In Memoriam

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.

Russell G. Allen ’68, Newport Beach, California, Jan.19, 2020. After Grinnell, Russell earned a law degree from Stanford Law School then served four years in the U.S. Air Force. He went on to become a partner at the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers, where he worked for more than three decades. Later he worked for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. before opening a private practice. He was a champion of Grinnell, interviewing prospective students in his home and serving on the Board of Trustees. He is survived by his wife, Joan Frahm Allen; four daughters; and two grandsons.

 

Martha Reid Murphy ’39, Forest City, Iowa, Jan. 17, 2020. Martha was an active member of her church and served for more than 50 years in the Girl Scouts. She is survived by two children; six grandchildren, including Xylina Walker ’04; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Hetty Green Hasekamp ’40, Roswell, New Mexico, March 11, 2020. Hetty worked with the Iowa Tuberculosis Society and at a department store in St. Louis. She and her husband, Lester, ran an architectural construction and engineering firm for 25 years. In retirement, she was involved with the Community Soup Kitchen, the Roswell Women’s Club, and her church. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Hasekamp Torno ’62.

Mary Safris Keller ’40, Poway, California, March 2, 2020.

David R. Meade ’44, Philomath, Oregon, July 14, 2019. Survivors include his niece, Catherine Meade ’84; and nephew, James Meade ’68.

Roberta “Bobette” Brown Sanders ’45, Cortlandt Manor, New York, April 25, 2020. She was the first female Midwest director at Liggett Drug Co. She and her late husband, Paul Sanders, were married for 59 years. She served as a class agent for Grinnell for 23 years and received an Alumni Award in 2015. She is survived by her son and daughter.

Walter G. Seidlitz Jr. ’48, Minneapolis, March 14, 2020. Walter was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was married to Miriam Norton Seidlitz ’47 for 62 years; she died in 2010. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club and his church. Survivors include his two children, including Stephen N. Seidlitz ’71; daughter-in-law, Mary Beth Burney Seidlitz ’72; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

William E. Siegel ’50, Sun City West, Arizona, Nov. 22, 2019.

Robert M. Pilkington ’50, Grayslake, Illinois, March 4, 2020. Bob served in the infantry in World War II, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was a prisoner of war, and received a Purple Heart. Shortly after graduating from Grinnell, he began working at WHAS-TV in Louisville, Kentucky; he married the late Audrey Wedel Pilkington ’49. He spent nearly 40 years at the company as a producer, director, and writer. He was a regular volunteer at Historic Locust Grove and Reading for the Blind. Survivors include three children and two grandchildren.

William A. Smiley Jr. ’50, Schofield, Wisconsin, March 26, 2020. Before attending Grinnell, Bill was in the U.S. Army, where he was trained to be a paratrooper and helped build concrete “mulberry” docks to support the D-Day invasions on the Normandy beaches. He met his wife, Doris Jean Nesbitt ’50, at Grinnell and went on to earn a master’s from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He spent decades as a biology teacher at Wausau High School and coached track, cross country, and swimming. He founded the annual Wausau Invitational cross country meet, which was later renamed the Smiley Invitational in his honor. He was an active community member, participating in the Kiwanis Club of Greater Wausau. He is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Clark T. Kingery ’51, Hockessin, Delaware, March 9, 2020. Clark spent 36 years in a variety of roles at Hercules Inc., including corporate director of production operations for all 37 Hercules plants worldwide. He was an active volunteer, serving on the National Ski Patrol, coaching football, and serving as president and board member of the Boys Club of Wilmington. During his tenure, the club became the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware. He lost his first wife, Carla Parks Kingery ’54, in 1994. He is survived by his second wife, Carol Wood Kingery; four children; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Robert V. Pischke ’51, De Witt, Iowa, Jan. 22, 2020. In 1943, while still in high school, Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was trained as a gunner on a B-29 bomber. He attended Grinnell on the GI Bill. Over the years, he owned and operated Eldridge (Iowa) Pharmacy and served as a real estate agent and as a licensed insurance agent. He married Joy Dunn ’49, who died in 2004. He was also heavily involved in community activities, including serving as a Sunday school teacher. He was president of his church and held leadership positions for the Eldridge Lions Club. He is survived by three children, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Bruce M. Snell Jr. ’51, Ida Grove, Iowa, Dec. 20, 2019. After graduating from Grinnell, Bruce served in the Army for two years during the Korean War, then earned a law degree from the University of Iowa. He married Anne Fischer in 1956. He served as an Iowa assistant attorney general and had a solo law practice. He was appointed to the inaugural Iowa Court of Appeals in 1976 and then, in 1987, to the Iowa Supreme Court, on which father had served until retiring in 2001. His father served on that same court from 1961 until 1970. Bruce was deeply involved in his community as a longtime member of Kiwanis, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, and Abu Bekr Shrine. He served on the Horn Memorial Hospital board of directors. He was named Citizen of the Year by Ida Grove in 1987 and received distinguished alumni awards from both Grinnell College and the University of Iowa College of Law in 2001. He is survived by his two children, including Bradley S. Snell ’85.

Constance Thuma Wallace ’51, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 3, 2020. Survivors include one brother and a niece.

Beverly Cannon Skog ’52, Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 9, 2019. She was married for 64 years to Jackson Skog ’52, who died in 2014. Survivors include a brother, five children, 10 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.

D. Paulette Esser Payne ’54, Austin, Texas, Dec. 25, 2019.

Dolores Cain Hakes ’55, Orchard Park, New York, Aug. 14, 2019. Survivors include her husband, James D. Hakes ’53.

Janet Wanzer ’55, Memphis, Tennessee, Feb. 26, 2020. After working at Ginn Publishing in Boston, Janet spent many years as a secretary in the Infectious Diseases Department of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital before her retirement. She was a devoted volunteer at a local hospital and a docent at the Memphis Zoo. She is survived by a nephew and niece.

Elma Johnston Brooks ’56, College Place, Washington, Dec. 14, 2019.

Joanne Bunge ’56, Costa Mesa, California, April 5, 2020. In addition to raising two sons, Joanne chaired the Family Education Center and was project manager for the Bloomington, Minnesota, Chamber of Commerce for the Mall of America. After her children left for college, she returned to Grinnell, where she worked for Grinnell Regional Medical Center and for the College as director of planned giving. She spent nearly two decades as a class agent and received an Alumni Award in 2011. In addition, she founded and chaired the Community Education Council, which offers popular “Bucket Courses” for seniors in the Grinnell community. Survivors include two sons and four grandchildren.

Margot Waters Bates ’57, Boulder, Colorado, March 21, 2019.

Nancy Johannsen Boyer ’57, Carroll, Iowa, Dec. 20, 2019. Nancy taught high school math before having three children. She was active in her children’s lives and her community, including Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and her church. Later, she opened her own craft store, Busy Hands Craft Shop, and taught many classes. She went on to work as office manager for an H&R Block office and as a tax preparer for Mr. Tax. She is survived by her husband, Richard F. Boyer ’54; three children; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Don C. Leo ’57, Carol Stream, Illinois, March 9, 2020. Don earned a master’s from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where he met his wife, Judy Barnsbeck. He was appointed to Methodist churches in Iowa and Illinois and counseled fellow clergy and pastoral candidates as part of the United Methodist Church’s Midwest Career Development Service. He also served as part-time chaplain for Central DuPage Hospital for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, four children, and seven grandchildren.

Dan A. Ver Ploeg ’57, Anchorage, Alaska, March 26, 2020. Dan earned a master’s in biochemistry from the University of Iowa and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He worked for Chemical Abstracts Service for many years before joining the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Drinking Water. He married his first wife, Gail Davenport, in 1964, with whom he had two children. His second marriage was to Angela Henn Bollinger in 1988. Dan was a licensed pilot and a longtime spelunker. He was famous for his home-baked bread. Survivors include two sons and five grandchildren.

John H. Williams ’57, Simi Valley, California, March 28, 2020. John earned a master’s from the University of Nebraska and a doctorate from Kansas State University. He taught for many years at The Ohio State University and later served as Midwest regional vice president for the Sierra Club. He went on to serve in a variety of government roles, including in the U.S. Department of Energy. In retirement, he was a book and film critic for Georgia’s Lakeside Ledger and chaired the executive board of the Simi Valley Council on Aging. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; three stepchildren; and nine grandchildren.

William L. Britton ’58, Seattle, Dec. 8, 2019. Bill served in the Army for four years. He went on from Grinnell to the University of Washington Law School, where he met his first wife, Carol, and had three daughters. He served as an attorney and administrative law judge for the state of Washington. He married his second wife, Kathleen, in 1984, and had one daughter, Clara. Clara died from a brain tumor, and, following her death, Bill was an avid volunteer at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Survivors include his sister, Barbara Britton Lacy ’53; three daughters; and four grandchildren.

Kimberly Meyer Sundet ’58, Beloit, Wisconsin, Oct. 18, 2019. In addition to Grinnell, Kimberly attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She and her first husband, Bud Schroeder, had two sons. In 1979, she married the Rev. Arvid Sundet. She served with him as co-pastor of churches throughout Wisconsin. She is survived by her husband, two sons, two stepchildren, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Martha Pillars Buenneke ’59, Sarasota, Florida, Dec. 17, 2019.

Nichola Flock Krause ’59, Prescott, Arizona, March 24, 2020. Nikki retired to Arizona from Denver after a long career as a flight attendant with United Airlines. Survivors include two daughters, three stepchildren, and five grandchildren.

Michael J. Chandler ’60, Vancouver, British Columbia, Jan. 28, 2019. He was a professor in the department of psychology at the University of British Columbia for 25 years. Michael was named Canada’s only distinguished investigator of both the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Survivors include his wife, Alexandra; son Zack; and four siblings, including Stephen Chandler ’66.

Glee Clark Hamilton ’60, Tampa, Florida, Jan. 21, 2020. Glee transferred from Grinnell to the University of Arizona’s College of Education, then taught first grade in Phoenix for two years. She went on to work for the Department of Defense as a teacher at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, where she met her husband, Donald Hamilton. She had two sons and later earned a master’s in reading education from the University of South Florida. She spent nearly 20 years as a reading teacher at Franklin Middle School in Tampa. She is survived by her husband, two sons, and four grandchildren.

Robert Gene Mack ’60, Greeley, Colorado, Dec. 23, 2019. Gene drove long-haul trucks before going to Grinnell College. After graduating, he went to Yale Divinity School and became a United Church of Christ minister in 1963. Gene served churches throughout Colorado. He helped establish Aims Community College, Weld Food Bank, and several Head Start programs. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, and four children.

Richard A. Hoiekvam ’61, Omaha, Nebraska, July 23, 2019. Survivors include two children and two grandchildren.

Henry G.L. “Mac” McCullough ’61, South Bend, Indiana, Feb. 24, 2020. After Grinnell, Mac served in the U.S. Air Force, then went on to work in a variety of roles at organizations including NASA, Kitt Peak National Observatory, and Babcock & Wilcox Company’s Atomic Energy Division in Virginia. He was a nuclear energy adviser to President Ronald Reagan and testified before Congress. Mac served as a class agent for Grinnell from 2011 to 2016. He is survived by his wife, Princess; and four children; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

John Z. McFarland ’61, Moran, Wyoming, Dec. 29, 2019. John attended medical school at Louisiana State University and completed a residency in radiology. He practiced medicine in South Carolina, Colorado, and Nevada. He enjoyed helping others with their home projects. Survivors include his wife, Sherri; sister, Marjorie McFarland ’63; three children; and five grandchildren.

John N. Scott ’61, Mahomet, Illinois, Feb. 26, 2020. A trumpeter, John played in a jazz group Herbie Hancock ’60 formed at Grinnell and co-wrote the song “A Tribute to Someone” on Hancock’s second album, My Point of View.

Sonia Anderson ’62, New Brighton, Minnesota, Jan. 29, 2020. She worked at Control Data and at Dayton’s personnel department. She went on to spend 50 years at Target Corp. as manager of benefits. Survivors include her sister.

Allen S. Boston ’63, Webster Groves, Missouri, Feb. 28, 2020. Allen graduated from Yale Law School and spent nearly 40 years at the law firm Lewis Rice. He later spent three years as general counsel for Saint Louis Public Schools. John was a member of the board of the Bach Society of Saint Louis and enjoyed playing the soundtrack from the 1972 film 1776 from his front porch every July 4. He is survived by his wife, Lucyann; two children; and three grandchildren.

Elizabeth Brockert Howell ’63, Ames, Iowa, Feb. 24, 2020. At Grinnell Liz met her husband, Stephen H. Howell ’63. She attended graduate school for bryology, the study of mosses, at the University of Iowa. Before having children, she worked as a research technician in Baltimore and had roles at the Salk Institute and at the University of California San Diego Medical School. While raising her two daughters, she kept an active volunteer life. Survivors include her husband, two children, and four grandchildren.

Larry F. Smucker ’63, Chevy Chase, Maryland, Feb. 24, 2020. As a student at Grinnell, Larry traveled to Washington, D.C., in 1961 to demonstrate for the nuclear test ban treaty, one of the first events in the national student peace movement of the 1960s. He met his first wife, Joan Lubin ’63, at Grinnell; the couple had three children. She died in 1985. Larry earned a master’s in European history from Harvard and later spent many years working for USAID and the World Bank. In retirement, he volunteered for Grinnell’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations. He is survived by his second wife, Fauzia Rashid Smucker; three children; and four grandchildren.

Sally Wolf Robinson ’65, Lakeside, Michigan, Feb. 15, 2020. While at Grinnell, Sally met her husband, L. “Rob” Vern Robinson ’65. She worked for many years as a social worker and supervisor in child protective services for the Johnson County, Iowa, Department of Social Services. She also worked as an administrative assistant for the Johnson County juvenile probation office and as secretary for the principal of an alternative high school. She loved singing and was a member of two choruses. She was also an avid cyclist. She completed 15 RAGBRAIs (the cross-state bike ride sponsored by the Des Moines Register) and celebrated Iowa’s sesquicentennial by riding 5,000 miles from California to Washington, D.C., in 1995. She volunteered for Grinnell as a class agent until 2001 and received an Alumni Award in 1990. Survivors include her husband; two children, including Amy Robinson ’92; and two grandchildren.

Janet Megorden Stalder ’66, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Jan. 24, 2020. Janet worked as a computer programmer for Honeywell before marrying Bob Stalder in 1976 and having two sons. She was active in the Cub Scouts, helped raise money for Paoli Hospital Auxiliary Board, and was a devoted member of her church. She is survived by her husband; sister, Margaret Megorden Bailly ’67; brother-in-law, Richard C. Bailly ’66; two sons; and three grandchildren.

Jay H. Greener ’67, Centereach, New York, Jan. 18, 2020. Jay served in Vietnam as a combat engineer in the 70th Combat Battalion. He had a long career in sales, working for Dow Corning Corp., Lutheran Brotherhood, Owens-Illinois, and in his own business. He was a longtime class fund director for Grinnell, served as a class reunion chair, and received an Alumni Award in 2017. He was also a member of the University Glee Club of New York City and his church choir. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Marie Greener; three children; and five grandchildren.

Louis L. Kelley ’68, Denver, Sept. 14, 2019.

Erania Tecumseh-Hawkins ’69, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Feb. 26, 2020.

Gordon D. Christensen ’70, Columbia, Missouri, Feb. 29, 2020. Gordon spent decades as a professor of medicine, specializing in infectious diseases and tropical medicine, at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and was known for taking on difficult patient cases linked to Lyme disease and chronic fatigue syndrome. He was frequently honored for his teaching and was proud of his popular undergraduate course, The Practice of Medicine Through Literature. He was also recognized for his research on medical device infections. Survivors include his wife, Alice Hyde Christensen ’70; two daughters, including Charlotte Christensen, Grinnell assistant professor of physics; and a grandchild.

Richard F. Faust ’74, Minneapolis, Sept. 22, 2019.

Robert S. Miller ’74, Chicago, Sept. 5, 2019.

Linda Rodriguez-Torrent ’74, Sebring, Florida, Jan. 21, 2020. Linda earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1982. She started in a small private practice before moving to Indianapolis, where she worked for the women’s legal clinic and Indiana public defenders on appeals and death-penalty post-conviction cases. She moved to Sebring, Florida, in 1998 to work for the public defender’s office, then opened her own law firm that specialized in criminal defense law. Linda was instrumental in launching the Highlands County teen court program and was awarded the Governor’s Community Investment Award for her work with that program. She visited classrooms and organized community events for the Highlands County Bar Association Law Day program. She earned the Judge Clifton M. Kelly Award for her efforts teaching law and justice to children and received the 2018 Highlands County Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award. She is survived by her husband, Eric Menges; two children; and a grandchild.

David I. Wright ’74, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 17, 2020. David earned his doctorate from the University of Kansas and spent more than 30 years at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He was an avid sailor, cross-country skier, and cyclist. He was a longtime supporter of the men’s soccer program at Grinnell and had recently established the Wright Fund for Men’s Soccer. Survivors include his wife, Deborah Smith-Wright ’75; three children, including Evan Wright ’12; brother, Douglas Lochner-Wright ’84; sister-in-law, Barbara Smith ’72; brother-in-law, Craig Gordon ’71; and two grandchildren.

Beata Riedlmayer ’76, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Aug. 30, 2019.

John Hukushi ’83, Santa Monica, California, Nov. 23, 2019.

Christopher S. Coles ’85, Eureka, Missouri, Oct. 5, 2019. Survivors include his sister, Deborah Coles Ryan ’87; and niece, Grace Ryan ’14.

Scott W. Hamilton ’89, Austin, Texas, Jan. 26, 2020. Scott was a devoted husband, father, stepfather, brother, and son. He served as a class agent and is survived by his wife, Laura; three children; and three stepchildren.

Julia Christine Snyder ’89, Malibu, California, Feb. 19, 2020. Julie was a studio art major at Grinnell and earned her bilingual elementary teaching credential at the University of California-Los Angeles. Survivors include her father, Peter Z. Snyder ’63; and mother, Karen Sorensen Snyder ’64.

Faculty

Wade A. Jacoby, Provo, Utah, Feb. 29, 2020. He was 55 when he suffered a heart attack while mountain biking in southern Utah. A former assistant professor of political science at Grinnell, Wade earned his doctorate in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and taught at Grinnell from 1995 to 2000. He later took a professorship at Brigham Young University. Survivors include his parent; wife, Kindra; three children; one granddaughter; and seven siblings.