS researcher)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Joe “Mr. Music Man” Wandscheer's memorial?
Joe “Mr. Music Man” Wandscheer's memorial is located at: Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery, Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA.
When did Joe “Mr. Music Man” Wandscheer death?
Joe “Mr. Music Man” Wandscheer death on 19 Mar 1992 in Sioux Center, Sioux County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Joe “Mr. Music Man” Wandscheer's memorial?
Latitude: 43.0680000
Longitude: -96.1720000

Family Members:

Parent

Gerrit Wandscheer

(1880 - 1950)

Jennie Dykstra Wandscheer

(1886 - 1967)

Spouse

Clarine De Vries Wandscheer

(1914 - 2005)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Memory Gardens Sioux Center Cemetery
Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0680000, -96.1720000

2. Carmel Reformed Church Cemetery
Carmel, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1280000, -96.2295000

3. Middleburg Cemetery
Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1102982, -96.0772018

4. Peace Lutheran Cemetery
Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0989494, -96.2924118

5. West Lawn Cemetery
Orange City, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0110970, -96.0653000

6. Sherman Township Cemetery
Maurice, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9667015, -96.1444016

7. Saint Marys Cemetery
Maurice, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9594002, -96.1769028

8. Saint John Lutheran Cemetery
Ireton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9585991, -96.2550201

9. Hope Cemetery
Hull, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1939011, -96.1483002

10. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Hull, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1916080, -96.1273510

11. Highland Cemetery
Highland Park, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0546989, -96.3510971

12. Lincoln Township Cemetery
Lincoln Township, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2000008, -96.1669006

13. Nassau Township Cemetery
Alton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9832993, -96.0318985

14. Saint Marys Cemetery
Alton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9902992, -96.0160980

15. Lebanon Christian Church Cemetery
Sioux Center, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0996700, -96.3578300

16. Newkirk Cemetery
Newkirk, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0661011, -95.9781036

17. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Ireton, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9681015, -96.3143997

18. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Rock Valley, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1864014, -96.2878036

19. Valley View Cemetery
Rock Valley, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1866989, -96.2953033

20. Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Hull, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2282000, -96.0985000

21. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Struble, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8953018, -96.2005997

22. Sheridan Township Cemetery
Boyden, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2047005, -96.0208969

23. Hospers Cemetery
Hospers, Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0732994, -95.9197006

24. Union Hill German Baptist Cemetery
Sioux County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9169006, -96.3324966