Robert G. Lefevre, age 43, passed away on 29 September 2020, in El Paso, Texas. Robert was born on November 1, 1977 in San Gabriel, California to Guy Lefevre and Florence Magnuson. Rob grew up in San Gabriel, Chino, and Rancho Cucamonga, all located in Southern California, and attended school in Chino and Etiwanda where he was a member of the Etiwanda High School band, graduating from Etiwanda High School in May 1995. After a brief enlistment in the United States Army, he was discharged honorably and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History from California State University at San Bernardino in 2005 while also a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. After a short stint as a substitute teacher in California, Rob re-entered the United States Army where he not only spent the majority of his career overseas but was also able to fulfill his dream of performing with the Army Band while also earning numerous awards and achievements. During his time in the Army Rob made countless new friends, met special people, and continued his passion for learning by completing his Master’s Degree in Sciences at the University of Nebraska in 2020, and had planned to enter into the field of Entomology after his retirement from the Army in 2022. His interest in this field led him to teach entomological education at Kaiserslautern High School while stationed in Germany. As a member of the Army Band he was fortunate in traveling to and performing in countries such as Japan, Germany, Italy, Korea, Switzerland, Poland, Ecuador, Vietnam, France, Hong Kong, Australia, El Salvador, Guam, Netherlands, China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Czech Republic.
As a child, Rob was a member of the Civil Air Patrol which assisted youths interested in pursuing a career in the Air Force after high school graduation. Rob was a deep lover of music, having been self-taught on the electric bass guitar since age 15, becoming involved in several local bands, as well as a competition where he ended up winning a bass guitar, taking that same bass guitar home and then redesigning it from the inside out to his exact specifications and liking. At age 17 he undertook his own project and built his own bass guitar from scratch. Rob also played the tuba, drums, cello, French horn, and standup bass, all of which were also self-taught. Rob’s music interests were eclectic in nature, listening to artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, NOFX, Green Day, Van Halen, R.E.M., Primus, New Order, Alice in Chains, the Reverend Horton Heat, jazz, and just about anything from the Motown era. Rob was a seasoned traveler, having enjoyed scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and riding his beloved motorcycle on the Autobahn in Germany. Rob was content spending time with family and friends, but, like any musician with their instrument, seemed to be at his absolute happiest when it was just him and his bass guitar. Outside of the Army Band, he performed in numerous club bands while he was stationed overseas, stepping in where and when necessary regardless of the music genre. Rob was also a lover of cooking, baking, and experimenting in the kitchen as much as possible, often flying by the seat of his pants when it came to his culinary skills. Rob was also extremely skilled in the world of computers and electronics and was generally regarded as his family’s own personal tech support as it seemed there wasn’t a computer dilemma he couldn’t handle.
He is survived by his mother, Florence; father, Guy; stepfather David; sister Lonni (Torres) Garcia, brother-in-law Vince Garcia, step-brother Eric Magnuson, sister-in-law Renee (Lammers) Magnuson, step-brother Joel Magnuson, step-sister Amy Magnuson, nephews Adrian and Nicolas Garcia, Adam Magnuson, Logan Magnuson, Ryan Magnuson, and nieces Marisa Garcia, Sarah Magnuson, and Amara Magnuson. Rob’s wit, intellect, and infectious charisma made him well-loved and admired by virtually everyone who ever met him. During various times of his military career, Rob was a volunteer music teacher giving selfless hours of music instruction to Department of Defense Educational Activity students. If you choose to do so, you may make a donation in Rob’s name to any local high school music program as music appreciation was something he was devoted to and very much loved passing on to children.
Services are pending at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to Adams-Swanson Funeral Home or online at www.adamsswanson.com.
Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.