John Nyberg, 84, Falcon Heights and Palm Springs, Calif., died on April 9, 2021.
Born in 1936 on a farm near Cambridge, Nyberg attended high school in Braham and went on to receive three degrees from the University of Minnesota, a bachelor’s degree in music, a master’s in music education and a doctorate in musicology.
John taught in Roseville and in schools in Wyoming and California as well as in Germany and Okinawa, Japan. He received the first Christa McAuliffe Fellowship and was named Distinguished Teacher by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars. His love for music brought him many opportunities to direct church choirs and college and community musical theater. He was accomplished on the flute and piano and enjoyed playing accordion cafe music.
After retiring in 1999, John spent winters in Palm Springs, Calif. He was an art lover and was a docent at the Palm Springs Art Museum for 20 years. He traveled the world with friends and family and especially loved return trips to Italy and Switzerland.
Witty, knowledgeable and curious, John was and will continue to be beloved by family and friends around the world. He is survived by his sister Jeanne Nyberg Paulson. Memorials preferred to the John L. Nyberg Instrumental Music Scholarship. Donations can be mailed to University of Minnesota Foundation, PO Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486.
