Richard R. Geuder
Richard Robert Geuder died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at Boulder City Hospital, Boulder City, Nev.
In spring 2017, internment will be in the Guttenberg City Cemetery. Pastor Shane Anderson will officiate and military honors will be presented by the Guttenberg American Legion.
Richard was born the son of Ernst and Flonda (Hedemann) Geuder, July 31, 1930, in Guttenberg. Richard was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. He received his education in the Guttenberg Community School, graduating from high school in 1948.
When Richard was eight 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 years old he was playing trumpet with a road band under the supervision of his musician brother, Meril Gueder.
Richard joined the United States Air Force at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Neb. As lead trumpeter with the Strategic Air Command's 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, Cedar Falls while playing jazz in night clubs 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 MA in music from the University of Nevada, 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 and 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 night clubs 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 Southern America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe and Asia. He played his trumpet on cruise ships and in jazz night clubs 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; brother, Rowland Geuder (Naval Navigator killed, June 3, 1942, in WWII over the Aleutian Islands,) and brother and sister-in-law, Meril and Betty Geuder.
Memorials maybe sent to KNPR Nevada Public Radio, UNLV Campus, 1-888-727-4411 or 1289 S. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89146.
