Rudolf Jan “Rudy” Zuiderveld, 75, of Jacksonville, Illinois, died October 29, 2021, in Jacksonville. He was born November 26, 1945, in Groningen, the Netherlands. He married Sharon DeWind on August 10, 1968, at Bethany Christian Reformed Church, Bellflower, California
Zuiderveld earned his AB degree from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1967 and, after being drafted, served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1971. Following his discharge, he earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1972, and eventually earned his Doctor of Music degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, in 1978. He served as an instructor at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, and assistant professor at Southwest State University, Marshall, Minnesota, before moving his family to Jacksonville in 1980. He served in the music department at Illinois College, Jacksonville, from 1980 until his retirement as chair of the music department in 2010.
Zuiderveld served on the board of directors of the McGaw Fine Arts Series on the Illinois College campus for many years and was a member of the American Guild of Organists and Pi Kappa Lambda. In addition, he served as organist for First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Illinois, for 30 years and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Jacksonville.
Rudolf Jan Zuiderveld is survived by his wife, Sharon, and by three sons, Nicholas (Krissy Gilhooly) Zuiderveld of Denver, Colorado; Loren (Anne Polick) Zuiderveld of Chicago, Illinois; and Mark Zuiderveld of Jacksonville; as well as five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held November 6 at Faith Lutheran Church, Jacksonville. Memorials are suggested to Faith Lutheran Church, 1385 W. Walnut St., Jacksonville, Illinois 62650.
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