Guy Eric Serumgard

Guy was born November 29, 1946, in Bismarck, North Dakota, the second of four children born to John Rudser and Antoinette (née Bedard) Serumgard. He and his family lived in multiple towns in North Dakota and Illinois before settling in Batavia. He graduated from Marmion Military Academy in Aurora in 1964, then majored in architecture at the University of Illinois. After a summer as an architecture intern in Chicago, he pivoted to television production, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in 1968, and then his Master’s Degree in Broadcast Management from Michigan State University in 1969.

Upon receiving his Master’s Degree, he was hired by WUCM-TV and Delta College in Saginaw, Michigan. He spent 17 years teaching at Delta and running broadcast operations at WUCM, a PBS station. He was a champion for public broadcasting, and his students and colleagues valued him as a fantastic broadcaster, instructor, mentor, and friend. While at Delta he met his first wife, Kayte Aspray, with whom he had two sons, Guy Eric-Kime and Judson Meigs; and later the love of his life, Linda, to whom he was married for 43 years.

In 1987 he was recruited by WTVP, also a PBS station, and Bradley University and relocated with Linda to Peoria. He spent 17 years with WTVP and Bradley, eventually ascending to TV production manager for joint operations. He later worked as a production account executive for WEEK and as a customer service representative for Toshiba and Pentair Supply Company, where he learned to be kinder to the people you talk to on the phone. He retired in 2012.

Guy spent the early days of his retirement traveling to see family and to vacation with friends before an accident left him mostly homebound just after his 70th birthday. He was still able to enjoy his time doting on his cats Peanut and Tony and dog Teddy, providing Linda with a daily supply of crossword and sudoku puzzles, playing progressive rummy with his family, and watching golf and (tolerating) his beloved Chicago Bears.

Family and friends alike remember Guy as a very special soul – smart, creative and fun loving with a sharp wit and a gift for fine cooking. From an early age, he was the first to make friends in a new town, and his friends were often life-long. He was devoted to family, attending every graduation, family reunion, and memorable milestone. Humble and self-effacing, he bore many difficulties with amazing patience and fortitude. He will be dearly missed.

Guy is survived by his wife Linda; sons, Guy and Judson; and step-daughters, Melissa Lessure (Harold) and Melani Harig (Steven). He is also survived by his sisters, Jane Serumgard Lowe (Geoffrey) and Julie Serumgard Gray (Skip), and several nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by his cat, Tony and dog, Teddy. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Antoinette Serumgard, and his older brother, John Serumgard.

All are welcome to attend a visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. and a memorial starting at 4 p.m. at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, on Friday, December 20, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Taps No-Kill Animal Shelter, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554 or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, 530 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, IL 61637.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com