Jo Rodenburg Ziegler

Jo Rodenburg Ziegler, age 66, beloved wife and best friend for 30 years to Thomas Ziegler. Loving mother of Seth Cowan of Morris, IL. Devoted daughter of the late Harry and Patricia (Monsma) Rodenburg. Dearest sister of Mitch Rodenburg (Sonnie) of Wyoming, Sibyl Sexton of Florida, Amy Rodenburg-Wubbolt (Georg) of Germany, Fran Rodenburg of Maine, Meg Rohr (Bob) of Indiana, Peter Rodenburg of Indiana, and Sara Rodenburg of California. Dear aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Jo was a professional opera singer with a 35-year career as a soloist, chorister and voice teacher/instructor. She had a strong foundational belief that the gift of music and voice is God-inspired for His praise and our pleasure. Throughout all of her career, efforts to make beautiful music was her offering to Him. Jo absolutely loved to sing!

As a senior in high school Jo was recruited by Margaret Hillis, the founder and first conductor of the professional Chicago Symphony Chorus. Jo sang with the CSC for 6+ years before breaking out into her long and celebrated solo career.

Shortly after leaving the Chicago Symphony Chorus, she also established her Vocal Coaching Studio in the historically-protected Chicago Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue. There she proceeded to bring out the very best in her music as well as hundreds of other professional singers and new-younger talent, all aspiring to become professional and famous too! For over 30 years she enjoyed her work training that young professional and emerging operatic talent at her downtown Chicago studio.

Throughout her career Jo was in demand on the concert stage. Her repertoire was vast including numerous oratorios and cantatas of Handel, J.S. Bach, Mozart and Haydn, as well as Elgar's Sea-Pictures, Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn, and Prokiev's Alexander Nevsky. Her performance of Alexander Nevsky was described by The Dubuque Herald as "phenomenal . . . gorgeous and bravely edged!"

Mezzo-Soprano Jo Rodenburg's affinity for German song literature was showcased in Germany, where critics described her voice as "warm, lustrous and heart-renderingly beautiful" during her concert tour featuring songs of Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms.

Jo appeared as Eduige in Chicago's Handel Week Festival production of Rodelinda, which was warmly praised by the Chicago Tribune with her singing characterized by it's "big, dark, also-ish mezzo."

Rodenburg was the featured soloist along with David Byrne for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's premiere performance of "The Forest" by composer Davie Byrne, the former lead man of the band Talking Heads. She was also alto soloist under conductors Sir George Solti, James Levine, and Margaret Hillis in works of Berlioz, Verdi, Corigliano, and Pergolesi. She has appeared in performances with Chicago Opera Theater, Light Opera Works of Chicago, Pamiro Opera, Union Avenue Opera of Saint Louis, and Chamber Opera Chicago. She lists among her operatic credits the roles of Carmen, Prince Orlofsky, Dorabella, and Charlotte.

Later in her career and after years of recruitment Rodenburg had the distinct pleasure of becoming a Professor of Voice at DePaul University School of Music, Chicago, IL from 2015-2017. She also became Director of the Senior Choir at Trinity Lutheran Church, Tinley Park, IL from 2014-2020. Jo was also chosen Artistic Director of the Grande Prairie Singers (GPCA) taking the helm in 2011 through 2018.

In her personal life Jo was an avid dog lover, trainer and rescue advocate. We've saved, rescued, raised and loved 6 dogs through 2025.

Jo was also an avid gardener where she cultivated thousands of perennials throughout her Garden of Eden on earth. Additionally she also planted hundreds of annuals in that beloved garden Shangri-La year after year.

Also an avid craft designer she left behind a jewelry design workshop where she designed and manufactured one-off pieces that she displayed and sold throughout her summer travels at craft fairs in Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. She also left behind a custom stain glass workshop where she designed and manufactured individual stain glass pieces. And finally, and maybe her favorite was her petoskey stone design workshop where she collected, polished and designed pieces incorporating her favorite stone, the official state stone of Michigan!

She was and is desperately loved by her following! Our entire family is now working harder every day so that we will all meet her in heaven! We praise God for Jo!

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 6201 Vollmer Road, Matteson, IL on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Time pending.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jo Ziegler to ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) P.O. Box 96929, Washington, D.C. 20090-6929 are appreciated.  To donate online, CLICK HERE.

Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400