Kenneth L. Scheeringa

Kenneth “Ken” Scheeringa, 74, of Lafayette IN, passed away on April 22, 2026 at IU Arnett Hospital. He was born on February 22, 1952, in Hammond IN to Anthony and Ruth (Sikma) Scheeringa. He is survived by his children, Jamie (Micah) Gaudet of Queen Creek AZ, Keith Scheeringa at home, and Rebecca Scheeringa (Michael Strayer) of Lafayette IN. He had one grandson Elijah Gaudet. His siblings were Wayne (Patricia) Scheeringa, Janet (Gary) Roeda, Joyce (Paul) Musielak, all of Lake County IN, and Jill (Mark) Burchfield of Estero FL.

Ken grew up in Highland IN and graduated from Illiana Christian High School in Lansing IL in 1970 and from Purdue University in West Lafayette IN in 1974. He married Martha Floyd of South Holland IL on April 18, 1987, in Sauk Village IL. She died of cancer on August 21, 2013, in Lafayette IN.

Ken worked at Purdue University for 44 years in meteorology and climatology. He was the State Climatologist for Indiana 1988-2004. He documented many weather related inquiries from the public and sectors such as utilities, construction, insurance, agriculture, news media, engineering, legal, and even murder investigations. He was an educator, giving instructional talks in nearly all Indiana counties when the Cocorahs reporting network began. He enjoyed working with computers and data loggers, performing system upgrades and writing weather apps.

Ken’s favorite hobbies were reading, researching his family history, and learning to play musical instruments. His garage held over 1000 books, mostly about science, computers, history, and Christianity. He wrote stories and compiled details about his family tree. He was a founding officer of the Indiana Genealogical Society and was an Ancestry.com volunteer in its early years.

At age 11 he took piano lessons from (late) Ida Hoekstra, and in his 30s studied classical guitar under (late) Harold Hooper of McGuire Music and violin from (late) June Petit, concertmaster of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. His favorite music styles were 1970s soft rock, classical, and folk. He collected several instruments over time including guitars, a hammer and mountain dulcimer, harp, violin, psaltery, and piano. He performed at state and county fairs as a member of the Family Reunion String Band.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to Samaritan’s Purse, Answers in Genesis, or Food Finders is suggested.

Visitation will be held on April 27th at 10:00am at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., with a memorial service at 11:00am at this same location. Burial will follow at Meadowview Cemetery on Poland Hill Road in Lafayette IN. You may leave condolences and memories at www.soller-baker.com