Robert "Bob" Eugene Reese

Robert (Bob) Reese, age 86, of Apache Junction, Arizona, passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Robert Eugene Reese was born in Lusk, Wyoming on December 4, 1936 to Raymond and Dorothy (Crosley) Reese. They lived on a ranch south of Shawnee, Wyoming where they raised Angus cattle and farmed. Robert started school in a one-room schoolhouse in Shawnee. He went to high school in Douglas, Wyoming, and graduated in 1955. He started college in 1955 at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also attended Chadron State College and received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education for the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He received his Master's Degree in Education form Northern Arizona University in 2004. He was a member of the Wyoming and Nebraska Army National Guard from 1954-1962.

On September 1, 1957, he married Edna Hall in Douglas, Wyoming. They had one daughter, Debra Kay Reese of Las, Vegas, Nevada. The were married for 38 years. On July 20, 1996, he married Sally (DeGraaff) Gardener in Grand island, Nebraska. they were married for 26 years.

Robert's first jobs in high school were helping with farming and working at the small local grocery stores. He shared many fond memories of his early days with Safeway Grocery. He fought mountain forest fires with the National Guard.

Robert was passionate about teaching vocal and instrumental music to his students. He eventually focused only on instrumental. He touched the lives of thousands of students musically and as a role model. He built up many music programs. His first teaching position was at a one-room school north of Douglas, Wyoming named Reed School. His teaching career took him to nineteen different schools. In Nebraska,  he taught at Lodgepole, Aurora, Oshkosh, Gothenburg, Crete, Basset, Anselmo-Merna, and Neligh-Oakdale. In Wyoming, he taught at Reed School, Cheyenne, Rawlins, Bairoil, Douglas, and Pavillion. In Kansas, he taught at Smith Center. and in Arizona, he taught at Coolidge, Eloy, and Cottonwood.

He also conducted many community and college choirs. Handel's Messiah was one of his favorites. He played in community bands, sang in community and church choirs, and gave private music lessons. Robert was a talented man not only in music. He loved farming, his father-in-law called him a "suitcase farmer." He would farm in between semesters in college, always traveling back and forth. His other careers ranged from over-the-road truck driving, road construction work, convenience store clerk, and sharecropper. During Frontier Days in Cheyenne, he had so much fun being the emcee for the Cheyenne Little Theater's Melodrama.

Robert had many hobbies too. They included taking care of his first cars. He was very proud of his Hudson and his DeSoto. He loved to travel and experience new adventures, only by car or truck though! He loved playing cards, and he would brag tat on college choir tours he would win enough money to pay his rent playing Pitch! But he especially enjoyed Hearts. He couldn't wait to "get the old lady off the streets" (the Queen of Hearts). He was also a shrewd competitor in a good game of marbles (Aggravation). He was a master carpenter. He built a camper shell to transport band uniforms, work benches, well houses, a stereo cabinet, porches, and his daughter's podium for marching band.

Robert was very passionate about politics. He also loved his pets and they loved his big hands. It goes without saying that he loved music, his deep, rich bass voice touched many people.

Those left to celebrate his life include his wife, Sally of Apache Junction; daughter Debra Reese of Las Vegas; his brother Dean Reese of Cheyenne;  and sister, Doris Spear (Tony) grandchildren Eric Moeller (Alyssa)  of Kearney, Jana Manganaro (James) of Winter Garden, Florida, and Tyler Moeller (Kelly Wang) of Las Vegas; great-grandchildren, Tiffany,  Easton, Cambry, and maverick; step-daughter, Debra Herod (Walt) of Mesa, Arizona, and step-sons , Matthew, Scott and Lucas, and  many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former students.

Preceding his death were his parents, Raymond and Dorothy Reese, and his brothers: Warren Reese and Francis Reese.

Bob's wishes were to donate his body for research and will be cremated at the completion of the study. At this time we are only planning a future family memorial service.

Memorials may be directed to Rosie's House, A Music Academy for Children. it is a 501 non-profit that provides fee afterschool music education, using achievement in music as a bridge to achievement in Life. You may donate online at Rosieshouse.org or  mail a donation to Rosie's House, 919 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85034. We believe Robert would be overjoyed in being able to help these children, Condolences may be sent to the family at Debra Reese, P.O. Box 370391, Las Vegas, NV 89137. 

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