Blaine B. Rader

Blaine Burdette Rader, dedicated professor, gifted pastor, counselor, loving husband and father whose immense curiosity fueled a lifetime of learning and service, died on October 30, 2025. He was 86. Blaine was born in 1938 in Monroe, Michigan, to Elmo and Violet Rader, and grew up in a strong, Evangelical United Brethren (now United Methodist) Church family.

Always curious and eager to learn more, Blaine was a voracious accumulator of degrees, a pursuit he often injected with his signature enthusiasm: “GO BLUE!!” for his alma mater.  His many academic achievements included a BA from the University of Michigan, a Master of Education from Wayne State University, a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, a PhD from Drew University, a Post-Doc at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Science in Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He used this vast knowledge to advance the learning of others as an associate professor at Adrian College and in multiple adjunct faculty positions he held at seminaries throughout the Midwest.

Blaine’s skills in pastoral counseling are well-known by many. His unwavering ability to “just show up” and be present for those who needed help and encouragement was a defining gift. While he had a private psychological practice for many years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was most proud of and widely acknowledged for having established, led, or otherwise worked in many religiously-affiliated counseling centers, including Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, and Samaritan Counseling Centers in Battle Creek, East Lansing, and Madison, Wisconsin, as well as Naperville, Illinois. He provided leadership in multiple professional organizations, particularly the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

These talents served him well when he shifted his career path back to parish ministry where his initial calling began. He served Wisconsin churches in Poynette, Inch, Oconomowoc, and Madison, as well as Arlington Heights in Illinois.  He led Madison:Bethany and Arlington Heights to become Reconciling congregations.  He was a leader or member of many United Methodist committees and served as mentor to numerous clergy and counselors. He retired as an Elder of the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2004.

Blaine infamously proclaimed “if you got it, you got it,” a sentiment that rang true the moment he met his wife, Sharon Zimmerman. They met at church camp while in high school and were engaged while Sharon was in college and Blaine was in graduate school. They married in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1962, and celebrated 63 years of marriage this past summer. Together, they embraced a life of motion, moving over 20 times for education or work (or, as they liked to joke, perhaps because whatever parsonage they were moving into needed new paint). Throughout his life, Blaine was a stalwart supporter of Sharon’s career in ministry. Jointly they forged new pathways for all genders in ministry within the larger church community. Forty years ago, they bought a house in Pentwater, Michigan, where they enjoyed relaxing together and connecting with family and friends.

Blaine is survived by his wife, Sharon Zimmerman Rader; children, Matthew (Kristi Hubbard) and Mary Rader (Don Davis); and grandchildren, Ethan Rader (Erin), Abby Rader (Jacob Nye), and Jasper and Zimm Davis. His legacy lives on through the countless co-workers, students, clients, parishioners, mentees, and friends whose lives he touched with his profound gifts for presence and encouragement.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 10, at 2 PM, with a visitation starting at 1 PM at First UMC, 516 Church St., Evanston, IL. Fellowship time will follow the service at The Mather, 425 Davis St., Evanston, IL.

Memories and condolences can be shared here.

**Rader, Blaine B. (Sharon) – DECEASED [(RE) D 1958; FE 1964; RE 2004] Transferred from Northern IL Conf 1978; Executive Director, Samaritan Counseling Center, Battle Creek 1978; Comprehensive Psychological Services, Grand Rapids 1983; Clinical Director, Samaritan Counseling Center of Central Michigan 1/1/1987; Clinical Director, Samaritan Counseling Center of Central Michigan (½) and Pastoral Counseling and Consultation (½) 1990; Leave of Absence 9/1/1992; Private Practice of Pastoral Counseling 1/27/1993; Executive Director, Samaritan Counseling Center of Southern Wisconsin 1/1/1995; Wisconsin Conf, Good Shepherd UMC 1997; Wisconsin Conf, Madison: Bethany 2001; Retired 2004.