CEDAR FALLS- Jack E. Graham, 72, of Cedar Falls, died Saturday, March 14, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN, after a brief battle with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Son of Jack and Velda (Berg) Graham, Jack was born November 20, 1942, in Wichita, KS. He and his wife, Therese Fetter, were together for nearly 40 years.
Jack graduated in 1960 from East High School in Wichita. In 1964, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Wichita State University, followed by a master’s degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Texas in 1968. For his entire career, Jack was Clarinet Professor at the University of Northern Iowa, retiring in 2003, after 35 years. He served as Principal Clarinet and Associate Conductor of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, retiring as Acting Music Director and Conductor in 2000. For over 30 summers, he was Principal Clarinet of the New Hampshire Music Festival in Plymouth, NH, where he also served as Personnel Manager and Chamber Music Coordinator. In retirement, he continued to teach for the UNI Music School, served as Adjunct Professor for the music department at Wartburg College, and defended and repaired clarinets at Tenor Madness in Waterloo.
Jack inspired many students, colleagues, and fellow artists with his knowledge and quintessential musicianship. Aside from music, Jack was an avid racquetball player. He enjoyed the outdoors, spending many years hiking in the White Mountains, and also watching birds on his deck.
Survived by his wife, Therese Fetter; stepson, John (Paige Hepple) Fetter, two grandchildren, Graham and Katell Fetter of Rochester, NY; sister, Stacey (Terry) Graham Steele of Slippery Rock, PA; nephew, Andrew (Sarah) Steele and great nephews Mather and Deacon Steele of La Grande, OR. His local family included sister-in-law Anne (Jeff) Franck of Marshalltown, and their children Grace and Leah (Andrew Meyer) Franck and children Ronan and Sylvie Meyer, Cedar Falls.
Preceded in death by his father, Jack Graham; mother, Velda Graham; and nephew, Jeremy Steele.
A memorial service and musical celebration of Jack Graham’s life will be held on Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. in the McElroy Lobby, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. All are invited to attend.
Memorials may be directed to the Jack Graham Memorial Fund at the UNI Foundation (205 Commons, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0282), or to the New Hampshire Music Festival in memory of Jack Graham (7 Main St., Plymouth, NH 03264).
