Robert Bruce Kuzminski

Robert (“Bob”) Bruce Kuzminski, 84, entered eternal life on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Nathan Adelson Hospice, Las Vegas, Nevada. Bob was born on March 17, 1938 to Wilma and Bernard Kuzminski in Kewanee, Illinois. He was fortunate to have a lifetime career in music. Bob grew up in Kewanee and his introduction to music started with the accordion and playing in an accordion band at age 8. In high school, he played trumpet in band, a trumpet trio, and a civic orchestra. He also played bugle in the Kewanee Black Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. He met the love of his life and wife of almost 62 years, Lynne Strom, when singing in a high school quartet with Lynne’s brother, Dean. He also sang in his church choir.

Following his high school graduation, Bob attended Knox College (Liberal Arts College) in Galesburg, Illinois, on a trumpet scholarship and played in a dance band while there. He also spent a summer at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. After two years at Knox College, he transferred to the University of Illinois School of Music in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where he earned a double bachelor’s degree in music and music education and completed a master’s degree in voice. During Bob’s senior year at the University of Illinois, he and Lynne were married in Kewanee, Illinois, on January 29, 1961.

Bob enlisted in the Air Force in 1962 and was honored to serve for 20 years. After Basic Training, he went to Officers Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He began his career as a Personnel Officer at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where his daughter Leah was born. He then became the Air Force Band Director at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. He was then honored to be chosen to become the Director of the Singing Sergeants as a member of the United States Air Force Band, Headquarters Command, at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. and performed for three United States Presidents. He then served as Commander and Conductor of the Air Force University Band of Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama; Commander and Conductor of the USAF Band of the Pacific at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines; Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force Band in Europe at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany; and completed his career as Conductor of the 581st Air Force Band at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. Retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1982, he and Lynne moved to Sacramento, California for two years. They moved to Las Vegas in 1984, where they resided for the remaining years of his life except for a brief move to Ocala, Florida. With the Air Force bug in them, they continued to move to various parts of town throughout the years.

Following retirement from the Air Force, Bob also enjoyed teaching at Sacramento State University in California and the Community College in Ocala, Florida (as well as directing the Central Florida Symphony during that time). He was privileged to serve over the years as the choir director at the Protestant Chapel at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C. and Bethany Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, California. He also was the music director at First Presbyterian Church (now Grace Presbyterian) in Las Vegas and Green Valley Presbyterian Church in Henderson. He sang in the choir while at Community Lutheran Church. After moving back to the northwest part of Las Vegas, he became a member of Mountain View Presbyterian Church. He served as a deacon and handbell player until his health no longer permitted.

Bob was an only child and was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Lynne; his beloved child, Leah D’Onofrio, and her husband, John D’Onofrio, who he loved as his own son; two beloved grandchildren: Joshua (Yamilet) D’Onofrio and Cara (Fernando Bonilla) D’Onofrio; and five beloved great-grandchildren: Kaden, Dominic, Bella, Siena, and Natalia.

Bob was a kind, humble, and compassionate man who enjoyed sharing his music with so many people all over the world. He loved his family so much and enjoyed all the family gatherings. They were blessed to have him in their lives as he was around to see his children and great-grandchildren raised in Las Vegas. He also enjoyed the symphony, theaters, and the company of so many wonderful friends. He had a great sense of humor, and he amazingly kept it through his growing health issues and hospitalization. He smiled to the very end as God called him home.

The family wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses at Summerlin Hospital and Nathan Adelson Hospice. They are so thankful for the love and support of their family and friends. He was able to share a few more laughs with so many of them while in the hospital and at hospice, including Lynne’s sister and husband, Marti and Ken Costenson, from Phoenix, Arizona.

A celebration of Bob’s life is planned for Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Presbyterian Church located at 8601 Del Webb Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s memory to Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Kuzminski family.