Barbola Funeral Chapel

John J. Tatgenhorst

Few composers and arrangers have been able to enjoy doing what they love over many decades. John Tatgenhorst loved creating music. John passed away at age 85 and died peacefully at home.

At an early age, John showed talent with his music abilities. Composing, arranging, having his own radio music show, and playing drums in his hometown of East Liverpool, Ohio, led him to his alma mater, Ohio State University. John received his music degree from OSU and continued to arrange music for the Ohio State University Marching Band for over 40 years. During this time, he arranged “Hang On Sloopy” for the marching band, which later became Ohio’s official state rock song. After graduating, John taught music lessons privately, was the drum set player for Nick Clooney’s local morning tv show, and wrote for many music publishing companies. His favorite compositions include one of his first - Tanglewood, and later Poem for Band. John has written over 600 pieces of music, which are still performed all over the world and can be seen on YouTube.

John moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1982 to expand his music company after successfully working in Columbus, Ohio. There he wrote music for various advertising agencies, companies, and orchestras. In addition to the Ohio State University Marching Band, John wrote for the Penn State Blue Band, Purdue’s All-American Marching Band, and University of Washington Husky Band. He wrote an original orchestral piece for Doc Severinsen with the Columbus Symphony and arranged for performers at the pre-ceremonies at the Indy 500 race. John worked with notable artists such as Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis, Ray Charles, CeCe Winans, Steven Tyler and director John Hughes. Many people worked in his home recording studio including Mike Ditka for TGIF Fridays, the Kenilworth Union Church Choir, and artists involved in various charitable projects. During this time, John won Emmy, Chris, Telly, and Gold Camera Awards for Music Composing and Arranging. His film scores include two videos for PBS on The White House, performed by the United States Marine Band. Another PBS show for which John wrote original music was narrated by Jason Robarts, a tv series “On the Waterways” that was well-received.

During his visits to Los Angeles, John worked for Shirley Walker and wrote cues for the animated series The Adventures of Batman and Robin. John Tatgenhorst enjoyed working with John Williams on various orchestral film scores for Warner Brothers Music. John was selected to arrange Christmas songs for Paul Freeman, conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta, to record with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London for the album “Turned On Christmas” for Sony Records. John served on the board of the Chicago Grammys and the Ohio State University Alumni Board. He arranged music and was the conductor for the Chicago Film Critic’s Awards Live show. John was a member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Actors Guild.

Unfortunately, John was plagued with ill health later in life, having three spinal cord surgeries, and in 2020 - heart surgery and a stroke. It was around this time his wife Lisa brought him to her hometown of Berlin, Wisconsin to enjoy life by taking it easy, listening to CD’s, and watching movies.

John was born on August 22nd, 1938 in East Liverpool, Ohio, to Margaret Helen (Graham) and Donald Christopher Tatgenhorst. John graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1956, and went on to earn a music degree from the Ohio State University.

John is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lisa (Spoehr) Tatgenhorst, and children Laura Tatgenhorst, Margo Tatgenhorst Drakos, and Michelle Weaver Kuecks. He is survived by his younger sister Judy Theis, of Xenia, Ohio. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Connie (Steve) Smits of Berlin, WI, and brother-in-law Paul (Linda) Spoehr of Madison, WI, with many nieces, and nephews, and grandchildren as well. John was preceded in death by his parents Margaret and Donald, and son Timothy.

There will be a scholarship fund created to aid a student pursuing music in John’s honor. John was a charismatic person full of stories to tell. He was so loved and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the music community.

To honor John’s wishes, there will be a private funeral gathering with interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Berlin. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to John Tatgenhorst, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923 or Lisa Tatgenhorst, PO Box 24, Berlin, WI 54923.