Gary P. Kautenburg

We are saddened to hear of your loss. Mr K's enthusiasm was contagious to the students as well as the parents who attend and support the Marching Knights. He will be missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Dear Kautenberg Family,
Although I was not directly involved in the band, I was in the choir and have heard lots of great things from friends who were in the band about Mr.K. During my four years in Choir, I know he did wonderful things to create a wonderful band and I hope his memories stay alive within the band and their music. He was a great inspiration to the program and will truly be missed by all who knew him.

I just heard the news today and I realized Mr. K was more than just a band teacher. Mr. K was an inspiration for both of my children to strive for the best. Music gave them discipline, music opened their hearts. Mr. K might of ran a tight ship during competition, but he had fun as well. He will be greatly missed. Our condolences to the Kautenburg family and extended family. Your husband, Your Father, and your Brother was truly a remarkable person and is blessed thru all those he touched....

Gary was a wonderful friend, colleague and mentor. He will be missed and never forgotten. Our hearts go out to Christine and Katie. He was taken much too soon.

My deepest condolences to the Kautenburg family. May god be with you through this time of sadness. Gary was a good friend & I will hold on to the many warm memories that we both shared.

I am proud to have had the honor of being in Mr. K’s first freshman class when he came to OC. From day 1, he had a contagious enthusiasm for music, the band, and most importantly, his students. He was able to teach, drive and lead us to things we never thought were possible, while also helping us wade through our daily high school lives. It probably wasn’t until my senior year when I realized not only how much I appreciated Mr. K for his constant efforts at making us better, but also how...

I enjoyed working with Gary when I began my teaching career. The ways in which he worked with his students was to the highest degree. He can now make music in heaven. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and the OCHS band family.

I know one of the best memories of Mr.K is him saying to various students and myself "if you like him ask him out". It always made me laugh. Mr.K was amazing. He was one of the two people that made me love music, and made me today want to be a music major in college. I do not want to teach music as a teacher, but I do want to teach people that music is great. I still think of him today and I wont ever forget him how he changed my life. I would never have graduated High Schoool if not for...

I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Mr K's passing. Like many before me have mentioned, my 4 years of band were some of the best moments of my life. Even now more then 10 years after graduation I still pull out the old Marching band tapes to see all that he taught us and the pride and joy he evoked in all of us. I'm sure He'll forever look down on all of us with "Eye's of pride"