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Harry Ahrens, age 62 of Rockford, MI, died Wednesday, January 12, 2000 in Grand Rapids after a six year battle with Leukemia.
Ahrens was band director for 17 years in Niles and with State Farm Insurance Co., for 20 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a very good friend to all who knew him.
Surviving are his wife of 40 years- Janice; a son David Ahrens; grandchildren Christopher, Sarah and Andrew.
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Michael Sirovica
One of my greatest regrets is that I quit band my senior year to work Co-Op. I still play French Horn today as a way to rectify that mistake. It will be a debt that I can never repay.Mr. Ahrens called me one day when he worked for State Farm. Of course, I switched insurance to his office. Soon after, he called to say he was organizing a "Reunion Band" for Homecoming. Many of his old students were there. We met under the bleachers before the game. He said "Now band, (he always called us band), this is what we're going to do." We're gonna play the fight song, we're gonna line up in the revolving "N". He talked like we were in shape to march and play at the same time! I had a hard time, but it went great (the revolving "N", not my playing).
Later on we had a "Band Reunion" at the old Holiday Inn. Mr. Ahrens and his wife were there, as were a lot of his students. We brought our instruments and played some of the old Pep Band songs. We did't have drums, so Rick Waldron used 5 gallon buckets from the kitchen. It worked! All you need is a beat!
At football games, we would have other band reunions and of course, Mr. Ahrens was always invited. By that time he was too sick to attend.
Tim Newsted (Newsted)
Harry Ahrens brought out the best in his students. He demanded excellence. I can honestly say that because of him I had the drive to become involved in college band. I worked hard and became the "point" in Albion's marching band. Since graduation in 1978 I have gone back and marched in 31 consecutive Briton alumni bands at homecoming. I thank Mr. Ahrens for what he taught me at NHS.Margie Vanderwater (Houseman)
Harry Ahrens made a positive impact on the lives of all who knew him and especially those who were under his direction in band. He brought out the best in all of us and encouraged us at every turn. He demanded excellence and most always got it. It is a rare quality when a teacher knows how to raise the bar bringing students up to expectations of excellence, but Harry had it for sure. I will be forever grateful for the positive imapact he had in my life, musically and spiritually. His love for the Lord was evident and it spilled out on all of us.Terry Powell
The MAN had SOUL...Douglas Kerr (Class Of '75)
From the NHS Class of 1975 site:
I remember Harry Ahrens as a very professional and effective band director. He rarely, if ever, lost his temper, despite the antics of several hundred high school kids. He was eminently fair and he obviously enjoyed teaching. He even maintained his even disposition when he learned that certain people (hmm, Tom G.?) spiked the brownies for the visiting band with ex-lax. (The statute of limitations has passed on that one.)
The one time he lost it was at band camp when not a single person, I believe, slept one night. Instead, we ran havoc all over the place. The next day, Mr. Ahrens had us march until we practically dropped. We certainly deserved it.
Mr. Ahrens tutored me in trumpet from my years at Ballard through my leaving to California in the middle of my junior year. I learned much during those years, although I know he was frustrated at my lack of practice and failure to rise to my potential. Through it all, I found him to be a perfect gentleman and a steady hand at corralling a very large number of kids who probably never truly appreciated his effective and selfless teaching.
I was surprised years later to learn that Harry had left teaching to become an insurance agent. I thought he would retire in that job as band director. I remember stopping by his agency to visit with Dan Kasprzak and Greg Robinson at our 20th reunion. He was such a nice guy.