Samuel Charles Henline, 31, passed away unexpectedly Saturday December 15, 2018 after a fall in the shower in his home in Greeley, Colorado. Sam was born on November 7, 1987 in Omaha, NE to parents Charles and Leigh Henline.
Sam graduated from North Platte High School in 2006. While at NPHS, Sam was involved in marching band, choir, speech and debate. He was a member of National Honor Society and was a Valedictorian. In the summers, he worked at the family business Fort Cody Trading Post and Cody Go Karts. He attended Doane College in Crete, NE graduating with a double major in Business and Piano Performance in 2010. He was a member of the Alpha Pi Epsilon fraternity as well as the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Doane Choir, and was the accompanist for Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Unlimited. He then attended the University of Northern Colorado, graduating in 2012 with a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano, studying under Caleb Harris. While at UNC he accompanied many students and events in the Opera department. Sam was preparing to pursue his doctoral degree in collaborative piano at the time of his death.
From 2012 to the present, Sam managed 6 different jobs at once, traveling between Loveland, Greeley, and sometimes Fort Collins daily. He was the pianist for the Loveland Opera Theatre, University Schools’ Choirs Accompanist in Greeley, Pianist, Choir Director, and Music Director for the Unitarian Universalist Church Greeley, and accompanied students at UNC for their voice and instrumental lessons, juries, and recitals. He was an accompanist for Juliana Bishop Hoch Voice Studio in Loveland and Arias@avos by Opera Fort Collins Guild. Sam also arranged music for and directed his own Klezmer Band “Shmuel and the Mentshn”, which performed in the Northern Colorado area and at the Voices from the Holocaust event each year in Greeley. Sam researched, wrote, and read the commentary for the event, focusing on the music that inspired the victims and the survivors of the concentration camps. For two summers, Sam worked in Germany for Opera Classics Europa, accompanying singers from around the world. He loved playing in Germany’s finest cathedrals and concert halls and made many friends in this work. This past summer, he was the pianist for Allegro Wolfe Broadway Academy.
Sam was a member of First Presbyterian Church of North Platte and served as both Elder and Deacon. Sam began learning the piano at age 4, taking lessons from his beloved grandma, Clarice McDermand. He also studied with Linda Wiles while in high school, and Dianne Ferguson at Doane College. The job of a collaborative pianist is to make others shine, and Sam so graciously and generously gave up the spotlight for his fellow musicians. His skills allowed him to make a living doing exactly what he loved, which was his dream. We all should be so lucky.
Sam and his brother Nick had an unbreakable bond throughout their 31 years together, and a happy, loving family life filled with great travels and vacations. He was a kind and gentle soul, so intelligent. He was overjoyed to finally be ‘Unca Sam’ to niece Nadia, who adored him and their games of peek-a-boo. He had recently taken up genealogy in his spare time, leaving his family a fabulous written history that will be shared for generations to come.
Sam is survived by his parents Chuck and Leigh, twin brother Nick and wife Marcia, and niece Nadia Clarice, all of North Platte. He is also survived by grandmother Elise Henline, Uncle John and Aunt Debbie Henline, all of Florida, and Great Aunt Mary Newcomer of Beatrice. He also leaves behind hundreds of friends, from childhood days to his fellow musical colleagues.
He was preceded in death by grandparents Jack and Clarice McDermand, Royce Henline, Nancy Henline, and Uncle Andy McDermand.
Services will be Friday, December 28, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte with Reverend Lyle Anderson officiating. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday, December 27, 2018 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Sam’s beloved Loveland Opera Theatre of Loveland, Colorado or the donor’s choice. There will also be a celebration of Sam’s life in Greeley, Colorado, hosted by his many devoted friends in the musical community of Northern Colorado and his Greeley church, date to be announced.