Gary Oegema ’78 and Deb Cleason ’78 Oegema

Gary Oegema ’78 of Lawton, Michigan, retired in June after teaching music for 39 years in two districts, the last 32 years in Lawton. His wife, Deb Cleason ’78 Oegema, who has accompanied the choirs for as many years,
surprised him with a Mr. Holland’s Opus moment during his last choir concert by arranging to have many choir alumni join the 110 current
students during their last piece, “Sing,” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow. Their children Rebekah ’04, Jon ’08 and Ben ’09 joined in, accompanying them on keyboard, bass and drums. Deb also taught elementary music in Lawton for 14 years, private piano and
voice, and worked with small ensembles in the choir program. Gary has published a book, Easy Beginnings in Note Reading, which gives beginning
general music and choir students interesting, accessible material to read and perform. It is available through Masterworks Press.

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