CLASS OF 1959

Jim and Judy (Moll) Francois celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary in June. They married while still going to school at Northland. Their first two children were born in Ashland while they were in school.  Nine children followed.


CLASS OF 1961

Theresa "Marie" Slack Wotruba is still operating Slack's Edgewater Beach Resort in Hayward, Wisconsin.


CLASS OF 1967

John Sabatini retired from Madison Public Schools in 1999 after 32 years in the classroom.  Two weeks later he took a job in the library at a biotech company (Promega Corp.) and he is still there.


CLASS OF 1971

Thomas Morse retired in August 2010 from Amtrak after more than 35 years.


CLASS OF 1976

Laura Urban is provost and vice president of Academic Affairs for Gateway Community College in Florence, Kentucky.  Laura holds a PhD in Education from Capella University.


CLASS OF 1978

Rich Bowden is a Professor of Environmental Science at Allegheny College, PA, where he has been for 22 years.  He was re-elected recently as president of the PA Environmental Resources Consortium, an organization of PA colleges and universities that promote campus and state-level environmental sustainability.  Bowden served in this role previously from 2001- 2009.  He has been involved in a number of campus and community sustainability initiatives, and conducts research on climate change and acidic deposition effects on forests.  Last summer, Bowden, fellow alumni Henry Nehls-Lowe '78 and Grant Herman '76, and former Northland professors David Whisnant (Chemistry) and Bob Bohac (Math) spent seven days kayaking the Apostle Islands. Bowden and his family reside in Meadville, Pennsylvania.


CLASS OF 1977

Curt Zielke retired on June 8, 2011 after teaching 34 years in the Neillsville (Wisconsin) School District.


CLASS OF 1979

Kathy Lyons and her husband David Frankel are raising a 7-year-old dynamo named Rebekah.  Kathy loves reconnecting with Northland buddies via Facebook!


CLASS OF 1980

Kate (McLeese) Kuff is working as a mental health counselor with teenagers. In her free time she gardens and mountain bikes miles through the wilds of Arkansas.


CLASS OF 1981

Carol "Carey" Ortman is enjoying her 6^th year as the Principal of St. Jude Thaddeus School in Havre, Montana. She had taught preschool in this small Catholic elementary school for 15 years prior to being appointed Principal. She would love to hear from other alumni at carolortman@yahoo.com.


CLASS OF 1983

Wendy (Rauscher) Lewis is employed with the South Dakota Chapter of the March of Dimes. She invites fellow alumni who wish to experience some "South Dakota Elbow Room" to get in touch with her.


CLASS OF 1984

Mark and Brenda (McKeen '82) Jurewicz are doing well and teaching gifted students at Quest Academy in Palatine, Illinois. They have three wonderful children: Zach, Abby and Michaela. They would love to hear from friends at jurewicz@msn.com.


CLASS OF 1986

Jackie (Meyer) Hopfensperger is a Certified Nursing Assistant at Park Manor Nursing Home. She lives in Glidden with her husband Stan.


CLASS OF 1992

Joe Foss teaches English classes to adult immigrants living in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis. He was married to Bich Lien Tran this past July in Vietnam. He hopes she will be able to join him in the United States within a year or less.

Tiffany Rose lives in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains and is working with her partner, Tom Downs, to set up a sustainable "farmette" with an orchard, beehives, garden, chickens and lots of wooded mountainside that butts up to the Monongalia National Forest. They are also restoring a Civil War era house, possibly the Union Army barracks during the occupation of the town. Her older son, Conor Geraghty is now in college, and her younger son, Ross has finally found his way home after a grueling eight years of separation. Tiffany has a degree in psychology and works for the West Virginia Children's Home in Elkins.  She is still doing historical reenacting whenever possible.


CLASS OF 1993

Wendy Beirl is a retired teacher, and has six grandchildren.


CLASS OF 1996

Lynn (Marshall) Hagstrom was the featured artist of the Month for Arts in Stark, for one of her bird paintings in Canton, Ohio. Lynn is a freelance artist, specializing in acrylic painting of birds, pastoral scenes and animals. Lynn is a member of the Canton Artist League, Online Visual Artist Registry State of Ohio-Registered Artist, Ohio Arts Council-Registered Artist, Columbus Metropolitan Library Registered Artist, Canton Art Museum, NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) and Associate Member of National Society of Painters in Casein/Acrylic. Lynn's website is lynnmarieartistree.com.

Jim Mattson is a conservation officer in Isle, Minnesota.


CLASS OF 1997

Tina and Steve Jankowski announce the birth of their son, Jachin Boaz Jankowski. His name comes from 1 Kings 7:21. He was 9 pounds and 22 inches long. This is baby number four for Steve and Tina.


CLASS OF 1998

Rachel and Matthew Verch announce the birth of a son, Nicholas Matthew Verch, on March 1, 2012.


CLASS OF 2001

Stacey Gerlach and Kirk Jewell were married on October 1, 2011.


CLASS OF 2003

Jena (Green) Huntington is a hydrogeologist for U.S. Geological Survey in Carson City, Nevada. She and her husband, Justin, were married on October 11, 2008. They have a son, Jax Green Huntington, born October 5, 2010.


CLASS OF 2004

Suzanne Hartrich is a certified medical laboratory scientist (ASCP) working for a fungal antigen diagnostic laboratory in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Julia Jackson is an associate consultant for Aurora Consulting in Minneapolis. She serves as chair of the board of directors for a nonprofit on-line magazine for kids and teens in LGBT-headed households called Rainbow Rumpus, www.rainbowrumpus.org. She completed her Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota in 2011.

Lisa Fiorio Martinsen is a basic education instructor for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior, Wisconsin. Lisa earned her master's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Jon Wolfe is working on a project for the National Weather Service that is forming new applications that increase the amount of lead time for warnings for tornadoes and other severe weather events. Holly (Unbehaun '05) is currently at home taking care of their 3 year old son, honeybee hives, garden, and chickens.  She also keeps busy making soap, preserving most of their food, making children's toys, weaving rugs, and working on a blog that's all about resourceful living: http://simplyresourceful.blogspot.com/

Geoff and Jessica (Krajniak) Zakovec announce the birth of a son, Liam Charles Zakovec, on January 12, 2012.  He joins his brother Owen at home.


CLASS OF 2006

Scott Canfield and Katie Revak '08 were married on October 1, 2011 in Bayfield.


CLASS OF 2008

Adam Andis is Wilderness Stewardship and Outreach Coordinator for Sitka Conservation Society in Sitka, Alaska.

Jill Falck and Michael Keiran were married on September 10, 2011.  They reside in Kodiak, Alaska.

Helen Pent Jenkins recently was promoted from director of development and marketing to executive director at the Montana Veterans Foundation in Helena, Montana.

Tiffany Schulz is an adventure education coordinator for the School District of New London, Wisconsin.  She and her husband Tim have a daughter, Blair Eleanore Schulz, born December 14, 2011.


CLASS OF 2009

Corinne Mattli is working with the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin.

Patrick May is one of 54 Fellows selected for this year's Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship. Patrick is a floor leader, quality tester, and cheese maker at a commercial dairy; an apprentice with an artisanal dairy farm; a summer naturalist at Arc of Appalachia Preserve System; and was a student leader for an environmental youth camp. He will receive a $30,000 stipend to complete a special intensive master's program at the University of Indianapolis. He will then make a commitment to teach for at least three years in a high-need urban or rural school in the state of Indiana.


CLASS OF 2010

Brian Finch is a fisheries technician for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He earned his Law Enforcement Recruit Academy degree from Fox Valley Technical College in December 2010.

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


CLASS OF 2011

Jessica Brown is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in writing at the University of Idaho.

Adam Lorch is the meteorologist for Northland's News Center in Duluth, Minnesota.  The station's morning shows has been changed to Courtney N Adam. He also will give evening newscast environmental reports.

Amanda Strick is the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for Oconto County in Wisconsin.


SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF:

Katherine (Van Guilder) Hoyer '38 passed away on February 27, 2012 at Ashland Health and Rehabilitation Center. Katherine attended Northland for three and a half years. She worked as a proofreader for a newspaper in Morton, Illinois, and also worked as a secretary for a real estate company in Orland Park, Illinois. She married Eric Enblom '36 in 1937. He preceded her in death in 1993. She married Ken Hoyer '40 in 1996. He preceded her in death in 1998.  She is survived by four children, Judith Hewett '61, Van Enblom, Janet Brand, and Eileen May '68; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Marie Van Guilder '48; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dolores Hendersin '42 died on March 6, 2012 at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center, Sparta, Wisconsin. Dolores served in the U.S. Army during World War II in France and Germany, where she organized and operated military libraries. She taught in Wisconsin high schools in Kendall, Eleva and Ashland. During this time she earned a Master's degree in English literature at UW-Madison. She was later employed as a newspaper librarian at The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin. While employed as librarian at Menomonee Falls school, she earned her library science master's degree at UW-Madison attending summer classes. She spent six years as librarian with the Spring Green, Wisconsin high school, and then was supervisor of the North Branch Library of the La Crosse Public Library System. She retired on December 31, 1984 as a Reference Librarian of the Main La Crosse Public Library. She is survived by her brother, Ralph Hendersin; a sister-in-law, Janell Hendersin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Louis T. Gilbertson '44 died on September 29, 2011 in Logan, Utah.

Edward G. Christensen '46 passed away on June 5, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 91.  He is survived by his children, Peter, John and David.  His wife, Evelyn, preceded him in death.

John Louis Hansen '46 died on October 28, 2011 in Edina, Minnesota. He worked for 3M as a research chemist and retired in 2006.

James Klatt '46 of Plymouth, Wisconsin, passed away on April 4, 2012 at home surrounded by his family after a brief illness. He was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy at the Minewarfare School in Norfolk, Virginia and served in World War II aboard the YMS Minesweepers.  He received college degrees from Gustavus Adolphus and Michigan Tech.  In 1948, he married Florine Flesia '47.  As a civil engineer, he worked in Yuma, Arizona designing ways to water the land, and then moved to Los Angeles where he worked to remove flood waters from the land.  He then worked 25 years in Milwaukee under the Eastern district of the U.S. Forest Service as a design engineer of bridges and dams. He is survived by his wife, Florine; two daughters, Heddamarie Hiles '90 and Annamarie Klatt; and three grandsons.

Edythe "Jackie" (Barker) Sea '49 passed away at her home in Pinedale, Wyoming on June 11, 2012. She is survived by her children, Sandra Harrison, Charles Sea, and Lisa Sea; a sister, Marion Madsen; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Sea, and a daughter, Susan McPherson.

Robert Bond '52 passed away on March 28, 2012 at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. He attended Northland College for one year and then transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he graduated in 1952. He worked for accounting firms in Minneapolis and Duluth for approximately eight years before returning to the Ashland area. He then worked at E. I. DuPont of Barksdale until their closure. In 1971 he became an employee of C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., retiring in 1992. He is survived by his sister, Mildred "Mitzi" Tomlinson, Ashland; a nephew and two nieces.

William Jacka '52 died on March 26, 2012.  He was a retired principal for Troy (Michigan) Public Schools. He is survived by his children, Melissa Walls, Melanie Russell and Jenifer Jacka; and three grandchildren. His wife, Marina, preceded him in death.

Margaret "Peg" (Sollie) Warren '52 passed away on March 31, 2012, after a brief illness. She was married to Harold "Scotty" Warren in 1953, and he preceded her in death in 1980. She worked as a librarian for the Racine Public Library until retiring in 1993. She is survived by her children: Scott Warren, Mary Balsamides and Christopher Warren; and six grandchildren. The family has designated that memorial gifts may be made to the Pritchard-Sollie-Thayer Scholarship Fund at Northland College.

Barbara (Nyhus) Larson '56 died on April 3, 2012 in the Marinuka Manor in Galesville, Wisconsin. She was married to Alyn Larson in 1954, and he preceded her in death in 2002. Barbara attended Northland for two years and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in economics and music. She is survived by four sons, Bruce, Chris, Jeff, and Steve; eight grandchildren; a great-grandson; and two brothers.

George Anderson '57 passed away on June 24, 2012 after a lengthy battle with cancer, in Rapid River, Michigan. George was married to Patsy (Gibson) '57 in 1955. He went to work for the family business and eventually became owner and manager for Anderson Lumber in Rapid River until his death. He is survived by his wife, Patsy; three sons, George, Greg and Gerry; seven grandchildren; one brother and two sisters; and numerous other relatives.

Robert J. Reykdal '63 passed away on July 15, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Bob was a high school English teacher in various places, including American Samoa, Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, Egypt, Italy and Kuwait, retiring in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Joanne (Chapple '63); two children, Noelle Reykdal and Bret Reykdal; two grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Robin Schroeder '66 passed away on July 19, 2012 at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota following a long illness.  Robin served as president of the Northland College Alumni Association and as a member of the Northland Board of Trustees.  He also worked in admissions for the college.  He served on numerous Northland College committees over the years, most notably as alumni chair of the highly successful Second Century Campaign. He and his wife, Lonnie, chaired the Alumni Association's Centennial Reunion in 1992. Robin devoted his career to admissions and fundraising for colleges, and eventually for the Boy Scouts of America. Later, he served as a fundraising consultant to non-profit organizations.  He married Loranelle "Lonnie" Tuttle in 1982, and they enjoyed nearly 30 years together. Robin is survived by his wife, Lonnie; a brother, Donald Schroeder, Bella Vista, Arkansas; three nieces; one nephew; eight grandnieces and nephews, one great-grandniece and many loving extended family members. The family has designated that memorials may be made to Northland College or to Shattuck-St Mary's School.

Michaeleen (Deney) McCoy '70 died on September 20, 2010 in Honaunau, Hawaii.  She is survived by a companion, Russell Archibald, her son Michael and daughter Susan, three siblings, and two grandchildren.

William P.  St. John '70 passed away on March 31, 2012 at Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in Warwick, Rhode Island. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two children, Stephanie Lataille and Kimberly Easton; and four grandchildren.

William "Bill" Osmak '71 passed away on July 19, 2012 at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland, Wisconsin. Bill worked for Great Lakes Gas for several years, and also worked five years for the NFO. He then worked for Northern States Power at the Red Wing Station as a senior nuclear operator. In 1984, he moved to Kankakee, Illinois where he worked as a procedure writer for a nuclear plant. He retired in 1989 and moved back to Ashland in 1993. Bill was the Ashland Boys Tennis Coach from 2000 to 2011, and was the Ashland Girls Tennis coach from 2000 to present. He is survived by a daughter, Antonia "Toni" Wilber, Ladson, South Carolina; two grandchildren; five siblings; and numerous other relatives.

Sat Guru Singh Khalsa (formerly Thomas G. Sweet) '72 died on March 2, 2011.

Mary Catherine (Schrauth) Wagner '73 died on May 4, 2012 at Park Falls Nursing Home in Wisconsin. Mary taught school in various schools in Wisconsin, and eventually taught at Butternut Grade School for more than 30 years. She married Willam H. Wagner in 1959, and he preceded her in death in 2006.  She is survived by five children: Philip J. Wagner, Butternut; Vicky Wagner-Pritzl, Hortonville, Wisconsin; Michael W. Wagner, Tappan, New York; James J. Wagner and Leonard L. Wagner, both of Overland Park Kansas; fourteen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Karen (Skingel) Campbell '74 passed away on April 29, 2012 at home in Iron River, Wisconsin.  Karen taught for 27 years at Beaser Grade School in Ashland and the Marengo Valley School, prior to her retirement in 2000. She was married to Robert Campbell in 1978. She taught summer school art and painting classes, and was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Iron River and Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Ashland. She is survived by her husband, Robert "Bob" Campbell, Iron River; a son, Christopher Allar; four stepchildren, Wendy Moore, Brian Campbell, Michael Campbell and Jennifer Olson; thirteen grandchildren; a brother; a sister; and nieces and nephews.

Anne Mary Schilling '76 unexpectedly passed away at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison on April 5, 2012.  After Northland, Mary received a Master's in Library Science, and for several years worked for Marinette County Wisconsin's library system. After that, she acquired a degree in computer technology, and worked for the University of Wisconsin's library system's Do It service in Madison. Since graduation from Northland, Anne has been with Thomas Adams '76 as partner and companion. Anne was also a very successful trainer of Irish Setters for the show ring, and for Canine Agility, and was very active with the Irish Setter Rescue Network. Besides Tom, Anne's passing is mourned by Penny and Ducky, two setters that she put championship titles on.  She is also survived by her mother, Rosalie Schilling; her sisters, Kathleen Pollock and Susan Schilling; and her brother, Benjamin Schilling.

Chris Bower '72 passed away at his home in Andover, Massachusetts on February 7, 2012. Chris earned his Master's degree at Northeastern University in Boston. He worked as a software design engineer for General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts for 32 years until his retirement in 2006. He is survived by his wife, Mary Bower; a daughter, Kendra Bower; a son, Scott Bower; his mother, three brothers, and several nieces and nephews.

Andrea Deardorff '80 died suddenly on January 1, 2012. Andie was the owner/practitioner of Inner Garden Acupuncture in Colmar, Pennsylvania.  She had earned her Master of Acupuncture from Tri State College of Acupuncture in 1996. She had worked in the President's office while a student at Northland, and thoroughly enjoyed her education and her time at Northland. She is survived by a sister, Gwen Roberts.

Jody J. Peterson '85 passed away on May 16, 2012. He is survived by his daughter, Jaynee Peterson.

William N. Ackley '87 passed away on May 8, 2012 at his home in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. Bill served as a Marine sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked as a Region 5 tribal liaison for the Environmental Protection Agency until he retired in 1998. Bill was an elder consultant to the Ojibwe Language Board in Lac du Flambeau, and was a respected drum owner and Ojibwe elder in the Lac du Flambeau community and throughout neighboring Ojibwe bands in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (Cardinal '84); and one son, Ricky. He is survived by three daughters, Susan Love, Nancy Roulston, and Carol Hill; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three nieces; one nephew; foster children; and special close friends.

Diane Suchan '91 died on April 28, 2012 at Essentia Health-St. Mary's in Duluth, Minnesota. Diane had worked as a housing specialist for the Ashland County Housing Authority for a number of years. She was a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She is survived by two children, Kathryn Imsande and Daniel Byrd; three grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

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To submit notes, please contact:

Alumni Office: (715) 682-1215;
Email: alumni@northland.edu
Mail: Alumni Relations, 1411 Ellis Avenue, Ashland, WI 54806
Director of Grants Administration & Alumni Relations: Lisa Williamson