John Wacker

Dr. John M. Wacker, 55, of Gunnison, Colo., died May 11 in Fairplay, Colo. He was born Jan. 30, 1959, in Cheyenne to Sarah and Mainard Wacker. John began his musical journey at age seven in Cheyenne with piano lessons from Lucille Barnum, with whom he studied until graduation from Cheyenne Central High School in 1977. John began playing trumpet in 5th grade and played for the rest of his life. John attended the University of Wyoming for one year before transferring to the University of Northern Colorado where he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. John's teaching career began in Burns, WY, where he taught K-12 music, and was later recruited as band director for Central High School in Cheyenne. He rebuilt the music program into an award winning program, including state marching band championships. While at Central, John was also an assistant director with the Wyoming All-State Band when they performed in two Rose Bowl parades and a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. John left public school music education to pursue and obtain a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming. He then obtained a Master's of Music Degree (2000) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he studied conducting with Dr. Jack Stamp and trumpet with Steven Dube and Dr. Calvin Weber. He also obtained a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas where he studied trumpet with Keith Johnson. While in Texas, he taught private lessons and conducted The Wind Ensemble at Texas Women's University. Following graduation from North Texas, he became director of bands at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. In addition to teaching music, John's greatest love was performing on trumpet. John was very active on an international level with trumpet performance and educational activities. He performed in the Colorado Rocky Mountain Region including the Greeley Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony and Wyoming Symphony. He was the founding member of Cheyenne Brass and a tenured member of the Cheyenne Symphony. He taught for a brief time at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne. John was active nationally as a trumpet soloist, pit orchestra member, adjudicator and master class clinician. He presented at the Wyoming and Colorado Music Educators Conferences, and was a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the International Trumpet Guild. John began several programs including the Western Chamber Institute, and the Boston Brass Music Camp in Gunnison, and was instrumental in the Western State Colorado Brass Band. He was active until his death with trumpet engagements in Texas, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. John was quite simply a master teacher and master performer and touched too many souls to count. He married Nancy Russell on March 30, 1996, in Cheyenne. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Russell of Gunnison; son, Brian Wacker of Gunnison; daughter, Elizabeth Wacker of Gunnison; parents, Mainard and Sarah Wacker of Cheyenne; brothers, Jeff Wacker (Terri) of Indiana and Jaye Wacker (Jenny) of Cheyenne; niece, Hannah of Cheyenne; uncle, Don Hawes of Cheyenne; cousins, Joan and Rex Stout, Mark Stout and Caroline Stout-Ramirez and families, all of Cheyenne. Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 2:00pm, First Congregational Church, 3501 Forrest Drive, Cheyenne, WY A memorial service date in Gunnison, CO will be determined later this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to John's children, c/o WyHy Credit Union, 1715 Stillwater Avenue, Cheyenne, WY., 82009

Service

Saturday, May 17, 2014 2:00pm

First Congregational Church

3501 Forest Drive

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Reception

First Congrgational Church

Cheyenne

CHEYENNE, WY 82001