Lovell G. Ives, 97, of Rib Lake, left and went on to a higher vibration on April 11, 2026 at his home while under the care of his wife Jan, and Hope Hospice.

 

He was born August 13, 1928 in Marshfield to George Lovell and Katherine (Shereck) Ives.  He graduated from Marshfield High School in 1946. 

 

Following high school, he continued his education at UW-Stevens Point, then earned his master’s degree from the Vandercook School of Music in Chicago.  He also attended arranger’s clinics at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

 

Lovell’s passion for music was in his blood and grew from a young age, and by age 17, he was writing all the arrangements for and playing the trumpet in his brother’s band “Wally Ives and the Jolly Dutchman.”

 

Following college, he began teaching music and band at Colby High School then at Medford High School. Although he was only at Medford HS for eight years, the band went from 25 kids to 300, and at one point, was the number one band in the country. He also composed their fight song and their alma mater, both of which are still used today.  Due to the accolades and creativity with what he had done with the high school marching bands, he was recruited and hired by UW-Green Bay to lead their music department and marching band.  He was so proud of his students, many of which went on to become talented musicians themselves and kept in close contact with Lovell.  In addition to his duties at the university, he was also hired to coordinate the Packers half time activities and lead the Packer Band.

 

Lovell worked as a music professor, arranger for the marching band, director of the Pop Singers, trumpet teacher, and director of the Jazz Program at UWGB for over 40 years, retiring in 1997.  In that time, he co-founded the Green Bay Jazz Fest which is still going strong today, and over the years, many students returned to the event to play in his alumni band.  During his tenure, Lovell had many accomplishments including: in 1971, he composed the alma mater and the fight song for UW-GB; wrote all of the arrangements and played in the River City Six Dixieland Band which played all over the state; was in the Green Bay Symphony; and for 30 years, The Lovell Ives Orchestra played for the Cerebral Palsy Telethon.  He lined up shows and hired music for Bob Hope and hosted many notable guests in his home including James Moody who became a great friend.  He also was instrumental in the success at the Weidner Center, where he hired and coordinated musicians for many of their shows.  Lovell was one of few chosen guests to go to China to participate in the Beijing Jazz Festival, during which he walked part of the Great Wall.  He taught at many music camps including, Green Bay Jazz Camp, Shell Lake Stage Band Camp, The Point Music Camp and spent an entire summer at the Institute of Advanced Musical Study in Crans, Switzerland.  Professionally, he has been the recipient of the Music Journal Award for Composition, General Chairman of the Music Selection Committee of WSMA, Past State President of National Jazz Educators, and Past President of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra.  His compositions were not just music, but beautiful pieces of art.  Of all the accomplishments in his life, one of his greatest was creating and composing the tune “GO PACK GO” for the Green Bay Packers.  He loved being a part of that organization and was so proud to give that gift.

 

In January 1979, he married Janis M. Roffers.  They resided in Green Bay until Lovell’s retirement at age 70.  In retirement, he continued to do work with the Packer Band during games as well as the Dixie Land Band.  Lovell and Jan had an extraordinary life together for 51 years, and most of their activities centered around music, which Janis also enjoyed.  They also enjoyed traveling together and this incredible man at age 70 hiked the Grand Canyon with a 40 pound backpack! Another passion of Lovell’s was fishing and every June for over 20 years, he and Jan went on a fishing trip to Canada. 

 

In Lovell’s honor, the first fall concert this year at UW-Green Bay will be dedicated to his life and music. Please watch for the date.

 

In lieu of flowers, if you’d like to make a contribution in Lovell’s memory, please give to the Taylor County Humane Society, 819 S. Gibson St., Medford, WI 54451, in support of his love for animals.

 

Jan would like to thank the amazing staff of Hope Hospice for their love and support during this time.