Alumni News and Stories

• Ronald E. Bergmann `60 published his autobiography ‘A Fork in the Road’.
• Louise Reseld Wakem `63 received the Herald Museum Guild’s 2017 Lifetime Service award. This award recognizes Guild members who have extensively served the Guild and the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz for 15 years or more.
• William Heineke, PhD `67 has been nominated for the Campbell County Healthcare Foundation’s outstanding health care award. The winner will be announced at the 13th Annual Black Cat Ball.
• Wayne Connors `68 `70 retired as executive director of a two-county housing authority in Oregon. He now resides in southwest Utah.
• Daniel Stewart `70 was appointed by Indiana governer Eric Holcomb to the Indiana Rehabilitation Commission in January 2018. Dan is the President/CEO of Achieva Resources and plans to retire in June 2018 after 48 years in the rehabilitation industry.
• Craig Petersburg `71 is releasing his trilogy Mr. C. Memoir on Amazaon.
• Peter Castrill `71 is the senior vice president for Veteran Enterprise Technology Services. He oversees mission support services for the Kennedy Space Center, Johnson Space Center and Vandenberg Air Force Base.
• Sharon Johnson `71, retired from Corporate Four Insurance Agency on April 26, 2017.
• Kent Thomas `72 retired from FTG Aerospace in Chatsworth, Cali.
• Randolph Macholl `73 has retired after working 50 years in the industrial distribution industry. He now works part time as a sales merchandiser at the True Value Hardward and Rental in New Berlin.
• Warren Nilsson `73 retired after spending most of his 45 years in industrial distribution.
• Dr. Gary E. Lewis `74 MS was awarded the Legacy Award by the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education in recognition of his long-standing commitment to the field of special education at the local, regional and national levels.
• Katherine "Katie" Gardner `75 retired December 1st after working as a registered dietitian for 39 years.
• Christine Welsh `76 retired as the supervisor of food services at D. C. Everest Area School District after 27 years. 
• Terry Jorgenson `77 has published 3 children’s books; Will Walrus and the Dangerous Shopping Trip, Bobby Bluegill, and Oscar Bean.
• Edward Kuehn `78 wrote and published a family history book, “Stepping Into Rural Wisconsin.”
• Jim “PJ” Noll `78 was sworn in as a district governor for Lions Clubs International District 27B2 of NE WI in Chicago last summer. The district has over 2,250 members in 70 Lions clubs.
• Linda Armas `78 wrote and published The Freedom of Routing. 
• Dan Pliszka `80 retired from the City of Charlotte, N.C., where he spent 20 years as an insurance and risk manager. He also recently published “Life is Great, Even if Your Boat Flips Over.”
• Jill Levorson `80 is the director of design for Consilium Interior Design in Golden Valley, Minn.
• Anthony Aveni `81 has taught media writing at Milwaukee Area Technical College since 2006. He is also a copy editor for the Manufacturing Confectioner, a trade journal for the candy and confections industry.
• Donna Fain Brown `81 has been named senior manager, security, the Americas region for Western Digital Corporation in San Jose, Calif.
• Joan Willshire `81 received 2018 Commitment to Service Award at the 32nd Annual State of Minnesota Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in St. Paul.
• Julie Mattson Ostrow `81 is the vice president, dairy experience-wellness at Midwest Dairy, St. Paul, Minn. Lois Lewis `83 was awarded 2018 Educators of Excellence for Great Minnesota by the Minnesota Rural Education Association.
• Shawn Peter `83 was awarded the Presidents Award of Excellence in Safety in 2017 by his employer CN Railway.
• Kent D. Savre `84 is a commanding general of The United States Army.
• Isaac Owolabi `84 was installed as the District Governor of Rotary International for Western North Carolina District 7670, in June.
• Diane Olson `85 currently conducts Neurosequential Model Therapeutics Assessments at the Arizona’s Children Association.
• Elizabeth Bettenhausen `85 is the program manager at River City Estates in Hewitt.
• Diane Colrue-Shaver `86 is the assistant director of a Child Care Megacenter at Children’s Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.
• Jeanne Wilkinson `86 was awarded the 43rd New Millennium Award for Nonfiction for her story “Hidden in a Suitcase” in 2017. 
• Leslie Joslin `86 is a child care licensor for the Department of Human Services in Minnesota and she resides with her husband, John, in Woodbury, Minn.
• Abby Newman `88 wrote and published an e-book called, “Maybe Baby”.
• Eric Austvold `89 is the vice president of sales for BondLink in Boston, Mass.
• Jeffrey Brown `89, was named Citgo STEM Teacher of the Year.
• April Frelke `91 will be hosting the 7th annual Bob Honel Christmas show with Nick Kaufmann.
• James Micech `91 is the building inspector for the Village of Grafton and the Village of Saukville.
• Troy Reineke `91 is food and beverage director at Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Iowa.
• Dale Mittelstaedt `92 was named chief innovation officer at F. Dohmen Co. in Milwaukee.
• Tom Voegele `92 retired December 20th, 2017 after selling Bayside Home Medical in Sturgeon Bay.
• Gary Wiedmeyer `92, is a sales engineer with Jorgensen Conveyors in Mequon.
• Suzanne Wittman `94 is the director of talent & K-16 relations at the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Regional Partnership.
• Annetter Roter `96 published Understanding and Recognizing Dysfunctional Leadership: The Impact of Dysfunctional leadership on Organizations and Followers and The Dark Side of the Workplace: Managing Incivility.
• Debbie Nichols `96 was appointed executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Wisconsin.
• Karen Lee Hayes `95, is helping at-risk, traumatized youth at Dakota Memorial School, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, North Dakota.
• Brenda Weitermann `96 was awarded WSCA School Counselor of the Year.
• Stacy Jacobs `96 is the middle school administrative assistant at Elkhorn Area Middle School in Elkhorn. She retired as an elementary school teacher after 17 years.
• Lisa Hoffman Wojcik `97 was appointed executive director of Leisure Education for Exceptional People (LEEP). 
• Rebekah J. Colson `98 published “Walking a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes: Vocational Grieving, Transition and Recovery.”
• Kelly La Venture `99 received the U.S. Fulbright Scholar award to Mauritius.
• Kevin Stensberg `01 accomplished his goal of visiting 100 countries with a trip to Iceland in June.
• Tracy Poser Walsh `02 received the 2018 Media Awards Silver Medal of Achievement for Photography, presented by GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators.
• Hope Williams `04 completed her Master of Public Health through Capella in December 2018.
• Mitch Yurkovich `06 found his biological family in July. The story was featured on Good Morning America.
• Brandon Flitter`07 is the director of sales for the soon-to-open Hotel Northland Autograph Collection in Green Bay.
• Bryan Horwath `07 is a gaming industry reporter for the Las Vegas Sun news paper in Las Vegas, Nev.
• Danielle Wolfgang `07 is the assistant director of conference services with UW-Madison University Housing.
• Drew Davis `07 joined the sales department at Productivity Inc.
• Adam Bredesen `08 is a sr. consultant at Aon.
• Dyana Doherty `08, named Business Person of the Year by the Savage Chamber of Commerce in Savage, Minn. 
• Logan Irons `09 was awarded the Certified Club Manager designation by the Club Managers Association of America.
• Betsy Van Zeeland `10 is director of commercial lines underwriting at SECURA Insurance.
• Charlene Van Etten `10 received one of the 100 Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship Scholarships.
• Matt Wilson `10 is the director of marketing at McCann Systems.
• Latacia Greeley `11 is the membership and tourism director of the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Melissa Wilson `11 is vice president of marketing and business development at Royal Credit Union.
• Melissa Wilson `11 began Melnaturel in 2017. Melnaturel is a natural skincare line that is sold online and at stores in Eau Claire, Hudson and Milwaukee.
• Amber Devlin `15 is an enrollment officer at Finlandia University.
• Brian Rose `15 is employed as a safety manager at Aldridge Electric, a family-owned national utility construction contractor headquartered in Libertyville, Ill.
• Zane Glumske `15 began new role as a product development verification lead for Advanced Energy Generator in January 2018.
• Aaron Warner `16 is the assistant golf professional at Kettle Hills Golf Course in Richfield, Wisc.
• Cierra Steiner `16 is an account executive at Zendesk.
• De’Andre Jones `16 is a program associate at Summer Search in Seattle. 
• Derek Woellner `16 was elected mayor of his hometown of Merrill.
• Lucas Feldkamp `16 was promoted to admissions system analyst at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn.
• Molly Schecklman `16 is the human resource manager at Innovative Machine Specialists, Inc.
• Mark Lorenz `16 was hired as the manager of learning and development at Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.
• Sarah Mrochinski `16 is an account manager for Covergirl at Harvey Agency.
• Huana Nelson `17 is the program owner at Target Corporate.
• Karlee Hanson `17 is a character FX artist at DreamWorks Animation.

Engagements:

• Amber Devlin `15 and Evan Brandt got engaged on December 13, 2018. Their first date was at the Acoustic Café.
• Laura Bauman `15 is engaged to Zack Knight `15. They plan to wed in 2019. 
• Garrett Griswold `16 and Christina Lindstrom `16 got engaged in August.
• Molly Schecklman `16 and Malachi David `17 are engaged. They are planning a September wedding.
• Alexa Taylor `17 and Jonathon Gustafson `18 are engaged. They reside in Minnetonka, Minn.

Marriages:

• Thomas V. Hable `77 and Jennifer K. Beyer Huber `78 were married in Federal Way, Wash.
• Leslie Barkin `04 and Eddie Martinez were married on August 4, 2018.
• Nicole Crowell `08 and Jack Hajewski were married on July 14, 2017
• Jenna Huseboe `12, September 16, 2017, Milwaukee, WI
• Amanda Kessler Steffes `13, September 30, 2017, Milwaukee, WI
• Sarah Thomas Strang `14, August 12, 2017, Eden Prairie, MN
• Abigail Filcher `15 and Blake Meyer `16 were married September 16, 2017 in Burnsville, Minn.
• Amber Devlin `15 and Evan Brandt got engaged on December 13, 2018. Their first date was at the Acoustic Café.

Anniversaries:

• Tony Kojis `67 and Mary Ann Graham Kojis `66 celebrated their 50th anniversary on August 12, 2017.
• Gloria Gade Hardy `68 and John C. Hardy celebrated their 50th anniversary in June.
• Kristine Mjaanes Nelson `69 and Richard Alan Nelson `69 celebrated their 50th anniversary in May.
• Leonard `69 and Connie Bonnell Hanson `69 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
• Laura Slater-Hatzenbeller `79 and Mark Hatzenbeller `79 will celebrate their 40th anniversary in June 2019.
• Beth Constable Griffiths `83 and Steven Griffiths `81 celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in June.
• Mr. Melcha and Dr. Gale D. Story Satchel `95 celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary, June 21.
• Denise Becker Retzlaff `02 and Andrew Retzlaff `02 will celebrate their 15th anniversary in October. They met at UW-Stout in 1998.

Arrivals:

• Sara Lynn and Bradley ` 03 Jensen, welcomed Opal Julianne Jensen to their family on November 10, 2017. She has two older brothers, Daniel (3) and Bruce (2).
• Tiffani Calmes Roltgen `04 and Mike Roltgen welcome Calvey Matthew Roltgen to their family on Feb. 19. Calvey joins siblings Adelline, Stella and MacArthur.
• Joy Williams `07 and Brett Jackson `07 welcomed their second child, a son in August. 
• Kristen `10 and Jordan `10 Egger welcomed son Henry to their family in November. He has one older brother Jack.
• Nicole `09 MS `11 ED and Brian Prom welcomed their identical twin boys on September 16, 2018. 
• Jason `11 and Kellie Horzewski welcomed daughter Addie.
• Nick `12 and Joan Carsello `11 Kronebusch welcomed their first child, Lyla in October 2018. They met at UW-Stout in 2011, married in 2016 and are both teachers in Arizona.

Passings:

• Kathleen Michaels Barnard `41, August 19, 2018, Wildrose
• Paul Erickson `46, October 29, 2013, Turlock, Cali
• Russell Tews `50, August 8, 2018, Greendale
• Carolyn Ruth Blain Mowbray `51, January 3, 2019, Janesville
• Beverly Henderson `53, December 14, 2018, Madison
• Arthur Goglin `56, January 31, 2018, Wilsonville, Oregon
• Robert Olstrom `57, February 16, 2018, Reedsport, Oregon
• John A. Moore Sr `59, April 3, 2018, Escanaba. Mich.
• Thomas Hirsch `61, January 22, 2015, Romeoville, Ill.
• Marlene Hoegger Lien `62, October 17, 2018, Northfield, Minn.
• Brian Hepperly `63, June 2, 2017, Beloit
• Joyce J. Giovani `63, January 9, 2017, Wausau
• Karen Horky Hirte `64, March 201, 2018, Lancaster.  
• Chester Jensen `64, September 11th, 2017, Neenah
• Jeffery L. Olson `65, October 29, 2018, Sandwich, Ill.
• Carol Hope Siewert `66, December 22, 2017, Plano, Texas.
• Gerald R. Rademacher `66, December 29, 2018, Racine.
• Julie Ann Voss Sehmer `67, May 20, 2018, Stoughton
• Marlene Worzella `68, December 2017, Richfield
• Sandra “Sandy” Hassemer `68, June 04, 2008, Sun City West, Ariz.
• Curt Peters `70, July 14, 2018, Montrose, Cali.
• Duane Hambleton `70, March 8, 2018, Neenah
• Jon Edward Nelson `71, July 15, 2018, Rochester, Minn.
• Catherine Arndorfer Heimerman `73, August 1, 2018, Random Lake
• Robert Newton `74, July 18, 2018, Beloit
• Nancy Zieman `75, November 14, 2017, Beaver Dam
• Daniel Grosskopf `77, June 15, 2014, Farmington, Minn.
• Keith E. Tschumper `78, September 4, 2018, Racine
• Raymond W. Topp `80, July 20th, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
• Kathryn Elaine Hoehn Anderson `81, October 25, 2018, Columbus, Ohio.
• Larry D. Moen `81, May 28, 2018, Osseo
• David “Toby” Howe `81, October 31, 2018, Menomonie
• Dennis Kahlhamer `81, October 27, 2018, Little Falls, Minn.
• David Dawson `86, October 18, 2017, Menomonee Falls
• Freedom E. Nakpodia `86, July 27, 2016, Nigeria
• Karen Halverson-Falk `87, November 28, 2018, Colfax
• Thomas Jahn, June 20, 2017, Tomahawk
• Curt Swanson `94, October 31, 2018, Ames, Iowa.
• Lydia M. Vitort `97, September 23, 2018, Cumberland
• Amanda Geissler `07, December 30, 2017, Costa Rica

Friends of the university: 

• Richard “Dick” Vanek, December 1, 2018
• Sylvia Nelson, December 9, 2018, Menomonie

Faculty Retirements: 

• Lori Anda: Recreation Athletic Complex Operations
• Alan Block: School of Education Instruction
• Ilse Hartung: Communication, Global Languages and Performing Arts
• Mary Jackelen: Counseling Center
• Dennis Luedtke: Building Maintenance
• Elizabeth McRoberts: Chemistry and Physics / ROTC Military Science
• Gus Myran: Discovery Center
• David Plum: Operations and Management
• Joan Pougiales: Office of International Education
• Paul Stauffacher: Communication Studies, Global Languages, and Performing Arts
• Andrea Streff: Custodial Services
• Richard Swanson: English and Philosophy
• Loretta Thielman: Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science

Faculty Passing:

• Genevieve R. Lambert, 103, formerly of Menomonie died Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. She worked as a cook at the UW-Stout student union, retiring in 1977.
• Terry Ingram, 80, of Menomonie, passed away Nov. 22, 2017. He taught in media technology and photography from 1970 until his retirement in 2001. He was a professor emeritus in the College of Technology, Engineering and Management.
• Ervin Schlick, 92, of Rochester, Minn. passed away December 30, 2017. Ervin worked as the director of instrumental activities. He retired in May 1989, after working just over 5 years at UW-Stout.
• Philip Sawin Jr., 84, of Menomonie, passed away Feb. 7, 2018. Phil worked in the UW-Stout Library Learning Center as a collection development librarian and was at the university 21 years. He retired in July 1996.
• Chancellor Emeritus, Charles William Sorensen of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, passed away on Friday, February 23, 2018, in The Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Florida.Chuck spent his professional life as an historian, scholar and administrator. His first position teaching history was in a junior high school in Denver, Colorado. After graduate school he taught at Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana, and Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Chuck’s career then took a turn toward higher education administration. He served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Winona State University, and finally as Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout from 1988- 2014.
• Zenon T. Smolarek, 77, of Spring Valley, passed away March 8, 2018. Zeke taught at UW-Stout for 34 years in the industrial management department. He retired in 2000.
• Duane A. Johnson, 83, of Milbank, S.D., passed away March 2, 2018. Duane taught at UW-Stout for 36 years in the department of communications, education and training. He retired in 2002.
• Victor C. Rhodes Jr., of Menomonie, passed away April 8, 2018. Victor worked at UW-Stout for about 33 years. He retired in 1998 as a senior laboratory preparations technician in the chemistry department.
• Virginia K. Peter, 80, of Wausau, passed away March 21, 2018. Virginia taught at UW-Stout in the education department for about 20 years. She retired in 1993.
• Robert E. Moats, 84, of Elk Mound, passed away May 7, 2018. Robert worked at UW-Stout as a maintenance engineer. He retired in 1996.
• Theodore “Ted” E. Wiehe, 100, of Menomonie, passed away July 1, 2018. Ted taught machine shop and industrial teacher education at UW-Stout for 28 years. He retired in 1981.
• Bonnie J. Stoll, 86, of Menomonie, passed away July 4, 2018. Bonnie worked as a cook in University Dining Services for many years.
• Avis N. Scholfield, 90, of Menomonie, passed away June 29, 2018. Avis worked as a custodian. She retired in 1990, after working 24 years at UW-Stout.
• Richard H. Gebhart, 87, of Menomonie, passed away June 21, 2018. Richard worked at UW-Stout for 28 years where he taught and was department chair in the Technology Education Department. He retired in August 1993.
• Thomas P. Phillips, 81, of Park City, Utah, passed away Aug. 3, 2018. Tom was an associate professor in the hospitality and tourism department and was at the university 30 years. He retired in May 1996.
• Loretta M. Burns, 96, of Menomonie, passed away August 24, 2018. Loretta worked in the mail room at the university. She retired in June 1983.
• Charles E. Yost, 78, of Lake Tomahawk, passed away August 13, 2018. Charles taught in the Industrial Management Department, working at the university for 32 years. He retired in June 1999.
• Jerome “Jerry” R. Hansen, 87, Marshall, Minn. and formerly of Menomonie, passed away on Oct. 21, 2018. Jerry worked at UW-Stout from 1965 until his retirement in May 1996 as the chief engineer at the heating plant.
• Charles “Tom” Allen, 72, of Menomonie, passed away on Oct. 9, 2018. Tom taught in the department of psychology from 1970 until his retirement in 2008.
• Dwain P. Mintz, 90, passed away Oct. 11, 2018. Dwain coached men’s basketball at UW-Stout for 27 years, retiring in 1989.
• Charles D. Baird, 74, of Eau Claire, passed away Sept. 23, 2018. Charles taught accounting at UW-Stout for 18 years until his retirement in January 2017, with emeritus status.
• Judith “Judy” E. Spain, 76, of Eldroado, N. M., passed away Oct. 25, 2018. Judy was the director of residence life at UW-Stout when she retired in July 1996. She stared working at the university in 1967.
• Michael D. Larson, 71, of Elk Mound, passed away Oct. 15, 2018. Mike worked as a custodial engineer for 29 years at UW-Stout. He retired in 2007.
• Tobin "Toby" R Brown, Aug. 4, 2018. He was a hall director. 
• Reinhard O. Schmidt, 87, Oshkosh, passed away Dec. 17, 2018. Schmidt taught in the psychology department at UW-Stout for more than 30 years, retiring in 1994.
• William “Bill” Bartko, 70, of Menomonie, passed away Nov. 27, 2018. Bartko was a lead custodian at UW-Stout, working at the university since April 2013.
• Roger L. Hartz, 76, of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away Nov. 22, 2018. Roger taught at UW-Stout for 33 years in communication, education and training. He retired in 2005.
• Irma E. Brown, 96, of Menomonie, passed away on Jan. 12, 2019. Irma was a building maintenance helper in Facilities and Maintenance. She worked at UW-Stout for 28 years, retiring in 1983.
• Frank W. Hebl, 79, Two Harbors, Minn., and formerly of Menomonie and Madison, passed away on Jan. 8, 2019. Frank taught mathematics at UW-Stout, retiring in 1996.
• Karen Zimmerman, 76, of Menomonie, passed away Jan. 6, 2019. Karen was a professor in the School of Education. She served as the early childhood education undergraduate program director, early childhood education graduate program director and chair of the human development and family studies department. She retired in 2007.
• Fred C. Breisch, 85, of Menomonie, passed away Feb. 5, 2019. Fred was an associate professor in the mathematics department. He taught at UW-Stout from September 1966 until he retired in May 1993.
• Arthur E. Muller, 83, of Menomonie, passed away March 15, 2019. Arthur was a professor in the technology department. He taught at UW-Stout for 30 years, retiring in 1995.
• Betty L. Misselt, 79, of Menomonie, passed away March 2, 2019. Betty worked at UW-Stout for 30 years as the secretary for the dean of home economics. She retired in the mid-1990s.