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Bradley Hilltopics

Winter 2008 • Volume 14, Issue 1

In Memory

 

1930s

Roy Wiegand ’32, March 5, 2007, Reno, Nevada. He pastored Baptist churches in five states for 35 years and then worked in part-time ministries for 20 years. He was honored as alumnus of the year by Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard. Roy enjoyed fishing and gardening. He was 100. Surviving are his wife Helen, two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Grace Siepert Lewke ’34, June 2007, LaGrange Park. Survivors include four children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Maxwell Bass ’36, September 20, 2007, Downers Grove. An employee of Caterpillar for 36 years, Max was instrumental in developing the employee publications program. He retired in 1977. He was initiated into Sigma Chi in 2006, becoming the fraternity’s oldest initiate. Max was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran. His daughter, three grandsons, and a great-granddaughter survive.

Wesley Nothdurft ’37, August 3, 2007, Bloomington. He taught social studies and English in Peoria for many years. He held a master’s degree from Northwestern. Wesley managed the library at First United Methodist Church in Peoria. He was a World War II Army veteran. His wife Vivian survives.

E. John Saare ’37, May 12, 2007, Jacksonville, Florida. A high school teacher and coach, he became director of vocational and adult education for Duval County in 1958. He retired from the Florida Junior College at Jacksonville in 1983. John was a football and basketball official, and founded several boating clubs. His wife Mary, two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive.

1940s

Mildred Arends ’42, July 28, 2007, Peoria. An active volunteer, she was Peoria city treasurer for 34 years. Mildred also was a travel agent and a teacher at Franklin School. She co-owned Global Tours. Survivors include her sister.

J. Allen Blair ’42, September 9, 2007, Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the co-founder and director of Glad Tidings Radio ministry, currently in its 50th year of daily 15-minute programs. He wrote 12 books, including his autobiography Shining the Light. He held a doctoral degree from Wheaton College and also graduated from Moody Bible Institute and the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Surviving are his wife Elva, three daughters, nine grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Lyman “Bud” Hunt ’44, September 23, 2007, Henry. He was a partner in Siegle and Hunt Lumber Co. for 45 years. A World War II and Korean War veteran, Bud served 34 years in the active Naval Reserve. He was involved in the American Legion and Masonic work. At Bradley he was president of Sigma Nu. He is survived by three children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Mathew Lauck ’44, June 15, 2007, Sun City Center, Florida. Matt was an engineer for DuPont in New Jersey for 36 years. He helped select the first U.S. kayaking team for the 1972 Olympics. An award-winning watercolor painter, Matt was president of a local art club. He was a World War II Navy veteran. Survivors include his wife Margaret, four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Charlotte Cisna Cady ’45, September 1, 2007, Peoria Heights. She worked at Cady Oil Co. and earlier taught at Blaine Sumner School. A choir member at First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte performed as a soloist at weddings. She was a member of Chi Omega at Bradley. Her two children and three grandchildren survive.

1950s

Hollis Benjamin ’50, August 29, 2007, Peoria. He was editor of the Illinois Law Forum as a law student at the University of Illinois. Hollis was assistant court secretary to an Illinois Supreme Court justice from 1955 to 1966, and then operated his own law practice. He served as president of the county bar association and also of Theta Xi at Bradley. He was an Army veteran. Surviving are his wife Dolores Manuel Benjamin ’52 and two children.

Richard H. Carlson ’50, September 2, 2007, Carmichael, California. A World War II Army Air Forces veteran, he earned a Bronze Star for devising a chart system to decipher code. Dick was chief time-study engineer at Admiral Corp. in Galesburg until 1961. Later he worked at Aerojet-General Corp. in California. He became a professional engineer there in 1969 and retired in 1985. At Bradley he was a member of Theta Xi. Survivors include his wife Alice, their daughter, and two grandchildren.

Clarence Fischer ’50, September 9, 2007, Brookfield, Connecticut. He worked as an editor and writer in New York City.

Charles “Frankie” Johnston ’50, July 29, 2007, Washington. A World War II Army veteran, Frankie served the American Legion at the local, state, and national levels. Employed by the state, he authored the Illinois Vietnam Veterans’ Bonus Bill. Frankie owned several local businesses in the ’50s and ’60s, and received the Washingtonian Award in 1994. Surviving are his wife Wilma, three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

William Maher ’50, August 2, 2007, Sunnyland. A graduate of Butler University College of Pharmacy, he operated Bill Maher Drugs from 1960 to 1992. Bill served as president of the Sunnyland Business Association and the Lions Club. He won numerous awards as a pharmacist and as a community and church volunteer. He was a veteran of the Merchant Marines. Six children, 19 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive.

Paul G. Anderson ’51, February 23, 2007, Farmers Branch, Texas. He was a corrugated box designer and salesman. An Army Air Forces veteran, Paul was an avid golfer. Survivors include his wife Kay and one daughter.

Marion “Bruce” Ploussard ’51, September 8, 2007, Irmo, South Carolina. He worked at Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. for 35 years, retiring as general manager. Bruce was a member of Theta Xi at Bradley. He was a World War II Army Air Forces veteran. Surviving are his wife Ange, five children, and 11 grandchildren.

Anton “Tony” Gregg ’52 MEA ’67, September 13, 2007, East Peoria. He worked at Caterpillar for 38 years, retiring in 1990. Tony was an adjunct faculty member at Bradley and Illinois Central College. Survivors include his wife Sharon, five children, and nine grandchildren.

Paul “Buddy” Hollatz ’52, June 2007, Antioch. He was retired from Travelers Property Casualty Corp.

Ikuo Nakagawa ’52, April 2, 2006, Wahiawa, Hawaii.

Gene Duvendack ’54, September 3, 2007, Peoria. He owned Cohen Kitchen Center. A Korean War Army veteran, “Duvy” was well known as a fast-pitch softball pitcher. His wife Susan survives, along with three children and several grandchildren.

James Kerr ’56, July 31, 2007, San Antonio, Texas. He was with Kimberly-Clark Corp. for 38 years, last working as an account manager. An Air Force veteran, he enjoyed golf and was active in his church. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha at Bradley. Survivors include his wife Shirley, three children, and six grandchildren.

1960s

Glen Vanderwater ’60, August 9, 2007, Covington, Georgia. He retired in 1997 from Lithonia Lighting as senior vice president of finance and administration after 33 years of service. Survivors include his wife.

Jerry Lee ’62 MA ’65, September 18, 2007, Punta Gorda, Florida. He was president of community colleges in Platte, Nebraska, and Poughkeepsie, New York. He held a doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University. A Navy veteran, Jerry was active in United Way and other civic activities. Surviving are his wife Marilyn “Lynn” Crilly Lee ’60, four children, and nine grandchildren.

Peggy O’Hearn Walter ’63, August 9, 2007, Peoria. A flight attendant for Delta Airlines, she later worked as a hospice nurse in Florida. She returned to Peoria in 1999. Peggy was an active volunteer and a master gardener. Three children and two grandchildren survive.

Louise Hagemann ’64 MA ’67, September 11, 2007, West Peoria. She was a teacher in District 150 for 20 years, retiring in 1982. Louise was active in her church. Her son, three grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter survive.

D. Larry Sours ’66, August 27, 2007, Pekin. He retired from Caterpillar in 2002 as a buyer in global purchasing. Larry exhibited and bred Tennessee Walking Horses and served on the organization’s international board of directors. He managed several horse shows. Surviving are his wife Barbara, four children, and seven grandchildren.

Virgil Boucher, MA ’67, August 8, 2007, Peoria. A high school teacher for 43 years, he was head football coach at Woodruff High School for 20 years. He also was coordinator of a crime prevention program for seniors. As a member of the Federal Council on Aging, Virgil attended three White House conferences. He was a member of the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame and received the Tom Connor Award for his community service.

Dennis Krause ’67, August 18, 2007, Dunlap. He owned and operated Tri County Water Treatment. Dennis was active in Jaycees and Masonic work. He was a Korean War Navy veteran. His wife Helen Birbiles Krause ’70 MA ’71, one son, and two grandchildren survive.

1970s

Glenn Haslett, MEA ’70, July 7, 2007, Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife Jo ran a greenhouse in Kansas from 1956 to 1966. Glenn later worked at Caterpillar as an engineer, retiring in 1991. He was a World War II Army veteran. His wife, three children, and four grandchildren survive.

Carol Winship Blease ’71, July 31, 2007, Delavan. She was a speech and English educator, and then worked as a product support facilitator at Caterpillar for 15 years. Carol was a Navy veteran. Survivors include her husband David, her parents, one daughter, three stepchildren, and seven grandchildren.

Dan Felean ’71, November 6, 2006, Montreal, Quebec. As a principal of PensEra Knowledge Technologies, he contributed to the development of time capture for law firms. Dan was an attorney and served as president of Theta Xi at Bradley. His wife Rejeanne and one brother survive.

John McDonald ’71, September 3, 2007, Peoria. He was an HVAC engineer. Surviving are his wife Mimi, four children, and a granddaughter.

Susan Dahl Fulkerson ’72, September 3, 2007, Palos Heights. She taught accounting at Trinity Christian College for many years before joining the finance division of Panduit Corp. Susan held a master’s degree from DePaul. She was active in her church and community. Susan was editor of the 1972 Anaga and a member of Pi Beta Phi. Her husband Alan, two sons, and her parents survive.

Fern Boatright Johnson ’73, July 2, 2007, Norwood. She was a grade school teacher in Hanna City, Bartonville, and Eden. Surviving are five children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Richard Lane, MA ’77, May 13, 2007, Largo, Florida. He was a teacher in Peoria and Florida. He maintained a private practice as a counselor. Dick also held a master’s degree from Illinois State University. He earned a doctoral degree from Argosy University just before his death. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps. Survivors include his wife Janet, a daughter and stepson, and his mother.

1980s

Charles Tuggle Jr. ’83, September 26, 2007, Hanna City. A biology teacher at Peoria High School, he also coached football, girls track, and chess. Chuck excelled in the shot put and hammer throw at Bradley. He was a BU assistant coach in the mid 80s. Chuck held a master’s degree from St. Xavier University. He was an avid outdoorsman. Surviving are his wife Marita, two children, and his parents.

Robert Fortino ’89, September 19, 2007, Denver. He held a master’s degree from the University of Colorado, and did data research for the telemarketing industry. Rob was to serve as president of his neighborhood’s historic district association in 2008. Survivors include his wife Carolyn, two children, and his parents.