Northland College Magazine

Northland College

A Tradition of SustainabilityNorthland was an environmental leader before anyone even knew what that meant. Learn more about Northland’s long-standing tradition and how it continues today. Pg. 7

Magazine Home of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

SUMMER 2013

Also in this issue: News • Class Notes • Athletics

Raising Our VoiceThe NAICC is raisng awareness and revitalizing Northland’s ties with native communities across the country. Pg.11

CONTRIBUTORS

Bob GrossBob serves as the interim director of marketing

communications at Northland College, providing photography, design, and writing services for

the campus. He holds a bachelor of science in English from the University of Wisconsin-

Stevens Point. He also owns and operates Hired Lens Photography.

On the Cover Northland student and summer intern with the Wisconsin DNR Allison DeRose holds a sturgeon netted in Lake Superior as part of

an ongoing research project.

Northland College Magazine

SUMMER 2013President

Dr. Michael A. Miller

Design Bob Gross, [email protected]

Copy Editors Julie Buckles

Mission Statement Northland College Magazine is

published by the offices of Marketing and Communications and Institutional Advancement for alumni and friends

of the College. Its purpose is to illuminate the educational mission of

Northland College and its Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute.

Environmental Commitment Northland College Magazine is printed at Pro Print in Duluth, Minnesota, on

Endeavour 80# Velvet Book (25% Post Consumer Waste, 50% Total Recycled

Content).

To submit comments, feedback, or ideas, write:

Bob Gross Office of Marketing and Communications 1411 Ellis Avenue, Ashland, WI 54806

Phone: (715) 682-1347 [email protected]

© Northland College, 2013

Danielle KaedingDanielle is the station manager of WRNC-LP at Northland College. She holds a bachelor of arts in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. While attending UWS, Kaeding worked under Wisconsin Public Radio reporter Mike Simonson studying broadcast journalism. Kaeding went on to work for WPR and later served as a staff writer for the Ashland Daily Press.

Nick StreineNick is a graphic design and communication specialist at Northland College. He holds a bachelor of arts in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design, communication, and business from Saint John’s University. When he’s not designing, he enjoys all things hockey and has a strong background as both a player and a coach.

Julie BucklesJulie serves as communications specialist in

the office of marketing and communications at Northland College. Raven Productions will be

releasing her first book, “Paddling to Winter: A Couple’s Wilderness Journey from Lake Superior

to the Canadian North,” in September 2013.

CONTENTSFROM THE PRESIDENT PG. 1

NEWS PG. 2

A TRADITION OF SuSTAINAbIlITy PG. 7

RAISING OuR VOICE PG. 11

ClASS NOTES PG. 15

7

54

11

Milestones.Each day at Northland College we are actively

writing another page of our history. As we have always done, we are engaging people in the most critical discussions of our time and preparing them to solve the problems of the future. In that way, every day is another milestone. Everyday is another day that we as a community have moved forward. That constant motion—that momentum—gives us lift.

Of course, some days stand out more than others. We all remember the momentous occasions: a visit from Chester Nez, the last of the original Navajo Codetalkers; the 40th anniversary of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute; the excitement and celebration of commencement.

Other milestones are smaller, but no less important: a student’s first perfect test score; a three point shot in the final minutes of a game that hits nothing but net; the capstone presentation that perfectly hits the mark.

And then there are the milestones we may never know about, but may be the most important of all: the brilliant realization that comes only after hours of solitary late-night study; the lab technique perfected and applied to student research that slowly and meticulously reveals new information; the focused work of an artist in the studio that brings a personal vision into reality; the poem carefully worded to eloquently convey an emotion.

Whatever our personal markers may be, we as a community also share a set of collective milestones— shared experiences that bind us together on a common path. They mark our progress as an institution. The path that lays behind us is dotted with them, marking where we have been and delineating exactly how we arrived at the place where we currently stand. They are clear to see.

Much harder to see is the path ahead. At any one time, there seem to be an unlimited number of directions in which we could go. Of those myriad choices, some will serve our community and our institution better than others, and it’s our

FROM THE PRESIDENT

1 NORTHlAND COllEGE MAGAZINE

responsibility to our students—past, present, and future—to choose the best path forward.

To help us define that path among the many we could follow, we’ve spent the last year developing a strategic plan that will help to inform and guide our decisions. At the July meeting of the Northland College Board of Trustees a final draft of that plan was unanimously approved—another large milestone in our history.

Just as our history is marked with milestones, the new plan, (available online, see the article on the facing page for more information), will now serve as a guiding light for our future, illuminating a clear path toward our collective goals. I encourage you to read it, to see where we’re going, and to share your ideas as we build the next chapter of our history. It will certainly be a bright one.

Michael A. Miller President, Northland College

2 NORTHLAND COLLEGE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2013 2

NEWS

On July 14, 1892, citizens and church leaders marched south on Ellis Avenue to a barren land, clear-cut of its native forests, above Bay City Creek. There, they laid the cornerstone for Wheeler Hall. Speaking on the occasion of this dedication ceremony, Dr. Blaisdell of Beloit College challenged those who were present with a question that continues to resonate: “An academy,” Dr. Blaisdell observed, “is not built of rock, or of granite, or of sandstone that hardens with exposure. You may launch it with fine appointments and striking architecture, but it is not an institution until you have endowed it with a deeper life. Citizens, what kind of life are you putting into it?”

More than 100 years later, Northland College asks the questions: what deeper life are we creating here in this place, and how do we plan to tackle the challenges of the future? Faculty and staff members, students, alumni, and community partners gathered at a variety of venues this year to ask these questions. From the information gathered at those meetings and discussions, the Strategic Planning Council developed a document that will help to guide the College’s decisions through the rest of the decade.

On July 12, the Northland College Board of Trustees completed another step in the

process by unanimously endorsing the final draft of the document.

Now the overall strategic plan will be used to inform and guide departmental plans throughout the College related to everything from the curriculum, special programs, facilities, and much more.

Northland’s strategic plan

For more information about the strategic plan and to download a PDF version of the final document, please go to:

northland.edu/strategicplan

northland.edu/strategicplan

3 NORTHLAND COLLEGE MAGAZINE

NEWS

During the spring semester, Kim Falkenhagen (left) and Jennifer Taft joined the coaching staff at Northland College. Falkenhagen will serve as head volleyball coach and Taft will serve as head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Falkenhagen comes to Northland after serving for two years as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan University. Prior to coaching at Northern Michigan, Falkenhagen was the head volleyball coach at Eastern New Mexico University (NMU), a NCAA Division II school. She was inducted into the NMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

Falkenhagen has served as a head coach for regional schools, including Bemidji State University. While at Bemidji, she attained the second best record by a first-year

coach in the university’s history. Additionally, two of her teams ranked regionally. She also spent three years as an assistant coach at West Texas A&M University, leading the Lady Buffs to compete in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament for three seasons running.

Falkenhagen is a graduate of NMU where she made all-conference and all-region as a volleyball player. She played for Wildcat Volleyball when the team won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1994. Falkenhagen also holds a master’s degree from West Texas A&M University.

Taft most recently served as an assistant men’s and women’s track and field coach at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Plattsburgh. She has coached

Falkenhagen, Taft join coaching staff

qualifiers for both the NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championship, as well as qualifiers in the East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) and SUNY Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). Prior to her position at SUNY Plattsburgh, Taft was an assistant coach for cross country and track & field teams at SUNY Cortland.

Taft received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and a master’s degree in Exercise Science from SUNY Cortland.


Winter Champagne ToastOn Tuesday, December 11, seventeen

graduating seniors joined President Miller along with faculty, staff, and alumni for the traditional champagne toast. The toast, held for both December and May graduates, celebrates the achievements of the seniors and welcomes them into the alumni association. This event included speeches from President Miller and alumnus Jared Myers ’05.

Northland College signs Good Food Charter

Northland signed the Lake Superior Good Food Charter and the Superior Compact in March as it expands efforts to support a vibrant local foods system.

The Lake Superior Good Food Charter promotes the role of agriculture in the health of communities and the environment. The charter supports investment in a regional

food infrastructure, food security, diversity of food cultures, and sustainable agriculture that reduces negative impacts to the environment.

“The Superior Compact is a purchasing commitment that pledges our organization to purchase 20 percent locally grown foods by the year 2020,” said Nathan Engstrom, regional sustainability coordinator at Northland College. “Those are agreements that the Lake Superior Good Food Network is seeking to establish with institutions in the Chequamegon

Bay region to make commitments to local food purchasing.”

Northland College already purchases more than twenty percent of its food from local growers as part of the college’s Local Foods Initiative. Northland launched the initiative last year with the goal of increasing local foods consumption on campus to 20 percent during the 2012-2013 school year. The 20 percent goal represents a roughly $100,000 investment in the local foods economy, farmers and their families.


NEWS

SOEI celebrates 40th anniversary

During April and May, the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute (SOEI) held a series of special events to mark the Institute’s 40th anniversary. The events focused on three themes underlying the Institute’s efforts: woods & water, wildlife, and wildness.

“We are here to serve the conservation needs of the region, to protect and preserve the world-class resources that make the Lake Superior region wild and beautiful and unique,” said Mark Peterson, executive director of the Institute. “But, we are also here to ensure that the next generation of conservationists have the skills

SOEI launches ARELabNorthland College and the

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute (SOEI) announced in June the completion of phase one of a research and environmental laboratory.

“This is a very important development for the College and SOEI,” said Randy Lehr, laboratory director and Bro professor of sustainable regional development at the SOEI. “I am excited about the possibilities for students and outreach to the region that now lie before us.”

The Applied Research and Environmental Laboratory

they need to be effective. We are here to help pass the torch.”

In August 1971, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson and Sigurd F. Olson met at Northland College for a two-day environmental conference that spurred the formation of the SOEI. The Institute’s 40th anniversary was marked by presentations from Northland

College students and faculty, natural resource professionals and several notable individuals in environmental circles.

Many of the events tied to the anniversary were also coordinated and supported by the A.D. & Mary Elizabeth Andersen Hulings Distinguished Chair in the Humanities.


Olson Loon Research AwardThe SOEI has named the Loon Preservation

Committee as the recipient of the 2013 Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award. The committee submitted the winning proposal that seeks to examine how contaminants in the food web may contribute to declining loon populations.

The proposed study will be led by researchers Tiffany Grade and Harry Vogel of the Loon Preservation Committee, as well as Dr. Kerry Yurewicz of Plymouth State University.

Since 1986, the Loon Research Award has provided funding for original research that leads to better understanding and management of loon populations. This award program is named after biologist Sigurd T. Olson. Olson authored the 1952 paper “The Common Loon in Minnesota” with William H. Marshall. The publication is considered one of the premier baseline reports on the biology of the Common Loon.

(ARELab) is part of SOEI’s Ecological Solutions Initiative, a new program working to promote water quality and ecosystem health in the region

Located in the Larson-Juhl Center for Science and the Environment building, ARELab passed certification to conduct bacteria sample analysis. Sampling will start immediately, Lehr said.

The laboratory analyzes samples from regional water quality monitoring and student research projects and provides beach monitoring bacteria analysis for Ashland County and the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

“This is the very first step in the world of certification,”

said laboratory supervisor and environmental chemist Chris McNerney, who was hired last fall to create the laboratory.

The next step will be for state certification where the laboratory will be able to test for nutrients, phosphorous and nitrogen, as well as other important water quality measurements like total suspended solids and chlorophyll-a. This will likely be complete in July. Next comes national accreditation.

Students will be running the lab on a day-to-day basis. “This goes in line with Northland College’s strategic plan,” McNerney said. “This is a literal learning laboratory — we’re getting students ready to go out into the real world.”

Students will first undergo a rigorous training program. “It’s step by step for students and certification insures the quality control and quality assurance procedures are in place,” McNerney said.

While students are gaining experience, the laboratory will be providing services to the northern region not only for environmental and scientific reasons but also for regular landowners who want their soil or well tested.

“The bonus to local landowners is that rather than sending their samples to a laboratory outside the region,” McNerney said. “They can now send them to us and we’ll be able to explain the results.”


A glass-plate photograph commemorates the laying of the Wheeler Hall cornerstone in 1892. Built in the wake of the cutover, the campus’ early buildings stood in a desolate and denuded landscape.

SUMMER 2013 8

A Tradition ofsustainability

That said, sustainability was on their minds. It is fair to say that every last one of them noticed that cutting down an entire old growth pine forest was profitable in the short term, but was not economically sustainable (and most of the money went east). Those that stayed or came after the lumbering heyday were poor, usually immigrants, hungry for a better life and willing to work hard for it. The Native Americans of the region, the Ojibwe, were forced to adapt and survive in a land forever changed. Northland founders wanted to provide opportunities for the residents of the North Country, and they knew that the key to success was education.

And so a Christian liberal arts college was born in an area described as “a God-forsaken waste,” a college named for an entire region, not a town or a man,Northland College was open to anyone, regardless of gender, race, faith, or income.

Northland was special, there’s

no doubt about that. Close student-faculty relationships were the norm from the start. Tuition was paid by bartered goods and by working in the College’s kitchen or farm more often than with cash. Guernsey cows and gardens graced the campus.

Northland offered a solid, classical, liberal arts education that lifted many students out of poverty and hardship into successful careers and lives. Notable alumnus, author, educator, and conservationist Sigurd F. Olson practiced his writing skills at Northland College, but his appreciation of nature and wildlife was nurtured off campus in the neighboring fields, woods, sloughs and streams. Olson’s interest in conservation began when he visited the Seeley home of his classmate, Andrew Urenholdt. There, Olson met the woman who would become his wife: Andrew’s sister Elizabeth. He also met the family patriarch,

Soren Urenholdt, a well-respected farmer who preserved the stand of large pines on his land in order to reduce erosion and cut selectively from it over a period of years, rather than giving in to temptation and selling it all at once for cash during hard times.

By the late 1960s, Northland’s enrollment was declining. The College needed to attract more students to remain viable. It did not stand out as a liberal arts college among many competitors, and it was inconveniently located in the back of the beyond. In January of 1969, Richard Mackey came to Northland as Dean of Admissions and Records. An avid hunter and fisherman, he soon realized that Northland wasn’t taking advantage of its location.

“Our marketing materials never mentioned the Apostle Islands or the Chequamegon National Forest,” Mackey recalls. Northland had excellent science programs, and a handful of

The founders of the North Wisconsin Academy, later Northland College, were probably not bandying about the words “sustainable” or “environmental” as they made plans to foster education in the cutover region of northern Wisconsin. Those words were not a part of their everyday lexicon. At least, they were not used in quite the same way as we often use them today.

By Carrie Slater Duffy, Director of Annual Giving


Top: A worker, and possibly a student, delivers supplies to a treeless Northland campus using a team of horses. Bottom left: Malcolm McLean served as the tenth president of Northland College and established the en-vironmental studies program in 1971. Above: Author and activ-ist Sigurd F. Olson along with his namesake institute helped to launch Northland onto the na-tional stage as a leader in envi-ronmental education and lead-ership. Opposite: a recent aerial view of the Northland campus.

SUMMER 2013 10

graduates had jobs with the DNR or similar agencies, but Mackey saw an opportunity for natural resources and broad field environmental studies. President Robert Cramer liked the idea and formed a faculty environmental studies committee.

There was concern from a few faculty and staff initially. The worry was that Northland would move away from the liberal arts and evolve into a vocational school. Once convinced the liberal arts at Northland would never go away, everyone was on board.

Years later, President Malcolm McLean, who came to Northland in 1971 and lead it through the many changes to come, wrote:

“More than anyone else Mackey understood that Northland’s isolated location should be a recruiting strength, not a liability. One early action used Title III funds to fly in a planeload of high school counselors from Chicago and the East Coast. Sigurd F. Olson, looming increasingly important on the Northland scene, received

a standing ovation from the visiting counselors after speaking about the land, the North, and his feelings for the College and for youth. Northland became an attractive reality for the visiting counselors and, through them, to potential students” (Malcolm McLean, Institutional review: case studies [San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass, 1986]).

The students came. Other colleges referred students to Northland because no other institution at that time offered what Northland did: two environmental studies majors, one with a bio-physical emphasis and the other socio-political. The curriculum was adapted and honed, and soon other complementary majors were created: Native American studies, outdoor education, and natural resources. In addition, Sigurd Olson’s involvement with the College led to an environmental institute named in his honor. The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute provides hands-on opportunities for students and the broader community in solving real world,

complex ecological problems.

Northland founders, who cared so deeply about the region, would no doubt applaud the evolving curriculum. In fact, many things would seem very familiar—students working in campus gardens, for example. About fifteen percent of students come from the still-healing cutover of northern Wisconsin. Forty-three percent of Northland students are from low-income families, twenty-seven percent are the first generation in their families to attend college, and ninety-nine percent receive financial aid.

Being an innovative leader comes with a price; the competition follows the change. As more and more colleges focus on the environment and sustainability, Northland again must compete for students. As the Northland community strategically plans for the future, the challenge is to remain bold, think differently, and adhere to the values that have always set Northland apart.

RAISINGOUR VOICE

Text and photos by Bob Gross

How the Native American and Indigenous Culture Center is raising awareness & revitalizing Northland’s ties with the native community.


SUMMER 2013 12

Since it’s very beginning Northland College has fostered a tie to the Native American community, starting with the local tribes at Bad River and Red Cliff and reaching out to other, more distant groups over time. At its founding near the turn of the 20th century a tie of this kind was groundbreaking and signaled a difference in the way Northland planned to interact with the local community compared to other institutions of higher learning.

The relationship between Northland and the native community has waxed and waned many times over the last hundred years as the College and the world have both changed and grown in different ways. With the creation last year of the new Native American and Indigenous Culture Center (NAICC) at Northland, that relationship is once again on the rise.

Not only have the staff of the NAICC worked

to strengthen and

preserve the ties Northland already has with the native community, they are also reaching out to new people and new groups and drawing them into the conversation. One of the ways they’ve done that this year was with a series of events in March to celebrate Indigenous Cultures Awareness Month.

The first of the month’s events was a visit from Chester Nez, the last living original Navajo Codetalker. Now in his 90s, Nez has become a strong symbol of Native pride.

“We were very fortunate to have Chester {Nez} come to campus and share his experiences about his service during World War II,” said Kat Werchouski, Coordinator for Multicultural Programs at Northland College and Native American and Indigenous Cultures Center Fellow. “He demonstrates the importance of warriors in native culture and the native community’s commitment to honor and service. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Nez for his service to the American public, and he has

done so much to preserve and protect the traditions of

Navajo people. He

embodies all that we were aiming to highlight through Indigenous Cultures Awareness Month.”

His presence on campus drew a massive crowd that filled the Kendrigan Gymnasium including local school groups, veterans groups from around the region, and honor guards from tribes throughout the Midwest. President Miller honored Nez with a plaque and gifts from Northland College during his visit and a representative from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs also attended the event to present Nez with a plaque recognizing his service.

Judith Avila, author of a book about Nez’s life and experience in World War II, aided Nez in his presentation to campus and provided information for the audience about Nez’s work to develop the only unbroken verbal code in military history. The book is called Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII.

Other March events included a performance and presentation by Aztec dance group, Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc, a tribal sovereignty panel discussion, a flag dedication ceremony, and many other events aimed at raising awareness about Native issues among students and the greater community.

Indigenous Cultures Awareness Month also included another long-

standing Northland tradiation: the 39th annual Spring PowWow. The event brought drums and dancers from all over the region. (continued)


The month of events closed with a special conference titled “Walking in Two Worlds.” The event was focused on the unique Native American experience of preserving and protecting traditional culture while participating in the modern world. The conference featured Dr. Anton Treuer, author and executive director of the American Indian Resource Center at Bemidji State University, as the keynote speaker. Treuer is the author of nine books, including Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask and The Assassination of Hole in the Day.

The cumulative effect of the month-long series was huge, reaching far beyond the planned events. Well over 1,000 people visited campus to participate. Throughout the month students got the chance to talk with elders from around the area. There were discussions that would not take place anywhere else and experiences that will be treasured long into the future. New relationships were built and old ones rekindled. That, ultimately, is the goal of the NAICC.

Top: Last of the original Navajo Code Talkers Chester Nez. Top right: Veterans groups and honors guards from around the region came to campus to honor Nez during his visit. Remaining photos right: Dancers and participants at the 39th annual Spring PowWow step into the photo booth for a quick snapshot.

SUMMER 2013 14

LumberJacks hockey goes to Harris Cup Final Four

After a strong season including hard fought wins at home and on the road, LumberJacks Hockey made it into the Harris Cup Final Four for the first time in the team’s history. The Jacks finished their season with a 10-17-1 record.

LumberJacks baseball secures winning season

LumberJacks baseball finished their season with a winning record (15-14) for the first time since 2006. The Jacks played in the first round of the UMAC Play-in Game, but lost to Martin Luther 5-2. To find out how the LumberJacks and LumberJills did

this season visit: northlandcollegesports.com

ATHLETICS

Loy named Player of the Year, Bona becomes hit leader

On top of an undefeated home season for Northland College LumberJill’s Softball, team members Jayna Loy (left) and Sam Bona (right) also earned new distinctions during the 2013 season. Loy was named as the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Bona became Northland’s All-time Career Hit Leader, taking the record from 2012 graduate Kylie Garing.


CLASS NOTESCLASS OF 1949Dorothy (Sukanen) Kittleson has fond memories of her days at Northland. She majored in history and English, and her dream was to teach in a Milwaukee suburban high school. After teaching English in Black River Falls for two years, Whitewater for one year, and Two Rivers for two years, she came to “shore” at Shorewood, a suburb of Milwaukee, where she taught for six years until she retired to become a mother.

CLASS OF 1961Jack Stark has this year published his 101st and 102nd articles. He has also published seven books, three on literature as John Stark and four on the law as Jack Stark.

CLASS OF 1976Grant Herman recently accepted and began working at Camp Manito-wish YMCA (manito-wish.org) in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin as their operations director. It is

a big camp with 230 staff and zillions of kids paddling, climbing, backpacking around northern Wisconsin, Canada, the Inside Passage, Alaska and Montana. There are lots of leadership development programs there as well. Many Northland students and alumni have worked at Camp Manito-wish over the years and Grant will be looking for more of that over the years.

CLASS OF 1977Stephen Rehwaldt is a senior manager for Valero Energy Corporation, and the proud grandfather to Jace and Easton. Currently he is living in San Antonio, Texas with his wife, Cindy, who also works for Valero.

CLASS OF 1978James Moon retired in June 2012 after teaching science for 35 years in Wisconsin, the last 31 years at Wiliams Bay High School. Jim also coached high school basketball and golf for 33 years. His wife, Kathy

(Gurske ’78) Moon is an RN Case Manager at a rehab center in Delavan, Wisconsin.

CLASS OF 1979Diana (Tesoriere) Randolph will have her home studio open during the 7th Annual Blue Moon Art Tour in Drummond, Wisconsin, August 31 through September 1. More info can be found at: www.bluemoonarttour.blogspot.com. Diana had a book published in 2012 called Beacons of the Earth and Sky, paintings and poetry inspired by the natural world (Savage Press.)

Suzanne Spalding worked as a biological laboratory technician for FDA and USDA after graduating from Northland. In 1987 she obtained a BS in Nursing, and worked two years at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, training for the operating room. She moved to Wyoming in 1989 and has worked as an operating room RN for 26 years. Currently she works as an agency/travel RN, working in many different states and take 2-3 months a year

Alumni speak to students about careers in science

Northland College alumni Shannon Franks (left) and Dr. Mike Walters (right) came to campus during the spring semester to talk with students about their experiences working in science related fields and how to prepare for careers in the sciences. Franks currently works with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Walters’ career has focused in micro-biology.

SUMMER 2012 16

CLASS OF 1986Cyril Kendrick is teaching sociology at Spartanburg Methodist College, and living in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife Christina. He is a composer/performer on the chromatic harmonica, made his first CD recording in 2009, and is preparing to go back in the studio for a second CD. He enjoys culinary arts and is gradually preparing a cooking book that includes many gluten-free recipes.

CLASS OF 1987Julie Miller was working in outdoor education in Yosemite National Park up to 2006 when she moved to northern California and eventually went to seminary where she earned a Master’s of Theological Studies. She is currently working on becoming board certified as a hospital chaplain. She leads contemplative retreats and outdoor experiences for participants to encounter God in creation.

Doug Stoves is the assistant dean of Residential Life and Auxiliary Services at the University of Texas-Brownsville. Doug has been working on his doctorate degree and will graduate this summer. He and Eileen Mahoney ’91 are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year.

CLASS OF 1992Rebecca (Hoeben-Tower) Provost is a project manager for Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She is working on a biomonitoring project in partnership with Minnesota Department of Health. She is living in Esko, Minnesota with her significant other Michael and her youngest son, Kailen Provost.

CLASS OF 1989Laura Gervasi is the owner of Safety Stars Swim School in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

CLASS OF 1993David Backler is living in northern New Hampshire with his wife and two sons, Abe and Silas. He is the principal of their local elementary school, and notes that they are able to ski, bike, hike, and hunt from their back door.

Richard Eckert has co-authored a new article, Audism: A Theory and Practice of Audiocentric Privilege. http://has.sagepub.com/content/37/2/101.abstract Richard is the owner-president of Diversity Dialogues in Lone Rock, Wisconsin.

Jeremy Oswald can be heard on Northland’s radio station WRNC 97.7 on Tuesday nights from 7-9 pm.

CLASS OF 1994Kurt F. Johnson is a naturalist for Wild Things of Wyoming. He and his wife, Jill Oja-Johnson ’94 have a son, Torin Johnson, born October 19, 2011.

CLASS OF 1996Mark and Myla (Nofsker) Meier have two children, Alena, 8, and Samuel, 5. Myla has started a hobby/small business, beekeeping and making products from the hive. Visit her esty shop at www.sweetbeehoney.etsy.com. Mark continues his work as an environmental consultant with Applied Environmental Sciences.

Ty Smucker is a wolf management specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Great Falls. He and his wife, Kristina, have a daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Smucker.

off for vacationing and visiting family on the East Coast. In 2005 she obtained a Forensic Nursing Certificate, and interned with the Fremont County (Wyoming) Coroner, doing death investigations. She attended the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in 2006 for her Deputy Coroner certification. She continues to work occasionally for the Fremont County Coroner. She enjoys fishing, mountain biking, hiking, camping, snowmobiling and ice fishing.

CLASS OF 1983Sarah Hixson earned her master’s degree in social work from Smith College in 1993, and has been working in Pinedale, Wyoming as a social worker for many years. She recently built a house there and enjoys the fauna and terrain in her neck of the desert.

Mark and Robyn (Cash) Howard’s company Rehab Consulting Services provides vocational services to clients throughout Florida and several Southeast states. They have lived and worked in Florida since 1984 and still enjoy hiking, kayaking, fishing, and hunting. Their son Michael will graduate from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 2013 and will then enroll in a master’s degree program at the University of Tampa.

Tara Ward works as the education coordinator and evaluator for SEEDS, a community-building environmental non-profit. They serve middle and high school students in 10 schools around the Travis City, Michigan region, giving them unique opportunities and academic support. She and her husband, Mark, have three children, Noah, Caleb, and Madelaine.


CLASS NOTESCLASS OF 1998Julena Campbell has moved again – this time to sunny southeastern Arizona. She is chief of interpretation & education for the Southeast Arizona Group of the National Park Service. This includes Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial and Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Julena is enjoying living in the Sky Islands bioregion and is trying hard to learn her new job while taking care of her two adopted coonhounds, Paige and Cedar. Julena’s husband, Jeff Martinelli, is also a park ranger, but is currently stationed at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Hopefully Jeff will find a job in Arizona soon!

Susan and James Hoppe announce the birth of their daughter, Emma Louise, on April 4, 2013.

CLASS OF 1999Laurie Miskimins is a transportation planner for the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration in Lakewood, Colorado.

CLASS OF 2001Melanie Goble became an associate veterinarian at Mishicot Veterinary Clinic in Mischicot, Wisconsin in May 2013.

Beth Pranke is working for Robbins Incorporated in Cincinnati, Ohio.

CLASS OF 2002Matthew and Amanda (Sigrist) Daniels welcomed a son to their family on November 16, 2012. Amanda is currently teaching

with Second Chance Partners for Education in Appleton. Matthew is the general manager for the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Appleton.

CLASS OF 2003Lynn (Richter) and Craig Sparks ’04 announce the birth of Wyatt David Sparks on March 11, 2013. Craig is employed with the State of Alaska as an assistant district attorney in Kanai, and Lynn is working at the Peninsula Clarion as a graphic artist.

CLASS OF 2004Audra Jung is working in the field as an outdoor educator for National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming, as well as Chadwick School International in Songdo, South Korea.

Laura Kutka and Travis Schroeder welcomed their daughter Solace on August 15, 2012 to their family. She joins her brother, Bridger, age 3, at home.

Willa Vanselow announces the birth of her son, Trystan Michael Vanselow, on April 15, 2013.

CLASS OF 2005Alex and Julie (DesPlaines) Fosado announce the birth of their son, Felix Anthony Fosado, on November 14, 2012. Alex works for the DNR in Clear Lake, Iowa, and Julie is an assistant naturalist for Kossuth Co. Conservation Board, Water’s Edge Nature Center, in Algona, Iowa.

CLASS OF 2006Myja (Johnson) Smith is an escrow closer for Old Republic Title in Akron, Ohio. She and her husband David have two children, Wren and Kira.

CLASS OF 2007Leah (Coleman ’07) and Jason (Schneider ’05) Love are ecstatic to announce the birth of their first child, Everett Atticus Love, on November 23, 2012. The bouncing baby boy was 10 pounds, 10 ounces, 21 inches long and cuter than a button! His proud parents, and lots of pictures, can be found by their friends on Facebook.

Laura Scheder is a social worker for Ashland County Health and Human Services in Ashland, Wisconsin. She earned her BS in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2012. She and her partner, Peter Compton, plan to be married in August 2013.

Jeremy Voss currently is a clinical psychology doctoral student, husband, and father, living in Sharon, Massachusetts.

CLASS OF 2008Andy Bartell is a Geology Technician II for SandRidge Energy in Oklahoma City.

Corey and Kristen (Fox) Boe announce the birth of Addison Grace Boe on April 13, 2012 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce and was 19 inches long. Corey and Kristen live in Estherville, Iowa, where Kristen is a stay-at-home mom and Corey teaches health and physical education for the Graettinger-Terril Community School District.

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Helen Pent Jenkins is the new director of development for Seattle Audubon Society. She is thrilled to be in Seattle surrounded by a supportive community reminiscent of Northland College.

Mary Schlieve is a staff biologist at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, located in northwestern Arkansas. They rescue exotic big cats around the world and provide them with a forever home. Mary did an internship there for a full year in 2009-2010.

CLASS OF 2009Sarah Bhimani recently completed two years of AmeriCorps VISTA in Montana and is now living and working in Burlington, Vermont. In addition to working with the Lake Champlain Land Trust, she is also pursuing a Master’s of Sustainable Food Systems through Green Mountain College.

Scott Wold is the environmental director for Upper Sioux Community in Granite Falls, Minnesota. He earned his JD and master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School in 2012.

CLASS OF 2010Christopher Goscinak is a geoscientist for Barr Engineering Company in Duluth, Minnesota.

Dan Hoffmann is a field guide for Aspiro Adventure in Mount Pleasant, Utah.

Allison Perry is an instructor at Forest Exploration Center in Milwaukee.

Tim Werner is a Wisconsin conservation warden assigned to the Crivitz area. He had previously served as a state deputy conservation warden-water guard.

CLASS OF 2011Cara Kamke is a Wisconsin conservation warden assigned to the Green Bay East area. She had previously worked as a DNR wildlife technician at Cerx Meadows Wildlife Area in Grantsburg.

Mia and Travis Moore welcomed a healthy baby boy on October 20, 2012. He joins brother Ezra.

Laurel Smerch is an Americorps VISTA Project Coordinator for Americorps VISTA/Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas.

CLASS OF 2012Sarah Paar had an internship this past summer at the Chicago Botanic Gardens where she worked with the interpretive program department on assisting with the education of visitors and the involvement of

their volunteer base. In September she began full-time work at the gardens and was promoted to the position of Coordinator of Flower Shows. Her responsibilities lie in running successful flower shows that promote the enjoyment of and education about particular flowers and how they are grown.

Jared Ursin is a middle school art teacher for Hayward Community Schools in Hayward, Wisconsin.

SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF:Lyda H. Ainsworth ’32, of Glenwood City, Wisconsin, passed away on May 9, 2013. She earned her master’s degree in counseling from Stout State University in 1964, and taught English and journalism as well as serving as a counselor for

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CLASS NOTESHospiceCare Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Betty was married to Arthur Spoolman ’42 in 1944. During her years of raising a family, she was a well-loved music teacher in the Cumberland Schools. She is survived by her children, John, Richard, Scott and Amy; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many other relatives. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jean; and her husband, Art.

Earl Georgeson ’43 passed away on September 26, 2012. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, stationed in the South Pacific. He married Drusylla Wells in 1945, and she predeceased him in 2011. He was an active participant in the business and finance community in Colorado, and was Chairman of the Board of Pikes Peak National Bank at the time of his death. He is survived by a son, John; a daughter, Jody; two grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.

Word has been received of the death of Frances (Siebel) Chiochios ’44 on October 15, 2011.

Robert N. Werner ’46 passed away on April 26, 2012 in Sedalia, Missouri. Robert served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946. After graduating from Northland, he worked for the US Forest Service in California before retiring to Sun City, Arizona in 1980. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maudie Werner, a brother, Carlton Werner, Jr. ’45, and his parents. He is survived by his children, Barbara Pruett, Robert Werner, Jr., Robert Powers, Sue Powers, Michael Werner, and Patti Hagen; five siblings; 13 grandchildren and more than 20 great-grandchildren.

Arlene (Erickson) Hopkins ’49 died on September 4, 2012 at Cumberland Healthcare in Cumberland, Wisconsin. Arlene attended Northland College for a

senior and junior high schools for 41 years. Lyda is survived by her church family and friends.

Gerda (Effenberger) Griebsch ’35, longtime resident of West Milwaukee, passed away on February 24, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward. Survivors include many dear friends.

Margaret (Whitney) St. Peter ’35 passed away on December 12, 2012. She grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Downer Seminary. She married Al St. Peter in October 1944. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, a brother, and a son. She is survived by her daughter, Fran St. Peter; five grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

Marie (Bradley) Helms ’36 passed away on April 11, 2013 at Bickford Assisted Living in Omaha, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth and her son, Robert. She is survived by her son, Donald Helms, and her daughter, Judith Butterfield; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; cousins; nieces; nephews; and many dear friends.

Margaret (Casperson) Rubush ’38 passed away on November 5, 2012.

Word has been received of the death of Martha (Bobb) Arney ’41. She is survived by her husband, Merlin Arney ’49, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Violet (Stanich) Dahlberg ’42 died on January 8, 2012. She was preceded in death by her husband, Burton, in 1985.

June (Welty) Hites ’43 passed away on January 25, 2013 in Duluth, Georgia.

Jane E. “Betty” (Harmon) Spoolman’43 passed away on March 12, 2013 at Agrace

year and finished her studies at Minnesota College of Business. Most of her career was spent at Cumberland School District as a bookkeeper, retiring in 1992. She is survived by her husband, Eugene, Cumberland; her children, Mike Hopkins, Dr. Mary Hopkins-Best, Chris Hopkins-Hile, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Hopkins; ten grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Cole Felmlee ’50 passed away on October 22, 2012 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II as a pharmacist’s mate. He was married to Martha Nordin in 1950. She preceded him in death in 1995. Cole taught chemistry and math at Baraboo Senior High School for 36 years. He is survived by his daughters, Diane Felmlee-Gartner and Deborah Steinhorst; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Patrick “Ed” Brown ’51 passed away on April 19, 2012. He married Joan Anderson in 1955 and she predeceased him in 2009. He served his country as a paratrooper in the 11gth Airborne Division in the Airborne Infantry Regiment during 1951 and 1952. He worked for the M. A. Hanna Company and retired as Chief Engineer of the motor vessel George A Stinson. He was licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard both as a U.S. Merchant Marine officer and also as a chief engineer of steam and motor vessels of any horsepower. He is survived by four children: Patricia Wassgren, Julie Beth Brown’83, Lisa Brown, and Terrance Brown; two granddaughters, one great-grandchild, three brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jack Gazdik ’51 passed away on March 14, 2013 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He taught math and science at

SUMMER 2013 20

Turtle Lake High School from 1952-1988, and also coached football and track. He is survived by his wife, Mona, Turtle Lake; five children, David Gazdik, Janice Henrichs, Jacquelyn Sparish, Andrea Schilke, and Paula Kelly; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two sisters.

Leslie E. Geisert ’51 passed away on June 4, 2013 at Joliet Area Community Hospice Home in Illinois. Les was married to Geraldine Henderson in 1955. He retired from DuPont after 37n years as a clerical superintendent. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine; one son, Roger Geisert; one daughter, Leslie B. Stephens; and two grandchildren.

George Hays Reeling, Jr. ’51 died on June 28, 2012. He is survived by his children, Hays Reeling III, Mary Nimityongskul, Marcy Eady ’77, Catherine Miranda, and Joe Reeling; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Word has been received of the death of Edward L. Cowles ’52 of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Patricia (McClellan) Cowles ’55.

George E. Papadakis ’52 passed away on December 18, 2012. He served in the US Navy, and earned a BA from the University of Minnesota. He was a teacher for 27 years with the Torrance (California) School District, and became the principal of Seaside Elementary. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, Long Beach, California; three children, Lisa, Christina and Michael; two grandsons; a sister, Helen Beecher, and many nieces and nephews.

Nils Folke Becker, Jr. ’53 passed away on November 23, 2012 in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was married to Jean Boos in 1956, and she precedes him in death. Survivors include two sons, Nils Folke Becker III and William Becker.

Edwin A. “Bud” Evenson’53 passed away on March 7, 2013 at the Ashland Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ashland. Bud served in the US Army during World War II. He worked for the family business, NorLite Electrical Supply Company, until his retirement. Survivors include his five children: Diane Imhoff, Mark Evenson, Pamela Hebert ’78, Brian Evenson ’80, and Janet Bainbridge; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, David Evenson ’56; as well as nieces and nephews.

Elinor (McPherren) Quinn ’54 passed away on March 4, 2013 at her Tamarack Court home in Bemidji, Minnesota. She is survived by her children, Pamela Smith, Tom Quinn, and Janet Blunt; a sister, Sally Orsborn ’53; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Quinn ’49, and her parents.

Betty Lou (Wooland) Zipperer ’54 passed away on October 21, 2012 in Cambridge, Minnesota. She is survived by her husband Gordon Zipperer ’53; daughter, Lynn Zipperer, St. Paul; son, Mark Zipperer, Madison; and other relatives and friends.

Milton Beeman ’58 passed away at his residence in Franklin, Indiana on May 24, 2013. Survivors include his wife, Edith Beeman; children, Mark Beeman, Cynthia Baysinger, and Susan Young; eight grandchildren; and a brother, David Beeman.

Ralph E. Malach ’58 passed away on October 27, 2012 at Kathy Hospice, West Bend, Wisconsin. Ralph enlisted in the United States Navy and served at various Naval Medical facilities. He was transferred to the Marine Corps Training center at Camp Pendleton, after which he joined the First Marine Corps Division in Korea. After military service, he

attended Northland College. He was married to Mary Lou Hetfeld in 1955. She preceded him in death in 2008. He worked 21 years at Columbia Furniture Co. in Ashland. He and his wife purchased and then operated the Hillmor Supper Club for 12 years. He also worked for Tervo Motors and Von Holzen Pontiac Buick GMC. He retired at the age of 62 and did part-time work for 16 years at the Ashland County Aging Unit as a bus driver. He is survived by two daughters, Carrie Pierce and Paula Vaughan; three sons, Ralph Malach, Jr., Scott Malach, and Michael Malach; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two siblings; and many other relatives.

Richard F. Morris ’58 passed away on September 20, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, Baltimore, Maryland; five children, Richard Morris, Jr., John A. Morris, Paul Morris, Mary Slomba, and Ann Walter; and nine grandchildren.

Richard S. Randell ’59 died on May 23, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. Survivors include three sons: Paul E. Randell, Dustin Randell, and Richard Randell, Jr.; and six daughters: Carol Marcelle, Jean Kinney, Laura Below, Madeline Berry, Doris Randell and Melissa Senne. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Randell, in 2002.

Carol (Wargin) Schnakenberg ’59 passed away on August 24, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Dean ’59, Oak Grove, Missouri; four children, Jody, Jeffrey, Susan and Eric; six grandchildren; and one great granddaughter.

Darnell Williams ’59 passed away on June 28, 2013. He was a resident of Cathedral City, California.

Roger A. Thomas ’60 died on May 15, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Carol.


CLASS NOTESRev. Richard L. Vork ’61, of Northfield, Minnesota, passed away on March 31, 2013. He served in the Army at the end of the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Germany. He was a graduate of the University of Dubuque Seminary in 1965, and was ordained as an Elder. He served United Methodist congregations in Minnesota and Wisconsin starting in 1957 and retiring in 1998, but continuing to provide pulpit supply to area congregations, and served two interim pastorates. He was married to his first wife, Judith, in 1957. She died in childbirth along with their third child, Mary, in 1965. He married Faye Wolf in 1965 and they enjoyed more than 46 years together. He is survived by his wife, Faye; daughters, Diane Enger and Linda Bollenbach; two grandchildren; two siblings; and other relatives.

Gerald L. Berg ’62 died on June 4, 2013 at his home in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He served 30 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1989 as a Master Chief. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his children, Kelley M. Schorn and Stephen Berg; a grandson; and his mother, Genevieve Petrik of Ashland, Wisconsin

John Beiersdorff ’63 passed away on April 15, 2013 at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland, Wisconsin. John was married to Diane Broeniman in 1963, and taught for two years in Rockford, Illinois and for a year in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He returned to Ashland and taught from 1967 until his retirement in 1994. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1979. He is survived by his wife, Diane; four children, Steve Beiersdorff, Janeen Dietsche, Linda Klobucher, and Cheri Tamke; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two siblings, and other relatives.

Michael W. Moody ’63 died at home in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 4, 2012. He taught high school English and language arts for a few years, then earned a Master of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of

George at Athens. He worked in repertory companies, summer stock, outdoor dramas and dinner theatres, then became employed as dispatch manager for Acme Delivery/Bells Cargo in Greenville, South Carolina, enjoying theatre as an avocation. He later became an over-the-road truck driver. He suffered a stroke in 1999, and had resided at an assisted living apartment in St. Paul. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother. Survivors are his brothers, David and Thomas; and seven nephews.

Mary (Stephenson) Bratley ’64 passed away on May 24, 2013 at the family cabin near Herbster, Wisconsin. She and her husband Jon Bratley ’64 are the owners of several funeral homes in the Ashland area, including Frost Home for Funerals. Mary was a member of WELCA, Partners, the Vaughn Library Board, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She is survived by her husband, Jon, Ashland; three sons, Timothy, Daniel and Michael; seven grandchildren; a sister; several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

David N. Rasmussen ’64 passed away on February 3, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. David taught in Berglund, Michigan for three years and in Wakefield, Michigan as an art teacher for one year. He taught fourth grade for the Ironwood Area Schools at the Newport School, retiring after 30 years of service in 1964.He earned his master’s in education from Northern Michigan University. He was united in marriage with Patricia Revoy in 1964. She survives. He is also survived by a son, Dale Rasmussen; a daughter, Donna Reinerio; and two grandsons.

Richard “Dick” Anderson ’65, of Ashland, passed away on June 2, 2013 at Fairview University Medical Center in Minneapolis. He received a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1971. His first wife, Shirley, passed away on January 9, 1973 after

losing her battle with leukemia. He married Gail Lake ’72 in 1974. He started his 24 years of education at Ondossagon Public Schools in 1967, first as an elementary teacher and then as teacher and principal. He taught one year at Ashland Middle School before spending three years at the Suring Public Schools where he was an elementary and junior high school principal, retiring in 1994. Following his retirement, he worked as a volunteer teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School from 1994-2001 and in 2002 volunteered for the Celebration Christian Academy. He is survived by his wife, Gail Anderson, Ashland; three children, David Anderson, Barbara Tomczak, and James Anderson; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Donald Anderson ’55.

Dorothy (Farkas) Carson ’67 passed away on April 18, 2013 at her residence in Dolores, Colorado. Dorothy taught for 32 years in schools all over the country. Surviving Dorothy are her husband of 37 years, Charles Carson; four children, Ginger Kautz, Cheryl Carson, Neil Carson, and Michael Carson; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers; and one sister.

Word has been received of the death of Samuel K. Njuguna ’67, of Leesburg, Virginia, on July 29, 2011.

Carole (Greene) Bastasz ’68 passed away on October 8, 2012. She was a longtime piano teacher. Survivors include her husband, Thomas J. Bastasz; children: Ted Halmrast, Jennifer Haber, Caitlin Lucic; two grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

John F. Nurmi ’68 passed away on February 21, 2013 at Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minocqua, Wisconsin. John enlisted in the US Army in 1952, serving in Germany and throughout the Mediterranean during the Korean War. After his discharge in 1956 he worked for the Northwestern Railroad, sailed on the Great Lakes for the M.A. Hanna Company, and

SUMMER 2013 22

then worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington. He attended Northland College for two years, then went to Milwaukee and worked for American Motors, also attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Owen, and grandson, Byron Owen, all of Minocqua; two sisters, Margaret Provost, Ashland; and Mary Ann Pinoniemi, Ridgeway, Michigan, and other relatives. His wife, Rita, preceded him in death in 2008.

Benjamin C. Anderson ’69 passed away on November 16, 2012 at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland, Wisconsin. Ben taught school in the Hayward school district for many years. After retirement, he substituted at the Marengo Valley School. He is survived by a goddaughter, Heather W. Schutte, and her son, Jared Schutte, of Sanborn; a godson, Curtis Clark, Stone Lake; many close friends in Sanborn and Hayward; and numerous cousins.

Helen Massoglia ’69 died on November 29, 2012. She was married to Joseph D. Massoglia in 1952, and he preceded her in death on March 6, 2012. Helen taught school in Iron Belt for one year and at Southside School in Hurley for the remainder of her caereer, retiring in 1991. Surviving are

a son, Dean; a daughter, Julie Masaka; two granddaughters; three sisters; a brother; and numerous other relatives.

Word has been received of the death of Robert L. Benford ’70, Chicago, on July 12, 2011.

Craig Wilson ’70 died on September 11, 2012 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California. Craig recently retired from Home Depot, where he was a frequently honored member of the Rancho Mirage Design Center team. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister. He is survived by his sister, Barbara Wilson, St. Petersburg, Florida; a niece, and other extended family.

Ann Miller Chastain ’71 passed away on May 4, 2012 at her home in Madison, Wisconsin, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Gerald Chastain; her children, Gilian Smith, Damon Smith, and Barney Chastain; her mother, Corinne Miller ’46, Madison; and her siblings, Kurt Miller and Katie Freeman.

Cheryl Carter-Giller ’72 passed away on May 21, 2013 after a prolonged battle with angiosarcoma. Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Richard Giller, Minneapolis; a

brother, Peter Kupczyk; a daughter, Chrysten Houston; and two granddaughters.

Marion (Billie) Honkala ’72 died on September 4, 2012 at the Westgate Nursing Home in Ironwood, Michigan. She married George Honkala in 1941, and he preceded her in death in 2001. She is survived by her daughter, Georgia Taylor; her son, Ladd E. Honkala; five grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Gail Gilbert Hornstein ’72 passed away on February 14, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois

Joan (Corgiat) Negri ’72 passed away on March 2, 2013 at her home in Bessemer, Michigan. Joan taught for 29 years at the Washington School in Bessemer. She received her master’s degree from Marygrove College. He is survived by her husband, Clarence; five sons, Roger, Ronald, Robert, Randy, and Ricky; a daughter, Jill Negri; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two siblings; and a niece.

Valerie (Thurlby) Tardive ’73 passed away on October 16, 2012 at home in Stanhope, New Jersey. Valerie taught at Roxbury Elementary School and then at Netcong Elementary School, retiring after more than 26

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CLASS NOTESyears of teaching. She was awarded Teacher of the Year in 1997-1998. She is survived by her husband Jerry ’73; a daughter, Traci VanScyoc; a son, Vincent Tardive; a granddaughter, Teagan; a sister, brother, and other relatives.

John W. Carroll ’74 passed away on July 5, 2013. He and his wife, Evelyn, started a career in insurance sales in 1989, and worked together until his passing. John is survived by his wife Evelyn, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; three stepchildren; four step-grandchildren; a sister, Susanna Carroll ’76; and numerous other relatives.

Alan “Butch” Lampson ’75 passed away on October 18, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Denise Lampson, Ashland; six children: Alan, Jr.; Sindee Kasten; Tammy Maclin; James “JT”; Cheriee Jarecki; and Dawayne; his mother; 16 grandchildren; five sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jeanne (Cobb) Olson ’75 passed away on June 27, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin. She is survived by two sons, James and Jerry; three daughters, Jeanine Winkowski, Judy Battisti, and Joellyn Williams; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous other friends and relatives, including her longtime companion, William Tippett.

Thomas B. Walmsley ’75 passed away on January 25, 2013 following a battle with cancer. Tom sang with the Voyageurs while at Northland. He served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2003. He served tours in Italy, Germany, Operation Desert Storm and numerous other bases in the states. He is survived by his wife, Theresa; his daughter, Angelique Foote; a sister, a niece, and numerous cousins.

Daniel “Gabe” Gabrus ’76 passed away on December 18, 2012 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. He worked as a CPA in Ashland for many years. He is survived by his sister, Kay Gabrus, Osseo,

Wisconsin; a nephew; two great-nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

Cindy Ledin ’76, of Ashland, passed away on December 31, 2012 at Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota. She worked as a band director and teacher for St. Agnes School, in Ashland. For many years she taught for the schools in Superior and also taught music privately. She played music with the Ashland City Band and with the Northwinds Recorder Consort. She is survived by her daughter, Maria Ackerson, Solon Springs; two step-children, Scott and Vincent Tampio; a granddaughter; a step-grandson; two sisters, Linda Kostka, Ashland and and Kathy Berweger, Las Vegas, Nevada; a brother, Tim Ledin, Ashland; partner, Dick Peltonen, Ashland; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ben Tampio in 1997; a sister, Betty Bullok; and a brother, Butch Ledin.

Kay Boldt ’77, of Washburn, Wisconsin, passed away on May 11, 2013. After receiving her degree from Northland College in 1977, Kay continued her education by earning a certificate in international law from the University of Exeter in England. She returned to Chicago and earned a certificate in paralegal studies from Roosevelt University. Later, she received a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. While in Chicago, she worked for Social Security. She was a member of Mensa, and volunteered as a disability advocate for people receiving disability benefits from Social Security. She is survived by three children: Richard Sustek, David Al-Bahrani, and Elizabeth Northern; a brother; and 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and special friends.

Word has been received of the death of Michael L. Davis ’77 on January 9, 2011.


Want to see your news in Class Notes? To submit notes, please contact:

Phone: (715) 682-1811 Email: [email protected]

Mail: Office of Alumni Relations, 1411 Ellis Avenue, Ashland, WI 54806Director of Alumni Relations: Michelle Chase ’98

Alumni News Editor: Vicki Nafey ’96

Alumni Association Board of Directors: Jim Quinn ’73, President, Melanie Goble ’01, Richard Ackley ’71, Sam Berkman ’08, Roberta Blazkowski ’71, Mark Charles ’80, Dan Crawford ’76, Melissa Damaschke ’03, Laurel Fisher ’72, Stu Goldman ’69, Mark Gross ’83, Charles Guthrie ’69, Rachel Hahn ’12, Beverly Harris ’72, Roland Hicks ’65, Tam Hofman ’80, Max Metz ’10, Peter Millett ’69, Craig Mullenbrock ’77, Ori-Anne Pagel ’69, Erika Palmer-Wilson ’02, Sam Polonetzky ’70, Wendy Shields ’05, Patti Skoraczewski ’74, Kelly Zacharda ’05, Erika Zocher ’14.

To submit a note go to:northland.edu/alumni

SUMMER 2013 24 23 NORTHLAND COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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SUCCESS!

A year ago, alumni and friends of the College challenged us to raise a million dollars for scholarships and in turn their combined gifts would double the scholarships up to one million dollars. By June 30th, we not only met but exceeded that goal with your support for students at Northland College, raising more than 1.2 million dollars. In 2013-14, 2.2 million dollars will be awarded in unrestricted need-based student scholarships. To everyone who helped make the Million Dollar Challenge a success…

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Sediment clouds the water at the mouth of the Bad River north of Odanah, Wisconsin. Increased water flow from late spring snowmelt causes rivers around the Chequamegon Bay to dump tons of sediment into Lake Superior. The Chequamegon Bay Area Partnership, housed at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, has made reducing sediment its top priority. Photo by Bob Gross.

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