Dr. Donald John Miedema

He was born on May 29, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan from the age of five. Dr. Miedema is the son of John J. and Catherine Miedema. He married MaeJean Adelberg in 1950 and she survives.

Dr. Miedema graduated with highest distinction from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and also earned Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Northwestern. In addition, he did post-doctoral studies at Columbia and Harvard Universities.

Dr. Miedema served in the United States Army in the south Pacific (Okinawa and Japan) from 1943 through 1945 and also as Information and Education Officer from 1950 to 1952 during the Korean War at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.

Prior to serving as superintendent of the Springfield Public Schools, Dr. Miedema was Deputy Superintendent of the Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools. He also served as Superintendent of the Flossmoor, Illinois Public Schools, as Principal of the Willow School in Homewood, Illinois, and as a teacher in the Evanston, Illinois Public Schools.

During his 43 years of service in public education, Dr. Miedema was honored with numerous awards including the Illinois Curriculum Council’s Distinguished Contribution To Education Award, the Phi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year Award, and the Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel Award.

Dr. Miedema’s personal interests included music and classic automobiles. He played both piano and pipe organ and was past president of the boards of the Springfield and Illinois Symphony Orchestras. In Maryland, he owned a 1940 LaSalle automobile and currently has an original 1967 Dodge Dart.

Dr. Miedema was a 35 year member of the First United Methodist Church of Springfield and its IBT Sunday School Class.

Dr. Miedema is survived by his wife, MaeJean, two sons: John Miedema of Mission Viejo, California, and Paul Miedema (wife, Imee) of Springfield, and two grandchildren: Dr. Christopher Miedema, M.D. and Grace Miedema, both of Springfield.

The family cordially invites all friends and family to a memorial service on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., at The First United Methodist Church of Springfield. For two hours prior to the start of the service, the family will receive friends and relatives in the sanctuary of the church. Cremation was accorded and a private inurnment will be at Union Ridge Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made in Dr. Miedema’s memory to the Springfield Public Schools Foundation or the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com.