Larry M. Sheets passed away to Eternal Life to meet his Heavenly Father on November 23, 2024 at the age of 84. He was born in Borger, TX, on February 17, 1940, the son of Martin Taylor and Doris Caroline (Pflug) Sheets. Growing up he discovered a fondness for music, especially the saxophone. His younger childhood years were spent in Texas. When he was a teenager his family moved to Farmington, NM. He received the prestigious Avion Award for outstanding musician in his high school senior year. Larry earned his Bachelors Degree in Music Education (BFA) at the University of New Mexico – Albuquerque and continued there to earn his Masters Degree. He continued his post graduate work at Northwestern University working toward a doctorate. While at Northwestern Larry became a member of the NWU saxophone quartet which was selected by the U.S. Cultural Presentations Program to represent the United States in 11 countries in the Far East. Performances included command performances for the king of Fiji and the king of Thailand. Larry taught instrumental music in West Allis Public Schools. He also became a Master Adjudicator for the WSMA. Larry met his wife, Judy, while teaching in West Allis. After teaching for 20+ years he retired but was called back to teach in West Allis and then at Swallow School for another 8 to 10 years.
Larry spent several summers with the Milwaukee Pops Band teaching summer camps. He then decided to become a string instrument teacher until his final retirement. Larry also taught private music lessons producing some outstanding saxophone players who were accepted into Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Cardinal Stritch, UW-M and Northwestern University.
Larry hosted saxophone workshops at UW-W and UW-M with Jean-Marie Londeix from Paris Conservatory in France and Dr. Bill Street from Alberta University in Edmonton, Canada.
During his time of teaching, he wrote approximately 10 articles that were published in various music magazines and journals. Larry was an avid reader. He enjoyed skiing, golfing, gardening and coin and stamp collecting. His biggest enjoyment was being with family, especially at our condo in Florida.
He will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Judy of 50 years and their daughter Heidi (Jared) Lavin, his grandchildren Bryant, Kendra, Logan and Jackson as well as his great-grandchildren Izzy and Leon. He is further survived by his sister Donna Bingham (Ron Jennings), sister in law Elizabeth Riemer and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father and mother in laws, Walter and Elnor Riemer, his brother Gene Sheets, his brother in law Sam Bingham and his brother in law John Riemer.
Our family would like to especially thank Dr. M. Raza, his oncologist, for his excellent care and prolonging his life 6 years since the onset of Larry’s melanoma.
We will honor Larry with a funeral service on Tuesday, December 3rd at Dr. Martin Luther Church, 325 S. Main St., Oconomowoc, WI. Visitation is from 10-11:30AM. The service is at 11:30 AM followed by a procession to Summit Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 are appreciated.
