Jack Luidens

LUIDENS (Rockford) - Long- time Rockford resident and native Grand Rapidian, Jack Junior Luidens died August 13, 2008, at the age of 81. A graduate of Calvin College, Rev. Luidens served in the U.S. Navy before attending Louisville Presbyterian Seminary where he met his beloved wife of 56 years, "Southern belle" Bess (Strickland). Rev. Luidens served pastorates of the Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Manitowoc and Milwaukee before coming to North Kent Presbyterian Church in Rockford. Following his retirement from the ministry, he directed the Northeast Complex under the federal poverty program and was Chief Probation Officer for the 63rd District Court under Judges Joseph B. White and Steven R. Servaas until his second retirement in 1990. He was a member and President of Rockford Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellow, and chairman of its Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange programs, leading the District exchange with Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia. During his various pastorates, Rev. Luidens served as President of the Milwaukee Ministerial Association and later the Grand Rapids Ministerial Association. An avid amateur musician, Jack provided piano accompaniment for various Rotary and church functions at the local, district and state levels. He also performed with Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus for 30 years where he served as a board member and past president. Rev. Luidens will be dearly missed by his wife, Bess; daughters, Sally Larimore of Rockford, and Priscilla Fuerst of Fennville; grandson, James Michael Luidens Larimore of Rockford; brother, Quentin (Nita Anne) Luidens of the Villages, FL; sister-in-law, Marian Luidens of Westlake, OH; cherished cat, Onyx; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Grace (Koning) Luidens and brother, Roger Luidens. A memorial service for Rev. Luidens will be Monday, August 18, 2008 at 4 p.m. at Westminster Chapel, 47 Jefferson Avenue, SE, Grand Rapids, with Rev. Martha Beals and Rev. David Baak officiating. Interment will be in Plainfield Township Cemetery. Jack would be pleased if those planning an expression of sympathy would consider Rotary International Foundation. Relatives and friends may meet with the family from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Clark at Keller Lake for the loving care they extended to Rev. Luidens during his residence there. The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com