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Don Hurless Obituary
DON HURLESS
LIMA — Don Hurless, 87, passed away at 12:18 p.m., Monday, June 15, 2015 at his residence.
Don was born June 22, 1927 in Lima to Truman and Leota (Rockwell) Hurless who preceded him in death. On January 11, 1959 he married Carolyn Klaserner who preceded him in death on February 13, 1987.
Don is survived by cousins David Custer (Oklahoma) and Dona Mathwig (Lima, Ohio), good friends, Joyce and Earl Lhamon, Richard Patterson, a host of former piano students and fellow musicians. Don was particularly fond of his students whom he thought of as his children. He contributed to many of their college funds and took delight in going to see many of them perform as they pursued musical careers.
Don taught piano in his studio in Lima. He was a certified member of the Ohio Music Teachers' Association and was a past president of the American Federation of Musicians Local #320.
He studied piano with Margaret Jewell and Professor Herman Ostheimer, a student of Leschetizsky and Duprey. His study of composition and orchestration have been with the late William Byrd and Felix Labunski, a student and assistant of Sergey Prokofiev.
Among Don's notable students was Joe Henderson (deceased), a famous jazz musician.
Don was a composer of many works performed by the Lima Symphony Orchestra, area high school concert bands, choirs, lab bands, and jazz ensembles. His piano duet, "Tone Row Twist" has been published by the Willis Music Company.
Being a harpsichord builder and lecturer, Don visited several harpsichord museums and workshops while touring Europe with Dr. George Lucktenberg's harpsichord and historical instrument tour.
He enjoyed performing jazz and lecturing in the North West area of Ohio. He had appeared on FM 91, TV-WLIO and WBGU TV.
Don was founder of the Don Hurless Band and also performed as a member of Don Hurless and the Notables.
Among other endeavors he invented and obtained copyrights for Pian-A-Robics.
Students of Don Hurless have performed successfully in many AMSA, ONTA, and OMER competitions. Many have followed professional music careers.
Don was an avid amateur astronomer. He was a long time member of the Lima Astronomical Society.
Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Friday, June 19, 2015 at CHILES-LAMAN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, SHAWNEE CHAPEL, Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Elida.
Friends may call noon until 3:00, Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Lima Astronomical Society or Ohio Music Teachers' Association.
Condolences may be expressed at chiles-lamanfh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Don Hurless
John Galvin
June 12, 2025
Sure miss Don. He taught me everything about the piano. Im glad he got to see me at a level of success from his hard work. Also miss Carolyn his wife. She was always such a nice lady. Rest in Peace, both of you!
Daniel Coats
February 18, 2024
One of my fondest memories is when I had participated in an Ohio state piano competition back in 1989. All of the performances had finished and the head judge announced that there would be only one winner and no runners up. After he said my number, in the silence I heard Don chuckling quietly from the audience. I will never forget that for the rest of my life. My second fondest memory is of him playing the bongos during my lessons. What he taught me has never left me. Thank you Don.
Jodi Light
July 12, 2015
Don Hurless was a great talent, teacher, friend and accompanist. I worked with him since childhood gigging, and am truly grateful for all of the musical skills he enlightened me with. I still think "no knuckle buckle" to myself when showing kids how to play. Don will live on in all of his students...forever!
Crystal Miller
June 21, 2015
Don was one of the most amazing people I have met. I was in my third year of teaching Music, and a grant was written to have him come in and teach 3rd grade students how to compose their own songs. It was an amazing experience, and we were proud at what those third graders came up with. He was always concerned with working with such a large group of students because he usually worked with students individually. Our final concert was one I have never forgotten. Those third grade students at the time of the residency just graduated high school as the class of 2015.
Since that residency, we kept in touch over the years. He was a great friend, and I was lucky to have known such a kind, caring, funny, creative and talented man named Don Hurless. Thank you Don for everything you have done for everyone in the Lima Community!!!
June 19, 2015
I came to know Don through Anita Skinner, my violin teacher at the time. I had questions about composition and jazz piano, and he had answers to them all. He had me playing publicly in about three months on standards I had barely known. His teaching style was organic and anecdotal, and it helped me see jazz as more than a bunch of notes being played and complex chords and all of that--Don's greatest lesson to me was that jazz was a way of life, and he shared with me many stories of people who followed that way of life. It made my playing less mechanical, less "perfect", and more human. He helped me craft my compositional voice and taught me almost everything I know in the realm of composition and improvisation. I will miss him dearly.
Tim Davis
June 19, 2015
Don "Mr." Hurless. The greatest teacher of anything I ever had. Always challenging, yet waited for the student to figure it out for himself. Don, you were better than anybody at teaching. No matter what it was.
Your instruction led me to world travels in music, and shaped nearly everything I do to this day.
You introduced me to people, styles, and most importantly, new ways of looking at things. How to get from here to there. In more than six ways...
Swing on, man.
Tim
jan firszt
June 19, 2015
A great talent on many fronts. Still one of the hippest cats I have ever met. A friend of both my Father and myself. Life isn't always easy but Don always made it to the next level with a cool spirit and smooth sounds. Thank you Mr. Hurless.
Kay Dugan
June 19, 2015
Was sorry to hear of Don's passing. Have many fond memories of him when we were growing up. He was a friend as well as a cousin . Great Guy. Rest in peace.
Kay Bagley Dugan
Don and Mark Grimes back together visiting not long ago
Mark Grimes
June 19, 2015
I started lessons with Carolyn when I was 5 years old. She was like a mother to me. Caring and loving and just so darn smart! After a short while, she moved me on to Don. At first I was sad to leave her. But over time, "Mr. Hurless" became not only my favorite teacher ever, but he felt more like a friend that shared his enthusiasm about much more than just piano. I took lesson with the two of them for nearly 14 years. My sister Jodi also took lessons with him. As an Adult, I could not pass through Lima without stopping by. Even though I have not lived there for years, I could also navigate straight to his house from so many walks and bike rides to my piano lessons there. The neatest part is whenever I visited recently, his home is like a magical time machine! Everything is still in tact and in place, just like it is the 60's and 70's all over again! Even in his 80's his still has had the enthusiasm that I remember so well. Other than family members to me, I have never felt such a loss in my life. But all the pianos, synthesizers, and love for music that I have also passed on to my children, are all because of this wonderful man. And for that, and our of our wonderful memories, he will never die. I miss you Mr. Hurless with all my heart.
Ann Rehn
June 19, 2015
So sorry to hear of Don's passing. He was a great cousin and a talented man.
Cousin Ann Hurless Rehn, Marion, Iowa
Gary Spradlin
June 18, 2015
I first met Don in 1966 when he was a guest lecturer at my music theory class at Ohio Northern. From that day to this, I've been in awe of his incredible talent. As things turned out, I had the opportunity to work professionally with Don on many occasions. He was a mentor, a good friend and absolutely a "Musician's Musician".
June 18, 2015
You taught me to write music, improvise and how to play in a band setting. I am a professional musician currently in DC/Virginia and I THANK YOU! You were a friend/teacher and you will be missed. Gina (Febus) Clark
Marilyn Haller
June 18, 2015
Don was blessed with great musical talent. The ways he used God's gift of sharing and giving music to so many will be his legacy.
My daughter was a student of Carolyn's for several years. Being only an acquaintance to me he was always the epitome of a passionate "piano man". I jumped at every chance to hear Don or the Combo perform. "And the Music played on". RIP Don Hurless
June 18, 2015
My father, Bob Roffee, was the drummer with the Don Hurless Combo for many years. He was a great friend to my father. His talent will be very much missed.
Heather Stechschulte
June 18, 2015
I am a piano student of Don's and he has taught my children for the last 10 years. He always said we were his family. His teachings will carry on in our family for generations to come! We will miss him deeply...
John Galvin
June 17, 2015
I am saddened to learn of Don's passing....he was my teacher for many years. I owe a lifetime of musical success to him. He made it seem so easy...he was a natural, with incredible skill and talent, and a true gentleman. Thank you eternally, Don. God Bless you.
Alice Donahue
June 17, 2015
One of the biggest honors of my life was singing at a wedding, accompanied by Don......he played Rhapsody in Blue as the bride walked down the aisle....it was chilling. Rest in peace, oh great one!
Christi Brown
June 17, 2015
We have also set up a Facebook page, "Remembering Don Hurless" for people to share their memories with others.
https://www.facebook.com/DonHurless?ref=hl
Don touched so many lives through his music, teaching and mentoring of others. Please share with anyone who would be interested in sharing their memories of Don.
thanks for being such a good friend and mentor!
Tesa Jordan
June 17, 2015
When my dad passed before my wedding, you stepped up and walked me down the aisle. You taught me phrasing and gave me a great hobby I could also call a second career..and you gave me friendship.. the best of all. Now you're telling Carolyn all she's missed in the last 28 years, and she's showing you around too...hope they had the piano tuned in time :) Love always,
Tesa
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