Kurt Egenolf Roderer, 90, of Evanston, Illinois, died April 1. Born in Germany in 1935, his early years were shaped by the hardships of World War II. As a boy, he was selected to assist a local organ tuner, an experience that sparked a lifelong calling. At 14 Roderer left home to pursue organbuilding, beginning an apprenticeship in Ennetach-Mengen from 1949 to 1953. He continued his training with D. A. Flentrop in Zaandam, the Netherlands, before immigrating to the United States in 1956 to work with Otto Hoffman in Austin, Texas. He later joined the Schlicker Organ Company in Buffalo, New York, where he served as a voicer and tonal finisher.
From 1966 to 1999, Roderer was organbuilder-in-residence at Northwestern University School of Music, Evanston, Illinois. There he maintained organs, taught organbuilding and maintenance, and continued developing his own business, the Roderer Organ Company.
Kurt Egenolf Roderer is survived by his children Lioba Moreno, Edeltraud Baum, Patricia Roderer, Helga Kennedy, Connie Bachel (Steve), Kurt William Roderer, Gabbie Roderer, Kym Caird, Kristina Pierce, Karoline Falcone (Anthony), and Kelly Campos (Aaron). He was preceded in death by his wife Kathy and son Kurt William. A funeral service will be held May 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, Illinois.
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