In Memoriam

Florence Collier Simmons ’41, June 17, 2022, Goodyear, Arizona.

Virginia “Gina” Dodds Worthington ’43, Aug. 17, 2021, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. During her formative years, Gina lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1946, she married Jack Worthington, who died in 1991. Gina was a claims adjuster at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Chicago, and an English teacher in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She was member of PEO Sisterhood, Chapter EK. She is survived by her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Barbara Schneider Royal ’45, June 22, 2022, Munster, Indiana. Barbara met Richard Royal ’43 when he helped new students move into their dorm at Grinnell. On the first day of spring of her first year, they eloped — World War II was on, and Dick had been drafted into the army. Barbara and Dick were married over 60 years. After the war ended, she helped support him through Harvard Business School, then moved with him to Chicago before settling in Hammond, Indiana, where they raised their three children and lived until Dick died. Barbara was deeply engaged in her community and was involved in organizations such as the League of Women Voters, the Philanthropic Educational Organization (from which she received an award in 2020 for 78 years of involvement), and the PTA Council. She was employed at times as a reading teacher and at an architecture firm. She is survived by a son and daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Evelyn Faulkner Casper ’48, May 2, 2022, Big Pine Key, Florida. After she received a bachelor’s degree cum laude, Evelyn married and moved to Miami. She and her husband lived in Key Biscayne, Florida, for 30 years. She worked at the Miami Beach Public Library and later taught at the Key Biscayne Community Church Preschool. She worked for the Miami-Dade Public School District as a reading resource teacher for 10 years before moving to the Florida Keys. She received a master’s from Florida International University in 1978 and completed seminary training at Unity Worldwide Ministries in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, in 1988. She founded Unity of the Keys church in 1984 and served there until 2000. She also founded Unity Church of Marathon in Marathon, Florida. She is survived by her daughter, a grandson, and great-grandchildren.

Charles E. Farr ’48, May 27, 2022, Des Moines, Iowa. After serving as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines and with the occupation forces in Japan, Charles was honorably discharged and entered Grinnell to major in mathematics. He graduated with honors and married Marilyn Herselius ’47 in the College chapel on graduation day. A year of graduate studies at Columbia University in New York was followed by employment in the insurance industry at Equitable Life Assurance Society in New York. In 1952, the young family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where Charles was an actuarial trainee at Bankers Life, now Principal Financial Group. His employment at Principal spanned 35 years. He was a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, and an enrolled actuary. He retired from Principal in 1987 as chief actuary and then formed an actuarial consulting firm, retiring, from this work in 1996. Charles was active all his life in activities such as pole vaulting, softball, bowling, tennis, golf, swimming, sailing, canoeing, camping, cross-country skiing, and mountain climbing. Other interests included the trombone, piano, opera performances (serving on the Des Moines Metro Opera board for many years), learning American Sign Language, and qualifying as a master gardener. Charles and Marilyn traveled extensively. He also volunteered at Grinnell, where he served as an Alumni Council member. Marilyn preceded him in death. Survivors include one daughter; three sons, including Charles Farr ’72 and Tom Farr ’74; a daughter-in-law, Deirdre Schectman Farr ’75; and seven grandchildren, including Kathleen Farr Matthews ’05.

Elizabeth Johnson Wilson ’48, April 11, 2022, Dallas. After graduation, Elizabeth worked for many years as a speech therapist. She was known for her beautiful soprano voice and was in demand as a soloist and choir section leader. She is survived by two daughters and two grandsons.

Ruth Holden Hansen ’49, Jan. 21, 2022, Daytona Beach, Florida. Ruth married Niel Hansen ’49 in 1948. Family always came first for Ruth. She was a full-time mother, while also volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, chair of the elementary school library, and on the Council of Student Parents. She was the treasurer for the Darien Visiting Nurse Association and the Stamford Home Health Aides, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She was dedicated to the Melvin Village Community Church and the Hikers. Ruth and Niel loved to travel, particularly enjoying the national parks and international travel. Ruth enjoyed knitting, skiing, tennis, kayaking, and, most of all, living on the lake and watching the loons. She is survived by her daughters, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

William “Bill” R. Frank ’50, March 28, 2022, Wayzata, Minnesota. While majoring in sociology, Bill spent a semester in 1947 at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, as an exchange student. Living in a community of Black students and experiencing segregation in the non-campus community had a profound influence on his life. After graduation, Bill attended Yale Divinity School. In 1952, he married Louisella Kurth ’51. He was ordained as a minister in the United Church of Christ in 1953 and served at churches in Wisconsin and Ohio. After retiring as a pastor, he worked for the Milwaukee Council on Alcoholism, seeking shelter for the homeless and counseling for those with addictions or mental illness. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Claudine Briese Jacobs ’51, May 31, 2022, Medford, Oregon. Claudine married Robert Glenn Jacobs ’50 after graduation. Over the next 10 years, Robert attended graduate school at the University of Iowa and the Chicago Theological Seminary and taught at Iowa Wesleyan College. Claudine taught school for one semester, took graduate classes, and worked as a secretary. They had two children before moving to Los Angeles, where Robert taught at University of California-Los Angeles. Later, he taught at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Claudine worked in the college bookstore after her children were grown. After his retirement, Robert developed numerous health issues, and Claudine became the primary caregiver. She is survived by a son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Elaine Brown Kirst ’51, June 27, 2022, Watertown, Wisconsin. Elaine, who married Eugene Kirst in 1949, furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, UCLA, and Grinnell. Later in life, she became an LPN. She and Eugene raised five children. She had a love for music and shared her talents by educating others with piano, voice, and violin lessons. She was a part of the Watertown Chamber Violin Orchestra, Watertown Players, Euterpe Singers, Vesper Singers, and the Lutheran Chorale Singers. Reading, taking part in book clubs, playing bridge, and cross-stitching brought her much pleasure. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Janet Wallyn Purcell ’51, April 2022, Prospect Heights, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Purcell ’50.

W. Ben Whitehill ’51, June 7, 2022, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. At Grinnell, Ben was president of Dibble Hall, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated in three years. Ben married Carolyn Slater ’54. He attended Harvard Medical School, interned at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and served in the U.S. Navy on Guam for two years. A residency in general practice in Denver was followed by 15 years as a medical missionary in Hong Kong. In 1975, he joined the U.S. Public Health Service and worked at the Leavenworth, Kansas, and Atlanta federal penitentiaries and the Santa Fe Indian Hospital in New Mexico. After retirement, he enjoyed new opportunities to serve others — in a Santa Fe elementary school as a volunteer tutor, as a physician in mountain villages in Honduras and Quito, Ecuador, and as a board member of a clinic for low-income persons in Santa Fe. Ben was honored with a Grinnell College Alumni Award in 1976 and received the Joseph F. Wall ’41 Alumni Service Award in 1998. In 2016, he and Carolyn were named Santa Fe Living Treasures. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, four grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Nancy Tegger Edwards ’52, May 30, 2022, Schenectady, New York. Nancy attended Grinnell for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana to complete a bachelor’s in political science. Years later, she earned a Master of Public Administration degree. She married James Edwards in 1956, and they raised two children. Nancy was a devoted mother, always putting family first during their younger years, but staying active by serving in the League of Women Voters and engaging in one of her passions, bridge. With her children grown, Nancy returned to the workforce; her favorite job was coordinating the travel-abroad program at Union College as an administrator in the foreign languages department. Nancy’s love of travel took her all over the world with her husband. She is survived by her husband, her daughter and son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Margaret Wilson Kersten ’52, Nov. 22, 2021, Rockford, Illinois. Margaret was married to Willis Kersten, who preceded her in death. Survivors include a daughter and son, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Benjamin F. McGuckin Jr. ’52, April 7, 2022, Charleston, South Carolina. After graduation, Ben joined the U.S. Navy, where he rose to the rank of captain. He was called to active duty in 1962 for 10 months during the Berlin crisis. As a lifelong athlete, Ben enjoyed swimming, tennis, and golf, as well as fishing, shrimping, and hunting. He was a member of Grace Church and a member and former commodore of the Carolina Yacht Club. He spent 40 years with New York Life, but his greatest joy was his family. He is survived by two daughters and a son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Barbara James Williams ’52, June 2, 2022, Montpelier, Vermont. After a time at Grinnell, Barb graduated from the University of Iowa. She and her husband settled in the south suburbs of Chicago. Following her divorce in 1974, Barb raised her four children as a single mother while earning a master’s in environmental engineering from Governor’s State University in Illinois. She went to work first for the Environmental Protection Agency and later the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Chicago. She served for many years on her town’s park district board and was president of the Illinois Association of Park Districts in 1979–80. Barb enjoyed hiking, tennis, bridge, travel, and socializing with a wide circle of friends. She is survived by one son, two daughters, and five grandchildren.

Mary Halliday Freeman ’54, June 7, 2022, Plainfield, Illinois. After graduation, Mary worked as a medical technician and librarian and married Robert Freeman. They lived in Glen Ellyn, Yorkville, and Plainfield in Illinois and had three children. Mary regularly volunteered at church and loved singing in the choir. She is survived by her children and five grandchildren.

J. Barry Lawrence ’54, March 26, 2022, Hendersonville, North Carolina. Barry was an avid swimmer and was part of a conference championship-winning Grinnell swim team. After earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Barry went on to a successful career as an advertising account executive. He was married to Sandra Lobotzke Lawrence. They enjoyed traveling and living in places such as Little Rock, New Orleans, and Seattle before settling in Hendersonville. Barry loved sailing and was a member of the North Shore Yacht Club for many years. Barry and Sandra were both active members of St. James Episcopal Church. Sandra died in 2019 after 42 years of marriage.

Norman D. Noe ’54, April 10, 2022, Greeley, Colorado. Norm met Marty Strovers, a Grinnell “townie,” and they married in 1955. After college, he went into the insurance business with his father in Greeley and continued working in the insurance field until his retirement in 1996. He helped form Pioneer General, a surety bonding company, where he served on the board of directors. Among Norm’s many public service roles, he was a Jaycees member and statewide vice president and president of the Boys and Girls Club of Greeley. He also sat on the Greeley parks and recreation and museum boards. Norm was a family man and enjoyed watching his kids’ and grandkids’ activities. He was an avid reader and loved camping and fishing. He is survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren.

Seymour J. Raffety ’54, June 16, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. Seymour was one of five children of LaVerne Raffety ’22 and his wife, Iness. Seymour’s parents farmed for many years northwest of Grinnell. After Seymour earned a degree in physics and mathematics from Grinnell, he went on to complete a master’s and a doctorate in nuclear engineering at Iowa State University. His nuclear engineering doctoral dissertation, “Design of UTR-10 Fission Plate,” completed in 1964, examined the implications of development of a useful fission plate installation for research work. Seymour also served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the American Nuclear Society. He worked as a nuclear engineer for the Dairyland Power Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, that delivers electricity to 62 counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. Seymour was married to Carmen M. Raffety, and after he retired from Dairyland, the couple returned to Grinnell. Seymour was a generous benefactor to the College. Among his philanthropic contributions were donations to create the Raffety Physics Advanced Capstone Laboratory and the LaVerne E. Raffety Scholarship. Seymour was 89 when he died at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center in Grinnell. A service with military honors was held at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Survivors include his wife, a brother, and three children.

Gerald P. Hagen ’55, Jan. 31, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. Born and raised in Grinnell, Jerry played many sports. He received a degree in physical education and teaching and later went on to earn a master’s in educational administration from Drake University. He started his career in teaching and coaching, eventually moving into educational administration. He served as an elementary principal in the Grinnell-Newburg School District from 1965 until he retired in 1996. He was passionate about Grinnell history. Jerry started Grinnell’s first soft-serve ice cream shop, The Frosted Palace, and he and several friends owned JD’s Restaurant for a time. Jerry ran the clock for football and basketball games for many years. In 2006, he received Football Coaches of Iowa Achievement Award honors. Jerry married Jeananne Reisetter ’63 in 1963, and they raised two daughters. The couple divorced in 1998. He is survived by his two daughters, grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Rachel “Polly” Hallett Johnson ’55, March 15, 2022, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Polly graduated from Grinnell Phi Beta Kappa and went on to Harvard Law School, where she was one of eight women in her class. After law school, Polly married a Harvard classmate, Robert “Joe” Johnson, and they lived in Concord, New Hampshire, before heading west to New Mexico in the early 1960s. Family lore has it that Polly got the highest score on the New Mexico bar the year that Polly and Joe took the exam. She and Joe were married for 57 years until his death in 2018. Polly is survived by two daughters, two sons, and her grandchildren.

Allan D. Kellar ’55, April 9, 2022, Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Allan majored in music at Grinnell and was a member of two national honor societies — Phi Beta Kappa (academics) and Pi Kappa Lambda (music). In Chariton, Iowa, he met and married Linda Bricker, and they raised two daughters. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in music at the University of Iowa. In 1965, he joined the faculty at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as chair of the music department, teacher of music history, and director of choral activities. He led Coe choirs on seven tours to Europe. He also directed the choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. In 1975, he was named the Pearl M. Taylor Chair in Music, Coe’s first endowed professorial chair. In 1999, the Kellars moved to Lake Elmo, where they were active in musical and community activities. Allan also performed in Broadway-style musical productions and for 10 years was a member of the Minnesota Chorale, performing regularly with the Minnesota Orchestra. In 2010, Grinnell College presented him with an Alumni Award for his work as a teacher and humanitarian. Allan loved baseball, traveling, reading, and photography. Most of all, he loved his family. He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughters, Beth and Holly Kellar ’93; and his grandchildren.

Bonnie Hagen Schmidt ’55, May 16, 2022, Marion, Iowa. Bonnie was born and grew up in Grinnell. After she graduated, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she enjoyed teaching in the public school system for eight years. She married Gene Schmidt in 1962, and they had two children. Bonnie was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Chapter DK in PEO, and various educational organizations. She loved spending time with her family and following her grandchildren’s activities. She is survived by her husband, two children, and three grandchildren.

Nancy Hunter Batz ’58, July 20, 2022, St. Paul, Minnesota. At Grinnell, Nancy made lifelong friends, traveled the country and abroad, and prepared to embark on a music teaching career. Nancy met Ronald Batz, her husband of 50 years, while teaching in Lake City, Iowa, and they had three children. Nancy’s most significant teaching job was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, teaching K–8 music for 21 years before retiring in 1998. Her favorite job was teaching at United Community (now Boone High School), in Boone, Iowa. Nancy and Ron loved meeting new people and hosting parties around the upright grand piano in their living room. Upon retirement, they built and lived in a lake home in Spirit Lake, Iowa, where Nancy continued teaching piano and voice. Nancy was a member of the Grinnell Reunion Planning Committee from 2012–17. She is survived by her son, two daughters, grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Joan Spratler Jackson ’59, March 8, 2022, San Francisco. Joan’s love and devotion to her children was rivaled only by her dedication to her 30-year career as a librarian and branch manager with the San Francisco Public Library. She is survived by her son and daughter.

Roger C. Smith ’60, March 30, 2022, Grand Junction, Colorado. Roger was a retired criminologist who served as director of the Michigan Bureau of Forensic Mental Health Services for 20 years. He earlier worked for the Hawaii Department of Public Safety and U.S. Justice Department, after earning advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and University of California-Berkeley. Survivors include his wife, Carmen.

Steve K. Beaumont ’62, June 16, 2022, Garber, Iowa. After he attended Grinnell, Steve earned a doctorate in history from the University of Wisconsin and served in the U.S. Navy. Steve made his living as a carpenter. A passionate conservationist, he reconstructed several plots of prairie at his Jupiter Ridge Farm near Garber. He also maintained a huge garden. His carpentry expertise and advice were invaluable in his volunteer restoration work at Motor Mill, a historic site in Clayton, Iowa. Steve also volunteered for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and for the Clayton County Conservation Awareness Network, which honored him with a conservation award in 2019. Steve’s benevolence culminated with the donation of his farm to the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, an organization formed to protect farmland to be used for growing food.

Vicki Warren Churchman ’67, April 9, 2022, Wichita, Kansas. Vicki earned a teaching certificate and a bachelor’s from Grinnell, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to earn a master’s in literature from the University of Iowa and journalism certification at Fort Hays State University. Her professional career centered on education and had a positive influence on the lives of many students. She was named to the Kansas Journalism Teachers’ Hall of Fame in 2001. She is survived by her husband, Dale Churchman; four children; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

Virginia “Ginny” Olson Richardson ’68, Dec. 11, 2021, Tucson, Arizona. Ginny created art over a span of seven decades. She earned a bachelor’s from Alfred University in 1972 and worked as head of the graphics department for the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts. She painted large-scale performance pieces in settings from schools to churches. Her work has been exhibited nationally and hangs in the homes of individuals as well as churches across the United States and internationally. She was married to Randy Richardson for 44 years. Together, they made a trip around the world, living for a year in Paris and six months in Cambridge, England. Ginny loved being a mom to her two children. In 1993, she earned a master’s from the University of Arizona. She was a counselor and art therapist with Carondelet Hospice in Tucson. She is survived by her husband, two children, and two grandchildren.

Mark S. Soldat ’69, April 18, 2022, West Des Moines, Iowa. As part of his studies at Grinnell, Mark spent a year abroad at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. After graduation, he went on to study law at Drake University, graduating in 1974. He practiced law in Algona, Iowa, from 1974–2003. During that time, he also served as the Kossuth County attorney. He spent the latter half of his career practicing law in the Des Moines area and was prominent in the field of workers’ compensation law. Early in his career, he famously worked pro bono to save a beautiful tree canopy from destruction in a road expansion project in Algona. While ultimately unsuccessful in that battle, the spirit of fighting against greed, power, and corruption embodied the way he lived his life. Mark was particularly proud of being a founding member of the Iowa Association for Justice Workers’ Compensation Core Group, his numerous Iowa Supreme Court cases establishing legal precedent that benefited injured workers, and the fact that he actively practiced law and tried cases for 47 years. He loved music and dance, was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and New York Yankees fan, and enjoyed travel. Above all, Mark loved his family and friends. He is survived by his partner, Jeanne Anderson; two children and his ex-wife, Marcia Soldat; and two grandchildren.

Charles U. Tweed ’69, Nov. 5, 2021, New London, Iowa. In 1967, Charles married Jean Percilla Capen ’68. Charles, who studied music in Oberlin, Ohio, received a bachelor’s in history from Grinnell. For more than 40 years, he served as a minister of the Congregational Universalist Church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, retiring in 2004. He was a humanitarian and a classical pianist who also loved biking, hiking, camping, and sipping coffee with friends. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell jokes, but he was happiest when surrounded by family. Survivors include his wife; two daughters; four grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Marian Capen Engstrom ’64.

Evelyn “Evie” Underwood ’70, July 16, 2022, Del Norte, Colorado. After graduating from Grinnell, Evie attended law school at the University of Minnesota. She was admitted to the bar in Colorado and Texas. For a brief time, she practiced law in Germany for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). After returning from Germany, she continued practicing law and owned a private law office in Del Norte. She was a member of PEO and Twin Mountain Ladies Aid and was active in Pioneer United Church. Evie enjoyed the presence of numerous animals — cows, yaks, goats, horses, dogs, and cats — in her life. She also spent many hours working on her vegetable garden. She was always game for an adventure: camping, fishing on the Rio Grande, foraging for culinary mushrooms, and traveling with family and friends.

Martha “Molly” Wolf ’71, Feb. 25, 2022, Gananoque, Ontario, Canada. She is survived by two children.

Stephen G. Dohe ’73, May 9, 2022, Omaha, Nebraska. Stephen is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilou Dohe; a son and daughter; and two grandchildren.

Bruce F. McKean ’73, May 7, 2022, South Portland, Maine. Bruce attended Grinnell for one year and then transferred to the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a degree in English. An excellent musician, Bruce played lead guitar in bands during college and for many years afterwards. After graduation, while continuing with music, he began a separate career as a middle school English teacher. He also coached basketball and track and led a group of students in a band that played at local events. Bruce taught for 15 years before health problems forced his exit from the profession, though he continued playing music and taught private guitar lessons. In 2007, he moved to the Portland, Maine, area, where he married Karen Canter. He enjoyed Maine for the food, the crisp weather, and the life. Survivors include his wife, Karen, and his brother, Kevin.

Alan S. Rosenfield ’73, May 11, 2022, Santa Clarita, California. Alan graduated from Grinnell with honors in political science. One of his favorite extracurricular activities in Iowa was aviation, and he became a pilot. Alan began his career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. While still working full time, Alan entered the Southwestern University School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1981. He worked as a deputy district attorney until he was appointed to the Newhall Municipal Court in 1990. He was elevated to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2000. He presided over criminal matters for 17 years in Newhall, Lancaster, and Antelope Valley courthouses. He sat in central civil in 2008 and transferred to the Santa Clarita courthouse in 2014, retiring from the bench in 2017. He had served as an assigned judge since his retirement. Alan was proud of his service in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1983–2012. He served as an army judge advocate officer and received the JAA Outstanding Career Armed Services Attorney Award. Alan was an excellent chef; played the banjo; loved cars, motorcycles, aviation, and his pets; collected whimsical art; and traveled with his wife, Angela. A 40-year resident of Santa Clarita, he was known for his community service. Alan served as a GRASP (Grinnell Regional Admission Support Program) volunteer for Grinnell from 1998–2002. He is survived by his wife and a stepson.

Laurie Casselman ’75, March 2022, Tucson, Arizona. Laurie served as an executive of QRP Inc., producer of specialty gloves and finger cots for controlled environments, a company founded in 1974 by her father. Laurie’s survivors include her brother, Duncan Casselman ’81, and a daughter.

Jonathan V. Higgins ’80, July 24, 2022, Evanston, Illinois. Jonathan was an active athlete, musician, and scholar at Grinnell. He was rookie of the year, a two-time co-captain, and three-time all-conference soccer player. He adored his soccer coach, John Pfitsch, and John’s wife, Emily. He played music in numerous bands during his time at Grinnell, most notably with the Space Potatoes, who still perform at reunions. Jonathan was a biology major who pursued independent research in freshwater ecology under the direction of Professor Ken Christiansen. Jonathan received master’s and doctoral degrees in science from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He began his career as a contractor with the Environmental Protection Agency before joining the Nature Conservancy in 1995. With the conservancy, he developed methods to incorporate freshwater into their planning efforts, helping to transform the organization from a land-based, nongovernment organization to one that conducts broad conservation globally. Jonathan was widely published,  cited, and recognized globally as an expert in freshwater conservation ecology. His work took him across North, Central, and South America as well as Africa, China, and Australia. Jonathan was passionate about his work and always eager to share his knowledge. He mentored young professionals with enthusiasm. In 2020, he created and funded the Grinnell College Jonathan Higgins ’80 Internship in Environmental Conservation Fund to encourage students to pursue careers in conservation and the environment. Donations to the fund can be made online (select “Other” under “Fund to Support,” and specify Jonathan Higgins). Checks may be mailed to: Grinnell College, 733 Broad St., Grinnell IA 50112-1690. Jonathan is survived by his wife, Susan Besson, and her two children, as well as his sister, Robin Higgins Karney ’78, brother-in-law, Peter Karney ’78, and nephews Daniel Karney ’04 and Benjamin.

Leisa Knettle Mukai ’86, April 21, 2022, Xcalak, Mexico. After 30 years of diving and snorkeling around the world, Leisa and her husband, Rob, an avid fly fisherman, moved to Mexico in 2014. They established a beachside off-the-grid eco inn, the Acocote Eco Inn, in Xcalak. Leisa was killed and Rob was seriously injured in an auto accident outside Xcalak. Survivors include her husband and a son.

Jennifer Bishop ’87, June 27, 2022, Fairhaven, Massachusetts. While at Grinnell, Jenn participated in track and cross country and set several College and state records. After graduation, she put her degree in political science to use when she joined the Democratic Party as a campaign organizer for presidential candidate Mike Dukakis. In 1992, she enrolled in law school at Boston University. After graduating, she married Robert Norton and moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she joined G.W. and Wade Financial Planning group. After Jenn and Robert divorced, she moved to Fairhaven, Massachusetts. There, she met and married Ian Dobson and welcomed their son in 2003. She left G.W. and Wade to set up her own financial planning business in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This gave her the opportunity to get involved in her son’s activities as well as community activities such as YMCA, Boy Scouts, and city preservation projects. After Jenn and Ian divorced, she continued her service work in the community. She is survived by her son, Calvin Bishop Dobson.

James “Pen” Helm ’92, May 13, 2022, Louisville, Kentucky.

Peter D. Pennington ’04, June 4, 2022, White Salmon, Washington. Pete loved nature and the outdoors. During high school, he trained in Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue and became an Eagle Scout. As an adult, he kayaked through the Grand Canyon. He enjoyed hiking, biking, skiing, hunting, fishing, and camping. During Pete’s 2004 Commencement ceremony, he conducted an orchestral piece that he had composed. He went on to earn a master’s in counseling from Oregon State University-Cascades. Highlights of his career included working with at-risk youth in a wilderness program and building a successful problem-gambling recovery program. He practiced yoga and meditation. Throughout his life, Pete struggled with mental health issues. He continually worked to understand and navigate these challenges.

Nathan E. Austin ’07, June 9, 2022, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Nathan’s survivors include his spouse, Keegan Gourlie Austin ’07, and one child.

Former Faculty and Staff

Robert Haveman, June 18, 2022, Madison, Wisconsin. Bob received a bachelor’s in economics from Calvin College and went on to earn a doctorate in economics at Vanderbilt University. He started at Grinnell in 1962 as an instructor in economics, eventually earning the rank of professor. He left the College in 1970 but often spoke of Grinnell as a “a place he loved.” He took a position as a senior economist with the U.S. Congress, then joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin, where he finished his career. Along the way, he served as director of the Institute for Research on Poverty and LaFollette School of Public Affairs and chaired the Economics Department. Bob was an award-winning teacher who published widely. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Umea University in Sweden. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbi Wolfe; five children; and 10 grandchildren.

Katherine McClelland, June 18, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. Katherine graduated from Oberlin College and went on to earn a master’s in education at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Katherine was Grinnell’s second director of the Mathematics Learning Center. She led the transformation of the center into what is now known as the Math Lab. In her 28 years as lab director and lecturer in mathematics, Katherine trained and supervised teams of student tutors and worked with hundreds of students individually to help them succeed in their mathematics and statistics courses. In her later years at the College, she taught introductory statistics courses. After retiring in 2012, she continued to teach statistics in the Liberal Arts in Prison Program at the Newton Correctional Facility. Survivors include her husband, Kent McClelland; son, David McClelland ’03, and daughter-in-law, Karen Fischer McClelland ’02.

Paul Nelson, Aug. 11, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. In 1990, Paul joined Grinnell as a music technical assistant in the music department, a position that combined his love of music and audiovisual recording. He served as a staff member for more than 30 years before retiring in 2021. Paul organized and went on Grinnell choir tours throughout the world. Music was a year-round activity, from playing in the community band during the summer to the College Symphonic Band during the academic year. Around town and across campus, Paul was known as someone who “never met a stranger.” Paul’s biggest passion in life was family. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Merna; five children, including Revae Nelson ’02, associate director of financial aid at the College, and Maureen Nelson ’04; and four grandsons.

Bruce Voyles, May 24, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. Bruce joined Grinnell as an assistant professor of biology in 1977. He was promoted to associate professor in 1985 and became a professor of biology in 1994. He helped create and served as the first chair of the biological chemistry major and served as the chair of the science division for several years. Bruce was appointed the inaugural holder of the Patricia A. Johnson Professor of Biology in 2000 and held this professorship until 2011. He moved to senior faculty status in 2006 and was granted emeritus rank in 2011. He made numerous contributions to his field as a respected scientist and researcher. He contributed to programs to better integrate teaching and research that received grant funding from the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. One of his most impactful achievements was helping create the mentored advanced program for student research, MAP. Over the years, he included many students in his own research studies. Bruce was known for making science clear and interesting and for caring about his students. He is survived by his wife, Martha Voyles, Grinnell associate professor emerita of education; two children; and four grandchildren.

Martha Hale Agar ’42, Oct. 24, 2021, Tucson, Arizona.

Beatrice Giles Elliott ’42, March 25, 2022, Holmes Beach, Florida. Beatrice attended Grinnell and Denver University in Colorado. In 1942, she married Jack Savage, who was killed in the battle of Okinawa in 1945. Shortly after World War II, she joined the office of Sen. Edward V. Robertson of Wyoming and served as his executive secretary in Washington, D.C. There, she met U.S. Air Force Col. Robert W. Elliott, who was serving at the Pentagon. They married in 1947. In her retired life, she loved traveling and enjoyed many international trips.

Barbara McMurray Rickey ’42, Sept. 6, 2020, Marysville, Washington. Survivors include a niece, Ann McMurray Balderson ’62; and nephews, Thomas McMurray ’64, David McMurray ’76, and Scott McMurray ’79.

Margery Willard Ertsgaard ’44, Feb. 10, 2021, Santa Rosa, California. Margery graduated from Grinnell with a major in sociology. She married her second husband, Byron Ertsgaard, in 1970. Marge loved being outdoors, and she and Byron enjoyed traveling. Marge volunteered for Camp Fire Girls, the American Field Service, PEO, her churches, and at Rogue Valley Manor. She is survived by a daughter, a son, and six grandchildren.

Bette Horst Gadient ’44, Dec. 14, 2021, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Bette met Richard Gadient ’44, at a dance before attending Grinnell for one year. She married Richard in 1944; they settled in Davenport, Iowa, and raised six children. Bette volunteered for many organizations, including parent teacher associations, the Visiting Nurse Association, Cub Scouts, and Dad’s Club baseball. She also attended evening and Saturday classes at Marycrest College for eight years and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s in art. She is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

Mary Guin Doudna Knoll ’44, Feb. 21, 2022, Omaha, Nebraska.

Gladys Mortensen Anderson ’45, Feb. 7, 2022, Lindsborg, Kansas. Survivors include two sons, four grandchildren, and two great- grandchildren.

Doris Crowl Kirhofer ’47, Jan. 20, 2022, Aurora, Illinois. After graduating from Grinnell, Doris earned her master’s in speech pathology at the University of Nebraska. She married her husband, Walt, in 1949. They moved to Baltimore, where she taught school for two years, then stopped working to raise her three children. She practiced as a speech therapist later in her life. She was a tireless volunteer, holding leadership positions in several organizations. She is survived by her three children; six grandchildren; brothers, Harry “Bud” Crowl ’55 and Richard Crowl ’57; and sister-in-law, Anne Beuckman Crowl ’57.

Iris Zeliadt Starkey ’47, Feb. 7, 2022, Riverside, California.

Elmer “Mike” Alft ’49, Nov. 22, 2021, West Grove, Pennsylvania. A Phi Beta Kappa at Grinnell, Mike earned a master’s at Syracuse University and was a John Hay Fellow at Yale University. He married Frances Clark Alft ’49 in 1950 and taught in Elgin, Illinois, schools for many years. Mike served as a member of the Elgin City Council, 1963–1967, and mayor of Elgin, 1967–1971. He was a founding member of the Elgin Area Historical Society and the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. He enjoyed traveling with Fran, touring museums and national parks, and reading. He authored 17 local histories about Elgin. He received a Grinnell Alumni Award in 1999 and was named the Elgin Image Awards’ lifetime achievement winner in 2007. Survivors include four children, 13 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

Joanne Heath Collins ’49, Dec. 19, 2021, Tucson, Arizona. After Joanne received her bachelor’s from Grinnell, she married Thomas Collins in 1950. They lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, until 1999, when they moved to Tucson, Arizona. She was active in community affairs in Cedar Rapids, serving as a trustee of Brucemore, member of the board of the Museum of Art, trustee of the Museum of Art, and president of the sustaining members of the Junior League. In Tucson, she served as a member of the advisory council of the Museum of Art and a member of the Junior League. She is survived by four sons, nine grandchildren, and one great- granddaughter.

Jenny Jacobson Egan ’49, Dec. 29, 2021, Idyllwild, California.

Gilbert L. “Tommy” Farr ’49, Nov. 10, 2021, Bellevue, Idaho. Tommy enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and married Janet Monilaw in 1945. Following military service, he completed his degree at Grinnell and then did a year of graduate work in wildlife management at the University of Wyoming. He taught for six years before becoming administrator of the Idaho Primitive area in the Copper Creek District. When he was assigned to the Caribou National Forest, he took up flying again, earning multiple pilot ratings and also acting as a flight instructor. In 1971, he became district ranger on the Ketchum Ranger District in Sawtooth National Forest. His love of flying continued in retirement, when he co-founded White Clouds Aviation, chartering air flights. For many years, Janet and Tommy traveled throughout the West. He is survived by his brother, Charles Farr ’48.

Dorothy Weaver Murphy ’49, Dec. 23, 2021, Hilton Head, South Carolina. Dot earned her master’s from Northwestern University. She married David Murphy in 1951, and they moved to southern California, where they raised two daughters before returning to the Chicago area. They lived in Tokyo for five years, then retired to Hilton Head Island in 1984. A Who’s Who in American Women psychologist, Dot held positions in public service and private practice. Upon retirement, she devoted herself to painting, gardening, and ikebana as well as bridge and golf. She is survived by a daughter.

Coolidge S. Wakai ’49, Aug. 31, 2021, Huntington Beach, California. Coolidge began his college studies, was drafted into military service, served in Italy, then completed college and earned a medical degree. He and his wife, Edith, raised their family in Honolulu, where Coolidge served the community through his cardiology private practice and in multiple hospital and medical leadership positions. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, traveling, gardening, and family gatherings. Survivors include his child, Ross Wakai ’89.

Donald J. Casey ’50, Jan. 12, 2022, Phoenix. Donald was a decorated World War II combat Marine (Pacific theatre), private pilot, accomplished large and small animal veterinarian, and third- generation Iowa farmer. When he was 50, Donald and his wife, LaDeane Osler Casey ’47, moved from Iowa to Paradise Valley, Arizona. He continued practicing veterinary medicine for 25 years, starting up multiple small animal clinics. He also was longtime volunteer for the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul, attended daily mass at the Franciscan Renewal Center, served as eucharistic minister at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, enjoyed golf, and spent many hours watching his grandchildren’s sporting and school events. He is survived by five of his six children, nine grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.

Harriet Balzer Kenworthy ’50, Feb. 22, 2022, Flint, Michigan. During her Grinnell years, Harriet spent four summers serving as a camp counselor for special needs children. She went on to earn a master's in social work from the University of Minnesota and was employed as a social worker in Flint and Minneapolis. Harriet chaired many community boards. She was a faithful member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Watson. She is survived by her son and daughter and two grandchildren.

Robert J. McClellan ’50, Nov. 10, 2021, Laramie, Wyoming.

David W. Segur ’50, Feb. 3, 2022, Carmichael, California. After Grinnell, Dave worked in the Chicago area and Oregon before joining Liberty Mutual Insurance in Oakland. Liberty Mutual moved Dave to Sacramento as sales manager in 1961. He was inducted into the Liberty Mutual Sales Hall of Fame in 1974 and retired in 1988. Following retirement, Dave was able to be more active at his church, becoming a member of the choir and orchestra and serving as a deacon and elder. Dave and his wife, Marie, had years filled with family and church friends, camping, river rafting, and adventuring. Survivors include his wife, seven children, 30 grandchildren, and 14 great- grandchildren.

Howard D. “Howie” Van Schaick ’50, Jan. 22, 2022, and Doris

Jones Van Schaick ’50, Jan. 27, 2022, Markesan, Wisconsin. Doris graduated from Grinnell with a degree in sociology, while Howard continued postgraduate study at George Washington University School of Business. The couple married in 1951. Howie served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and they raised their family in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, where Doris was an active member of the Community Presbyterian Church. In 1985, they moved to Wisconsin, where both were active members of their community and of the Federated Church of Green Lake. Doris enjoyed singing, reading, swimming, and gardening. Howie, who retired from the steel industry when he was 65, was an avid reader and enjoyed boating and swimming. In their retirement years, they traveled the country in their RV. Both were College alumni and development volunteers from 2005 to 2015. They are survived by their daughter, two sons, four grandchildren, and four great- grandchildren.

Richard C. “Dick” Adams ’51, Jan. 2, 2022, Sister Bay, Wisconsin. After graduation, Dick began teaching high school math. In 1951, he married Betty Louise Harshbarger. The couple was married for eight years and had three sons; Betty died in 1959. Dick earned a master’s in education and administration at the University of Michigan and later studied to become a guidance counselor. In 1962, he married Shirley Marie Roe. In 1965, he took a guidance counselor position, from which he retired in 1984. Dick and Shirley moved to Wisconsin in 1988. Dick was a huge baseball fan and loved gardening and fishing. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; four sons; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great- grandchildren.

Shirley Haegele Helpenstell ’52, Dec. 20, 2021, Nampa, Idaho. Shirley met her husband, Fred Helpenstell ’52, at Grinnell. The 10 years following her graduation were spent in Illinois and Wisconsin. While Fred was in orthopedic training, she began her long and successful career as a teacher, and they had four children. In 1964, they moved to Idaho. Shirley taught kindergarten for many years, then sixth grade and parenting classes, then started an after-school program. She was involved with numerous committees and boards; however, her pride and joy was helping start the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa. Nampa honored her as Citizen of the Year in 2000. Shirley served as a GRASP volunteer for the College from 1998 to 1999. Survivors include her children and their spouses, among them, Tom Helpenstell ’81, Tom Faciszewsk ’83, Jill Helpenstell Faciszewski ’83, and Jeanne Helpenstell Mack ’84; 13 grandchildren; and nine great- grandchildren.

Marcia Coates Jacobson ’52, Jan. 15, 2022, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Marcia attended Grinnell for one year, married Robert Jacobson in 1950, then worked for six years at Wincharger and for 27 years as the office administrator of First Presbyterian Church. She volunteered as clerk of session, organ committee, Presbyterian Women, and circles of First Presbyterian Church, auxiliary of Goodwill Industries, and PTA at Hunt School. She is survived by three children and three grandsons.

William D. “Oz” Osmundson ’52, Nov. 25, 2021, Clear Lake, Iowa. After his sophomore year at Grinnell, Oz transferred to the University of Iowa, where he met Fran Swartz. They married in 1954. After earning his bachelor’s in economics, he joined the accounting firm of McGladrey, Hansen, Dunn & Co. (now called RSM) in Rock Island, Illinois. He was awarded his CPA in 1954 and made partner in 1956. He left McGladrey in 1989 and was self- employed thereafter. Oz and Fran lived in Rock Island for 53 years before moving to Clear Lake in 2007. Oz served on various boards and was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rock Island and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake. Oz and Fran enjoyed traveling in Europe, the British Virgin Islands, and connecting with relatives in Norway. Oz is survived by his wife, Fran; three sons; and six grandchildren.

Doris Anderson Davies ’53, Feb. 17, 2022, Englewood, Florida. Doris graduated from Grinnell in 1953 and moved to Englewood with her family in 1960. A talented singer, she performed with musical groups including Sweet Adelines, Suncoast Chorus, and Keynotes; and she sang in the choir at Englewood United Methodist Church for more than three decades. She loved the theatre and was a patron of Lemon Bay Playhouse and the Asolo Repertory Theatre. Doris was predeceased by her husband of 39 years, Clyde Stanley Davies Jr. ’54. She is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a great-great- grandson.

Natalie Thompson Hahn ’53, Oct. 11, 2021, Berkeley, California. Natalie completed two years at Grinnell before she transferred to Stanford University, graduating in 1953. She married her first husband in 1956. Natalie earned a master’s in library science from University of California-Berkeley in 1970 and worked at multiple branches of the Marin County Library as a reference librarian. After her first husband died in 1976, she married Erwin Louis Hahn, a professor of physics, and moved to Berkeley. They brought together five grown children. Natalie threw herself into volunteer work at UC-Berkeley, where she was active with foreign students. With Erwin, she enjoyed sabbaticals and physics awards ceremonies in Europe and beyond. Natalie is survived by five children, three grandchildren, and five great- grandchildren.

Donna Goetsch Boone ’54, Dec. 16, 2021, Oak Brook, Illinois. Survivors include her husband, Ernest Boone; two children; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Paul D. Friend ’54, Dec. 29, 2021, Northbrook, Illinois. Paul was an outstanding Grinnell tennis player. After graduating, he worked for his family’s business, K. Friend & Co. After the business was sold, he worked in commercial real estate. Paul enjoyed bowling and playing tennis, and was an avid fan of all Chicago sports teams. He loved traveling the world — attending six different Olympic Games and visiting the professional sports halls of fame with his children. Paul is survived by his wife, Rosanne Alper; his second wife, Joani, and their child; his first wife, Bonnie, and their four children; and by 11 grandchildren.

Sue Yager Weatherley ’54, Sept. 7, 2021, Boulder, Colorado. Sue earned her master’s in social work at the University of Denver. Her career began in San Antonio, working on the burn unit at the Brooke Army Medical Center, where she met Don Weatherley. They married in 1956 and settled in Boulder in 1960. Sue had a long career at the Mental Health Center in Boulder, where she was instrumental in starting innovative programs for children and families. She and Don helped establish the Boulder Family Therapy Center, where they practiced for many years. She retired in 2001 but maintained a small private practice until 2017. Survivors include four children: Mark, Anne, Sara Weatherley ’85, and John; son-in-law, Daniel Greenberg ’83; and six grandchildren.

Charles K. Hazama ’55, Nov. 28, 2021, Winter Springs, Florida. Chuck came to Grinnell from Hawaii. His education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He resumed studies at the University of Northern Iowa, where he met Almira “Aly” Oyakawa; they married in 1958. Chuck, Aly, and their two children moved to Rochester, Minnesota, in 1967, when he was hired at the YMCA. From 1972 to 1979, he served as YMCA executive director. A dedicated civic leader, Chuck was elected to eight, two-year terms as mayor of Rochester, serving from 1979 to 1995. He was a longtime member of the Congregational Church and held leadership roles in multiple organizations. Chuck loved to travel. He was also passionate about gardening and enjoyed spending time in the gardens at his Rochester home and his family home on Maui, where he lived for much of the winter during his retirement years. He is survived by his son, daughter, grandson, and five of his son’s stepchildren.

Patricia Parr Millhaem ’55, Jan. 17, 2022, Hilton Head, South Carolina. Pat was a graduate of the University of Iowa after attending Grinnell. She was active in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, and the American Association of University Women. She later worked a variety of roles in health care and administration. After she and her husband retired, they relocated to Sarasota, Florida, where she volunteered at St. Andrews Church and for a variety of women’s support organizations. She is survived by her sons, two grandsons, a great-grandson, and three great-granddaughters.

James C. Olsen ’55, Nov. 6, 2021, Grass Valley, California. His wife, Joanne Boeckling Olsen ’54, died on July 18, 2021.

Ronald E. Schmierer ’55, Dec. 4, 2021, Omaha, Nebraska.

Charles S. Haynes ’56, March 18, 2022, Lenox, Massachusetts. Charlie, active in theatre at Grinnell, was an engaged alumnus who enjoyed a rich and varied life as a professor, artistic designer, writer, and sports fan. After graduate study at the University of Minnesota, Charlie moved to New York City. He married Harriet Hawkins in 1969. He received a Fulbright scholarship to continue linguistic research in Japan, and he and Harriet spent several years abroad, including another Fulbright tour in Indonesia. Eventually they settled back in New York City with their two sons. Charlie had a remarkable 47-year professorial career at New York University, where he had earned a doctorate in linguistics. Charlie completed a master’s in divinity studies at New York Theological Seminary in 2003. He was active in his communities, especially within his church. After Harriet died in 2016, Charlie continued to refine his distinctive arts practice featuring mixed media set in glass-paneled wooden boxes. He also wrote several plays and countless poems. His survivors include a devoted partner, Carol Walker; two sons; and three grandchildren.

Larry L. Schaleger ’57, July 24, 2019, Oakland, California. Larry was a true Renaissance man. He went on from Grinnell to earn a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota. He was a professor at the University of Hawaii and a laboratory guru at Jacobs Engineering. A cross- country champion at Grinnell, Larry also was a marathon man, Sierras backpacker, and golfer. He was a bridge whiz, sketch artist and painter, and lover of books. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; children, Paul, Mary, and Eric; and a sister, Valerie.

James H. Stacey ’57, Feb. 2, 2022, Chicago. James received his master’s degree in English literature from San Francisco State University in 1960. He lived in Honolulu, where he taught English at the University of Hawaii before returning to his hometown, Chicago; there he worked for Fairchild Publications, BusinessWeek magazine, Michael Reese Hospital, and the American Medical Association. Later, he spent 18 years in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, moving back once again to Chicago in 2004. A longtime writer and press liaison for the AMA as well as a prolific freelance writer, he was the author of four books. James is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carol; his daughters from his first marriage, Nicole Stacey and Michelle Stacey ’79; four grandchildren; two stepchildren and two step- grandchildren; and many Stacey cousins, nieces, and nephews in the Chicago area, including nephew Gordon Stacy ’79 and niece Kristen Stacy ’16.

Jean Fowler ’58, Jan. 30, 2022, San Francisco. Jean graduated from Grinnell with “an enduring sense of obligation to the College.” After a brief stint working for the Girl Scout Council in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jean moved to Germany, where she was employed as a “service club girl” for the U.S. Army. This experience instilled a love of Frankenwein, skiing, and travel. Upon her return to the states, Jean lived in San Francisco. Her career with the Asia Foundation, Levi Strauss, and the World Affairs Council of Northern California provided multiple opportunities to travel abroad. Jean’s retirement in 1999 allowed more frequent adventures, often in the company of Carolyn Hewes Toft ’58 — her Grinnell roommate and lifelong best friend. Jean continued to pursue her passion for exploration, visiting more than 70 countries in her lifetime.

Susan Ward Fisher ’59, March 19, 2022, Rochester, Minnesota. Susan received her bachelor’s from Grinnell. She married Darrell Ervin Fisher ’57 in 1959. Darrell was an orthopedic surgeon with the Surgical Associates from 1970 to 2000 in Mason City, Iowa, where the couple lived until moving to Rochester, Minnesota in 2021. Susan described herself as a “professional volunteer” and faithfully served the Mason City community in leadership positions for nearly 40 years. She was employed as coordinator of education at First Presbyterian Church for 15 years. As a church elder, she served on the national Social Justice and Peacemaking Ministry Unit of the Presbyterian Church USA. She was board president of Mason City Public Schools and founding president of the Education Foundation of Mason City Public Schools. She was the first woman campaign chairperson and first woman board president of United Way of Mason City. She worked with her husband on numerous medical mission trips to St. Lucia and Kenya. Susan served on the board of the Grinnell College Alumni Association and was a reunion planning committee member (2008–2014), Alumni Council member, class fund director (2015–2018), and GRASP volunteer (1998–2017). Susan is survived by her husband, Darrell; two sons and a daughter; and five grandsons.

Janet Schaab Mann ’59, Aug. 22, 2021, Salt Lake City. Janet was a professor of music at the University of Utah, where she founded the division of piano pedagogy. Her heart was with Broadway music, and she starred in dozens of regional theaters, from MUNI Opera in St. Louis to Midland Michigan to Salt Lake City. Janet also starred in a cappella groups and was the founder of “Serendipity.” She was a brilliant classical pianist. She was also a talented artist, especially in watercolors, with an amazing eye for color and shading. Janet loved to travel and visited over 100 countries. In 2008, Janet served as a member of her Grinnell 50th reunion planning committee. She is survived by her husband, Michael Kalm; five children; and 11 grandchildren.

Ruey Brodine Morelli ’59, May 2021, Ferrara, Italy.

David A. Rave ’59, Dec. 19, 2020, Venice, Utah. Dave went on from Grinnell to earn two master’s degrees — one in social work from Smith College and one in library science from Brigham Young University. He married Connie Jean Buchanan in 1969. Dave served in the California National Guard. He enjoyed working on family history, reading, and collecting model trains. Dave is survived by his wife, Connie, and his son.

Karl L. Krumel ’60, Oct. 27, 2021, Bonita Springs, Florida. His wife, Nancy Strindmo Krumel ’61, died on June 15, 2021, also in Bonita Springs.

Carolyn Parsons McCall ’60, Aug. 25, 2021, Portland, Oregon. Carolyn spent two years teaching English in Turkey in the Grinnell fifth year abroad program. She married Merritt McCall ’60, and together they managed Menucha, a Presbyterian Retreat and Conference Center near Portland, for 30 years. Carolyn loved her family, her church, music, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, for which she was a qualified interpreter. She served as an alumni volunteer from 2010 to 2015. Survivors include her husband; two children; five grandchildren; a sister, Margaret “Peg” Parsons Swenson ’54; and a brother, Bill Parsons ’62, and his partner, Kay Jones Rencken ’62.

Lawrence W. “Larry” Klute ’62, Nov. 18, 2020, Long Neck, Delaware. After Grinnell, Larry graduated from Duke Law School in North Carolina. He served for four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War as a captain and attorney. He owned a private law practice and worked for the neighborhood legal services in Washington, D.C. He retired as a federal attorney for the Board of Veteran Appeals. Larry is survived by his husband of 20 years, Eric Peterson; two daughters; and two grandchildren.

G. Warren Smith ’62, Dec. 26, 2021, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Warren majored in chemistry at Grinnell, where he met Constance Krambeer Smith ’63. Following their wedding, he earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from Cornell University. After a few years on the Cornell faculty, he joined the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, serving as department head and faculty member for 10 years. He next served as dean at the University of Houston-Clearlake and later moved to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, where he was vice president for academic affairs and then president. Then he served as Slippery Rock University’s 14th president from 1997 to 2003. He was a member of numerous scientific societies. An Eagle Scout, Warren was awarded the Silver Beaver in recognition of his years of dedication to scouting. He was a violinist and a faithful member of community orchestras wherever he lived. He also served in leadership roles in various civic and governmental groups. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Connie; his son; and two granddaughters.

Ane Sorensen Gade ’63, March 8, 2022, Santa Cruz, California. After a year of study at Grinnell, Ane married Barton Pruhs, had three children, then completed her undergraduate degree in school counseling at the University of Iowa. In the late 1960s, Ane worked as a school counselor. After completing her master’s degree in social work and counseling from the University of Iowa, she became a therapist for Lutheran Social Service’s Beloit of Iowa Counseling and Residential Treatment Center, where she eventually became clinical director. In the late 1970s, she married William Tysseling. In 1987, she moved to California, where she was employed as a counselor in San Jose and Santa Cruz. She opened a private counseling practice in 1991 and continued to provide counseling services to individuals and couples until 2021. Ane was an inveterate reader and loved the theatre. She is survived by her spouse, Bill; her daughter and two sons; and six grandchildren.

Sara Higgins Mitchell ’63, Jan. 30, 2022, Ames, Iowa. Sara attended Grinnell for two years, then graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She received her master’s in English education from University of Iowa later in her life. Sara married Larry Mitchell in 1963, and they raised two children. Besides teaching and providing English as a second language for many communities, she served on a school board in Wisconsin. Sara loved the woods and was a master gardener who loved working at Reiman Gardens in Ames. She enjoyed sewing and working on her loom and wrote family histories. Survivors include her husband, Larry; her daughter and son; and five grandchildren.

Beverly Kahling Offen ’63, Nov. 25, 2021, Glenview, Illinois. Beverly graduated from Grinnell Phi Beta Kappa with a major in history. Subsequently, she earned a master’s in library science from the University of Rochester and the University of Hawaii. Beverly was a professor of library sciences at Oakton (Illinois) Community College Library until retiring. Then she became a published and prolific short story writer as well as a talented poet. Beverly was a tireless volunteer who hosted numerous educational events for the Victorian Society and later became its president.

David V. Evans ’64, Feb. 25, 2022, Arlington, Virginia. After graduating from Grinnell, David went on to earn a master’s in political science from the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University and worked toward a doctorate in political science at Penn State. He received an honorary doctorate from Hastings College in 1998, when he was the commencement speaker. David was an authority on federal education law. He was legislative associate for higher education of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Lifelong Learning and worked for Rep. Dale E. Kildee, the subcommittee’s ranking minority member. Before that, he served for 19 years with the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and Humanities as a professional staff member and director, working directly for Sen. Claiborne Pell. He played a key leadership role in reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act (1986, 1992, 1998); reauthorizations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1978, 1988, 1994); rewriting of the Vocational Education Act (1984, 1990, 1996); and other important legislation, such as The Education for Economic Security and Goals 2000 Act. He was a co-founder and member of the board of directors of Votivo, a candle manufacturing company in Seattle. He also served as administrative assistant to the governor of Rhode Island and special assistant to the governor of Nebraska. David was a member of his 40th, 45th, and 55th Grinnell reunion planning committees, and a class fund director from 2006 to 2022. He led his class in raising over $1.25 million for its 50th Reunion and in the establishment of the Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship.

Stephen P. Grooms ’64, Nov. 25, 2021, St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduating from Grinnell, Steve earned a master’s in American studies at the University of Minnesota, where he met and married Kathe (Schnoes) Grooms. An avid hunter and fisher, he was the senior editor of Fins and Feathers magazine for five years before becoming a successful outdoor writer whose work was published in many magazines and books, including his own Pheasant Hunter’s Harvest, The Cry of the Sandhill Crane, Bluebirds, The Ones that Got Away, and The Return of the Wolf. He looked back with pride on his outdoor writing career, noting that his writing reflected his progressive politics and helped legitimize the role of women in outdoor sports. Steve is survived by a daughter and grandson.

Michael Patterson ’64, Feb. 16, 2022, Dublin, Ohio. Michael went on to earn his doctorate in experimental psychology in 1969. He served as the director of research at three colleges of osteopathic medicine (Ohio University, Athens; University of Health Sciences, Kansas City, Missouri; and Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) from 1977 until retiring in 2008. He had innumerable scientific publications to his name and was associate editor for the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association and the Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine textbook. He earned multiple honors and awards, including an honorary Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the College of Osteopathic Studies in Montréal. He was an avid camper, international traveler, and was extremely proud of his scouting career where he earned his Eagle Scout, was a scout master, and earned the Silver Beaver award for distinguished service in scouting. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Janice; two sons; and five grandchildren.

Thomas F. Somerville ’64, March 30, 2022, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. After majoring in art and theatre at Grinnell, Tom received a master’s in theater from the University of South Dakota. He also earned an MFA in directing from Florida State University. Tom taught for several years as a tenured professor at the University of Puget Sound. Upon leaving academia, Tom had a long and successful career as a theatre director of more than 160 productions, directing shows at some of the nation’s most prestigious regional theatres. From 1985 to 1990, Tom served as director of the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre in Jupiter, Florida. Tom is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathy; five children; and five grandchildren.

Allen M. Rossman ’66, Jan. 20, 2022, Woodinville, Washington. Allen attended Grinnell and Johns Hopkins Medical School and received his ophthalmology training at Yale. Part of his residency was spent in Haiti at Albert Schweitzer Hospital. He also served two years in the Army Medical Corps in Fort Riley, Kansas. Soon after Allen opened his ophthalmology practice in Kirkland, Washington, he was diagnosed with leukemia but triumphed over the disease and returned to full-time practice for more than 30 years. Music was a lifelong passion. He played the guitar and banjo, joining college classmates in impromptu performances. He was a member of The Geezers and the Pointless Sisters band, which performed at his 50th Grinnell Reunion celebration. Allen and his wife, Debbie, were married nearly 40 years. Following retirement, they spent time on the road in their Alfa Romeo sports cars, volunteering at rallies with the Alfa Romeo Owners of Oregon. They also spent winters in Arizona with family and friends. Allen is survived by his wife, Debbie; two daughters; three grandchildren; and sister, Amy Rossman ’68.

Stewart M. Mansfield ’67, May 19, 2021, Northville, Michigan. After Grinnell, Stew proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 and received the Bronze Star. After his military service, he had a successful career with Ford Motor Co. from 1972 to 2000. Stew is survived by his wife of 28 years, Barbara; a son, and two grandchildren.

Michael C. Dejoie ’68, January 2022, New Orleans. Mike was known and beloved by classmates across campus. At a time when Grinnell men typically socialized in their own hall, Mike could be found in any hall. He sang in choir and fondly remembered performing for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Mike worked on The Scarlet & Black and was in ROTC. He was one of the founders of the Grinnell College radio station KDIC. After graduation, he worked for a time at CBS News. He later became a public relations executive with AT&T in Atlanta before returning home to his beloved New Orleans. Both his home and his ancestral home were devasted in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina; he worked hard to restore both. Mike was a member of his 40th Grinnell Reunion planning committee and served as a GRASP volunteer from 2004 to 2017.

Bruce C. Luecke ’69, Nov. 27, 2021, Madison, Wisconsin. Bruce earned his DVM from the University of Missouri and held an advanced degree in pathology from the University of Illinois. He worked for the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in the 1980s. He acted as a whistleblower, a challenging and defining experience. Bruce was devoted to animals, wild and domestic, and was in his element taking care of things. Bruce and his wife, Susan Freiss, enjoyed the adventures they had exploring wild places in Wisconsin and beyond. In Bruce’s later working years, he enjoyed his position as a special education assistant with the school district, helping to support children with special needs and who had experienced trauma. Bruce is survived by his wife, Susan.

Roy Biser ’70, Feb. 24, 2022, Houston. Roy earned a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology. He served as a Methodist minister at many churches throughout East Texas and was a valued member of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Roy married his high school sweetheart, Merri Gay Beatty, who survives.

Rachel Canright Summers ’70, Sept. 4, 2021, Port Medway, Nova Scotia, Canada. Born in Chicago, Rachel spent part of her childhood in Guam. After earning her bachelor’s at Grinnell, she earned another bachelor’s, in nursing, from New York University. She lived in New York for 35 years before moving to Canada and becoming a Canadian citizen in 2004. For almost 20 years, Rachel lived in the old lighthouse-keeper’s house in Port Medway, Nova Scotia. She was an excellent artist, a painter with a liking for egg tempera, and a sculptor. She was a careful gardener, tending the flowers around her house and working in the community vegetable garden. She had been an emergency room nurse in New York. She was a Port Medway first responder with the volunteer fire department, always ready to help with fire and medical emergencies.

James E. Bierman ’73, Jan. 15, 2022, Northfield, Minnesota. Jim attended Grinnell for two years, then transferred to the University of Minnesota where he received his bachelor’s in mortuary science. He returned to Northfield to work for his family’s furniture store and mortuary, eventually buying Bierman Funeral Home, which he owned and operated until retiring in 2015. Jim and his high school sweetheart, Mary Boyd, married in 1972. Jim was active in the Sportsman’s Club, was a member and usher at St. John’s Lutheran Church, enjoyed fishing, and took many trips with friends and family to Canada and Alaska. He received the Rice County Wildlife Enhancement Award in 2020. Survivors include his wife, Mary; three children, and one granddaughter.

John F. Potts ’74, Feb. 26, 2022, Ottawa Hills, Ohio. After Grinnell, John graduated from the University of Toledo Law School in 1978. He was a longtime Toledo attorney, practicing on his own for 45 years; specializing in criminal law, white- collar crime, and appellate work. John loved music and played harmonica with several groups, including the Post-Modern Blues and The Microphonics. In his youth he was an athlete, wrestling and playing football for his four years at Grinnell. He also enjoyed bicycling and following the Tour de France.

Twila Thompson ’76, Jan. 4, 2022, New York City. Twila attended Grinnell to study theatre. Ultimately landing in New York City, she participated in acting classes at the Actors Institute. Soon, she was facilitating programs, leading group experiences, and offering personal coaching. As the Actors Institute evolved to work more in the corporate world, Twila became a partner in TAI Group. She developed an intense experiential program, challenging people to reframe personal injury and trauma as a source of creativity expressed through poetry, prose, music, and sculpture. In 2013, she relocated to London to develop international business. She returned to the United States as the director of new partnerships.

David H. Leech ’79, June 15, 2021, Eureka, California.

Peter D. Russell ’79, Feb. 5, 2021, Malibu, California. Peter was a story analyst for major film and TV production companies in the 1990s. Then he started his own business: teaching, writing, consulting, and appearing regularly as a conference speaker. Peter entertained and inspired with his online presence as “peterrussellscriptdoctor.” He taught at several California colleges and was awarded Teacher of the Year at University of California-Los Angeles in 2009. Peter was hiking with his wife when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Suzy.

Sarah Brichford ’81, Feb. 28, 2022, Russiaville, Indiana. Sarah went on from Grinnell to earn a master’s in environmental studies from Yale University. In 1992, she married Jack D. Johnson. She worked as a water quality specialist in various positions for universities, nonprofits, and local government for over 30 years before retiring in 2019. Sarah was an outdoor recreation enthusiast and played several sports. She was an avid fly fisher. She played French horn with the Kokomo Chamber Brass, Howard County-IUK Community Band, and community theatre productions. She was a volunteer for many community groups and activities. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. She is survived by her husband, Jack, and a son and daughter.

Robert F. Hale ’82, Jan. 24, 2022, Michigan City, Indiana. Bob graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and worked as a Great Lakes merchant seaman. Survivors include his sister, Julie Hale ’79.

Nikolas Gregory ’90, Feb. 20, 2022, Andover, Massachusetts. Nik earned a doctorate from MIT in 1999. A longtime resident of Andover, where he lived with his wife of 30 years, Laura Meyer Gregory ’89, Nik enjoyed photography, walking, skiing, and spending time with family. After he died unexpectedly, his family suggested memorial donations could be made to the Nik Gregory ’90 Fund at Grinnell College. Nik is survived by his wife, Laura, and two daughters.

Roy B. Huggins ’99, Nov. 19, 2021, Portland, Oregon. Roy studied music at Grinnell, performing  in Grinnell Singers. In 2001 he transitioned to Portland, where he met Electra Allenton ’05. He worked in web development until he obtained a master’s in counseling from Portland State University (PSU). After graduating and marrying, he and his wife moved to Japan for three years. Upon their return to Portland, Roy was invited back to PSU to teach. However, his life’s work and deep purpose was his multinational bilingual counseling practice and a nationally respected consulting company, which assists with HIPAA compliance. Roy was a GRASP volunteer from 2002 to 2013. He is survived by his wife, Electra.

James R. Schueller ’03, Feb. 8, 2022, Los Angeles. While attending Grinnell, Jim earned numerous varsity letters in baseball and football. After he received his bachelor’s in history, he lived in the Phoenix area for several years before moving to Los Angeles. Jim spent his life doing what he loved — meeting new people, being a free spirit, working as a professional physical fitness trainer, and playing the guitar in several bands. Jim loved his family dearly, rarely missing a large Schueller family gathering. Survivors include his parents, sister, two brothers, and four nieces.

Former Faculty

Ed Gilday, May 17, 2022, Grinnell, Iowa. Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies Ed Gilday taught countless Grinnell students about Asian religions and culture. After earning his bachelor’s in Asian studies, master’s in Buddhist studies, and doctorate in the history of religions, he worked at both Bowdoin College and the University of Colorado. He joined the Grinnell faculty in 1995. Over the course of two decades, he taught courses on Asian religions, including Buddhism and Chinese and Japanese religions. He chaired the religious studies department for many years and was a strong proponent of off-campus studies. Ed was beloved by students for his friendliness and for being invested in their success.

Mathilda Liberman, April 12, 2022, Lincolnwood, Illinois. Mathilda earned her bachelor’s at the University of Michigan and her master’s at the University of Connecticut. She started her career with Grinnell in 1960, when her husband, Myron Liberman, joined the faculty as a professor of English. Mathilda taught courses in the humanities and was instrumental in helping to develop and organize the Writing Lab. She was the lab’s first director and served in that role for more than two decades. Myron retired in 1987 and died in 1995. Mathilda was named lecturer emerita in English when she retired in 1997. Mathilda’s survivors include her two sons.

Sheila McCarthy, Jan. 11, 2022, Ithaca, New York. Sheila graduated from Emmanuel College with a bachelor’s in Russian. She went on to receive a master’s in Soviet area studies from Harvard and a doctorate in Russian literature from Cornell University. Shelia joined the College as an associate professor of Russian in 1973. She met her husband, Clifford “Cliff” Reid, here. They left Grinnell in the late 1980s to take faculty positions at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Throughout her career, Sheila was known equally for her excellence as an instructor and for her care of students as individuals. She retired from Colby in 2009. Cliff Reid passed away in November 2021.

Gregg Narber

Longtime College board member, Des Moines civic leader

Gregg R. Narber ’68, Grinnell College Board of Trustees life trustee and a civic leader in Des Moines, Iowa, died Feb. 16, 2022, in Longmont, Colorado. He was 75.

Gregg believed fervently in education and actively pursued it all his life. He majored in political science and Latin American area studies at Grinnell, then earned his master’s in political science and law degree from Washington University (St. Louis), and a master’s and doctorate in history from the University of Iowa. He pursued additional studies in the political science doctoral program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in the MFA program in painting at Drake University.

Gregg was editor-in-chief of the Washington University Law Quarterly and won awards for his scholarship. He taught history at Luther College and as a graduate instructor at the University of Iowa. He published works on Regionalist and New Deal art programs. Gregg was an AFS exchange student to Brazil in 1964, acquiring facility in Portuguese.

After law school, he did active duty as a trial judge advocate

in the Marine Corps. In a 27-year legal career with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa, he became senior vice president and

general counsel; leaving that position to serve as a director of Principal’s joint venture in Brazil. He was a member of the house of delegates of the American Bar Association for several years.

Gregg’s other passions included reading, art, and music. He was on the board of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and a life trustee of the Des Moines Art Center, where he gifted important works to its collection and was president of the board for several years and a member and later chair of its acquisition committee. He was a member of the Des Moines Arts and Recreation Council, the City of Des Moines Public Art Commission, and the Des Moines National Poetry Festival. Gregg also wrote and lectured widely on regionalist and New Deal art programs.

Gregg served as a Grinnell College trustee from 2000 to 2012, then was named a life trustee. He was a member of the Grinnell College Museum of Art Leadership Council from 2015 to 2018.

Gregg shared 50 of his years with two remarkable women: Christann (Kice) Higley ’70, mother of his two sons; and Kathleen Joyce “Kathie” Andriano, with whom he adopted two daughters.

He is survived by his wife, Kathie; four children; six grandchildren; and a brother and sister. Christann also survives.

Norma Myers Runge ’42, Jan. 3, 2021, San Diego. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Runge ’42.

Leland J. “Bud” Hawley ’45, April 23, 2021, Laurens, Iowa. After Grinnell, Bud joined the U.S. Army, assigned to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he met and married Beverly Buckwalter. In 1945, he returned to Laurens to become the third generation in the family business, Hawley Insurance Agency. During their 28-year marriage, Bud and Bev raised four children. In 1987, he married Jeanette (Oleson) Johnson, and they enjoyed 34 years of marriage until she died in March 2021. Bud was an active, lifelong member of Laurens United Methodist Church and a past master of Masonic Grace Lodge #519, a master mason and 32nd degree Scottish rite mason, and a Shriner with Abu Bekr Temple. He enjoyed travel and visited all 50 states, much of Canada, and parts of Europe and Australia. A loyal Democrat and proud descendant of Iowa Pioneers, Bud was honored for his stewardship of the Hawley Home Place, an Iowa century farm since 1981. Survivors include a daughter, son, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Mary Watt Collinge ’48, March 11, 2021, Webster, New York. Mary trained and practiced as a home economist before “retiring” to raise a family. Later, she had numerous volunteer roles, including serving on the boards of the Rochester Presbyterian Home and the Penfield Public Library. She also volunteered for Webster Presbyterian Church, the Camp Fire Girls, Literacy Volunteers, and the Penfield Trail Committee. She was a proud member of PEO Sisterhood and enjoyed walking with the Wednesday Hikers and traveling. Survivors include a son, two daughters, and a grandson.

Julia “Tigger” Stimson Appel ’49, Sept. 27, 2021, Antigo, Wisconsin. Julia graduated from Grinnell with a major in biology, then earned a nursing degree as a private duty nurse. Julia and her husband, David, loved the outdoors. They enjoyed hiking, camping, and rock climbing as well as sailing and skiing. Julia also became interested in writing. She joined the Romance Writers of America Appleton chapter in 1989. She completed a novel and wrote articles for travel magazines. Survivors include her three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Isadore Berman ’49, Oct. 6, 2021, Grinnell, Iowa. Isadore received his MBA from Columbia University in New York in 1951. He was a U.S. Army World War ll veteran who served in Europe. In 1956, he married Ida Roseman, and the couple made their home in Grinnell, where they raised two children. Isadore worked with his father for many years and then as a partner with his brother until around 1986, continuing to run Sam Berman and Sons along with his son into an ever more successful scrap iron and metal business in Grinnell. He was a 75-plus-year member of the Grinnell American Legion, VFW, Grinnell Masonic Lodge, Grinnell Elks Lodge, and the Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines. He was an avid reader, held a keen interest in investing, and loved to travel. He served as a New Student Orientation volunteer for the College in 2009. Survivors include his daughter and son, and three grandchildren.

Katherine Mueller Smith ’49, Sept. 19, 2021, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Eleanor Kennedy Walters ’49, Oct. 5, 2021, Marion, Iowa. Eleanor attended Grinnell for two years, then graduated from the University of Iowa. She married William Walters in 1953. Eleanor taught high school for 15 years, including 11 years in Wyoming, Iowa. She was very active in the Onslow and Wyoming Presbyterian Churches and served as an elder, a youth fellowship adviser, Sunday school teacher, and circle chairwoman. She was a member of the PEO Sisterhood of Anamosa, the Wyoming Library board, and numerous other community and social organizations. Eleanor was exceptionally well read, loved history, had a keen sense of humor, and enjoyed playing cards and games and spending time with her family. Survivors include her husband, two sons, five grandchildren, and six great- grandchildren.

Jerald A. Anderson ’50, Sept. 8, 2021, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jerry graduated from Grinnell as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1962, he married Wanda Sorenson. After serving in the U.S. Army, Jerry worked at the United Fire and Casualty Co. in the underwriting department until retiring as an assistant vice president in 1990. Jerry is best known for his humble, hospitable manner and quick wit. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and singing in the church choir. In retirement, he served on the boards of the Linn County Chaplaincy and the Linn Community Food Bank. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years. He is survived by a daughter, son, and two grandsons.

Shirley Miller McFarland ’50, July 14, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa. Shirley met Robert A. “Bob” McFarland ’49 at Grinnell and married him in 1948. She later received her bachelor’s in English literature from the University of Iowa. Her husband’s career in education had their family living in several communities in Iowa, where she not only raised her family but was very involved in community activities. While living in Marshalltown, she volunteered as a tutor for minority students in the schools. She continued tutoring when she and Bob moved to Estes Park, Colorado, in their retirement. She was active in church as a deacon and in the choir, active in the senior center, and was a P.E.O. sister. She was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include three children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Katherine “Casey” Cosandey Snook ’50, Aug. 10, 2021, Alpine, Texas. Katherine lived much of her young life in Minneapolis. At Grinnell she met her husband, Donald Snook ’49, while singing in the choir. Don’s work with the state department and later, Esso Middle East, took the couple to Syria and then to Libya for a total of 18 years. During that time, their daughters were born. In addition to starting and singing with various music groups, the couple enjoyed picnicking in the countryside, visiting picturesque villages, exploring the coast and the Sahara Desert and Greek and Roman antiquities, and roaming through historic Mediterranean cities. In 1969, the family returned to the United States. A member of the Unitarian Church, Katherine served on its board of trustees and as president of the Saugatuck Valley Audubon Society and volunteered at the Westport Historical Society and the Westport Arts Center. In addition to enjoying walks and picnics in the countryside and on the shore, she and Don sang with several local church and community chorales and the Westport Madrigal Singers. In 2016, Katherine and Don moved to Alpine, Texas. Surviving family members include her husband; three daughters, Laura Snook ’74, Ann, and Helen; and four grandchildren.

Dorothy Wagner Boettcher ’51, Oct. 12, 2021, East Lansing, Michigan. A naturally gifted musician from a very early age, Dorothy continued her professional training at Grinnell, majoring in music. She excelled in piano, flute, and voice — exhibiting those skills through musical tours and local performances. In 1951, she married Alvin Boettcher and moved to Michigan, where Dorothy began to teach music in the Lansing school system as well as piano lessons in the home. She received her master’s in education from Michigan State University while raising three children. She taught fifth grade in the East Lansing school system for 20 years. Retirement was filled with continued participation in The Peoples Church choir and chorale groups, to whom she lent her powerful soprano voice. Frequent European vacations with Alvin, who died in 2019, were also a favorite pastime. She is survived by a daughter, two sons, a grandchild, and six great-grandchildren.

M. Mercedes Bolger Biedermann ’52, Oct. 3, 2021, Norristown, Pennsylvania. Mercedes married John Stewart Biedermann in 1957 and moved to Philadelphia, where John co-owned a wholesale plywood business. She joined the Junior Saturday Club, where she made friends, enjoyed social events, and engaged in community outreach. Her ultimate passion was bridge, which she learned to play in college. She was still playing at the retirement community where she last lived. Survivors include two children and five grandchildren.

John H. Sitton ’52, Oct. 12, 2021, Ruston, Louisiana. John was born in Denver and graduated from Denver schools and Grinnell. While working in California, he met and married Linda Roberts. He worked in restaurant and retail management up and down the West Coast. He enthusiastically served his church while finding time for merchant groups, Rotary, Judicial Justice Commission, California grand jury, and other civic and volunteer causes. Survivors include his wife, Linda; a son and daughter; and eight grandchildren.

R. James Bagnall ’53, Sept. 25, 2021, Marshalltown, Iowa. During high school, Jim worked part-time at Arbie Feeds in Marshalltown. After attending Grinnell, he graduated from Marshalltown Community College and went to work full time at Arbie as assistant manager. He married Elizabeth “Bette” Watson in 1951. In 1969, he was promoted to president and general manager, semi-retiring in 1995. Jim was active in community and church activities and volunteered with seven organizations: Jaycees, Noon Lions, United Way, Marshalltown Area Community Hospital, and the Industrial Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce. He held many offices in the First Baptist Church (Journey Church) and taught Sunday School for several years. He loved traveling, fishing, woodworking, watching sports, and reading. He enjoyed vacationing with his family and holiday gatherings. He was a man of integrity and generosity and left a great spiritual legacy. Jim is survived by his wife, Bette; three children; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Joan Furhman Jones ’54, Oct. 14, 2021, Springfield, Missouri. At Grinnell, Joan majored in art. Later, during an 18-year professional public relations career with the YWCA in Iowa, Texas, Virginia, and California and with the American Red Cross in Los Angeles, she further honed her graphic skills. She married Earl “Dick” Jones in 1972. Their relationship lasted 49 years. In 1973, Joan began a 45-year career doing what she loved most — painting, specializing in watercolors and pastels. Her favorite subjects were figures, mostly models, and townscapes from locations in Mexico, Norway, and the central coast of California. During this period, Joan created hundreds of paintings and her work was shown in numerous juried shows and galleries, and she received dozens of honors and awards. In recent years, she took up jewelry design and produced many online video programs. Joan was a long- time member of P.E.O., Chapter DP, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, subsequently of Bethany Lutheran Church, and more recently of Trinity Church of the Nazarene, all in Lompoc, California. She is survived by her husband.

Barbara Scott Couve ’55, Oct. 3, 2021, Deer Park, Illinois. In high school, Barbara was a multisport athlete, a member of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Student Council. At Grinnell, she was on the Homecoming court and was Mardi Gras queen as well as a Langan sweetheart. After graduation, she worked as a photo typesetter for BC Lettering and was a teacher’s aide at Central Road School in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. She was happiest when traveling with her spouse of 62 years, Carl Forrest Couve ’54, or cheering on her children and grandchildren at their activities. She was a member of the Grinnell Reunion Committee from 2004 to 2010. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl, and is survived by three daughters, five grandchildren, and one great- grandson.

Frank W. Hays ’55, Sept. 26, 2021, Bonita Springs, Florida.

Edwin O. Jantz ’57, Sept. 1, 2021, Southbury, Connecticut. Ed majored in economics at Grinnell, then joined the Air Force and was able to leverage his early military experience in a progression of sales roles. He later went on to earn a master’s from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Ed married Nancy Gail Holzer in 1960. They continued to move as Ed was promoted in various sales roles in Colorado until he made a career change into city management with a move to Los Alamos, New Mexico. The family later moved to Texas, where Ed focused on municipal purchasing and held roles as director for purchasing for the city of Dallas, county of Dallas, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. After retirement, Ed and Gail moved to Connecticut. Ed was well known for his optimism, his sense of humor, and kindness to all. He lived an active and engaged life and loved hiking, fishing, gardening, and reading nonfiction and financial publications. He is survived by his wife, Gail; three daughters, five grandchildren, and one great- granddaughter; and his brother, Gary L. Jantz ’62.

James C. McKinnell ’57, May 15, 2021, Red Lion, Pennsylvania. After he completed his undergraduate studies at Grinnell, Jim spent a year at Eden Seminary in St. Louis, then completed his ministry education with Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago, in 1961. At Bethany Seminary, he met Letha Miller, who he married in 1959. Jim’s pastoral ministry included student pastorates at Grinnell and in St. Louis; he and Letha did seminary internship pastorates with Brethren congregations in Maryland. Jim and Letha went on to serve several Brethren congregations. Jim also completed doctor of ministry studies at Bethany Seminary. Bible interpretation was his major interest. Jim enjoyed gardening, playing guitar, singing, family genealogy, and making entries in his diary for over 60 years. Jim was preceded in death by Letha in 2018. He is survived by two sons, five grandchildren, and two great- grandsons.

Doris Koerner Willoughby ’57, Sept. 8, 2021, Lakewood, Colorado. Doris graduated from Boulder (Colorado) High School as class valedictorian in 1953 and majored in education at Grinnell. She taught second grade in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for 11 years. She married D. Curtis Willoughby in 1967. From the time they met, Doris became a driver and reader assistant for Curtis, one of the first blind electrical engineers in the country. Doris received her certification in the teaching of blind children in 1969 after studying during the summers and evenings. In 1972, the Willoughbys moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where Doris taught blind children. They moved to the Denver area in 1993, and Doris received a master’s from the University of Northern Colorado soon after. Doris taught blind children in the Adams 12 School District near Denver. She later taught blind adults at the Colorado Training Center for the Blind, where she helped students prepare for citizenship and the GED test, among other things. She was a pioneer and leader in the education of blind children for at least four decades and wrote or co-authored four books on that subject. At its 50th anniversary convention, the National Federation of the Blind honored Doris with its highest award in education: the Distinguished Teacher of Blind Children Award. Doris was an active member of the United Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband.

James David Schenken ’58, April 2021, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Thomas J. Soper ’60, April 17, 2021, Sturgis, Michigan. Tom, a longtime distance runner, is survived by his wife, Lucy Ann Zimmerman; a son, daughter, stepson, and stepdaughter; and four grandsons.

Charles “Chuck” M. Palmer ’61, Nov. 7, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa. Chuck spent his life dedicated to the mental health and well-being of children and families. After graduating from Grinnell and the University of Chicago, he began a six-decade career in human services. He spent time at the Child Guidance Center and United Way before joining and eventually leading the Iowa Department of Human Services. He was named the director of DHS twice, first in 1989 until 1999, and again in 2011 until 2017. His professional career also included roles at the Institute for Social and Economic Development and the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative, among others. He served as an adjunct professor at Drake University and University of Iowa. Chuck was also active in local and national volunteer and community organizations, including the American Red Cross and National Association of Social Workers. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Karen Heise Palmer ’61; and two children and two grandchildren.

Gary A. Hanson ’63, Sept. 6, 2021, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Gary majored in history at Grinnell. He spent the summer of 1962 with a family near Bilbao, Spain, as part of the Experiment in International Living. He earned a master’s and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He spent 1967–68 in the Soviet Union with the IREX U.S. government exchange doing research in Moscow and St. Petersburg and traveling to Central Asia and Caucasia. He taught Russian and European history at the University of Saskatchewan from 1969 to 2000. Favorite courses were the Russian history survey, nationalism and the nationalities of the Soviet Union, Stalin and Stalinism, and especially a history of Siberia, his research interest. Activities included Amnesty International, the Canadian International Council, and the Saskatoon Stamp Club, and he belonged to Zion Lutheran Church. He especially enjoyed trips to Yugoslavia, the Republic of South Africa, Portugal, and Argentina.

Raymond B. Cooper ’64, July 24, 2021, Sylacauga, Alabama. Ray was employed by Kimberly Clark Corp. as a director of finance for 42 years with his last position in Waco, Texas. While there, Ray participated in Camp Fire USA and served as president of the local chapter. Ray officially retired from Kimberly Clark in 2007. He enjoyed golfing, woodworking, lawn care, watching television, living on the lake and, most of all, spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, JoAnne; two daughters; and five grandchildren.

William S. Johnson ’64, Sept. 4, 2021, North Liberty, Iowa. Bill graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell and then attended the University of Chicago on a Fulbright scholarship. He later moved to Iowa City and earned a second degree in music from the University of Iowa. Bill loved classical music and was an accomplished pianist who taught piano and gave concerts. He was fluent in German, Italian, Russian, and French and enjoyed reading classic books in their original languages. He especially enjoyed a meal with wine and conversing with friends who enjoyed his dry sense of humor. In his view, he was a “tough cookie” who valiantly dealt with health issues throughout his life.

Donald Reimer ’64, Sept. 1, 2021, Broomfield, Colorado. Don majored in political science at Grinnell, then joined the Air Force to become a B-52 navigator. He served for five years, then earned a teaching certificate and taught in California for a few years. For several years, Don was general manager with Modern Farm Systems. He married Beverly (Bev) Mischke Reimer in 1975. After Modern Farms Systems was sold, Don and Bev bought Colorado Health Food Store in Boulder, which they owned and operated until 1999. He served on the Flatirons Habitat for Humanity board of directors for several years and was a financial supporter of many national and local charitable organizations. Don is survived by his wife, Bev; three daughters, including Sarah Reimer Dawson ’99; six grandchildren; and a great- granddaughter.

Jean Terry West ’64, May 17, 2021, Covington, Kentucky. Terry was always active and entrepreneurial: teaching natural childbirth, starting a restaurant, and then working at restaurants and catering businesses all over the country, including Dallas, New Mexico, Connecticut, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In later years, she still ran a catering business from her house and cooked every week as a volunteer at the local shelter. She was a Grinnell regional volunteer from 2015 to 2017.

Barry M. Anderson ’65, Nov. 4, 2021, Carthage, Illinois. Barry received his law degree in 1968 from the University of Iowa Law School and master’s in law enforcement and justice administration from Western Illinois University. He practiced law in Keokuk, Iowa, for over 30 years. He was elected Lee County attorney and served as a magistrate judge in Lee County. He chaired the Iowa Criminal Law Section of the Iowa Bar Association and was an active member of the Indigent Defense Task Force in Iowa. He later became an assistant professor in the LEJA School at WIU.

Bruce “Trick” M. Beckord ’65 M.D., Aug. 29, 2021, Boulder, Colorado. Bruce attended Grinnell and the University of Iowa Medical School. He married and reared four kids in Estes Park, where he helped found the first hospital, and in Boulder, where he was head of sports medicine at CU. Bruce led a life full of adventure and traveled the world. He loved his family, the Denver Broncos, and playing pickleball. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Lou; his two sons and two daughters; and six grandchildren.

Dennis R. Homerin ’65, Aug. 27, 2021, Los Angeles. Dennis, who served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1975 to 1994, first came to Grinnell in 1961. He served on the student government association and was a letterman on the varsity football team, which won the Midwest Conference Championship in 1962. He graduated in 1965 with a major in history. Dennis went on to earn his law degree in 1968 from the University of Minnesota, where he was a three-year Dean’s Honor Scholarship award winner and editor of the Law Review. After law school, Dennis moved to Chicago, where he joined the firm of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson and later became a partner. He was later named vice president and labor counsel for Tribune Co., where he helped negotiate player contracts for the then-owners of the Chicago Cubs. Dennis went on to become a partner at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue before retiring to start his own consulting business and spend more time with his children and grandchildren. Dennis was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, an Eagle Scout, avid reader, history buff, music lover, and founding member of the Joe Denny Band, in which he played trombone. He enjoyed traveling and spending time at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, before moving west to enjoy his retirement. Survivors include four children; four grandchildren; his sister, Mary Homerin Ashcraft ’71; and brother in-law, Mark Ashcraft ’71.

Susan Taylor ’65, Sept. 27, 2021, Austin, Texas. Sue, who double- majored in journalism and American history at Grinnell, spent her professional life as a journalist. She worked for United Press International in Chicago and recalled often her experiences covering Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Chicago Campaign in 1966. After moving to Austin in the 1970s, she worked for the Austin American Statesman in various positions, including wire editor and assistant city editor, while mentoring scores of neophyte journalists. She retired in the late 1990s. After Chicago and before Austin, she traveled the country in an RV. She enjoyed other memorable trips to Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, and Cape Cod. She was an avid reader, always with stacks of newspaper nearby and a good book to share. She adored animals, loved children, and was an ardent supporter of land and water conservation.

Roger W. Able ’68, Oct. 2, 2021, Haines City, Florida. Roger was a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At Grinnell, he majored in biology and played basketball. After attending management training at General Electric, he spent most of his career in appliance sales and sales management. He retired in 2003 and with his wife, Marie, moved to Florida. Roger was always involved in service to his communities. He was actively involved in his churches; he served as CEO and president of Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh (1997–2000), and for years he provided formal and informal planned giving advice to his Grinnell classmates and to the College. He was a reunion committee member from 2004 to 2011 and class solicitor in 2011. It was his idea to gift Grinnell a life insurance policy on himself; its cash value was large enough four years ago for Roger and Marie to turn it into the Able Endowed Scholarship. Roger was proud of his Grinnell legacy — his maternal grandfather Herbert Risser was class of 1908 — and the scholarship supports a legacy student. Roger’s support for Grinnell athletics is reflected on the donor plaque in the lobby of the Bear Recreation and Athletic Center. Roger is survived by his wife, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.

Joshua Sachs ’71, Nov. 7, 2020, Evanston, Illinois. Survivors include three children and three grandchildren.

Nancy Ackerman Schofield ’71, Oct. 5, 2021, Menomonie, Wisconsin. Nancy majored in mathematics at Grinnell and married Ken Schofield ’71 on campus the day after graduation. Nancy and Ken moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where Ken attended the University of Wisconsin Law School and Nancy worked as a computer programmer for the UW’s Institute for Research on Poverty. They moved to Menomonie, Wisconsin, in 1977 and never left. Nancy received a master’s in clothing, textiles, and related arts from UW-Stout in 1979, teaching intermittently in the home economics department from 1979 to 1998. She commenced a doctoral program at the University of Minnesota in 1994. Nancy received her doctorate from the University of Minnesota in design, housing, and apparel in 2000. By that time, she was teaching classes in UW-Stout’s College of Engineering, Technology and Management (CTEM). She taught an array of computer-aided design courses full time from 1998 to 2013. After retiring as a full professor in 2013, Nancy continued to teach part time until 2015. In addition to her teaching, she took seriously her role as a mentor to women engineering students, including being faculty adviser for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She was active in other community and civic organizations, including her children’s elementary and middle schools, League of Women Voters, Master Gardeners, City of Menomonie Urban Forestry Board, Stepping Stones garden tour, Dunn County Historical Society’s Fulton’s Workshop, and others. She also was a Grinnell reunion committee member from 2011 to 2020. Nancy is survived by her husband, two brothers, two sons, and four grandchildren.

Leonard M. Kurz ’75, Nov. 5, 2021, Piermont, New York. Leonard graduated from Grinnell with a major in history and from Stanford University with a master’s in film and television production. He was CEO, president, and creative force behind Forest Creatures Entertainment, a motion picture, television, and new media production company established in 1993. In 2007, Forest Creatures Entertainment produced Kitka and Davka in Concert: Old and New World Jewish Music, which has been broadcast extensively on the PBS network. He was producer, director, and writer of the feature-length documentary Free the Children; producer, director, and writer of the television documentary Accused of Being Communist; a co-producer of Maangamizi: The Ancient One, the first film from Tanzania to be considered for an Academy Award; and producer, director, and writer of Early Misgivings. He also was a script reader for Francis Ford Coppola. He was a founding director (U.S. board) of Free the Children, an international organization which has the unique mission of creating a global network of children helping children through education. Leonard served as a director and officer of the Kurz Family Foundation. He played a significant role in establishing two endowed professorships at Brooklyn College: the Herbert Kurz Chair in Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties and the Herbert Kurz Chair of Finance and Risk Management, as well as a program that assists black and Latino male Brooklyn College students. He was a founding member of the State University of New York’s Chancellor’s Society and received awards for his philanthropic work. Leonard served as an internship host for Grinnell students from 2010 to 2016. He was a Wilson Program speaker in 2016. Leonard established several endowed funds at Grinnell to support student career exploration and research in the areas of peace studies, sustainability, and human rights. He was also a generous supporter of the Peace and Conflict Studies program at Grinnell.

Dennis D. Ashby ’78, Sept. 7, 2021, Grinnell, Iowa. Dennis was raised on a farm west of Grinnell. After graduation, he went on to earn a degree from Drake Law School. In 1979, he married Carolyn Cline. After law school, he worked part time for the law offices at Farm Bureau while starting his own law practice in Des Moines. He had a rewarding career helping farmers during the farm crisis and working with small businesses. He taught nontraditional students for Upper Iowa University-Des Moines Center for 30 years. He also taught undergraduates at Grandview University for 15 years. For seven years in the 1990s, he served as pastoral care minister at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Des Moines. In 1998, he started Well Read Books, a used bookstore in Des Moines, selling it in 2015. He retired from all his endeavors in 2017, returning to his childhood home west of Grinnell. He was an active member of the Basilica of St. John Catholic Church in Des Moines and St. Mary Catholic Church in Grinnell. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and, more recently, the Elks in Grinnell. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and nine grandchildren.

Nina Frankel ’79, Oct. 20, 2021, San Francisco. Nina spent two years at Grinnell before embarking on her adventurous life. She traveled, studied, and worked in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Portugal. In 1981, she graduated from University of California-Berkeley with a degree in Latin American studies. A native San Franciscan, Nina had a multidecade career as a public health advocate, campaigner for free and fair elections, and outspoken defender of international justice, refugee safety, and human and civil rights. She attended Harvard’s School of Public Health, graduating with a master’s in population sciences in 1986. She later worked around the world on AIDS prevention, abortion counseling, election monitoring, and refugee resettlement. She supported a wide range of liberal, philanthropic causes and was known for her frequent letters to the editor as well as acerbic and witty protests to organizations about unethical business practices.

Jean Ward Angstman ’80, Sept. 20, 2021, Lakewood, Colorado. Jean graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell with a major in French. She completed her formal education with a master’s in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Denver in 1984 and began a long career as a speech pathologist in the Jefferson County, Colorado, public schools. She married Burke Angstman in 1985. Jean had many hobbies and interests, including folk dancing, quilting, doll making, cooking, traveling, and reading romance novels. She loved the outdoors, especially hiking around her summer home in Grand Lake, Colorado. She is survived by her husband; two sons; a granddaughter; her sister, Teresa Ward ’83; brother in-law, Andrew Nelson ’82; and niece, Molly Nelson ’21.

James F. Goodfellow ’82, July 12, 2021, Oakland, California. In addition to his studies at Grinnell, James studied in Russia, was a Marshall Scholar, and received a master’s in economics at Cambridge University, England. He went on to earn his law degree from Yale Law School.

Richard A. Bohm ’86, Nov. 7, 2021, Palmetto, Florida. Rich majored in economics at Grinnell and earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. He spent his career in the defense industry at McDonnell-Douglas, Boeing, American Ordnance, and General Dynamics. An avid and curious traveler, Rich visited many corners of the world and spent time working in France and Saudi Arabia. Rich rescued several dogs, to which he devoted much love and care. He is survived by his wife, Marissa Albano Bohm.

Former Faculty

James Lindberg, Sept. 23, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa. Visiting professor of chemistry at Grinnell from 2002 until 2015, he came to Grinnell after taking early retirement from Drake University in Des Moines. He taught organic chemistry to hundreds of students at Grinnell. His passion for teaching and mentoring was evident in his interactions with students and his generosity with colleagues.

Clifford Reid, Nov. 6, 2021, Waterville, Maine. Cliff, former professor of economics, was a Grinnell faculty member for 14 years. He left Grinnell in 1987 to become a professor of economics at Colby College in Waterville, where he taught until retiring in 2009. He received a bachelor’s in economics from George Washington University and a doctorate in economics in 1973 from Princeton University, where he developed a research interest in the role of discrimination in American life — in housing, employment, and wages — that he would continue to pursue throughout his academic career. He was legendary for his rigorous standards in the classroom and was a caring mentor to generations of students at Grinnell and Colby.

Emily Pfitsch

Beloved Grinnell Icon and Honorary Degree Recipient

Emily Ann Pfitsch D.H.L ’17, longtime friend of the College and recipient of an honorary doctor of humane letters in 2017, died Jan. 21, 2022, at the age of 96.

Though she never held an official position at Grinnell, Emily was a beloved member of the community and a remarkable ambassador for the College for more than 70 years.

Emily arrived in Grinnell with her husband, John, in 1948. While he began his career in Grinnell’s athletics department, she studied Spanish and earned a teaching certificate, leading to a 24-year career teaching Spanish and supporting international programs in the Grinnell schools.

She and John traveled widely, living for times in Panama, Ecuador, Portugal, and Spain. She loved sharing her passion for the Spanish language and international cultures with her family, friends, and students and regularly hosted exchange students in her home.

The honorary degree Emily received from the College in 2017 recognized her influence on the College community, most notably “her boys” — several generations of Grinnell College athletes coached by John who found a steady source of support with Emily.

Emily provided a warm and welcoming presence for African American scholar-athletes attending Grinnell in the 1950s and 1960s, regularly hosting students and their families in her home overnight. She also hosted the annual picnic for alumni soccer players in her backyard for more than 30 years.

She continued to host trustees who returned to campus, and she remained a visible and engaging presence at numerous Grinnell events. She will forever be known by Grinnellians as someone who made the College feel like a second home.

Emily is survived by her children, Jack, Connie, and Bill; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and John, her husband of 64 years.

Visit Smith Funeral Home and search for “Pfitsch” for more information and tributes. The Pfitsch family has suggested that memorial contributions may be directed to the John and Emily Pfitsch Scholarship at Grinnell College. Give online or by mail, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Cecily “C” Barker Finley ’42, Feb. 2, 2021, La Jolla, California, at the age of 101. She graduated with a degree in zoology and received her master’s in psychiatric social work from the University of Chicago. During World War II, she served in the Red Cross on the USS Chateau Thierry. She participated in the liberation of southern France and Italy and crossed the Atlantic numerous times caring for Allied troops. Having grown up before the invention of antibiotics, she was passionate about science and the promise of medicine, donating regularly to the San Diego Zoo and the American Cancer Society. After raising three children, she received her law degree from the Cabrillo Pacific University College of Law and volunteered her legal expertise. Survivors include three children and two grandchildren.

Phyllis Copeland Fisher ’43, Jan. 6, 2021, Park Forest, Illinois. Phyllis attended Grinnell and then transferred to Drake University as a music major. She was active in music endeavors and was invited to join Lawrence Welk’s emerging music program. After college, she lived briefly in Chicago and then sang with the United Service Organizations (USO) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After the war, Phyllis and her husband Bill Fisher moved to Lenox, Iowa, where Bill worked with Phyllis’ father at Copeland-Wells produce. In 1953, Phyllis and her husband bought the Prescott Hatchery in Prescott, Iowa, and operated the chicken hatchery as the family business until retiring in 1994. She is survived by her three children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Her children remember her as a devoted mother.

Marilyn McCool Hampton ’44, Jan. 7, 2021, Montgomery, Texas. Marilyn studied speech and theatre at Grinnell, where she was the first female to be elected president of Grinnell’s student council. After graduation, she worked at a radio station and at the Methodist Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri. In early 1946, Marilyn married her college beau, the late Kent B. Hampton ’42. Marilyn was fond of antiques that had personal meaning and was the collector and archivist in the family. She was a longtime class agent and class fund director for Grinnell. Marilyn received the Alumni Award in 2004. She is survived by her son, Kent Hampton ’69; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Virginia Foote Ireys Anderson ’45, Dec. 30, 2020, Napa, California. Virginia was a generous spirit, an earnest early supporter of civil rights and the environment, avidly read literature in Latin and German, and had a deep love of classical music. At Grinnell, she met and married David Matlack ’43 (deceased), settling in Santa Monica, California. After separating, Virginia then moved to Santa Maria, California, where she began a lifelong career as an English teacher. She taught elementary grades and high school, serving as English department chair at Santa Maria and Righetti High Schools. In 1967, she moved to the Bay Area, where she taught English at Tamalpais and Danville High Schools. Survivors include four children, five stepchildren, and five grandchildren, including Sam Evans ’04.

Louise Mayer Moon ’46, Jan. 2, 2021, Ankeny, Iowa. After graduating from Grinnell, Louise married John H. Moon ’42 (deceased) and settled in Des Moines. Louise worked for the benefit of many civic organizations and was a member of the Grinnell Alumni Council. She served as the League of Women Voters president at the state and local level and was one of the first woman lobbyists at the Iowa statehouse. Louise was appointed to the Iowa Soil Conservation Commission and to the board of trustees at the Des Moines Water Works. A water storage facility was named for her in recognition of her years of service. She is survived by her two daughters, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Gladys Anderson Dappen ’47, Dec. 22, 2020, Wenatchee, Washington. She was married to John Dappen ’42 (deceased).

Robert L. Tree ’49, Jan. 11, 2021, Davenport, Iowa. Bob earned his bachelor’s in history at Grinnell and then a doctorate in history at Northwestern University. He taught history at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, until it closed. He also taught at Iowa Wesleyan College and Fairfield High School, retiring in 1993. He was an active volunteer in Fairfield and on behalf of Grinnell. He received an Alumni Award in 2003, served as his class fund director from 2001 to 2016, and served on his class reunion planning committee from 2008 to 2013.

H. Lee Brintnall ’50, Jan. 7, 2021, Marshalltown, Iowa. Lee attended Grinnell for two years, then transferred to Washington University in St. Louis. While at Grinnell, he met Valois Jensen ’50and they married in 1952. He was active in community work, including the Community Concert Association, Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Water Works and YWCA (both as trustee), and the “Y” Heritage Club. He was a past treasurer of the Animal Rescue League and was a deacon at First Congregational Church. He also was past president of Junior Achievement, Marshalltown Rotary Club, and the MCC Foundation. Lee is survived by his wife, two children, and six grandchildren.

Robert L. Fridley ’50, Feb. 3, 2021, Des Moines, Iowa, at age 103. When he was 24, Bob became owner and operator of the movie theatre in New Sharon, Iowa. A year later in 1941, he was drafted to serve in World War II. He was stationed at Camp Myles Standish in Boston. Since he had a theatre background, he was put in charge of the theatres there. With over 35,000 soldiers, he quickly learned to manage theatre crowds. After the war he returned to Iowa and met his wife, Myrna Blanchfield Fridley. They settled in Des Moines and started a family; and Bob began to build his movie empire. He owned and operated the Varsity Theatre, Capri Theatre, Plantation Drive-In, Sierra 3, and River Hills Theatre. His love for small-town Iowa was evident in his purchase and renovation of several theatres around Iowa, including the Washington Theatre, the oldest running theatre in the world, and a renovation of the Metropolitan Opera House Theatre in Iowa Falls in the 1990s. Fridley Theatres currently owns 18 theatres with 97 screens in Iowa and Nebraska, including the Strand in Grinnell and the new Waukee Palms Theatre. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, five children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dr. Henry R. Mol ’50, Dec. 8, 2020, Whitewater, Wisconsin. Hank served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was assigned to postwar Germany. He met his future wife, Marthe Egan ’49 (deceased), at Grinnell. He earned his M.D. at the University of Iowa and went on to co-own and operate the Doctor’s Clinic of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. During his long service as a doctor, his greatest joy was delivering babies. He made more than 15 annual medical mission trips to Haiti. Hank was a member of the Elkhorn Kiwanis, serving in various leadership roles, including a stint as Wisconsin lieutenant governor. He is survived by his three sons, including Chris Mol ’79; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Nancy Scruby Mol ’53.

Vivienne Twamley Rockhold ’50, Dec. 31, 2020, Bozeman, Montana. Vivienne was an adventurer in her early years and was a kind, gentle, loving, supportive, and devoted daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. After Grinnell she moved to New York City, where she lived in Greenwich Village and worked for The New School for Social Research. She then moved to Germany, where she worked for the USO, providing support to U.S. military troops and their families. After retirement, Vivienne worked for the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program, serving low-income pregnant women, infants, and children. She was also involved with the League of Women Voters. She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by her two children and two grandchildren.

Lauretta “Lolly” Parker Eggers ’51, Feb. 26, 2021, Iowa City, Iowa. After earning her master’s in library science from the University of Iowa in 1969, Lolly immediately began working at the Iowa City Public Library. She served as director from 1974 to 1994. Under her leadership, the Iowa City Public Library became the first in the United States to have a computerized checkout and catalog system, introduced in 1980. She was also instrumental in keeping the library downtown when a new library was being planned in the late 1970s. An active community leader particularly in the areas of women’s rights and issues and political action, Lolly was one of the city of Iowa City female employees who filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against the city in 1973 alleging gender discrimination in employment policies. In a negotiated EEOC settlement, the city agreed to specific practices to ensure fair treatment of women in hiring and employment policies. Lolly served as class agent from 1991 to 2015 and received an Alumni Award in 2006. Survivors include her husband, Delos Eggers ’50; two sons; and a grandson.

George F. Redman ’51, Oct. 14, 2020, Andover, Massachusetts. George was a very proud Grinnellian and will be remembered as a kind, good, and humble man of simple tastes. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was selected for Officer Candidate School. He served as a lieutenant during the Korean War, with deployments to Korea and Japan. George had a long career in his family’s business, as second-generation owner of Redman Card Clothing Co. He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

John E. Crew ’52, Nov. 21, 2020, Normal, Illinois. John taught physics at Illinois State University for 30 years, retiring as a professor in 1993. He is survived by four children, four grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Catherine True Meyer ’52, Dec. 17, 2020, Decatur, Georgia. Catherine raised four children with her high school sweetheart, Bruce Meyer. She also volunteered with hospitals, schools, and churches. Survivors include her four children and seven grandsons.

Maija Lakstigala Murray ’52, March 11, 2021, Middlebury, Vermont. Born in Riga, Latvia, Maija fled to a displaced persons camp in Esslingen, Germany, when the USSR invaded Latvia in the fall of 1944. Grinnell sponsored her entry into the United States in November 1949. Maija arrived at Grinnell with just the clothes on her back and no knowledge of the English language. Yet, she was able to earn her bachelor’s in chemistry in 1952 and became a published author while working at her first chemistry job in Appleton, Wisconsin. Marriage and four children followed. Maija worked as a chemist at Johnson & Johnson for 15 years. Retirement brought 30 blissful years with her husband enjoying all Vermont has to offer. Survivors include three children and six grandchildren.

Helen Ferguson Crockett ’53, March 22, 2021, Amston, Connecticut. Helen attended Physical Therapy School at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1953. As a young man, her father had had polio; and she herself had had bilateral knee surgery as a teen, giving her a desire to help others continue their mobility despite their disabilities. She met her husband, Dr. Wayne Crockett, while working as a physical therapist. She returned to that career after raising children, including her sister’s three. Their home saw a continuous flow of neighborhood kids, distant relatives, and foreign exchange students. Survivors include six children and 11 grandchildren.

Nancy Stewart Marks ’53, Dec. 15,2020, Carmichael, California. Nancy attended one year at Grinnell College before entering Boston Children’s Nursing School. After she and her husband completed their medical training, they moved with the Army to Tokyo with their firstborn child. Following their time in Japan, Nancy and her family settled in Sacramento, which became her beloved city for 64 years. In her early 30s, Nancy and her husband built and ran a home for people with severe developmental disabilities. Survivors include her husband, Dennis Marks; four children; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her sister, Susan Stewart Morrow ’61; and niece, Mercedes Danforth Kelso ’92.

John A. Meine ’53, Nov. 13, 2020, Surprise, Arizona.

Lois Davidson Omdahl ’53, Feb. 21, 2021, Shelton, Washington. Survivors include three children.

Margery “Kitty” Staley Langford ’54, Feb. 1, 2021, Herndon, Virginia. The first in her family to go to college, Kitty received a scholarship to Grinnell and majored in physics. She moved to Schenectady, New York, to work for General Electric doing acoustical research for a nuclear submarine. It was there that she met her husband, John Langford, who joined the Air Force. They traveled the world before settling down in Vienna, Virginia. To engage with their overseas friends, Kitty learned French, Spanish, and even some Farsi. She enjoyed volunteering, but the work she cherished most was as an Arlington Lady, representing the Secretary of the Air Force to welcome the bereaved families who came to bury their heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. Kitty loved being their guide, comforter, and advocate. Survivors include three children.

Sylvia Welty Geer ’55, Dec. 21, 2020, Williamsburg, Virginia. Sylvia met her husband, Lucien Geer ’59 (deceased), at Grinnell. She taught at Florence Crittenton High School in Denver. She later earned a master’s in education from George Mason University and for over two decades taught special education and English in Arlington, Virginia. She volunteered throughout the community everywhere she lived. In Williamsburg, Sylvia was active in her church and volunteered with hospice and literacy programs. She was a Grinnell class committee volunteer from 2004 to 2010. She is survived by her three children and three grandchildren.

James E. Kingland ’55, Dec. 14, 2020, Lake Mills, Iowa. After graduating from Grinnell, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served his country from 1955 to 1959. He was a naval airborne air controller on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. Jim worked with his father at the family Ford dealership, Kingland Motor Co. in Lake Mills. While still at the dealership, Jim began his second career in farming. Just weeks before his death, Jim was still involved with the family farm, making decisions and offering advice. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Rhoads Kingland ’56; four children; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Robert G. Wagner ’56, March 4, 2021, St. Charles, Missouri. Growing up in Kansas City, Bob worked summers at the railroad yard. He majored in physics at Grinnell, where he met his wife, Nancy Abel ’57 (deceased). He earned a master’s and a doctorate in physics as the University of Missouri and spent more than 40 years in the aeronautics industry, primarily with Boeing and with McDonnell Douglas before it merged with Boeing. He also served for six terms on the city council, from 1986 to 2010. He is survived by three children, including David Wagner ’81, and four grandchildren.

Richard K. Williams ’56, Nov. 25, 2020, Wichita, Kansas. During his time at Grinnell, Dick spent a summer in Mexico with the Experiment in International Living. He felt keenly the plight of the economically underprivileged and became an advocate for peace and justice issues in the United States and abroad. During the civil war in El Salvador, Dick accompanied rural medical health providers. This experience led to involvement in the establishment of FOCUS Central America. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1990, hoping to shed light on the tragedy of misguided foreign policy. A lifelong student and educator, Dick taught Spanish for many years, including at Wichita State and Friends Universities, impacting lives of many. He survived by his wife; two children, including Jane Williams Gillett ’86; and three grandchildren.

Frances Ceraulo Comer ’57, Dec. 4, 2020, Chicago. With her husband Gary, Francie built Lands’ End, a business selling sailboat equipment and later apparel. The enterprise grew to become one of the largest direct mail-order businesses. After Lands’ End went public in 1986, Gary and Francie created the Comer Family Foundation, investing heavily in Chicago. In the early 2000s, they began to focus on revitalizing the South Side neighborhood where Gary grew up. In collaboration with the Paul Revere School, they envisioned a safe space for young people to go after school. In 2006, they founded and built the Gary Comer Youth Center to provide enrichment programs and academic supports. Gary and Francie also funded the creation of Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago to ensure access to world-class health care with state-of-the-art pediatric facilities and programs for the children of the South Side. She is survived by two children and five grandchildren.

William O. Davidson ’57, Jan. 11, 2021, Unadilla, New York. After graduating from Grinnell, Wills enlisted in the Army. For three years, he taught in Hillside, New Jersey, before moving to Sidney, New York, in 1961. He joined an engineering unit in Binghamton, New York, and was recalled to active service. A year later, he returned to teaching seventh-grade math, then eighth-grade English for 32 years. He coached cross country and junior varsity wrestling for several years. He was Teacher of the Year in 1974, president of the Sidney Teachers Association from 1972 to 1973, Rotarian of the Year in 2000, chaplain of the American Legion for several years, member and past president of Sidney Rotary, an active member of the First Congregational Church, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Wall of Fame in 2019. He served as Grinnell class fund director 2009–2015, class committee volunteer 2006–2013, and GRASP volunteer 1997–2006. He is survived by his wife, Betsy, and two sons and two granddaughters.

Dr. Charles E. Hawtrey ’57, Dec. 29, 2020, Iowa City, Iowa. Chuck married his college sweetheart, Elizabeth R. “Betsy” Patterson ’59 (deceased). He earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa. During the Vietnam War, Chuck served for two years as a urologist at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina. Returning to Iowa City, he became a clinical professor of pediatric urology at the University of Iowa until he retired in 2002, and he served as professor emeritus until his death. Chuck was recognized as Iowa’s first pediatric urologist and improved the lives of thousands of children. He received the Alumni Award in 2007. Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann; son Thomas Hawtrey ’90; sister-in-law Anne Patterson Egan ’57; brother-in-law John Egan ’57; brother-in-law Joel Patterson ’67; sister-in-law Roberta Dressler Patterson ’68; and nephew John Egan ’84.

Patricia May Makeever ’57, Dec. 17, 2020, Arlington Heights, Illinois. Pat graduated from Grinnell with a degree in education, after which she taught briefly. She was a homemaker for many years and then worked as an administrative assistant. She was a devoted mother, wife, and friend of many. A member of the First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights for more than 50 years, she taught Sunday school, served as a deacon and an elder, and participated in women’s circles and many activities. She loved acting and played a number of roles as a member of the Round Barn Players at the Moorings and was a dedicated supporter of Northwest Community Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband, Dave, and survived by her children and three grandchildren.

Mary Oglevee Cole Rack ’57, April 4, 2021, Northville, Michigan. Mary completed her bachelor’s at the University of Michigan and earned a master’s in education at Western Michigan University and a master’s in labor and industrial relations at Michigan State University. She had six children with her first husband. After their divorce in 1968, she began a career in information technology, working for governments, higher education, and publishing. She focused on end-user support and skill development. She also enjoyed volunteering and worked as a regional volunteer for Grinnell from 2000 to 2005. Survivors include her six children, 18 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Joseph W. Fell ’58, Feb. 5, 2021, Wimberly, Texas. Joe married Judi Reget ’56 (deceased) and they lived for many years in Chicago, where he owned Joseph W. Fell Ltd. Antique Oriental Rugs. Survivors include his sister, Roberta Fell ’55; and grandniece, Katherine Henry ’06.

Tetsuo Najita ’58, Jan. 11, 2021, Kamuela, Hawaii. After receiving a doctorate from Harvard, Tets taught at Carleton College, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and, from 1969 until his retirement in 2002, in the history department at the University of Chicago. His many publications on Japan’s modern intellectual history received numerous awards. He was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993. In 2007, the University of Chicago established the Tetsuo Najita Distinguished Lecture Series in Japanese Studies. In 1989, Grinnell honored him with a Doctor of Laws, and, in 1998, with its Alumni Award. He is survived by his wife, a son, two grandsons, and a niece, Julie Najita ’89.

Frank E. Vigus ’58, March 9, 2021, St. Louis. Frank enjoyed Men’s Glee Club and singing in the choir at Grinnell. He earned his law degree at Northwestern in 1961 and served in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate from 1962 to 1964. For most of his career, he served on the legal teams for Anheuser Busch and later Monsanto, which allowed him to travel frequently to other parts of North America, South America, Europe, and the Far East. Survivors include two children and two grandchildren.

William E. Becker ’59, Dec. 7, 2020, Knoxville, Illinois. William received his bachelor’s degree at Grinnell and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and attended Princeton for his graduate studies. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1961 to 1965. He was an officer instructor in aircraft maintenance at Chanute Air Force Base. He then went on to spend 30 years as an aerospace engineer for the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania. After retiring, he worked as a contractor for the federal government. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two daughters; and four grandchildren.

Rev. Susan Hass Faunce-Zimmerman ’61, Dec. 2, 2020, St. Paul, Minnesota. Susan was an avid reader, gardener, maker of pies, and friend to all who knew her. She found great joy in her family and in her ministry, both of which benefited from her warmth, compassion, and faith. She received a master of divinity from the United Theological Seminary and was an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Susan and her second husband, the Rev. Jim Faunce-Zimmerman, were co-pastors in UCC congregations in Iowa and northern Minnesota. She was happiest connecting to people in her community through her ministry and spending time at their cherished lake cabin in northwest Wisconsin. Survivors include her brother, Paul Hass ’59.

Paul E. Burkett ’62, Nov. 28, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa. Paul began his 41-plus years career at American Republic Insurance Co. in Des Moines as a claims examiner, advancing to personnel, and then as vice president and director of corporate relations. After retiring, he continued working as a consultant managing the company’s sales incentive programs, which earned him the title of “Director of Fun” from company agents. Paul was an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, the Urbandale Public Arts Committee, and the Drake Relays committee. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two children; and four grandchildren.

Stephen W. Thorpe ’62, April 3, 2021, Denver, Iowa. In addition to Grinnell, Steve attended Iowa State University and graduated from Upper Iowa University. He began his professional career during college as an intern with Northwestern Mutual Insurance. He retired in September 2020 after 56 years with the company. Community service was a lifelong passion for Steve. He was involved with many organizations, including being a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader for children’s troops. Survivors include his wife, Liz; three children; four stepchildren; 16 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Roger P. Christensen ’63, April 6, 2021, Las Vegas. Roger graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell and earned his medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He did further training in Denver and Seattle, where he completed his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Washington and the VA Medical Center. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969 to 1971 and was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. He returned to a private practice position in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before joining the Cooper Clinic in Dallas. After retirement, he and his wife of 35 years traveled extensively with friends and relatives. He also enjoyed running marathons, swimming, and other aerobic activities, as well as photography and reading (and a little television, too). He’s survived by his wife, Katy; two sisters, including Joan Christensen Iseman ’61; and an identical twin brother, Thomas Christensen ’63.

Robert M. Konikow ’66, Jan. 5, 2021, Orlando, Florida. Bob majored in speech and theatre and went on to the University of Southern California for graduate study in the cinema department. He was one of the early experimenters with animation. Over time he became proficient in film production, video, camera operation, multi-projector presentations, video walls, directing, production planning, and special effects. He formed several companies of his own to pursue his love of creation, securing many commissions from Walt Disney Corp. He wrote two books: I Come for to Sing and The Hollywood Fantasy. He is survived by three daughters.

Carolyn Sakai ’66, March 30, 2021, Parkville, Maryland. After Grinnell, Carolyn earned a master’s at Iowa State University and later retired as a social work administrator. Survivors include her husband, Darab Khadem; two children; and two grandchildren.

John David Marion ’68, March 24, 2021, Easley, South Carolina. Dave played baseball for Grinnell, serving as team captain, before earning his bachelor’s in English from the University of Iowa. After college, he eventually returned to his high school alma mater in Keokuk, Iowa, where he served as an English teacher for 17 years. After teaching, he worked as an editor and proofreader, but his true passion eventually came in the form of the arts. After moving to Cincinnati while his wife, Darla Wood Marion, was studying at the university, Dave began a career impersonating Mark Twain. His show became a success; he performed everywhere from the Metropolitan Club in Covington, Kentucky, to Tall Stacks, the site of Cincinnati’s riverboat heritage festival. Survivors include his wife and two brothers.

Thomas A. Zitver ’73, June 18, 2020, Greenbelt, Maryland. Survivors include three siblings.

Jo Ann Thomas ’75, Feb. 19, 2021, Winona, Minnesota. Jo Ann began her career as a community organizer in Rice County, Minnesota. She was also a feminist and was director of Houston County Women’s Resources and co-director of the Women’s Resource Center in Winona. She married her husband, Douglas Nopar, in 1986 and they raised two daughters. After a cancer diagnosis in 1996, Jo Ann changed careers and completed a three-year training program at the Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy in Minnesota. She opened a practice in Winona where she served clients for 20 years. Survivors include her husband and two daughters.

Roy P. Eichengreen ’78, March 4, 2021, Sedona, Arizona, of a glioblastoma. Roy was an All-Conference soccer player for Grinnell who left the team early to join the Grinnell-Rush Medical School Program during his senior year. After Rush, Roy was a resident at the Middlesex Hospital Family Practice Residency in Middletown, Connecticut, and then spent the next 30 years practicing in the area. Roy taught at Yale’s School of Nursing, Quinnipiac’s Netter School of Medicine, and the Middlesex Family Practice Residency Program. He served on the Deep River, Connecticut, Board of Visiting Nurses, as Deep River’s health director, and as the physician for the Tri-Town School District. Roy also volunteered for many years as a coach for the local youth soccer club. Roy moved to Arizona in May 2019 to enjoy hiking with his wife, Cindy Warm ’79. He is survived by his wife and their two daughters.

Florence Berkley ’81, Feb. 14, 2021, Ellicott City, Maryland.

David A. Thompson ’83, February 2020, Provincetown, Massachusetts, after a battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his husband, Chris Lefter, and his brother, Richard Thompson ’85.

Philip C. Bishop ’90, March 2021, Stanhope, Iowa. Survivors include his sister, Jennifer Bishop ’87.

Seth I. Bernsen ’95, Feb. 3, 2021, Kirkland, Washington, of pancreatic cancer. At Grinnell, Seth co-founded the Big Sandwich Club with classmates Zack Steven ’95 and Karl Johnson ’95. The group met every Wednesday at 10 p.m. for a trip to the local Hy-Vee for food supplies and then back to campus to make huge sandwiches from whole loaves of bread. The weekly event became well known, made the school paper, and was attended by both Grinnell’s mayor and the College president. A computer science major, Seth was an electrical and software engineer whose career spanned positions in engineering, project management, and business development. The Seth Bernsen ’95 Memorial Fund supports two programs, Code Club and Computing Peers United. Survivors include his wife, Bulgaa Legden, mother, sister, and stepdaughter.

Justin R. Kinney ’99, Feb. 11, 2021, Boston. Justin played basketball for Grinnell and in his senior year served as captain of the team. Originally from Iowa, he moved around a bit after graduation, landing in Boston in 2001 and working in computer science. He loved music and sports and would fill the silence with a fact or story about Bruce Springsteen or Grinnell basketball. Survivors include his parents, a brother, and a sister.

Travis A. Muckler ’05, Dec. 7, 2020, Grinnell, Iowa. Travis majored in philosophy at Grinnell and completed an internship with U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate ’69 in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduation, he worked as a trial assistant for a law firm in New York City. He enjoyed fishing, dogs, and conversations with friends at the coffee shop. Survivors include his parents, a brother, and a sister.

Emeritus Faculty

Professor Emerita Of Biology  

Lenore Durkee, March 23, 2021, Ithaca, New York. Originally from Utica, New York, Lenore earned her doctorate in botany at the University of Iowa and was a professor of biology at Grinnell College for 30 years, beginning in 1963. She taught courses in introductory biology, botany, genetics, and electron microscopy. Lenore and her husband, LaVerne Durkee, professor emeritus of biology, helped establish an Audubon chapter for the Grinnell area and made many new friends through that endeavor. Lenore and Vern were also very active in central Iowa sailing and started a small-town yacht club (Rock Creek Lake Pretty Good Yacht Club), where they enjoyed sailing and racing their O’Day Daysailer. Lenore and her husband retired from Grinnell College and moved to Ithaca to be closer to family. Lenore is survived by her loving husband of 64 years; two children, including Susan Durkee Swensen ’85; a grandson; and two stepgrandsons.

 

Grace Schoenhutt Poznan ’42, Sept. 27, 2020, Bensenville, Illinois. Grace was 101 years old and is survived by two children and six grandchildren.

Florence Manny Hazard ’43, Oct. 3, 2020, Sylvania, Ohio. Florence was just 20 when she graduated from Grinnell. She began teaching but soon put her strong math skills to work as a draftsman during World War II, which led to work at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron, Ohio. She later earned a master’s in library science and worked for 23 years as a public school librarian. Reading was her greatest passion, and she cited it and walking as the keys to a long life. She is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Gerry Ross Walters ’45, Oct. 21, 2019, Des Moines, Iowa. Gerry majored in physics, in part responding to a challenge from Professor Grant Gale to see if she could do well in a hard major. She could. Gerry made Phi Beta Kappa her junior year and, during her senior year, taught freshman physics to a class at the College where Robert Noyce ’49, later the co-founder of Intel, enrolled as a high school student to face enhanced academic challenge. (Unfortunately, Gerry received no grant of Intel stock for her bother.) After Grinnell, Gerry pursued a master’s in physics at the University of Wisconsin but left before completing the program. At Madison, Gerry met her husband-to-be, Walter Walters, also a graduate student. Gerry and Walt lived in State College, Pennsylvania, where Walt served as dean of arts and architecture at Penn State. She returned to Iowa during retirement years, which she filled with world travels.

John O. Bonyata ’50, Aug. 20, 2020, Tallahassee, Florida. Born in Grinnell, John served two years in the Army Air Force during World War II before attending his hometown college. He was one of the school’s best short sprinters and was undefeated during all four years of Midwest Conference competition. John was inducted into the Grinnell College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. The chemistry major became a research chemist with two private companies and retired from Olin Corp. as a manager of a research and development group. Surviving are three children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Hazel Olson Christensen ’51, Oct. 19, 2019, St. Germain, Wisconsin. Hazel was an active member of the community, participating in Women on Snow and as social chair for the Bo-Boen Snowmobile Club. She was married to H. Lee Christensen ’51, who died in 2014. She is survived by two children and four grandchildren.

Alice Loeb Bendheim ’52, Sept. 5, 2020, Phoenix. At Grinnell, Alice was a copyeditor and reporter for The Scarlet & Black, so it’s perhaps no surprise that First Amendment issues were important to her. In 1959, she co-founded the Arizona chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. In the early 1960s, she spoke out at a public meeting in Phoenix about the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee, condemning its investigations of people based on their political affiliations. After speaking out, she was eventually forced to resign. She later went to law school at Arizona State University and pursued a legal career, which allowed her to do pro bono work for the ACLU. She volunteered for the organization for decades, serving on the Arizona board of directors from 1959 through 2018. She was an avid duplicate bridge player. Alice had an abiding love and reverence for Grinnell College and was so proud of being an alum. She is survived by her four children — Anne H. Bendheim ’72, Dr. John C. Bendheim, Ruth Bendheim Schaefer, and Thomas M. Bendhiem — as well as eight grandchildren.

Beverly Way Lowrie ’52, Oct. 18, 2020, Evergreen, Colorado. Beverly is survived by her son, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Jean Zoller Cowan ’53, Sept. 22, 2020, Omak, Washington. Jean attended Grinnell for two years and graduated from Indiana Business School. She worked as a deputy city clerk and executive secretary before marrying her husband, Lyle Cowan, her high school sweetheart. Survivors include her husband of 67 years, three children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Evelynne Hanson Bowman ’54, May 6, 2020, Green Valley, Arizona. After Grinnell, Evelynne earned a master’s in zoology at the University of Washington, where she met and married her husband, Douglas Bowman. For many years, she worked as director of senior citizens programs for DuPage County in Illinois. She is survived by three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Willis “Bill” L. Winstrom ’54, March 4, 2020, Omaha, Nebraska. A lifelong resident of Omaha, Bill was CEO and owner of Pennfield Oil and Animal Health Co. He was a highly respected leader and innovator in the animal health business and made friends with everyone’s pet dog. He especially loved his own Welsh corgi, Charlie. Bill is survived by his wife, Sydney Marshall Winstrom ’54; two children; and two grandchildren.

Nancy Ashton Nylander ’55, Oct. 17, 2020, Minnetonka, Minnesota. She is survived by five children and five grandchildren. Survivors include son Chris Nylander ’81, daughter Jennifer Nylander ’89, and daughter-in-law Amy Welch Nylander ’83.

Judson F. Strickland ’57, Sept. 4, 2020, Naperville, Illinois. Judson met his first wife, Zana Willison Strickland ’56 (deceased), at Grinnell. He worked for Illinois Bell/AT&T for many years. He enjoyed volunteering, including with his church, Rotary International, Grinnell’s Alumni Council, and GRASP. He was also a U.S. Army reservist. He loved to read and was a member of many book clubs. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Strickland; three children; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Sarah “Sally” Cole Johnson Tanner ’57, July 12, 2020, Milton, Wisconsin. Sally’s survivors include a granddaughter.

David H. Fleck ’58, Nov. 9, 2020, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. After Grinnell, David graduated from Harvard Law School. He had a long, fulfilling career with Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee. He served the Milwaukee community through his work on the boards of Riveredge Nature Center, Wisconsin Humane Society, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Shoreline Interfaith, and North Shore Congregational Church. An avid runner, David completed more than 30 marathons, including the 100th Boston Marathon. He’s survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet Fleck; two children; and two grandchildren.

William E. Goggin ’58, Sept. 30, 2020, San Antonio, of cancer. Bill was a philosophy major and one of eight Air Force ROTC graduates in 1958. He served eight years active duty, rising to the rank of major, then spent 20 years as an airline pilot followed by work as a flight instructor. His hobbies included sports cars and Labrador retrievers. Survivors include his brother, Jack Goggin ’51.

Bruce S. Miller ’58, Oct. 31, 2020, Redmond, Washington. Bruce studied chemistry and biology at Grinnell and went on to earn master’s and doctoral degrees in marine science at the University of Washington. After 27 years, he retired in 2002 as a full professor from the university’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. He published a textbook in 2009, Early Life History of Marine Fishes. Survivors include two children and three grandchildren.

Mary Ellen Hackney Voigt ’58, Sept. 4, 2020, Northlake, Illinois. Survivors include two daughters, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Carroll R. McKibbin ’60, Oct. 6, 2020, San Luis Obispo, California. Originally from Guthrie Center, Iowa, Carroll earned a doctorate in political science after Grinnell. Before beginning his teaching career, he entered the U.S. Foreign Service and was posted to Geneva. Later, he served as a professor of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and California Polytechnic State University. In his retirement he became a prolific writer, contributing many guest columns and essays to the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Des Moines Register as well as The Grinnell Magazine. He’s survived by Lynn McKibbin, his wife of 37 years; two daughters; and a granddaughter.

Stephen J. Brodt ’61, Oct. 24, 2020, Brownsburg, Indiana. Steve met his wife, Barbara Scanlon Brodt ’62, at Grinnell. They were married for 58 years. He earned his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Iowa in 1973 and became a professor of criminal justice at Ball State University, where he served for more than 41 years. His particular interest was organized crime, and he enjoyed showing The Godfather and Goodfellas to his students. Survivors include his wife and three sons.

John E. Carter ’61, March 20, 2020, Wayzata, Minnesota. John enjoyed travel and public service.

Karen Schlicht Davis ’61, Oct. 14, 2020, Chicago. An American studies major, Karen lived for three years in Mali, where she learned French, enjoyed shopping in local markets, and taught herself to cook from a Julia Child cookbook. She later earned a master’s in linguistics and began a career in real estate. She enjoyed vacationing and retirement life in Paris and Provence. She is survived by two sons, including Cullen Davis ’94; five grandchildren; and her companion of 25 years, Bruce Thomas.

Calvin J. Collier ’64, Oct. 6, 2020, Charlottesville, Virginia. Cal graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell, where he was also awarded most valuable player in baseball. More importantly, he met his wife, Mary Evans Collier ’64, at Grinnell and they were married the day after their graduation. He earned his law degree at Duke University in 1967 and began a career in public service in 1969. In 1975, President Ford appointed him chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. He also helped shape the economic and policy teams and platforms of the Reagan administration. In 1988 he began a new career as a corporate executive with Kraft Foods. Above all, he was dedicated to his family. Survivors include his wife, three children, and nine grandchildren.

Neal F. Viemeister ’65, Nov. 3, 2020, White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Science and music were Neal’s two passions, and he followed them both at Grinnell. He majored in physics and worked on sound production for many traveling performance companies visiting the College. He earned a Ph.D. in psychoacoustics at Indiana University and spent the bulk of his career at the University of Minnesota, where he built a renowned psychoacoustics research program. A major focus of his work was advancing the understanding of how humans process changes in auditory intensity and timing. Survivors include his wife, Ginny Kirby; daughter, Kathryn Otto ’98; and a granddaughter.

John “Jack” A. Dunning ’66, Oct. 19, 2020, Echo Bay, Ontario, Canada. After Grinnell, Jack earned his doctorate in psychology from McMaster University in Ontario and joined the faculty at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie in 1972. In addition to teaching, he played a lead role in developing and administrating a co-op program arranging placements for students. He retired in 2009. Upon his death, the university lowered flags to half-staff. While still teaching, Jack and his family bought a 300-acre farm in Echo Bay, Ontario, where they raised goats, chickens, and cattle. In retirement, Jack resumed his interest in pottery and became an avid photographer. Survivors include Paula Smith Dunning ’67, his wife of 54 years; three children; and seven grandchildren.

Dorothy “Dottie” Dosse Metzler ’66, Nov. 22, 2020, Charlotte, North Carolina. Dottie had been confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke during a heart operation in 2016. Her spirit was never broken, and she had planned to attend her 55th class reunion in May 2020 to accept an Alumni Award for her achievements in the field of environmental education. Her award was presented to her instead by her husband on their 54th wedding anniversary. Survivors include her husband, Richard Metzler ’65.

Ellen “Nicky” Wernick ’68, Naples, Florida, Sept. 25, 2020. Nicky was a longtime champion of equality for women and minorities. At Grinnell, she was president of Read Hall, where she counseled and mentored up to 50 women, establishing a pattern of progressive engagement she continued the rest of her life. In the 1980s, she was empowerment director of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, acting as a bridge between the feminist movement and the labor movement. She served as class agent from 1968 to 1978 and was a member of her class’s 50th Reunion Committee. Survivors include three siblings and their children.

Dr. Helen Brown Britton ’69, May 30, 2020, Lakewood, Colorado. Helen obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1973, where she also served as resident and chief resident in pediatrics. After completing fellowship training in community and forensic pediatrics at the University of Colorado, she led development of the child protection team at the University of Arizona and later directed child protection teams at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans and at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Throughout her career she served on many local, state, and national committees on child abuse, conducted research on maternal-child interaction, and published in the fields of child development and child protection. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, John Britton, and two children.

Ruth Schori Carrell ’69, Nov. 10, 2020, Richmond, Texas, of pancreatic cancer. Ruth majored in psychology at Grinnell. She met her future husband, Sam Carrell ’69 (deceased), the first day of sophomore year and they married during their junior year. Early in her career, she taught Head Start, adult basic education, and English as a second language, but later developed a love for sales. She was active in leadership positions with her church and was a member of her class’s 50th Reunion Committee 2018–19. Survivors include three children and six grandsons.

Gregory G. Bombinski ’72, July 17, 2020, Clear Lake, Iowa. Greg met Lynne Hayward Bombinski ’72 at Grinnell, and they married right before their senior year. He played basketball at Grinnell, earning a varsity spot as a freshman, and also played football and ran track. He participated in the Air Force ROTC program and pursued an Air Force career after graduation. For 20 years he flew fighter aircraft. After retiring from the military, he began a 22-year career with Southwest Airlines piloting Boeing 737s. He and his family traveled extensively worldwide but were always happy to return to Lynne’s hometown of Clear Lake to visit family. Survivors include his wife, two sons, four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Michael K. Fitzgerald ’72, Aug. 10, 2020, San Francisco, of a glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. After graduating with a degree in history, he went directly south to Interstate 80, turned right and didn’t stop until he hit San Francisco. He earned a degree in fish biology at University of California-Davis and went on to work in hatcheries focusing on sturgeon. As a member of the Teamsters union, he became a labor activist and worked to expand the reach of the union. In 2005 Mike married Mary Farrant ’73, and they spent much of their free time hiking, camping, riding, listening to music (especially jazz), and traveling.

Mark S. Bowman ’78, Nov. 13, 2020, Choteau, Montana, of complications from pancreatic cancer. Mark played football and ran track at Grinnell. The lifelong athlete competed in many triathlons and more than 20 Chicago-to-Mackinac sailing races. He earned his J.D. at the University of Michigan and practiced law in St. Joseph, Michigan, for more than 25 years, many of them as city attorney. After his law career, Mark worked for 10 years in human resources departments at Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia. He was a GRASP volunteer for 20 years. In 2019 he retired to Montana, where he married Lisa Hudnutt. Survivors include his wife, two daughters, and his brother, Christopher Bowman ’79.

Michael S. Cetina ’82, Nov. 25, 2020, Wheaton, Illinois. Mike was a standout football player at Grinnell and team captain. He earned his law degree at Washington University in St. Louis and began a career as an assistant state’s attorney with DuPage County. He also experienced law with a large civil defense firm before finding his ultimate calling for the injured and wronged as a plaintiff’s attorney with Walsh, Knippen & Cetina. He volunteered as a coach for multiple sports, including 10 years for the Wheaton Rams football program. Survivors include his wife, Tammy Alsobrook, and four children.

Former Staff

C.A. “Chuck” Hand, May 5, 2020, Niceville, Florida. Better known to students as “Saga Chuck” during his time at the College, Chuck served as food service director for Saga Food Service from 1964 to 1970 before filling a similar position until 1985 at South Dakota State University in Brookings. After Saga was purchased by the Marriott Corp., Chuck served as a labor analyst until retiring in Phoenix in 1990. In retirement, his hobbies were golf and woodworking. Beneath his gruff, sometimes intimidating exterior was a lovable guy with an infectious, explosive laugh. Chuck is survived by his wife, Beverly; three children; and numerous grandchildren.

Waldo “Wally” Walker died Aug. 28, 2020, in Grinnell, at the age of 89. Although he retired from the College nearly 20 years ago, his impact on Grinnell is still apparent today.

Professor Walker began his career at Grinnell College in 1958 as an assistant professor of biology. He became an associate professor in 1963 and full professor in 1968.

In 1973, he assumed the role of dean and executive vice president of the College. In the following years he served the College in numerous capacities, including acting president, provost, treasurer, vice president for College services, and director of facilities management. When he retired in 2001, he became professor emeritus of biology.

As dean, he was instrumental in assisting with work to develop such curricular innovations as the First-Year Tutorial, faculty writing workshops, and the Writing and Reading Labs.

He was a member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, American Association for Higher Education, and American Conference of Academic Deans, where he served as a board member, chair, and national president. He was also a member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society and had six publications in recognized journals in the areas of plant anatomy, plant physiology, and plant cell ultrastructure. He received two National Science Foundation grants and one National Institutes of Health grant. He was an NSF science faculty fellow and has been listed in Who’s Who in America since 1969.

Professor Walker’s passion for education was apparent to all who met him. That passion, coupled with his genuine concern for students and a generous personality, had a lasting impact on those he taught. He was an inspirational mentor who often developed friendships with students that lasted long beyond their time at Grinnell (see Letters, “Memories of Professor Walker,” page 2).

One such student, Peg Martin Stiffler ’63, commemorated her decades-long friendship with Professor Walker by creating the Waldo S. Walker Endowed Chair in Biology. Stiffler, who died in 2013, gifted her estate to the College to create the chair in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to teaching and to his students.

Whether it was through his teachings in biology, his frequent travels to Rocky Mountain National Park, or his birdwatching, Professor Walker demonstrated his strong love of and appreciation for nature in his daily life. He was also a music enthusiast who enjoyed a wide range of genres, from country to classical. Beyond his work in education, he lived an active life that included building hardwood furniture, visiting with friends and former students, playing racquet sports, bicycling, and reading.

He will be remembered for his love of nature, respect for education, musical gifts, passion for justice, and strong love of his family. Survivors include his wife, Rita; and two daughters, a stepdaughter, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and son-in-law David Walker ’83.

Private services for Professor Walker were held in October. The family has suggested that memorials may be designated to the Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve or St. Francis Manor Foundation. Condolences can be shared online.