Racine- John Henry “Johnny” Hemkes, 86, passed away at the Lincoln Village Convalescent Center on Saturday, April 1, 2006. A lifetime resident, Johnny was born in Racine on May 25, 1919 to the late Henry and Jennie (nee: Dykstra) Hemkes. At age 5, he began his lifelong interest in music. As a young lad, Johnny loved to sing and enjoyed going to municipal band rehearsals with his father, who was an accomplished tuba player. After sitting in the tuba section, young Johnny requested to sit with the trumpet players. At age 7, one of his Dad’s band members gave Johnny an old beat up trumpet, wrapped with adhesive tape, to keep it from leaking air. His Dad gave Johnny his first practice book and fingering chart, which allowed him to develop into a musical legend. His first supervised training began when he attended McKinley Jr. High. By this time, he had already soloed many times in his church, with community bands, over the radio, and at community clubs. Shortly after, his parents presented him with a new Martin 707 trumpet, which was a rarity because money was tight during the Depression. In 1935, the Hemkes family suffered a devastating fire at their home, losing everything except for Johnny’s trumpet. After, he went on to receive most of his training from Park High School (Class of 1938) band director and mentor, Frederick Schulte, who was often referred to as Racine’s “Mister Music”. Mr. Schulte wanted other students to attain Johnny’s crystal clear tone quality so he had Johnny begin giving private lessons while in high school. Johnny’s students were successful and as a result, his services were in demand, and his sound became recognized as the “Hemkes Singing Sound”. Johnny taught all the brass instruments privately at his “Hemkes Brass Studio” over the course of 70+ years. In 1941, Johnny married Viola Clemmensen. Although Johnny and Vi didn’t have any children, his thousands of former students in the Racine/Kenosha area, in his eyes, were his kids. At the request of former students and music educators, he wrote and developed the Singing Brass Manual, which is widely used as a brass technique manual for music education majors and educators. In addition to Frederick Schulte, Johnny studied with Dr. Karl Amiringer, Max Pottag and Jaroslav Cimera. He performed as principal trumpet with the USA Concert Orchestra, countless other bands and orchestras, and had soloed all over the Midwest. Johnny had been on the staff of music department at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in the 1970’s. He also instructed members of the Racine Elks Youth Band, Racine Boy Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Racine and Kenosha Unified Bands. Johnny retired in 1984 and intended to move to Arizona to play golf full-time, which he loved doing when he wasn’t teaching. However, within a short period of time, he missed his interaction with the young students and decided to remain in Racine and to, again, fill his daily schedule giving private music lessons. It was so gratifying for Johnny to have many of his students continue in music either professionally or as an avocation. In 2000, Johnny was inducted into the SE Wisconsin Educators Hall of Fame, Park High School Hall of Fame, and was presented with the Belle City Brassworks Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Surviving are Johnny’s wife of 65 years, Viola; brothers-in-law, Clyde Wiersum and Ernest Clemmensen; sister-in-law, Muriel (Jacob) Friesema; and by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, former students and friends too numerous to mention by name. In addition to his parents, Johnny was preceded in death by his sister, Clara Wiersum. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home, 4600 County Line Rd., on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 6:00 pm with nephew, Rev. Jim Wiersum, officiating. In accordance with Johnny’s wishes, cremation will follow the services with private interment at West Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Wednesday from 3-6pm. Immediately following the services in the funeral home on Wednesday evening, all are invited to continue celebrating Johnny’s amazing life at Racine Yacht Club, One Barker Street, for a reception. Memorials to the John Hemkes Memorial Scholarship Fund (c/o of Community State Bank, 8338 Washington Ave., Racine, 53406) has been suggested. A heartfelt note of thanks to staffs at Lincoln Village and Hospice Alliance; and to Dr. Paul Durbin, Dr. Bonnie Wirfs and Dr. Jerry Brooks for the compassionate care and support that was so warmly extended to Johnny at the end of his life. We’ll miss you Johnny!
Thomas J. Paulson says
I was a trumpet student of Johns when I was in High School at Kenosha St Joseph. I went on in music at the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Playing for both Dr. Rivelli and Ray Dvorak. I was also on the band staff at UW-Madsion, while completing my degrees. John was a life long inspiration to me. Many of his examples I still use today after being a band director for 39 years. I have been music supervisor and director of bands at Cedar Grove-Belgium School District for 37 years. Thank you Johnny for being an inspiration and a friend in my formative years. You have helped me be what I am today. I will forever cherish those lessons days at Johnson music in Racine and the many hours you shared with your students your knowledge and love of playing and of people.
Lynda Verville Preston says
I am sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Hemkes. I had the privilege of being one of his students while attending St. Joseph High School. Being the only girl trumpeter in the band, with his instruction, I felt I could match or exceed the ability to play good music. I regret not being able to tell him while he was here. I will always remember him as a kind and patient man. but most of all, a superior instructor.
Jim Hendrickson says
Yes, I too remember traveling from Kenosha to Johnson Music in Racine in the late 50’s. Johnny then came to the Kenosha Schools and I had my lessons in the basement of the old Mary D. Bradford High School during lunch hours… I joined the Navy and then when discharged, played in the Kenosha Kingsmen for a couple years before dropping music for 35 years while raising my family. Six years ago, I picked up my trumpet again and am now playing in three bands and having the absolute time of my life. I’ve often thought of my friend Johnny Hemkes. Always, but ALWAYS smiling, patient, tolerant, fun to be around, extremely talented and a great trumpet teacher. Thank you, my friend, I miss you… Rest easy. Move over, first chair trumpet player in the Angelic Band, here comes Johnny!!! God Bless You….