Jean (Wideroe) Berkenstock, 89, passed away with her husband at her side on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at Evanston Hospital in Evanston, IL. She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, James Turner Berkenstock, a daughter, Nina Swanson, a stepson, Paul Berkenstock, grandchildren Jake Hoogheem, Keven Hoogheem, Christian Hoogheem, and Nicholas Swanson, and step-grandchildren Megan Berkenstock and Tate Berkenstock. She is preceded in death by her son, Peter Jay Hoogheem, sister Marcia Wideroe Loellbach, and brother Bernard Marshall Wideroe.
Jean was born in Chicago on February 6, 1934, and grew up in rural Northbrook, IL. Her childhood was one of music, crafts, and outdoors. Western Northbrook was largely farmland, and Jean’s family raised animals including horses, one of which Jean rode to school. She attended a private school in Northbrook known as the Farm School, which taught regular subjects in the morning and crafts and animal husbandry in the afternoon. She eventually attended Northbrook High School. Her early training on piano was from her mother, but her real love was the flute, which stemmed from her early study of the recorder under the guidance of David Dushkin, founder of a music school which eventually became the Music Center of the Northshore and then the Music Institute of Chicago. As a teenager, she appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, a weekly TV show from New York City.
After attempting unsuccessfully to win a flute spot in the Chicago Youth Orchestra, she made an end run to get into the orchestra by picking up a double bass at school and teaching herself how to play it. After she gained admittance on the bass, the orchestra director realized that she was not truly a bass player and that he had seen her previously at flute auditions. He was won over by Jean’s determination and admitted her to the flute section.
She attended college at Illinois Wesleyan University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in music. Upon graduation, she won a position with the Atlanta Symphony as second flute. Returning to the Chicago area after several years, she devoted herself to raising her family but kept up her flute playing with the Evanston Symphony. She eventually joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and studied flute, first with Ralph Johnson of the Chicago Symphony, and then with the orchestra’s Principal Flute, Donald Peck. During this time, she was a featured soloist with Civic.
In 1967, she became Principal Flute with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, a position she held until 2001. Two years later, she became Principal Flute with Lyric Opera of Chicago, resulting in a career of 43 years in that position. Her beautiful playing in important flute solos in operas like Magic Flute, Carmen, and Lucia di Lammermoor was legendary and led to many favorable reviews and laudatory articles. She was often dubbed “The Magic Flute,” and one close colleague affectionately referred to her as “Songbird.”
In 1991, she joined her husband, Jim, in founding Midsummer’s Music, a chamber music festival in Door County, WI. For 28 years, she performed extensively with this summer series and can be heard on four commercial recordings released by the group including A Bel Canto Summer, which features her and violinist David Perry. She also worked behind the scenes as a board member, coordinator of volunteers, music librarian, and arranger of musician housing. She was a charter member of the Chicago Philharmonic, performing with them as Principal Flute until 2012.
Jean taught extensively, primarily as a Professor of Music at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Throughout her career she appeared numerous times as a soloist with the Grant Park Symphony, the Chicago Philharmonic, the Orchestra of Illinois, and the Decatur Symphony. In addition, she also performed frequently as an extra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is heard on numerous recordings with them.
Beyond music, Jean’s love extended to her family. On holidays, she was the frequent host of large family gatherings that sometimes included her students from foreign countries. She also relished the time she could devote to sewing. She made most of her clothes frequently using her own design. As a mom, she made many of the clothes her young children wore and taught her daughter to sew as well.
She took an active role as an orchestral musician serving on audition committees, negotiating committees, and as the Grant Park Symphony’s representative to the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM). She was instrumental in promulgating the building of the Petrillo Music Shell, writing a convincing cover article in Sensa Sordino in her role as ICSOM representative. She also attended Chicago Planning Commission meetings as an advocate from the orchestra.
Although Jean was very comfortable on the stage, she relished her quiet time with family, a good book, crosswords, cooking, sewing, and gardening. She especially enjoyed her time in Door County, particularly when grandchildren came to visit.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Midsummer’s Music, Ltd., a tax-deductible charitable institution Jean was very devoted to, is suggested. Services will take place on Tuesday, October 24 at 4:00pm at Church of the Holy Comforter, Kenilworth, IL. An additional service is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1 at 3:00 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay, WI.
Such a rich and wonderful life story
with so many contributions to her world/our world. Wishes for consolation and blessings to all her loved ones.
So sorry to hear of Jean’s passing, Jim.
Lynn Lees, UUFDC
Jeanne was a quiet, accomplished woman of many talents.
I shared a few: music, horses, IWU & MSM. She’ll be missed.
I am very sorry to hear of Jean’s death. She was a wonderful flute player and a quiet gentle person. I had the privilege of having a lesson from her in her Door County home.
My warmest condolences to all the board and staff of Midsummer’s Music with the loss of their beloved founder and guiding light. I especially extend deepest sympathy to Jim with the passing of the light of his life. I hope you all are comforted knowing that her light will live on in every note and flower.
Best regards,
Jenn Taylor
Does MSM have a mailing address for Jim where we can send condolence cards? Thank you.
Jim, I am so sorry for your wife’s death. Praying that the Lord will give you peace, comfort, and wisdom as you have to make many decisions in the days ahead. You were very blessed to have a wife to share your love of music.
With love, Carol Winslow
I remember many concerts in Door County where her flute was the sweetest sound of the night.
I have been saddened all day today after hearing the news of Jean’s passing. I continually hoped that she would be able to get better.
I am, however, amazed and inspired by the extraordinary details o f her life.
There is an emptyness in my heart; I will miss seeing and hearing her at Midsummer concerts.
May I send to Jim and their famlies my condolences and wish them strength, healing and wonderful memories of a truely remarkable woman.
Most sincerely,
Michael Elkow
So very sorry. I studied with Jean for three semesters at American Conservatory prep department in the late 60’s. I remember when she won the principal flute audition for Lyric Opera. She was SO pleased. The last time I saw her was after a concert at Grant Park in the 90’s. The one idea I remember about lessons with her was she taught note groupings. It took me a while to fully understand the concept but I kept working on it. I thought of her yesterday when I was teaching note groupings to one of my students. So her legacy continues. I also remember two recitals she did at American while I was studying with her. I had never heard the Hindemith Acht Stuke before and I was determined to learn it. She had me study Cavally’s Melodious and Progressive Studies for lessons. Years later I got to study with Mr. Cavally. So thank you, Mrs. Berkenstock, and may you rest in peace. You will always be remembered.
What a life well lived! Though I haven’t known Jean for more than few years, I enjoyed every lovely encounter with her at Midsummer’s concerts. Clearly she will be missed by many whose lives she has touched both personally and musically. I feel grateful for the music that I can enjoy now and into the future thanks to her efforts.
Hello Jim and family. I have fond memories of helping at a few of Midsummer Music’s concerts many years ago – concerts I thoroughly enjoyed. I send sincere condolences at Jean’s passing and remember fondly her gorgeous flute. May God comfort you, your family and Jean’s many friends, as you celebrate her life and grieve her passing. Nancy from Door County sends blessings to you all.
We join the hundreds of other friends and most especially family members and Jim in mourning Jean’s death. She was a constant bright star as a musician, as a Board member and as a community member. We will all miss her!
Life can be filled with coincidences if we look for them. So it was for us with Jean (and Jim) Berkenstock. They filled my life with joy and beauty for decades without me knowing about it before my wife and I finally met them.
To begin with, my wife and I are avid opera lovers and we had season tickets to the Chicago Lyric Opera throughout the Seventies, Eighties, and Nineties. How were we to know that it was Jean (and Jim) who were providing such ethereally beautiful music down there in the orchestra pit all during those years?
The coincidences continued. Some time during the years after we had moved to Door County, we started attending chamber music concerts put on by Midsummers Music, and, liking what we saw and heard, we became regular attendees. Over the years, they liked our enthusiastic support, so in 2013 I was invited to serve on the Board of Directors of Midsummers where I happily served until a few years ago.
Another coincidence: It turned out that the home which we purchased was from a founding member of Midsummer’s Music, and the home itself was notable for having served as the place where the first house concert was held, I believe in 1991.
Of course, Jean also served on the Board and it was a delight working with her and watching her go about her way quietly doing her thing setting up the hostess and refreshments committee for each event as well as pulling strings everywhere to find suitable housing for their visiting musicians.
I value my terms on the Board during those years and I also value the fact that Jim and Jean are close neighbors up here in Gills Rock as they live only two doors away from Sandy and me.
Jean Berkenstock epitomizes everything that I love about Door County. She came here and made it a far better place. It is through the efforts of people like her that Door County has become the spectacular lifestyle area that it is today. Thank you, Jean. You will be missed!
Jean’s sweet unassuming spirit and “Magic Flute “ music, will live on in our hearts.
A beautiful life well loved and lived. Love to you and your family Jim.