Timothy H. Steele

Timothy Howard Steele passed away on June 14, 2025 at the age of 66. Born in Seattle, Washington, Tim was the son of Albert and Marjorie Steele. Tim had a life-long love of the Pacific Northwest, particularly Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Tim earned his undergraduate degree in Music Education and his masters in Music History from Temple University before completing his PhD in Musicology at the University of Chicago. Tim taught at Palm Beach Atlantic University (1990-1997) and Covenant College (1997-2007). In 2007, Tim and his family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he taught at Calvin University until June 2025.

 Tim’s faith was at the core of his service in Christian higher education. Throughout his professional career, he taught classes on topics including music history and music theory. It was hard to find an instrument Tim couldn’t play, but as a performer, he played early wind and string instruments and directed early music ensembles. He was a musicologist whose expertise spanned Medieval music to jazz to rock ‘n roll. Tim was a founding member of the Society for Christian Scholarship in Music and was a former director of the Christian Voices in Musicology Study Group.

Tim’s joy was in the Lord, his family, and his students. An avid reader of everything from sci-fi to Latin psalmody of the Renaissance, he was most often found with a book in one hand and a cup of good coffee in the other. Tim loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, and he was always happy to have a good conversation, share a funny story, or plan an adventure. Whenever possible, Tim enjoyed going for long drives, camping, and spending days at the beach or in the woods.

 Tim is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, their five children Jonathan, Melissa, Amy, Liz, and Emily, their spouses, his six (soon to be seven) grandchildren, his sisters Cindy and Missy, three nephews, and their families.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday July 25, 2025 at La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed Church located at 107 La Grave Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 at 11am.

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