Edward H Thiebe of Leverett, formally of Holyoke and Springfield, died on October 19, 2017.  Born in Holyoke September 5, 1931, he was the son of the late Edward and Esther

(Bey) Thiebe.  He graduated from Holyoke High School class of 1949, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Lowell State Teachers College (University of Massachusetts at Lowell).  He attended Boston University and received a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  He earned his Ph.D in Supervision and Curriculum Development form the University of Connecticut.  He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving with the 86^th and 389^th United States Army Bands. 

Dr. Thiebe taught at all levels of education from preschool through graduate school.  He began his teaching career as a fifth grade teacher at Westover School One in the Chicopee School System.  In Springfield, he taught as a fifth grade teacher at Memorial (Mary Dryden) School and was vocal music teacher and chorus director at the John J. Duggan Junior High School.  He conducted the Ursuline Academy Chorus and the Springfield Hospital (BayState Medical Center) Student Nurses’ Chorus.  After his tenure as Supervisor of Vocal Music for the Springfield School Department, Dr. Thiebe became an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music at Springfield College directing the college’s musical ensembles and instructing student teachers.  He was an adjunct professor in the graduate school at the University of Lowell (University of Massachusetts at Lowell).

As a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Dr. Thiebe was a clinician in curriculum development at MENC District, State, Divisional and National Conferences/Conventions.  He served as curriculum consultant to various public school systems and participated in federal projects developing new music curricula using emerging media hardware/software.  He served on the executive board of the Massachusetts Music Education Association Western District.

Edward leaves his wife Patricia Y (Messier) of 62 years, four children; a son Edward A. Thiebe and his wife Sandra of Florida, and three daughters; Elizabeth A. Thiebe and her husband William Conelly of Great Britain, Linda M. Thiebe-Hickson of Springfield, and Jacqueline L. Thiebe of Washington State.  He leaves nine grandchildren, Kimberly Hickson-Torres, John Hickson, James, Raphael and Michael Conelly, Katrin, Gillian, Edward and Josh Thiebe.  He leaves 4 great grandchildren, Alexander and Madalyn Torres and Declan and Lachlan Palmer.

He leaves one sister, Marilyn A. (Thiebe) Bowers and her husband Glenn Bowers of Chicopee, a sister-in-law Jacqueline Kurtz; one brother-in-law Robert Messier and his wife Lorraine and eighteen nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by Richard Messier, Clement Messier and Edward Kurtz.  

Dr. Thiebe will be interned at the convenience of the family.  Memorial donation may be made in his memory to the American Lung Association or to the American Heart Association