William R. Sundeen age 58 of Lincoln, Nebraska died on Tuesday, September 18th at his home in Lincoln. Born December 26, 1953, Bill was an exceptional clarinet, saxophone, and flute player during high school. He also excelled at track and cross country. Bill played with the Lincoln Youth Symphony Orchestra, high school band, high school jazz band, as well as the groups Elysian Fields and Iron Horse. After graduating from Lincoln Northeast as an honor student in 1972, he moved to New Orleans, where he learned to play guitar and wrote wonderfully insightful songs. He became a popular performer at the Wrong Place Saloon, which at the time was the gathering place for musicians and songwriters in the Big Easy. After he returned to Nebraska, Bill played bass guitar for a touring bluegrass group from Kentucky and for a country band based in Valley, NE. In later years he played at open stages and for special events at the Auld Recreation Center. Bill loved music and was always supportive of other musicians. His talent and spirit will be missed very much by all who knew him.
He is survived by his father, Eugene Sundeen (Lincoln, NE), sisters Cindy Sundeen (Overland Park, KS) and Lori Sundeen Soderbergh (Fort Worth, TX), brothers Tom Sundeen (Lincoln, NE) and Jim Sundeen (Denver, CO), son Paul Sundeen (Omaha, NE), grandchildren Jason Sundeen and Connor Sundeen (Omaha, NE), nieces and nephews: Brian Rosen, Rob Rosen, Jenny Soderbergh, Lars Soderbergh and Evalynn Sundeen.
Bill is preceded in death by his mother, Gloria Sundeen, and by his Grandparents.
Cremation, no visitation.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Monday, September 24th at 10:00 A.M. at the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.
Memorials may be given to the family for future designation. Condolences and personal reflections may be sent online at www.wyuka.com.
Bill and I were friends long ago. I bought my only guitar from him in 1976.
This guitar has many names burnt into it. One of them is “Sunnie”.
I am sad to hear of his passing. ODAT. (One day at a time, my friends)
I had hoped to meet with you again, my friend!
Seeing Bill’s obituary in the newspaper was a real shock. I last saw him in winter 2007, shortly before I moved from Lincoln to Friend. Initially Bill and I got acquainted via our mutual love of music, particularly folk and rock. When I lived in Lincoln, we used to spend quite a lot of time hanging out together to play and listen to music. We played at open mic stages in Lincoln sponsored by LAFTA (Lincoln Association for Traditional Arts). During the early ’80s, we attended a Jackson Browne concert in Lincoln. He told me about his battles with alcohol and drugs, and once he took me to an AA gathering. He was a special guy, and I’ll definitely miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in his family.
I was a long time ago classmate of Bill’s. I am so sorry to hear of his passing, and wish to offer my sincere condolences.
I went to highschool with Bill and remember him to be kind, fun and wonderfully talented.
My family has been deeply entrenched in the AA program so I understand your son’s/brothers struggles. Blessings to all of you as you seek to find meaning in his loss. My condolences.
Bill was a very special soul. His spirit was unpretentious and true. I am better for knowing him. We never met in person. We met through mutual friends from Bills’s New Orleans days. We corresponded via letter, email, and phone conversations. He was and is one of the kindest people I have ever known. I still miss you my friend.