Alumni News & Stories

• Dr. Ron Hull `66 has published his 16th book, LA 2032: Starting Over, an 
  apocalyptic novel about two teens rebuilding Los Angeles after a virus wipes out most of the world's population. He also has a story in Legacy of Whispers: Unsuspecting Orphan, an anthology from The Final Twist Writers Society. His work is available on Amazon, and more can be found at ronhullauthor.com and authorsden.com.
• Darcy Doiel `74 retired from teaching in 2020 and is working as a full-time artist.
• Bruce Reid `78 retired from Martin County School District in Florida after teaching for 45 years in middle and high school. He plans on spending a quiet retirement traveling and spending time with his wife, 4 children, their spouses, grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
• Sandra Anderson Herzog `79 retired in October 2022 after a 40+ year career providing services to Licensed Family Child Care Providers nation-wide.
• Susan Peterson Wilberts `79 retired in June 2023 after teaching Home Economics for 12 years and Early Education for 30 years.
• Barbara White Nehls `80 retired in June after 26 years in education and 18 years in non-profit social services.
• Mark Zipperer `83 was named the Chair of the IHG Owners Association Global Board of Directors for 2025. He is the President & CEO of Pride Hospitality, LLC. Pride currently manages a portfolio of hotels representing most major brands.
• Jeff Johnson `85 retired in 2024 after 30 years as a systems programmer for Marshfield Clinic.
• James “Jim” Kriha `85 retired on December 31, 2023, after 38 years with Amcor Packaging.
• Jeff Bzdawka `85 sold Knowland to a strategic investor and is president of Hapi.
• Scott Benning `86 retired after 38 years in various roles with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation/the Boeing Company in Southern California.
• Todd Holland `87 retired as a program manager after a combined 38 years with Intelsat, Motorola, Unisys, Glenayre and AlliedSignal. He resides in this Prescott, Ariz. With his partner Judy who he met at Stout 40 years ago.
• Heidi Behrens Braun `88 wrote and published her first children’s picture book, Insect Action! An Alphabet, Rhyming, and Movement book. It was illustrated by Sally Wood Johnson `88.
• Rob Demeuse `88 retired from the Mauston School District. He worked as a computer and business education teacher for 4 years and the last 28.5 years as the director of technology.
• Paul Fredette `89 retired after 35 years of teaching. He was a technology education/CTE instructor at Balboa Middle School in Ventura, Calif.
• Todd Nelson `89 is the owner/operator of Venture X Dallas – Braniff Centre, a 25,000-square-foot coworking and shared workspace.
• Brian Hicks `91 is the CEO of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
• David Reeves `91 received the silver plate award from the International Foodsevice Manufacturing Association.
• Steve Schultz `92 is the executive vice president of special projects for the Boldt Group.
• Mark Wilson `94 retired from Ford Motor Company after 30 years. He has started his second career at ARB 4X4 Accessories as the vice president for OE business development.
• Kelly Nelson `94 published Brownie the War Dog: Veterans’ Best Friend.
• Tanya Ragan `97 was named a 2024 Texas ICON by REDnews, standing out as the only woman honored among the state’s top 20 commercial real estate leaders. She is known for revitalizing Dallas’ historic 
  districts and for her work as a speaker and author empowering women in business.
• Alison Marschall Hutchinson `98 was inducted into the MPI-Wisconsin Hall of Fame in September.
• Sonja Dickover Weiler `99, `13 was named a Top Teacher by Fox9. The FOX 9 Top Teacher Award 
  recognizes outstanding teachers in Minnesota who encourage, inspire and bring learning to life inside and outside the classroom.
• Diane Deering-Gaston `00 and her husband built their dream Euro-Chic chalet home in Colorado.
• Gina Duncanson Norling `00 led the engineering effort to build the first two exascale supercomputers in the world.
• Tracy Poser Walsh `02 will have her garden photography on display at the Plymouth Community Center.
• Marilyn Porter `03 received a COMTO Award in 2024 for being a woman who moves transportation. The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) was created to provide a forum for minority professionals in the transportation industry.
• David Free `06 started a new job as a Mechanical Design Engineer at Famco Machine Co. in Kenosha, WI
• Michelle Jensen Lassa `06 recently published a children’s book about childhood pet loss that is available on Amazon now. Michelle is a Licensed Professional Therapist in Wausau, WI.
• Matt Wilson `10 is the owner of Tempo Golf Club in Huntersville, NC.
• Lindsey Reynolds Shoemaker `11 received the 2024 Victim Coordinator of the Year from the Ohio Department of Corrections. She is now a corrections specialist and has been with the department for 10 years.
• Danny Gissing `14 is the director of TRIO student support services and learning support center at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
• Denise Rosby `14 is a mental health therapist at UW Health and owner of Choose You Counseling LLC.
• Kaylee Harris `21 was named to the PCMA Foundation’s 20 in Their Twenties Class of 2025. 

Arrivals:

• Nancy Werner Yow `70 and husband Ron welcomed a grandson in April 2025.
• Laura Slater-Hatzenbeller `79 and Mark Hatzenbeller `79 welcomed two new grandchildren in August 2024. One is a boy and one a girl, born 10 days apart.
• LaNae Maass `15 and her husband, Collin Euteneuer `15, welcomed a daughter in May 2024. 

Wedding: 

Anniversary:

• Robert `54 and Beverly Peterson `54 Spinti celebrated 70 years of marriage.
• Marshall `58 and Beverly Anderson Wake celebrated their 62nd anniversary on August 18, 2024.
• David `65 and Sandra Carlson `65 Wheeler celebrated their 60th anniversary on September 1, 2024.
• Ron `68 and Darlene Aikens `69 Withrow celebrated their 55th anniversary in June 2024.
• Brad `69 and Linda Adam Johnson celebrated their 55th anniversary in June. They celebrated by taking a cruise with their sons, spouses and grandchildren.
• Michael `69 and Mary Agrimis Holden celebrated their 55th anniversary on September 13, 2024.
• Gary `71 and Debbie Cowles will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on May 18, 2025
• Bernadette Molter `72 and William `72 Chase celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on February 24, 2024.
• Jack `72 and Jill Paske `73 Capelle celebrated their 50th anniversary in Sept. 2023.
• Mike Lenth `74 and Margaret Goedjen Lenth `75 are celebrating their 50th anniversary on June 28, 2025.
• David `75 and Beverly Helbling celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Jan 21, 2025.
• Bob and Christy Berry  `83 Gutke celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 30, 2024. They have 2 grown sons, Robert III and Budd, and 3 grandchildren: Owen, Robert IV and Amelia.
• Steve “Ray” Richardson `85 and his wife, Terri, celebrated their 30th anniversary on July 17, 2024.
• Andrew `97, `03 and Alyssa Sederholm Farrar `98 will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in April of 2025.
• Hailey Melander Crimmins `15 and Kevin celebrated five years of marriage on October 26, 2024.

Passing:

• Barbara Johnson Perry `51, September 27, 2024, Bloomington, Ill.
• Florence Pleszczynski Foltman`51, February 13, 2025, Escanaba, Mich.
• Warren Barberg `51, August 18, 2024, Eau Claire
• Donna Krisik Arntson `52, November 23, 2024, Rochester, Minn.
• Gaylord Roe `52, October 20, 2024, Manitowish Waters
• Bernadine Gunderman Schulz `53, April 11, 2025, Monroe
• Lois Spaulding `53, July 5, 2024, Neillsville
• Muriel Roffers Erickson `53, January 29, 2025, Bayfield
• Miriam Eckert Erickson `54, September 24, 2024, Gibraltar
• Joanne Fritz Troupe `55, July 15, 2024, Manitowoc
• Eugene Battist `57, `68, April 2, 2025, Woodruff
• Deloran “Dee” Peterson `57, September 17, 2024, Elkhart Lake
• MaryAnn Spangler `58, `69, `76, May 2, 2025, Marana, Ariz.
• Marshall Wake `58, December 25, 2024, Green Valley, Ariz.
• Bovaird “Bo” Brown Gabriel `59, October 29, 2024, Menomonie
• Elaine Grutt `59, `66, April 1, 2025, Boyceville
• Richard “Rick” Steckel `59, January 29, 2025, Merrill
• Ruth Olson Apps `59, December 7, 2024, Madison
• Francis “Fran” Lamer `60, December 6, 2024, Wausau
• Fredrick “Fred” Baue `60, November 27, 2024, Iron River
• Robert Mitchell `60, July 8, 2024, Cohasset, Minn.
• Irene Kettunen Schubert `61, November 17, 2024, Fairfax County, Virg.
• Darlene Breheim Wernsman `62, November 9, 2024, Fredericksburg, Virg.
• Carol Geurink Johnson `62, November 14, 2024, Wauwatosa
• Ahmed Akinwole Alhamisi (formerly Lawrence Graham Jr.) `63, September 22, 2024, Charlotte, N.C.
• Gale Grimslid `63, November 13, 2024, Holmen
• Donald Schutt `63, `71, April 12, 2025, Marinette
• Frank Fieschko `64, September 22, 2024, Janesville
• Roger Sabota `64, May 29, 2025, Rhinelander
• Donald Schultz `65, July 27, 2024, Perry, Mich.
• Duane Ramberg `65, December 2, 2024, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Joseph O’Leary `65, February 17, 2024, Portage
• Marilyn Miller Streif `65, July 16, 2024, Elk Mound
• Suzanne Brubaker Sibley `65, August 11, 2024, St. Paul, Minn.
• David Smith `65, `71, April 13, 2025, Sheboygan
• Gloria Wirsing Palmer `65, April 10, 2025, Madison
• Larry Tenhaken `65, `66, April 15, 2025, Minocqua
• Verna Lange Bergmann `66, February 18, 2025, Portland, OR
• Chuck Bernath `66, October 22, 2024, Orlando, Fla.
• Marvin “Marv” Clemons `66, August 28, 2024, Portland, Oreg.
• Paul Aken `66, September 6, 2024, Beach Park, Ill.
• Carolyn King McCormick `67, October 1, 2024, Lake Geneva
• Judith Miller Wrolstad `67, `79, May 3, 2025, Madison
• Wayne Beard `68, May 9, 2025, Osseo
• John Gawlik `68, February 4, 2025, West Bend
• Julie Erickson Waterman `68, September 8, 2024, Rice Lake
• Wayne Wellstein `68, January 26, 2025, Menomonie
• Kurt Janke `69, April 11, 2025, Hanover, Penn.
• Susan Bell Harmon `70, January 30, 2025, Gulf Shores, Ala.
• Ronald “Ron” Baeseman, `70,`71, October 17, 2024, Madison
• James Lyon `70, February 2, 2025, Waukesha
• Kathleen Barnett Gaard `71, July 20, 2024, Anchorage, Alaska
• Beverly Anderson Schultz `71, May 29, 2025, Sparta
• G. Michael Simon `71, `72, April 23, 2025, Manitowoc
• Dave Tieff `72, July 20, 2024, Hudson, Flor.
• Jack Capelle `72, August 8, 2024, Wisconsin Dells
• Denny Phillips `73, October 21, 2204, Egg Harbor
• Thomas Fleter `73, July 3, 2024, Wauwatosa
• Todd Blum `73, July 25, 2024, Beloit
• John Graf `73, `80, January 29, 2025, Houston, Texas
• Richard Zak `74, September 24, 2024, Door County
• Patti Grozdanich `75, January 17, 2025, Duluth, Minn.
• Rosemary Vae Davis `75, August 27, 2024, Cumberland
• Thomas Baer `76, January 22, 2025, St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Marlene Bohl Walters `76, December 7, 2018, Lake Tomahawk
• Cheryl Sorensen Matthias `77, July 10, 2024, Manitowoc
• Jane Johnson Molde `77, April 8, 2025, Menomonie
• Debra Robole `77, May 17, 2024, Menomonie
• Jeffrey Reitsma `77, June 20, 2024, Crystal Lake, Ill.
• Ardis Olson Amundson `78, May 24, 2025, Rice Lake
• David Grambo `78, March 20, 2025, Eau Claire
• Richard Reinikainen `78, September 2, 2024, Buffalo, N.Y.
• Sister Mary Schabert `78, March 6, 2025, St. Paul, Minn.
• Richard Szarkowitz `78, September 23,2024, Wausau
• Ronald Swanson `78, January 1, 2025, Maple Grove, Minn.
• Bradly “Brad” Heard `81, July 2, 2024, Hazelhurst
• Bonnie Smith `81, March 16, 2025, Excelsior, Minn.
• Richard Swatek `82, March 15, 2024, Waunakee
• David Phillips `84, January 7, 2025, Naples, Fla.
• Ned Ostenso `85, November 17, 2024, Minneapolis, Minn.
• David Reda `86, October 22, 2024, Ojibwa
• James “Jim” Solie `87, August 31, 2024, Hudson
• Richard Manthei `88, June 27, 2024, Eau Claire
• Daniel Meer `89, April 3, 2025, Albany, Minn.
• Jennifer Larson Dervin `89, April 4, 2025, Rochester, Minn.
• Gerald Waara `89, September 24, 2024, Crystal River, Fla.
• Timothy Daley `90, January 24, 2025. Minneapolis, Minn.
• Douglas LaPoint `91, March 30, 2025, Fridley, Minn.
• Cindy Stellpflug Paulson `92, July 18, 2024, Menomonie
• Michael Morgan `94, September 2, 2024, Palmdale, Calif.
• Donna Shakal Scott `94, March 7, 2025, Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Heather Schnorr Reese `96, October 10, 2024, Madison
• Michelle Donovan `96, October 5, 2024, La Farge
• William “Bill” Harmon `96, October 3, 2024, Deforest
• Becky Rosin Hammes `97, September 11, 2024, Orfordville
• Nancy Houda Klahn `97, July 7, 2024, Nekoosa
• Timothy Brandt `97, October 28, 2024, La Valle
• John Stahmer `01, March 17, 2025, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Andrea Hassel `02, April 16, 2025, Grand Rapids, Minn.
• Sean Arena `05, March 6, 2024, La Crosse
• Stephen Mountain `06, April 29, 2025, River Falls
• Melanie McCole Stickney `06, May 5, 2025, Lake Geneva
• Cody Hegna `08, October 8, 2024, Woodbury, Minn.
• Mark Finstad `08, January 9, 2025, Vadnais Heights, Minn.
• Travis Jensen `08, May 10, 2025, Chippewa Falls
• Jerome Portnoy `10, July 26, 2024, Aiken, S.C.
• Drew Sowle `11, Thursday, April 17, 2025, Oconto
• Louis Miller `19, April 12, 2025, River Falls
• Rosalie Mattair `21, February 20, 2025, Portland, Oreg.

Friends of UW-Stout: 

• Diane McKinnon, March 28,2025,  Fort Myers Beach, Fla.
• Richard Zeithaml, June 12, 2024, Eau Claire

Faculty/staff passing:

• Virginia "Ginny" Schober, 99, of Menomonie, died peacefully on Aug. 8, 2024 at Comforts of Home in Menomonie. Ginny retired from UW-Stout's Human Resources in 1985.
• Bonnie Kirkwood, 92, passed away on Sept. 18, 2024, at Oak Gardens Place in Altoona. Bonnie had a master's degree from Iowa State Teachers’ College. She taught in the apparel, textile and design department at UW-Stout from 1964 until her retirement in 1996.
• Constance “Connie” Bixby passed away on Sept. 26, 2024, Menomonie. She was an Office manager from 1961 until she retired in 1998.
• Michael D. Ritland, 88, passed away on Oct. 20, 2024 at MCHS-Luther in Eau Claire. Mike had a 37-year career at UW-Stout as a professor in the psychology, guidance and counseling departments and served as assistant dean of the School of Education. He was chairperson of the Stout Athletic Hall of Fame and received the UW-Stout and Luther Distinguished Service awards.
• Steve Schlough, 74, died on Jan. 2., 2025 at Mayo Health System in Eau Claire. Steve graduated from UW-Stout with a Bachelor's in 1975 and a Master's in 1987. He began teaching at UW-Stout in 1987 and served as chair of the Faculty Senate and program director for Information Technology Management before becoming chair of the Apparel and Communications Technologies Department. He retired in 2017.
• Marvin “Marv” M. Kufahl, 93, of Menomonie and Minnetonka, Minn., passed away on Jan. 22, 2025. Marv earned his bachelor's and master's at Stout State College and started as an instructor in the industrial arts program in 1956. In 1966, Marvin accepted the assignment to develop a new packaging program, which grew to be the second largest program in the nation. He received many honors and retired from UW-Stout in 1991.
• Helen R. Speidel, 94, passed away on Jan. 30, 2025 at the Courtyard at Sussex Memory Care. Helen was born on Oct. 6, 1930, in Monango, N.D. She married Paul Speidel in 1950, and the family moved to Menomonie in 1964, when Paul was hired as a professor at UW-Stout. Helen worked at the Stout Alumni Office until she retired.
• Joseph R. Brown, 82, died on Jan. 31, 2025 following a brief illness. His career at UW-Stout spanned thirty years, culminating as the chief information officer. He retired in 2005.
• Clark "Ed" Smith, 85, died on March 17, 2025. He began teaching at UW-Stout in the 1960's and retired as a Professor in 2005.