Windsor, Vt. — Reverend Jack Zoerheide, 93, a resident of Windsor, passed away Friday morning March 2, 2018, at the Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, Vt. following a long illness. Predeceased by his wife, Marie and seven siblings, Holly, Donald, Norma, Robert, Fern, Mary and Betty, and beloved granddaughter Keyra and great-grandson Wyatt. He is survived by his five children; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; Laina (Jord, Eryn, Chandra), Dean (Melissa, Gabriel), Brian (Hans, Bea, Julie, Jahsiah, Jahfar), Greg, and Julie (Will).

Jack married Marie Annette Sandberg, an artist and model, on Aug. 22, 1953, in Hingham, Mass. and she remained his devoted wife and partner with his career and family until her death on June 24, 2010.

Jack was born in Kent City, Mich. on June 27, 1924. He grew up on a subsistence farm in Grand Rapids Michigan. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 as a communications officer serving until 1956 and saw active service from 1943 to 1944 in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre on the destroyer ship USS Capella in WWII, as a Lieutenant.

The military service provided a way for Jack to pay for college at Harvard Divinity School where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology. He graduated and was fellowshipped in 1950 and ordained as a reverend in 1951.

Jack inspired many people during the civil rights tensions of the 1960’s through active participation in this time of significant change. In 1964 he traveled to Williamstown, N.C. to join in the Civil Rights protest and wrote about his experience of 48 hours in jail after being arrested for attempting to be served at a segregated restaurant with a group of people of color. Despite opposition, Jack used his first hand experiences as an avenue to promote change in America. Jack also marched in Massachusetts with Martin Luther King Jr.

Jack’s career of service as a minister to the church and community spanned over 30 years, leading a number of Unitarian Universalist churches, including: The Second Parish Church Hingham, Mass. (1951-57), First Parish Church Needham, Mass. (1957-69), Winchester Mass Unitarian Society (1969-79), Keene Unitarian Church Keene, N.H. (1979-81), Braintree, Mass. (1981-82), Fort Myers, Fla. (1982-84), Tarpon Springs, Fla. (1984-89).

Jack loved to fish and hunt and in 1956 acquired a cottage on Lake Lucerne in Maine. His Ministry allowed for a 3 month summer vacation. The family continues to enjoy this beautiful place.

In honor of Jack Donations can be made to The Universalist Society of Hartland, Vt. For more information go to www.knightfuneralhomes.com.

The following is a poem written by Jack Zoerheide titled “Companions Of The Morning”:

Life knows no clever counting

Clocks can’t spell your name

Time is a desperate hustler

Proposing careless claims

 

Somewhere a plan is shaping

Your hopes rising anew

Somewhere a voice is singing

Your song, just for you.

 

Hold life close and forceful

Wake it from remembered sleep

Speak Firm! Shake Hard!

Spring’s promise is to keep

 

Be companions of the morning

Like lovers hand in hand

Tell life your secret

Vow your new world plan

 

Then gather the sower’s genius

Gather the soft rain’s green

Gather dew flowered magic

Gather a blue sky dream

 

  A hoe racks in the corner

A rake stands near the door

Earth has turned to your planting

Heaven, look down once more.

JDZ