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In Memory  

Winter 2005 • Volume 11, Issue 1

1930s

Margaret Dalton ’34, August 31, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She taught at Woodruff High School for 20 years and held a master’s degree from the University of Denver.

Elizabeth Bourland Daly Neuhoff ’37, July 27, Peoria. She worked in real estate in Walnut Creek, California, retiring in 1980. Earlier, she was a graphic artist for Marshall Fields. She was an active volunteer. Four children, two stepdaughters, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive.

Image of hollyHenry M. Wilson Jr. ’37, August 25, Peoria. He was an internal medicine physician for 32 years, retiring in 1985. He also held degrees from the University of Illinois and St. Louis University. Henry was a past president of the American Heart Association at the county and state levels. He was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran. Survivors include his wife Amelia and their daughter.

Constance Black Borden ’38, August 7, Wyoming. She taught at Whittier School in Peoria from 1938 to 1945. A past president of the Wyoming Tuesday Club, she was active in her church. Survivors include two sons and two grandchildren.

Nelda Jungst Carroll ’38, September 7, Peoria. She was a registered nurse at Methodist Medical Center and had been honored for her various administrative roles in its School of Nursing. Nelda was active in the Peoria Women’s Club. She had served as choir director at First English Lutheran Church, where she was a member for more than 60 years.

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1940s

Marguerite Eshelman Coleman ’40, September 5, Canton. She co-owned Coleman Family Dealership with her husband John until 1973. She had worked at International Harvestor Company, in the furniture and design department of Block & Kuhl, and as a photography colorist. She is survived by three children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sara Jane “Sally” Adams Conver ’40, September 12, Peoria. She had been a teacher at Varna High School and Bergan High School. She later worked for the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension’s CHEP program. She was a member of various Peoria councils and was a tutor for Common Place. Survivors include her husband Willis “Bill” Conver ’42, four children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Image of hollyC. Wilson Schroeder ’40, September 11, Peoria. He worked in public relations for several universities in the Midwest and then for the Salvation Army. He was active in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), serving on the national board and as president of chapters in Milwaukee and Chicago. He was also president of several Optimist Clubs. He served on many community boards, including the National Alumni Association of Bradley University. Earlier, he taught at Von Steuben School and worked at the YMCA in several cities. He is survived by his wife Jeanne Hinds Schroeder ’44.

Esther Merdian Balensiefen ’42, August 13, Henry. She was a grade school teacher for 25 years, last teaching in the Sparland district. Survivors include three children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

George Durham ’46, July 16, Pontiac. He owned and operated Smiths Jewelry for more than 50 years. George was a World War II veteran and the recipient of two Purple Hearts. He is survived by three children and four grandchildren.

Robert Ingram ’48, August 24, Peoria. He worked in the administrative department of Hiram Walker & Sons Inc. before retiring. He had also been employed by Keystone Steel & Wire Company and LeTourneau-Westinghouse. An avid stamp collector, he was a life member of the American Philatelic Society. His wife Cynthia survives.

Fredrick Arnold ’49, July 27, Marietta, Georgia. He served as president of Lambda Chi Alpha as a student, and was a World War II Navy veteran. Fred worked for many companies in sales, marketing, and advertising. Survivors include three children and five grandchildren.
Betty Miller Barthell ’49, September 6, Austin, Texas. She was a docent at the art museum in Austin. Survivors include four children and five grandchildren.

George Hummels ’49, July 11, Bartonville. He was a World War II Army veteran and the recipient of three Bronze Stars. George was a manager of the steel mill at Keystone Steel & Wire for 34 years, retiring in 1978. He then worked at Bemis Bag Company and Little Giant for four years. Survivors include his wife Virginia, three children, three stepdaughters, 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Image of hollyDavid Parmele ’49, July 10, Fort Collins, Colorado. He was a painting contractor and the owner of Parmele Paint Store in Fairbury. He operated Village Shoe Repair in Fort Collins for 20 years, retiring in 1985. He was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran, serving in the South Pacific. He is survived by his wife Liz.

Ray K. White ’49, July 24, East Peoria. Ray worked as an equipment operator at Caterpillar Inc. for 33 years, retiring in 1982. He received a Purple Heart for his service in the Army during World War II.
He is survived by three daughters, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren,
and four great-great-grandchildren.

William R. White ’49 MA ’51, August 7, Mount Prospect. He was a captain in the Army during World War II and the recipient of a Bronze Star. Bill was a special agent for the FBI. His hobby was model trains.

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1950s

Robert Griswold ’50, July 3, San Juan Capistrano, California. He was a pharmaceutical sales representative for Ciba-Geigy Corp. for 36 years. He was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran. He is survived by two children and three grandchildren.

Manvel Hutchison ’50, August 4, Madison, Wisconsin. He spent his career in the paper and graphic arts industry, including his own company, Paper Graphics of Wisconsin. Hutch held an MBA from the University of Chicago. He served in the Naval Reserves. Survivors include his wife Lois, six children, 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Bruce Owen ’50, July 13, Chickasha, Oklahoma. He joined the staff of Oklahoma City Community College as a vice president in 1971. He retired in 1987 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1999 for his role in developing the college. He held a master’s degree from the University of Iowa and a doctoral degree from the University of Kansas. Bruce was an accomplished pianist and woodworker. Survivors include his wife Almarie, his daughter, and granddaughter.

Harold W. “Bill” Page ’51, August 3, Ballston Spa, New York. For many years he sold paint and wallpaper products for Shaheen Company. He was an avid bicyclist and used his athletic endeavors to raise money for charity. Bill was a World War II Navy veteran.

Image of hollyMartin Carter ’52, August 15, Peoria. He was employed by Caterpillar Inc. for 32 years, working in Belgium for five years before his retirement in 1986. Active in the Knights of Columbus in Morton, he was a Korean War Army veteran. Surviving are his wife Jo An, three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Harriet Hale Myers ’52, September 16, Morton. She was a speech pathologist at IPMR and PARC, both in Peoria, as well as in public schools in Morton, Monmouth, and Morris. She later worked for Schrock Realty. She was a Paul Harris Fellow recipient from the Morton Rotary. Harriet is survived by her husband John C. Myers ’53, two daughters, four grandchildren, and
two stepgrandchildren.

Frank “Ace” Hinman ’53, June 12, Lincoln. He was a member of the basketball, tennis, and baseball teams at Bradley University. He retired from the Logan Correctional Center in 1987, and had previously worked for other state departments. He was a basketball official for 45 years,
as well as a longtime baseball and volleyball official. He was coordinator of the Lincoln Park District from 1969 to 2002. Survivors include his wife Marya, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Eleanor Beyer Patterson ’53, August 21, Wheaton. She worked at the Wheaton Public Library for 10 years. Ellie was an active volunteer, and enjoyed working in charcoals and pastels. Survivors include her husband Morrey Patterson ’53, three children, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and her father.

James Wise MS ’53, April 9, Lincoln. He taught building trades for 38 years in Benton, Springfield, and Minonk. He built more than 20 homes with students in Minonk and also taught woodshop and mechanical drawing. He was a World War II Army veteran. Survivors include two children, one grandson, and one great-grandson.

Ann Cover Barclay ’54, August 15, Wayne, Nebraska. She was a medical counselor and started the Wayne chapter of CanSurMount. Ann is survived by her husband Ralph Barclay Jr. ’54 MA ’57, three daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Robert Brenkman ’56, August 23, Morton. He worked for Komatsu from 1960 until retiring as president of the Haulpak Division in 1995. Bob was president of Sigma Chi as a student at Bradley University, served as president of the Bradley Council from 1998 to 2000, and was a Chiefs Club board member. He served on numerous boards in the Peoria area. He was a Navy veteran. Survivors include his wife Hilda, three children, three stepchildren, 10 grandchildren, and three stepgrandchildren.

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1960s

Kenneth Blackburn ’60, August 31, East Peoria. He owned and operated Interior Construction Systems and Prairie Construction Company, retiring in 1999. Ken was an Illinois Air National Guard veteran. He is survived by three children, 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Maxine Williams Zapf ’65, August 17, Chillicothe. She taught in many one-room schoolhouses. As a volunteer at Methodist Medical Center, she logged more than 8,000 hours. She was an active member of Blue Ridge United Methodist Church. Survivors include three children, six grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

1970s

Arie Greenleaf MA ’71, July 14, Hendersonville, North Carolina. He was a teacher and worked in the mental health field as a Christian counselor. Arie operated The Greenleaf Shoppe in Minocqua, Wisconsin, and established Rapture Inc., a pewter jewelry business. He was a pilot. Survivors include his wife Ann Brubaker Greenleaf ’70, a son, and his mother.

Image of hollyJohn Fasano ’75, September 4, Plano. He was supervisor of operations at Yellow Transportation in Montgomery. Survivors include his fiancée Linda Farano, two children, and a granddaughter.
Nancy Tyree MA ’76, August 28, Bartonville. She served as president of the Peoria Federation of Teachers for four years. She was employed by Peoria School District 150 from 1969 until 2001, teaching at Roosevelt Magnet School and Sterling Middle School. Survivors include her husband Arvil and one son.

1980s

Mary Ludgera Pieperbeck MA ’82, August 2, East Peoria. She was a member of the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis. During her 56 years of religious life, she was a nurse, surgical supervisor, and instructor in Rockford and Peoria. She was an administrator at the Saint Francis School of Nursing and the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. She was board director of OSF Health Plans Inc. from 1994 to 2002. She held a doctoral degree from Loyola University.

Garry Hutson ’87, July 17, Galesburg. He worked in housekeeping at Galesburg Cottage Hospital for two years and at Maytag Corp. for seven years. He is survived by his parents.

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