Wesley M. Vos, 61, an organist and professor of music at DePaul University, died of complications from liver disease Thursday, May 9, in his home in Crystal Lake. Ever since his childhood in Pella, Iowa, where his parents had a small farm, Mr. Vos' life revolved around keyboards and music. "Wesley probably never remembered not playing the piano," said his wife, Marie Ann Heiberg Vos, whom he married in 1968. Family and friends said his passion was fueled by his grandmother, who paid for weekly lessons and let him practice on her piano. Mr. Vos progressed so rapidly that he gave piano lessons when he was in high school. Though his upbringing was demanding, "I don't think it hurt him a bit, because he came along in great shape," said Larry Grooters, who taught Mr. Vos how to play the organ in high school. Grooters helped Mr. Vos get scholarships to Central College in Pella and then to Washington University in St. Louis. In 1967 Mr. Vos received a PhD in musicology from Washington University and moved to Chicago, where he worked for the American College Bureau and helped edit The Diapason, an organ and church music journal. In 1971 he became associate dean of DePaul's school of music, and began a 31-year career at the university. In recent years, Mr. Vos taught a full schedule at DePaul. He also continued to play the organ at churches in the Chicago area. "He saw [church music] as an opportunity for everyone to participate in the history of the church," his wife said. Other survivors include three sons, Robert, Thomas and Jaime; a sister, Marla Hardin; a brother, Robert; and two grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake.
Chicago Tribune, May 13, 2002, pg. 5
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