Donald Shoberg Obituary

Donald Charles Shoberg, age 88, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 22, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital following a battle with cancer. Donald was born April 15th, 1933 in Hutchinson, KS, to Kenneth and Lorene Shoberg. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1951 where he participated in band, chorus, and a cappella choir, thus beginning a lifelong love of music. In 1951, he enlisted in the US Army Medical Corps and served in Germany until 1955. Following his discharge, he attended the UMKC Conservatory in Kansas City, Missouri obtaining a bachelor's degree in music and dance, and a master's degree in music composition in 1961. While at UMKC, he wrote many compositions for various instruments as well as vocal and choral works. Also at UMKC, he met his first wife Tharon Dalton and they were married in 1962. After graduation, he served on the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Alumni Association in various capacities.

He worked his entire professional career at Luyben Music in Kansas City as manager of sheet music, retiring in 2018 after 63 years. During this time he gained a vast knowledge of print music, becoming recognized as a top national and global expert on the subject. He was the first music director at Rolling Hills Presbyterian church in Overland Park, Kansas and spent many years directing and composing for church choirs in the area. In 2012, he married his second wife Lois Adriance. They enjoyed competitive ballroom dancing into their eighth decade and enjoyed many adventures traveling throughout Europe. He will be remembered as a kind and devoted man.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Shoberg and mother, Lorene Shoberg, his first wife Tharon Dalton Shoberg and his second wife Lois Adriance. He is survived by four step children, Reid (Shelby), Alan (Debbie), Kyle (Marta), and Bryan (Chrissie) Adriance, nine step grandchildren and 14 step great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, 9300 Nall Ave., Overland Park, KS on July 7th at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Don C. Shoberg Memorial Scholarship, Attn. Mark Mattison, UMKC Conservatory, 4949 Cherry PAC413, Kansas City, MO 64110.