Dr. Gary Nyberg Obituary

Dr. Gary Bruce Nyberg was born in Lewiston, Idaho to Thor and Helen Nyberg, the younger brother of Don. He spent many of his formative years in Potlatch Lumber Company's Headquarters camp in remote Northern Idaho, where his mother was the teacher in the kids' one-room schoolhouse and his father supervised the log scalers. The family hunted and fished, swam in the local swimming hole, rode horses, and skied and snowshoed in the winter. Dr. Nyberg learned outdoors and other practical skills he would continue to use, enjoy, and teach to others for the rest of his life during those years. It became apparent that young Gary was a talented musician, though it was years before he realized that not everyone can name any note simply by hearing it. Gary learned to play accordion, later (after nearly having his thumb amputated by a fellow Boy Scout's axe) mastering trombone and bass as well.

As the years went on, his interest in and talent at music only grew, leading him into a life filled with rich musical experiences he loved to share with others. He went on to earn degrees and plaudits throughout his musical career, earning degrees in Performance (B.A., University of Idaho, and M. Music, University of Wisconsin). And, after 8 years of full-time university teaching and performing in the Midwest and South, he studied for 4 years at Brigham Young University, completing his Ph.D. in composition in 1980. In 1987, he received a Diploma in Wind Literature and Conducting from University of Calgary, Alberta.

He performed in symphonies, orchestras and jazz and chamber ensembles in almost every state, Mexico and Canada, as well as the Blue Monday Blues Band and the Brass Knuckles Blues Band. He directed television performances and his compositions were broadcast on National Public Radio. He was a professor of music, and conductor of various bands at Lower Columbia College, from 1979-2011 when he retired.

Dr. Nyberg founded The Lower Columbia College Symphonic Band, and the LCC High School Honor Band, as well as The Quintessence brass quintet in 1980 and was the Southwest Washington Youth Symphony Association's first president. In 2004, he received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for travel and study in Bulgaria, a trip that resulted in more than just musical enrichment.

He was honored in 2006 as Music Educator of the Year for the Southwest Washington Music Educators Association.

While remaining an active musician, he also cultivated an abiding interest in the outdoors, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, and camping throughout his life. He was also a sometimes hunter and fisherman, often more intent on enjoying the outdoors than bringing home game. As the years went on, he revisited an interest from his youth a€" racing wooden hydroplanes. His parents had sold his racing boat when he went to college in around 1964, and he finally replaced it with another thirty years later. He didna€™t stop there, building a massive collection of antique outboard motors and boats, which he lovingly restored to their full glory, and competitively racing them after fueling up on high-octane airplane fuel.

Gary was married three times in his life, first to Karen Stillman, with whom he had three children, Nathan, Bridget, and Millie, who survive him today. He was later married to Kim Hackett, and finally after traveling across ten time zones to Bulgaria to meet her, his wife Daniela Ivanova-Nyberg, and her daughter Ana Maria, who survive him as well. In addition to children, Gary is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Gary and his wife traveled extensively during his retired years across Europe and other parts of the world, including Japan, Morocco, and Kazakhstan

Dr. Nyberg helped to fundraise and advised on the design of the Rose Center, where a celebration of life and symphonic band performance in his honor, will be held in his honor on February 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

The family has established a memorial scholarship in his name: https://bold.org/funds/dr-gary-nyberg-scholarship-fund/