Obituary for Alton J McCanless
Alton J. McCanless, 86, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at his home near Oskaloosa. He was born May 29, 1930, on a farm near Causey in southeast New Mexico, the son of James and Martha Burns McCanless. His passion for music began at 10 years old when he heard the Stamps-Baxter Men’s Quartet singing on the radio. Ever after, music was a strong influence in his life. Alton graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music degree and, while there, met his future wife, Jeanne Sherman. On August 15, 1954, they were united in marriage in Clinton.
After teaching music for four years and repairing musical instruments for another five, Alton brought his family to Oskaloosa in 1967 and began building flutes with N.D. (Tip) Lamberson. He handmade some 500 Lamberson flutes before striking out on his own in 1979. Alton had been encouraged to experiment with new designs and wanted to explore his own ideas for new key systems and scales. He began building flutes under his own name and built about 150 McCanless flutes. In May, Alton was still planning new flutes.
His family includes his son Jamie (& Kashmir Wolf) of Madison, Wisconsin; daughter Wendy Frances (& Greg Winz) of Dodgeville, Wisconsin; and sister Alene Langham of Greeley, Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jeanne McCanless, and son Michael (Fiddleboy) McCanless.
As was his wish, he has been cremated and no formal ceremony is planned; however, the family will be at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 2, 2016, from 1-3 p.m. to greet friends and relatives, after which his ashes will be scattered at his home of more than 35 years. Memorials may be made to Oskaloosa Public Library.
Alton’s flutes continue to contribute their voices to music in this world.
Alton J. McCanless, 86, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at his home near Oskaloosa. He was born May 29, 1930, on a farm near Causey in southeast New Mexico, the son of James and Martha Burns McCanless. His passion for music began at 10 years old when he heard the Stamps-Baxter Men’s Quartet singing on the radio. Ever after, music was a strong influence in his life. Alton graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music degree and, while there, met his future wife, Jeanne Sherman. On August 15, 1954, they were united in marriage in Clinton.
After teaching music for four years and repairing musical instruments for another five, Alton brought his family to Oskaloosa in 1967 and began building flutes with N.D. (Tip) Lamberson. He handmade some 500 Lamberson flutes before striking out on his own in 1979. Alton had been encouraged to experiment with new designs and wanted to explore his own ideas for new key systems and scales. He began building flutes under his own name and built about 150 McCanless flutes. In May, Alton was still planning new flutes.
His family includes his son Jamie (& Kashmir Wolf) of Madison, Wisconsin; daughter Wendy Frances (& Greg Winz) of Dodgeville, Wisconsin; and sister Alene Langham of Greeley, Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jeanne McCanless, and son Michael (Fiddleboy) McCanless.
As was his wish, he has been cremated and no formal ceremony is planned; however, the family will be at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 2, 2016, from 1-3 p.m. to greet friends and relatives, after which his ashes will be scattered at his home of more than 35 years. Memorials may be made to Oskaloosa Public Library.
Alton’s flutes continue to contribute their voices to music in this world.
Obituary for Alton J McCanless
Alton J. McCanless, 86, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at his home near Oskaloosa. He was born May 29, 1930, on a farm near Causey in southeast New Mexico, the son of James and Martha Burns McCanless. His passion for music began at 10 years old when he heard the Stamps-Baxter Men’s Quartet singing on the radio. Ever after, music was a strong influence in his life. Alton graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music degree and, while there, met his future wife, Jeanne Sherman. On August 15, 1954, they were united in marriage in Clinton.
After teaching music for four years and repairing musical instruments for another five, Alton brought his family to Oskaloosa in 1967 and began building flutes with N.D. (Tip) Lamberson. He handmade some 500 Lamberson flutes before striking out on his own in 1979. Alton had been encouraged to experiment with new designs and wanted to explore his own ideas for new key systems and scales. He began building flutes under his own name and built about 150 McCanless flutes. In May, Alton was still planning new flutes.
His family includes his son Jamie (& Kashmir Wolf) of Madison, Wisconsin; daughter Wendy Frances (& Greg Winz) of Dodgeville, Wisconsin; and sister Alene Langham of Greeley, Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jeanne McCanless, and son Michael (Fiddleboy) McCanless.
As was his wish, he has been cremated and no formal ceremony is planned; however, the family will be at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 2, 2016, from 1-3 p.m. to greet friends and relatives, after which his ashes will be scattered at his home of more than 35 years. Memorials may be made to Oskaloosa Public Library.
Alton’s flutes continue to contribute their voices to music in this world.
Alton J. McCanless, 86, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at his home near Oskaloosa. He was born May 29, 1930, on a farm near Causey in southeast New Mexico, the son of James and Martha Burns McCanless. His passion for music began at 10 years old when he heard the Stamps-Baxter Men’s Quartet singing on the radio. Ever after, music was a strong influence in his life. Alton graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music degree and, while there, met his future wife, Jeanne Sherman. On August 15, 1954, they were united in marriage in Clinton.
After teaching music for four years and repairing musical instruments for another five, Alton brought his family to Oskaloosa in 1967 and began building flutes with N.D. (Tip) Lamberson. He handmade some 500 Lamberson flutes before striking out on his own in 1979. Alton had been encouraged to experiment with new designs and wanted to explore his own ideas for new key systems and scales. He began building flutes under his own name and built about 150 McCanless flutes. In May, Alton was still planning new flutes.
His family includes his son Jamie (& Kashmir Wolf) of Madison, Wisconsin; daughter Wendy Frances (& Greg Winz) of Dodgeville, Wisconsin; and sister Alene Langham of Greeley, Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jeanne McCanless, and son Michael (Fiddleboy) McCanless.
As was his wish, he has been cremated and no formal ceremony is planned; however, the family will be at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 2, 2016, from 1-3 p.m. to greet friends and relatives, after which his ashes will be scattered at his home of more than 35 years. Memorials may be made to Oskaloosa Public Library.
Alton’s flutes continue to contribute their voices to music in this world.
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