Alumniprofile
I
n August of 1981, two teenagers met on the floor of the
Carver P.E. Center, under a sign marked with the number
“43.” There is absolutely no significance to that number,
other than the fact that two decades later, these two men
still remember precisely which freshman Orientation group
prompted their first meeting. Since that day, Aaron Kennedy
and Tom Weigand have shared many things—pledging, apartments and grad school struggles being just a few—and every
triumph and ordeal they’ve been through has made the bond
that binds them stronger.
One of the most significant episodes in the story of
these two friends occurred six years ago, when Kennedy and
Weigand found themselves bailing out the flooded basement
of Noodles & Company, then a struggling restaurant in
Madison, Wis. It was the perfect ending to a very discourag-
at, say, a Chinese or Italian joint, there wasn’t really any place
you could get both. Was he onto something? Was America
ready for a restaurant that offered noodles and pasta not just
from Asia or the Mediterranean, but from both and then
some?
After recruiting investors among his family and friends,
including Weigand, Kennedy opened his first Noodles &
Company restaurant in 1995. While that location, in Denver,
Colo., was still gearing up, Weigand found a prime location
in Madison, Wis., which became the second store in March
of 1996. The following month, the Wisconsin State Journal
ran a review of the Madison restaurant which began with
effusive praise for the concept it represented, but went on to
suggest that in execution, it failed to live up to its promise.
The day that ended in the flooded basement had begun
with a road trip to Chicago, where a team of advisors assembled by Kennedy and Weigand visited several noodle shops
before heading back to Madison for a dinner that sampled
All of a sudden this idea hit me: people all over the world grew up
eating noodles. It was so simple, and so obvious, it just clunked me
on the head. aaron kennedy
Noodleheads
ing day. But based on how they got there, and where they’ve
gone since, it might be seen as one of the most pivotal
moments of their lives.
After graduating from Augustana in 1985, the two stayed
in close contact, twice sharing apartments—the first in
Galena, Ill., where Weigand was city manager and Kennedy
was sports editor for the local paper; and then in Madison,
where both attended graduate school at Wisconsin. Weigand
went to work in real estate development, starting his own
firm, while Kennedy pursued a career in marketing in which
he did work for both Pepsi and Coke, as well as Burger King,
Swiss Army Products and even Oscar Mayer, where he was
part of the team that devised “Lunchables.”
In 1993, Kennedy was living in New York when one evening found him wandering down Hudson Street after grabbing dinner at an Asian noodle shop that was a favorite in
his Greenwich Village neighborhood. “I was walking home,
when all of a sudden this idea hit me: people all over the
world grew up eating noodles,” he says. “It was so simple,
and so obvious, it just clunked me on the head.”
What made the notion irresistible for Kennedy was realizing that while you could get variations on the noodle theme
26 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
their store’s fare. Going over the results of the noodle foray,
the team realized that from menu to ambience, their restaurant suffered by comparison. And just when it seemed
that gray, rainy day couldn’t be more disappointing, a staffer
interrupted their deliberations to inform them that the basement was flooding.
As is the case with many a cathartic moment, nerves
frayed and panic approached. But instead of throwing in the
towel, Kennedy went into overdrive, and ideas from the road
trip started coming to life. By August of 1996, every item
on Kennedy’s “to-do” list had been checked off, from food
preparation to color selection in the restaurants. The following month, they began to break even. After further expansion
in Denver and Madison, Noodles & Company opened the
first of now seven Twin Cities locations in 1999; two years
later the college buddies came home to Illinois (Kennedy’s
from Mt. Carroll and Weigand’s a Rock Island native) with
the opening of a Noodles & Company in Wheaton.
In July, the company opened its 46th restaurant, located
in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Fairfax, Va. The always
evolving menu includes such exotica as Indonesian Peanut
Sauté and Pesto Cavatappi, as well as a stalwart favorite,
to charitable work that recently earned it
the “Neighbor of the Year” designation by
the National Restaurant Association.
Kennedy says he’s both surprised and
humbled whenever he thinks about those
two kids who met in 1981 now leading
a company which is at the forefront of
the national restaurant trend known as
fast-casual. “When we were at Augustana,
Tom studied geography and I was focusing on journalism and communications,”
Kennedy says. “I took all of six courses in
marketing and management. But when I
look back, I realize I learned just enough
about a lot of different things it takes to
be successful running a company. And
Tom’s background gave him insight into
urban design and how people interact
with their surroundings. That helps us
make decisions about how and where to
grow.”
Weigand agrees that their experiences
as undergraduates have served them well.
“We were forced to do so much writing
at Augustana. I was going through some
boxes at home the other day, and I found
stacks and stacks of stuff I’d written at
college—much more than I remember
having to write in grad school. Now I
realize how critical those skills are, yet
many of the people we encounter just
don’t have them,” he says.
Aaron Kennedy and Tom Weigand
Even more remarkable than the
story that is Noodles & Company (for
Mac & Cheese (that and the old parental stand-by of Buttered
more, see—what else?—noodles.com) is the story of these two
Noodles and Parmesan attest that Kennedy’s a father as well
friends. It’s rare enough that any of us enjoys a close relationas a business whiz—Sam is 8 and Tess is 6). The combination
ship with those first fast friends we made in the dizzying early
of variety, casual atmosphere and family-friendly pricing has
days of college. But after four years of the ups and downs—
helped rocket the Boulder-based chain to 45th place on the
figurative and physical—of life among the hills and ravines of
“Inc. 500” list of the fastest-growing private companies in the
Augustana, the travails of grad schools and first jobs, and the
U.S.; Kennedy, meanwhile, has earned such plaudits as Ernst
building of a business from a flooded basement to the airy
& Young’s “2001 Entrepreneur of the Year” and Restaurant
heights of success, these two have managed that, and someBusiness magazine’s “2002 Menu Strategist of the Year.”
thing more. Today, Aaron Kennedy and Tom Weigand consider
With average annual revenues of $1 million per store, the
each other more brother than friend.
company today employs more than 1,500 people in Colorado,
Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin. Guided by a mission statement to not only nourish, but inspire the communities they serve, Noodles & Company has made a commitment
27
Alumnito-dolist
For more information on any of the following, contact the alumni office at 309/794-7477,
or by e-mail at alumni@augustana.edu
 Expand
your horizons
 Come Home
ART EXHIBITS
for Viking Voyage:
To Infinity and Beyond,
a.k.a., Homecoming 2002.
Reunion activities planned
for the Classes of 1967,
1972, 1977, 1982, 1987,
1992 and 1997
Through 5/24 The Paul A. Anderson Art History
Collection
Through 10/5 Through a Crack in the Lake:
Collaborative Paintings by
Patricia Opel and Timothy Norris
Through 11/9 Americans Explore
Landscape
10/12 – 11/9 Fresh American
Perspectives
Pablo Ruiz Picasso (Spanish 1881-1973), Yan Face, 1963,
painted earthenware pitcher, numbered 99/300, 10-1/8
x 4-1/2 x 6-5/8”, Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts
Purchase, Augustana College Art Collection.
THEATRE
 Cheer
the football team
9/14 Central (Iowa), 1pm
9/28 at Wisconsin–Platteville,
7pm
10/5 at North Central, 6pm
10/12 Illinois Wesleyan, 1pm
10/19 at North Park, 1pm
10/26 Millikin, 1pm
11/2 Elmhurst, 1pm
11/9 at Carthage, 1pm
11/16 at Wheaton, 1pm
 Check out
the new e-mail service offered by the alumni
office. No matter how often UniversiComCorp
changes its name, your e-address remains the
same
 Sign up
with the Alumni Career Network to make professional contacts with fellow grads and current
students
 Nominate
a fellow grad for an Alumni Award, or recommend a wonderful, committed, talented, brilliant
leader-type (such as you!) for the Alumni Board
28 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
10/25 Augustana College
Theatre: George Washington
Slept Here Also 10/26-27, 31
and 11/1-2
MUSIC
10/19-20 Augustana
Symphony Orchestra with
Ballet Quad Cities
11/2 Augustana Jazz Ensemble:
Fall Concert
11/8 Augustana Choir: Fall
Concert
11/9 Augustana Symphonic Band: Fall Concert
12/13-15 Handel Oratorio Society: Messiah
12/19 Chamber Singers: Lessons and Carols
CELEBRATIONS
12/11 Campus Ministries: Joy of Christmas Past
and Present
12/17 Scandinavian Department: Sankta
Luciafest
Alumniupdate
Class notes
1938
Eleanor Liljegren Miller recently had
a book of poems, Interviewing the
Ghosts, published.
1939
At this summer’s Augustana Heritage
Association gathering in Lindsborg,
Kan., David Vikner led a panel discussion on global missionary work of the
former Augustana Synod. He had served
as a missionary in both China and
Japan. Other panelists included George
Olson ’45 and Ted Swanson ’50.
1945
George Olson’s debut novel, Preemptive Love, How a Hiroshima Man’s
Story Might Save Hong Kong, has
been published by 1st Books Library.
1951
June Bender Baden, organist and choir
director emeritus of St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Westerville, Ohio, helped organize performances of Fauré’s Requiem
to commemorate the September 11
attack. The choir of 55 voices from
St. Paul and Grace Lutheran Church
were accompanied by members of the
Columbus Symphony.
1958
Wanda Sandeen Jones has retired after
30 years with the Naperville (Ill.) School
District.
1959
Bill Culbertson has been chosen as a
PMSE Fellow by the Polymeric Materials:
Science and Engineering division of
the American Chemical Society. He is
professor of biomaterials and materials
science at Ohio State University, College
of Dentistry, Columbus.
Lois Parnell Frels has been selected as
a participant of the Leadership America
Class of 2002. The women’s leadership
organization brings together about 100
women of achievement from all over
the U.S.A.
Richard Johannesen has retired after
31 years at Northern Illinois University,
DeKalb, and almost 40 years of university teaching. He recently authored
Ethics in Human Communication (5th
edition) and Contemporary American
Speeches (9th edition).
George Nickolas has been elected to
serve a fifth term on the Davenport City
Council.
Gerald Swanson has been given the
title of pastor emeritus at California
Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks,
where he served for more than three
decades.
1960
Paula Youngberg Arnell recently had a
book, The Doctor’s Story, published by
Augustana College’s East Hall Press.
1961
Ronald Olson married Barbara Hand on
May 5, 2001.
1962
David Johnson has been named professor emeritus of mathematics and
computer science at Valparaiso (Ind.)
University, where he has retired after
16 years.
Charles Lindholm received the doctor
of ministry degree with distinction from
the Lutheran Theological Seminary,
Philadelphia, Pa.
1969
Robert Haberman is an attorney with
Boies, Schiller in Aurora, Colo.
Larry McEwen has been profiled in
the Marquis Who’s Who in American
Education, Marquis Who’s Who in the
Midwest, and Marquis Who’s Who in
America. He has published the historical work, To Honor Our Fathers and
Mothers.
1970
1963
1971
C. Richard Edgar is a music and band
instructor for the Houston (Texas)
Independent School District.
Thomas Appleton, circuit court judge,
has been assigned to sit on the Illinois
Appellate Court for the Fourth Judicial
District.
1964
Ruth Anne Erickson Hartman has
been named president of the Illinois
Mathematics Association of Community
Colleges.
Daniel Louden, manager, human
resources, for the John Deere Agricultural Marketing Center in Lenexa, Kan.,
has retired after 39 years of service with
Deere and Co.
1972
David Elstrom is vice president–finance
for American Agricultural Insurance Co.,
Park Ridge, Ill.
1967
1973
Judith Carr is consumer services
coordinator for Inland Regional Center,
Riverside, Calif.
Philip Jones is vice president–human
resources for Cardinal Brands.
David Lindorff has been awarded the
distinguished service award by the
American Water Resources Association–
Wisconsin Section for professional service through the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources and for service to
the AWRA.
Daniel Lounsberry has been honored by the Colorado Chapter of the
Healthcare Financial Management
Association with its medal of honor.
Larry Paul has retired from the Iowa
Workforce Development Center, Mason
City, after 32 years of public service.
James Larsen is senior communications
specialist for SBC Communications,
Rolling Meadows, Ill.
Sam McHard married Erica Daehn on
December 22, 2001.
Beth Powell Stroble is dean of the
College of Education at the University of
Akron (Ohio).
1974
Gary Fredensborg is senior software
support specialist at FirstGroup
America.
Clark Kilgard is a sales associate with
the RE/MAX Gold real estate agency,
Sycamore, Ill.
29
Class notes
Linda Dau Trask is a logistics manager
working for the Department of the Army
at the Rock Island Arsenal.
God, be in my head
“It is hard to overestimate the complexity of the human brain.” So writes
Carol Rausch ’56 Albright in a book review published recently in The
Christian Century. But the sentence also serves as a byword for Albright’s
remarkable journey into the places where science and faith meet.
Before reaching that confluence, she had
worked in both fields, separately. Her early
career included Lutheran Campus Ministry,
writing encyclopedia articles and a newsletter
for physicians. She also edited psychology
textbooks and served as a publishing consultant for scholarly writers, including faculty
members at the Lutheran School of Theology
at Chicago.
In 1989, she became executive editor of
Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. Two
years later, she married John Albright (her
first husband, Saul Gorski, died in 1983). Albright is a physics professor
and a fellow student of science-and-religion; in addition to their mutual
interest, the Albrights share a similar educational background—John graduated from another Lutheran liberal arts college, Susquehanna. “This is
important because in our earliest academic lives, we were at places where
you could take one reality and examine it from different directions—in fact,
you were expected to,” she says. “Our religious and educational backgrounds say we can and should think about these things.”
The Albrights served as program co-directors for the John Templeton
Foundation and the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, and all
the while, Carol Albright has been delving ever more deeply into the neuroscience of religious experience.
Last year, a book she co-authored with James B. Ashbrook in 1997
was re-released under the title Where God Lives in the Human Brain
(Sourcebooks, 2001). It makes the case that our human experiences of
God involve virtually every part of the brain—from the capacity of religious
ritual to touch us in primal ways words cannot compass, to the striving of
the neocortex to give us a wholistic context in which we, the universe and
the Creator can all find place.
Albright’s latest work, Growing in the Image of God (Novalis Press,
2002), ponders the nature of personal and spiritual growth, and how that
relates to changes in the neural geography of the brain. Personality, she
holds, is not only influenced by, but also influences, the way in which the
brain organizes itself. Albright proceeds to consider what all of this might
mean for our conception of God. If human beings reflect the image of God,
Albright posits, then the nature of human spiritual growth may cast light on
the nature of God.
1975
Charlotte Allen has been elected
president of the Midland (Mich.)
County Bar Association. She serves on
the State Bar of Michigan Family Law
Council, is chair of its domestic violence
committee and has been appointed
to the State Bar of Michigan Standing
Committee on Domestic Violence.
Susan Senft Clark has received the
group benefits associate designation
from the International Foundation
of Employee Benefit Plans and
the Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania. She is assistant vice
president, group benefits, for Hilb,
Rogal and Hamilton Co. of Illinois.
Zanda Moore is music director at First
United Methodist Church, Tampa, Fla.
She also works part-time for the Arts
Council of Hillsborough County and
maintains a private voice studio.
Brenda Seago is an associate professor at the Medical College of Virginia,
Richmond.
1976
Darrell Amato has been inducted into
Rock Island High School’s distinguished
alumni hall of fame. He also recently
received the John Deere–Moline Partnership Award.
Mark Dale Johnson and Carina
Mathiasson had a daughter, Ellen
Elisabeth, on January 12, 2002.
Bill Simpkins has been elected chair
of the Hydrogeology Division of the
Geological Society of America. He is
associate professor of geology at Iowa
State University, Ames.
1977
Craig Blomberg has been promoted
to the newly established rank of distinguished professor of New Testament,
30 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
Denver (Colo.) Seminary. With the
release of this year’s The Historical
Reliability of John’s Gospel, he has
now authored or co-authored ten
books.
Margaret “Peg” Carlson Hoffman is a
senior designer at Hallmark Cards, Inc.,
Kansas City, Mo.
James Swope is president of Crosslink
Technologies, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind.
JoAnne Colburn Tomlin married James
Hale on June 8, 2001.
1978
Jeffery Dennis is a professor of sociology at Bowdoin College, Brunswick,
Maine.
Kathryn Krogh Herbst is a senior
human resources professional in decision support at Philip Morris USA,
Richmond, Va. She has earned both
senior professional in human resources
and certified management consultant
credentials.
Susan Speer married Mark Cunningham on November 23, 2001. She is
associate director, training and auditing, at Trustmark Insurance Co., Lake
Forest, Ill.
1979
Laura Allen married Mike Raitchie on
March 11, 2001.
James Dopler is manager-application
infrastructure in global pharmaceutical
research and development at Abbott
Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.
Jeffrey Ebbesen has been appointed
chief financial officer at Builders Bank,
Chicago.
Chet and Marlene Spraggins ’86 Jacks
had a son, London Armani, on January
21, 2002.
Pamela Werner Szponer is home
fashions international sourcing manager with Sears Roebuck & Co., Hoffman
Estates, Ill.
1980
1984
Dale Goerne passed the C.P.A. exam
and has received the J.D. degree from
Stetson University College of Law,
DeLand, Fla.
Amy Armstrong is an associate counsel for the Army Materiel Command,
Alexandria, Va.
1981
Joy Vock de Leon received the doctor
of education degree in counseling from
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. She
is assistant director of learning support
services at Beloit (Wis.) College.
Timothy Ingles is a senior engineer/
scientist with the Boeing Company,
Aurora, Colo.
Sonya Swanson Lindquist has been
appointed associate director for international personnel for the Division for
Global Mission of the ELCA, Chicago.
Robert Olson is a manufacturer’s representative for Alpha Marketing Group,
Overland Park, Kan.
Yvonne and Steve Bensen had a son,
Daniel Wesley, on February 25, 2002.
Jennifer Bevington is vice president of
Museum Management Consultants, San
Francisco, Calif.
Eric Seyfarth is editor-in-chief of
the Sun Microsystem Inc. website,
www.iPlanet.com, in Palo Alto, Calif.
Amanda and Ralph Schuetzle had twin
daughters, Hannah Beth and Sarah
Anne, on February 20, 2002.
J.D. Weir is president of Primus
Pharmaceuticals, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Michael Turk is the men’s track
coach at Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo.
Robert and Donna Preban Wydra had a
daughter, Lindsay Jo, on June 23, 2001
(Rachel, 5, Cara, 3).
1986
1985
LaRea Blomme married David McMillin
on December 29, 2001.
Timothy Clark is an attorney/partner
with Krockey, Cernugel, Cowgill, Clark &
Pyles, Joliet, Ill.
Daniel and Karla Swanson Chestnut
had a son, Drew Benjamin, on June 3,
2001 (Eric, 6; Bradley, 4).
Diane Garrison Frambach is a counselor at Stephen Hempstead High School,
Dubuque, Iowa.
Glenn and Kim Marquardt Horst had
a son, Cole, on September 25, 2001
(Samantha, 8; Mark, 6; Cheyenne, 3).
Jacqueline Foertsch teaches English at
Xavier University, New Orleans, La.
Jon France is transportation officer at
the Sierra Army Depot in California.
James and Ramona Schabel Kitching
adopted a son, Marcus Arthur, born
October 6, 2001.
Joseph Buck received the master’s
degree in teaching, learning and leadership at Drake University, Des Moines,
Iowa.
Rich Keehner is economic development
manager for the City of East Moline.
Paul and MaryAnn Czerniewski
Gianesin had a daughter, Isabella, on
November 2, 2001.
Chet ’79 and Marlene Spraggins Jacks
had a son, London Armani, on January
21, 2002.
1982
Ronald and Laura Malzahn Dulle had a
daughter, Kaitlyn Ann, on November 23,
2001 (Tina, 14; Becky, 11).
Barbara Rutherford France is a staff
writer for the Lassen County Times
newspaper, Susanville, Calif.
Adam Jawoisz is in sales/management
at Hydraflow Equipment, Rock Island.
Thomas Losby has been promoted
to president/chief operating officer
of Continental Capital Investment
Services, Bryan, Ohio.
Cindy Ator Parchert has been promoted to manager in the small business
solutions group at RSM McGladrey,
Davenport.
Tom Sparkman is in business development at Sedona e-Solutions, Moline.
1983
Valerie Sims Rucker serves on the
board of directors of Girl Scouts of
South Cook County in Illinois.
Expand your bandwidth
In telecommunications, increasing bandwidth is what it’s all about, the implication being that greater
bandwidth equals greater capacity for growth. Gunnar Nilsson ’67 has applied the same concept to personal development in a new book, Human Bandwidth: Awakening the Extraordinary
Within.
In his work as an executive coach and workshop facilitator, Nilsson develops and
shares concepts used by individuals and organizations to grow and improve. The book
grew out of that work, prodded by workshop participants who kept telling Nilsson that
he ought to publish his ideas. “I started writing a business book, but after I was well
into it, I realized I didn’t like it. So I started writing more and more about personal
growth, and it became a sort of primer for living,” he says.
Nilsson identifies bands of human energy—including body, mind and spirit —and offers tools for linking them in ways that increase the degree to which we live out our potential, or human bandwidth. “A
narrow bandwidth of mind and body alone can be fear-laden, as we create fears in our minds and store
them in our bodies. Wide bandwidth means using all of these bands of energy at the same time and functioning more completely.”
A key to doing that, he contends, is living fully in the present moment. “Extraordinary people tend to
live more in the here and now,” Nilsson says, adding that the book includes mentions of hundreds of
such individuals he’s encountered, including many he met as a student, and later a Board member, at
Augustana. “It’s a book about life, about the source of human performance. It’s about the source of our
connection with God, with ourselves and with each other,” Nilsson says.
In keeping with its technologically-inspired title, Human Bandwidth is available on the Internet at
human---bandwidth.com. Information can also be had by calling 800.250.9914.
31
Class notes
John Juergensen is a credit analyst at
C & D Technologies.
Richard Keys, Rock Island attorney, has
been inducted into Rock Island High
School’s distinguished alumni hall of
fame.
Robert Lopez, Jr. received the M.B.A.
degree in marketing from the University
of Illinois at Chicago. He is senior treasury manager at Allstate Insurance Co.,
Northbrook, Ill.
Heidi Morlock married Fred Wolter on
October 27, 2001.
Remembering a tragedy
It’s among the worst disasters in American history, and yet most of us have never
heard of it. On July 24, 1915, the S.S. Eastland, overloaded with passengers making
their way to a company picnic on the Indiana shore, rolled over next to its berth on the
Chicago River. The excursion steamer came to a rest on its side, and while many of the
more than 2,500 people aboard were able to make it safely to the wharf, at least 844
lost their lives.
If this is the first you’ve heard of the Eastland Disaster, you know how Ted Wachholz
’80 felt when he learned of it from his wife’s grandmother. Borghild Aanstad Decker
Carlson was 14 years old on that day and, along with her mother and younger sister,
had been invited by her uncle to the Western Electric company picnic. All of them
survived the disaster, although they spent several hours in the water until rescuers
reached the air pocket they’d found. “I remember every detail like it was yesterday,”
she said in an interview just a year before her death in 1991. “It’s something I can’t get
out of my head.”
Wachholz says he was fascinated by the story, but yet more amazed by the fact
that he’d never heard of it, despite growing up in the Chicago area. “I was never really
interested in history,” he says, recalling that as a student he’d tried to stick with a
class taught by Dr. Iverne Dowie ’36, only to wind up dropping it on the last possible
day. But he soon discovered he wasn’t unique where the Eastland was concerned.
Captivated both by the disaster and its obscurity, he assisted his wife and her sister
in the creation of the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, which has amassed a rich
archive of information about the tragedy available online at eastlanddisaster.org (you
can also find out more by calling 877.865.6295).
“No one has the hundreds of family histories that we’ve accumulated,” Wachholz
says, noting that the society has worked with the Museum of Science and Industry and
public television station WTTW to bring the Eastland story to new and growing audiences. The society is also helping to replace a historical marker at the site, along the
south bank of the Chicago River between Clark and LaSalle Streets (work on Wacker
Drive has delayed its placement). “All of these people who have even distant connections with the Eastland—for instance, people whose great-great grandfather was
a firefighter who took part in the rescue efforts, they’re all so grateful for what we’re
doing,” he says.
32 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
Karen Swanson has been named vice
president and general manager of the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Marga Wastalu is director of clinical
research at PresbyCorp, Dallas, Texas.
1987
James (Ike) Brannon has been appointed to the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget as an economist under the
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs.
Gary ’89 and Sharon Irwin Deeter had
a son, Michael Timothy, on May 29,
2001 (Sarah, 7; Emilee, 5).
1988
Alan and Julie Johnson Ackerman had
a daughter, Nicole Renee, on June 11,
2000.
Bryan Block is president of Cervetch
Water Solution, Wheaton, Ill.
Judy Bennett Christison is manager,
community relations and contributions,
for the John Deere Foundation, Moline.
Christina Carter had a daughter,
Allyson Elena, on August 7, 2001.
Jennifer Gallas is assistant director
of the annual fund at Knox College,
Galesburg, Ill.
Christine Suchocki Gismondi is
knowledge manager at Andersen, St.
Marys, Pa.
Mike Herro is controller at Montalbano
Builders, Oak Brook, Ill.
Peter Nichols is vice president of
human resources at Harris Trust &
Savings Bank, Chicago.
Ann Oswald married Tim Leyden on
November 3, 2001. She is senior cost
analyst for Griffith Laboratories.
1989
Kevin and Amber Ording Flynn had a
daughter, Morgan Noelle, on March 28,
2002 (Keegan, 2).
Richard and Sondra Krumm Carlson
had a daughter, Cali Jean, on August
3, 2001.
Stephen Hinkle is director of
theatre at State University of New York,
Morrisville.
Jill Harman Conner is a pediatric
speech pathologist at Good Samaritan
Hospital, Puyallup, Wash.
Debra and Todd Obmascik had a son,
Mason Joseph, on November 23, 2001.
Gary and Sharon Braun ’87 Deeter
had a son, Michael Timothy, on May 29,
2001 (Sarah, 7; Emilee, 5).
Peter Schilke is a physican with
Western Pathology Consultants,
Scottsbluff, Neb.
Debbie Sheriff teaches first grade for
the Chicago Board of Education.
Chieko and Tim Young had a daughter, Julia Shiori, on January 22, 2002
(Jennifer, 10; Christina, 8; William, 7).
David and Tarin Hopf Dougherty had a
daughter, Rorie Marin, on December 21,
2001 (Reilly, 4).
Phil Hasz is agency manager of Country
Insurance & Financial Services, CarrollOgle Agency, Rochelle, Ill.
Tamara Schmidt Kappler is Kenmore
product manager at Maytag, Newton,
Iowa.
Annette and Paul Schroeder had a
daughter, Veronica Marie, on February
14, 2002 (Matthew, 2).
1990
Pamela Kohn Andrews is an attorney with Kuhn, Mitchell & Moss, St.
Charles, Ill.
Arthur Bergren has been installed as
senior pastor of Grace Lutheran Church,
Woodstock, Ill.
Elizabeth Caswell and Paul Schipper
’92 had a daughter, Abigail Elizabeth,
on March 12, 2002 (Ian, 4).
Marcia and Bryan Fox had a son,
Nathan William, on June 14, 2001.
Christy Hullett Graham has been promoted to supervisor, mortgage division
at Modern Woodmen of America, Rock
Island.
Donna and Steve Infante had a son,
Jacob Norman, on February 13, 2001.
John and Whitney Gagnon Kim had a
son, Benjamin Samuel Sang-Youn Kim,
on December 7, 2001.
Daniel and Naydeen Blout Mahr had a
son, Cayden Daniel, on June 14, 2001.
Rebecca Whitmer McAllister received
the doctor of nursing in community
health degree from Rush University.
She is a board-certified family nurse
practitioner at Howard Brown Health
Center and Friend Family Health Center,
Chicago.
Brian and Holly Pohlman Schou had
a son, Jackson Darell, on October 15,
2001 (Cooper, 3).
Steve and Kristin Novak Springborn
had a son, Ryan Andrew, on December
26, 2001 (Justin, 2).
Scott and Michelle Rader Wiegmann
had a daughter, Melanie, on March
28, 2001.
1991
Jason and Elizabeth Cook Bogner had
a son, Samuel Matthew, on August 25,
2001 (Aaron, 3).
Diane Shirley is in private practice as
an otolaryngologist in Houston, Texas.
Brad Swanson has been named principal of Niles (Ill.) North High School.
Jeff Carver is an account executive at
Reuters.
Kathy and Matt Walsh had a daughter,
Delaney Anne, on May 5, 2002 (Conor, 2).
Jennifer Davis married Richard
Wendrow on April 27, 2002.
Julie and Thomas Zielinski had a son,
Connor Thomas, on April 19, 2002.
Dorie Dettman won a gold medal at
the State Games of America held in St.
Louis, Mo. She competed in the basic
skills graduate freestyle figure skating
event.
Daryl Empen, CEO of Gas & Electric
Credit Union, Rock Island, was honored
as the Illinois Cooperative Reaches
Everyone (I-Care) chapter representative
of the year for 2001.
Thomas and Stephanie Wilson
Gosselin had a daughter, Margaret
Rose, on December 21, 2001.
Andy and Lisa Arbisi Holtebeck
had a daughter, Claire Elizabeth, on
November 8, 2001 (Emily, 4; Josh, 2).
Jane Jahnke married David Stewart on
August 31, 2001. She is a physician with
Carondelet Family Medical Care, Kansas
City, Mo.
Rick and Julie Soderdahl ’93 Knafelz
had a daughter, Sarah Grace, on
November 14, 2001. Rick is a manager
at Accenture, Charlotte, N.C.
Chet and Betti Ernst Napiwocki had a
daughter, Melaina Grace, on November
24, 2001 (Josh, 5; Mikayla, 3; Spencer, 2).
Christopher Onken married Angie
Clarquists on September 7, 2001. He
owns a group home for mentally retarded adults in Rochester, Minn.
Chad Perkins married Beth Helmueller
on October 13, 2001.
Scott Perry and Carolyn Porter had a
son, Calvin Scott, on October 31, 2001
(Jordan, 4; David, 2).
Joseph and Susanne Carsell
Schaechter had a daughter, Kate
Susanne, on May 30, 2001 (Rebecca, 3).
1992
Karen and Chris Bonick had a son,
Caleb Joseph, on January 5, 2002.
Stephen Davis is an adjunct instructor of geography at Chicago State
University.
Kerry and Susan Janssen Devine had
a son, Brody, on July 16, 2001 (Dylan,
3). Susan is chief financial officer for
Homefront USA in the Quad Cities area.
Jeffrey Frazier is vice president of corporate lending at National City Bank,
Oak Brook, Ill.
Kimberly Huntington married Jeffrey
Alfano on September 13, 2001. She is
a physician at Palos Immediate Care
Center, Orland Park, Ill.
Benton Johnson has been promoted to
regional Sauer Danfoss program manager-chemical management at Milacron
Marketing Co.
Joseph Owczarzak is an instructor of
physics at Francis Marion University,
Florence, S.C.
Connie and Marcus Perry had a son,
Quincy Allyn, on March 23, 2002.
Steve and Kelly Bishop ’93 Picton
had a son, Zachary Stephen, on July
27, 2001.
Paul Sanburg is an academic advisor at
Oakton Community College, Des Plaines
and Skokie, Ill.
Paul Schipper and Elizabeth Caswell
’90 had a daughter, Abigail Elizabeth,
on March 12, 2002 (Ian, 4).
Wrapping up an art form
Ever wonder what athletic trainers do on
the sidelines at a sporting event when no
one gets injured? Ask Joe DeBlieck ’00 that
question, and you might just get a flower.
While serving as a trainer in Augustana’s
sports medicine program, DeBlieck found
he had plenty of time – and tape – on his
hands. He started fiddling around with small
sculptures made from the pre-wrap used to
help athletes with injured joints; soon, he’d
perfected a technique for creating lifelike
roses, which he started to hand out around
the Carver P.E. Center.
Then came the fateful day when Curt
Mueller, whose Mueller Company manufactures pre-wrap, came to campus on a sales
call. Rochel Rittgers, Augustana’s chief athletic trainer, pointed out some of DeBlieck’s
creations. At first, Mueller didn’t recognize
the medium as being his own product. Once
he did, he quickly recognized the marketing
potential and ordered a batch from DeBlieck.
“I’m still making roses for Mueller,” says
DeBlieck. “Right now, I’m closing in on about
6,000 I’ve made for the company.”
Flowers aren’t the only hit in this wrap
star’s repertoire. He makes vases and baskets (to hold the flowers, of course) as well
as a variety of animals. Two recent creations
for Mueller include a depiction of the U.S.
flag, and an all-tape rendering of the cartoon
character Dumbo.
Mary and Peter Sirna had a son,
Samuel Peter, on January 28, 2002.
33
Class notes
Ander Smith is an attorney with the
law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson,
Rockford, Ill.
Greg ’93 and Martha Keil Stolze had
a son, Nicholas Keil, on September 29,
2001.
Dave and Leigh Ann Brown Westland
had a son, Drew Wayne, on November
5, 2001.
David and Kerri Etzel Wiles had a son,
Kevin, on May 22, 2001 (Josie, 1).
1993
Susan Caswell Allemeier has been
promoted to project manager with
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Europe District, located in Wiesbaden,
Germany.
Billups named U.S. rugby coach
The first time Tom Billups ’87 played rugby, he didn’t think the match would ever end. A
letter-winning Augustana football player and wrestler at the time, he was in pretty good
shape; but when he first took the pitch with the Quad Cities Irish senior side, “I must
have asked how much time was left a dozen or more times.” As he told sportswriter
Alex Goff, “The continuity was the most drastic difference from football to rugby.” Now,
only 15 years after he first threw himself into a scrum, Billups has been named head
coach of the USA Eagles, our national rugby team.
After graduating, Billups rose through the amateur and professional ranks, and by
the time of his retirement from playing in 1999, the sport had taken him around the
world to clubs in Hong Kong, the U.S. and around the British Isles. Concurrent with his
professional career, he represented his nation as a player and captain for the Eagles,
and until recently he was America’s most “capped” individual, meaning he’d starred in
more national contests than any other U.S. rugby player.
The two-year appointment as head coach of the Eagles means Billups will be at the
helm for the next rugby World Cup in 2003, thus giving him another entry in the thin
history of rugby in this country. But as Goff wrote in an article on Billups’s remarkable
playing career, his name will likely be remembered even when that history’s a bit heftier. “When in 50 years rugby has gained more of the prominence in the United States
that it deserves, and there are arguments about who was the greatest ever, the old
school will inevitably have to mention the name of Tom Billups – a player who means
so much to the game not only in the U.S., but worldwide,” Goff wrote.
If you’re new to rugby and would like to learn more about the sport and our national
team, you can check the Web at usa-eagles.org.
Kirk and Cathy Stran Anderson had
a daughter, Hannah Catherine, on
January 1, 2002 (Megan, 2).
Bill Calliss is manager, clinical data
services, at Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.
David and Andrea Thomas Cardani had
a son, Joseph, on December 13, 2001.
She is a mental health therapist at
Christy Clinic, Champaign, Ill.
In May, Estlin Feigley offered a special
campus screening of his short film,
“The Best I Could Do,” shot largely at
Augustana.
Steve ’92 and Kelly Bishop Picton
had a son, Zachary Stephen, on July
27, 2001.
Greg and Martha Keil ’92 Stolze had
a son, Nicholas Keil, on September 29,
2001.
Kevin Waden is financial reporting
manager at ComEd, Oakbrook Terrace,
Ill.
Andrew and Jennifer Jolas Wolf had
a son, Samuel Andrew, on January 21,
2002.
1994
Joe Adolf is customer relationship manager at infiNET Solutions.
Jennifer Alongi received the M.Ed. in
elementary education from Western
Illinois University, Macomb. She teaches sixth grade geography at Williams
Intermediate School, Davenport.
Brian and Stacie VanWyk Baker had a
daughter, Makayla Rose, on February
16, 2001.
Christopher and Sarah Grover
Blatchford had a son, Carson Paul, on
September 27, 2001 (Caleb, 3).
Kathryn Hannen is an attorney with
Bass, Berry & Sims, Nashville, Tenn.
Kelly and Art Check had a son, Dean
Thomas, on November 20, 2001.
Rory Kent Heath is a cytotechnologist
at Quest Diagnostics, Moline.
Clayton Corless married Sheila
Petruchuis on August 16, 2001.
Randall and Becky Pitzer Highbarger
had a daughter, Bailee Sue, on May
15, 2001.
Johanna Traci Fewell married Dan
Anderson on October 20, 2001.
Rick ’91 and Julie Soderdahl Knafelz
had a daughter, Sarah Grace, on
November 14, 2001.
David Lewison is vice president of
Stewart Smith West, San Francisco,
Calif.
Michelle Ash McDowell is a physical
therapist at Great River Medical Center,
West Burlington, Iowa.
34 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
Mike and Mary Thorne Mendelin had
a son, John Michael, on March 1, 2002.
Mary teaches English at Rock Island
High School.
Tracy Kopp teaches mathematics for
the Township High School District,
Carpentersville, Ill.
Jenny and Jim Legare had a daughter,
Emma, on November 2, 2001.
Bron and Kristan Oliver Mitchell had
twin sons, Aaron Christain and Cole
Spencer, on April 14, 2001.
Steven Olk is a senior tax accountant at
Stryker Corporation, Portage, Mich.
Sharon Otteman is a lease auditor with
Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.
Eric Parthen married Kelly Kaminski on
August 18, 2001.
Kristin Lundquist married Ken
Kocolowski on July 29, 2000. She
teaches first grade at Green Garden
Elementary School, Peotone, Ill.
Eric Schmitz is a middle school language arts and social studies teacher at
Bright Beginnings School, Tempe, Ariz.
Dan and Kathleen Czapla McSweeney
had a daughter, Dara Rose, on May 8,
2001. Kathleen is a graduate student at
DePaul University, Chicago.
Lance and Christine Hay ’95 Stephens
had a daughter, Sydney Lynn, on March
11, 2002.
Erin Walsh Smith teaches second
grade at St. Raphael School, Apex, N.C.
Michael ’95 and Susan Grupe
Wahlmann had a daughter, Emma
Frances, on March 18, 2002.
Robert Smith is senior software developer at Blue Phoenix Solutions, Apex,
N.C.
Nicole Weinzierl married Brad Dawson
on September 15, 2001.
Lance ’94 and Christine Hay Stephens
had a daughter, Sydney Lynn, on March
11, 2002.
Kirby and Jennifer Engstrom ’95 Winn
had a daughter, Anna Kirsten, on May
6, 2002. Kirby is director of public relations at Augustana.
Michael and Susan Grupe ’94
Wahlmann had a daughter, Emma
Frances, on March 18, 2002.
1995
Bryon Berge is a family practice resident at Metro Health Center, Erie, Pa.
Adam and Kristina Hansen Boardman
had a daughter, Anna Katherine, on
September 12, 2001 (Kyle, 3).
Christopher Bourdon is a research
scientist at Sandia National Labs,
Albuquerque, N.M.
Danielle DeCillo married Jonathan
Pugh ’00 on December 8, 2001.
Angela Kochel Griffin is an executive
recruiter for accounting and finance for
Management Recruiters International.
Matt and Caryn Carstens Haberkorn
had a son, Silas Matthew, on January
4, 2002.
Matt Hensler is a teacher and head
football coach at West Bend (Wis.) West
High School.
James and Jacqueline Bowden Weber
had a son, Jon Frederick, on February
8, 2002.
Kirby ’94 and Jennifer Engstrom Winn
had a daughter, Anna Kirsten, on May
6, 2002. Jennifer is a speech-language
pathologist for the Mississippi Bend
Area Education Agency in DeWitt, Iowa.
1996
Kelli and Jason Aaron had twin
daughters, Kayleigh and Samantha, on
December 14, 2001. He is an assistant
scientist at Abbott Laboratories, Abbott
Park, Ill.
Neil and Amy Millar Ariano had a son,
Ky Joseph, on November 16, 2001.
Christopher and Sarah Suchor ’97
Brynolf had a daughter, Abigail Sarah,
on October 24, 2001.
Brett Erdmann married Jennifer Jenkins
on August 4, 2001.
Rachel Knapp married Adam Viel on
February 9, 2002.
Marcie Doyle Fitzmaurice is a copywriter for Spiegel Corporation.
Kevin and Anja Hammarberg Knuth
had a son, Tyler Gene, on October 11,
2001.
Matt and Melissa Wade Gullickson
had a son, Grant Matthew, on January
23, 2002.
James and Lisa Jech Holland had a
daughter, Jocelyn Rose, on January 16,
2002.
Darrin Jolas married Michelle Merritt
on October 8, 2001.
Michael Lutes is an emergency
medicine resident at the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Pernilla Magnusson is an assistant
product manager at Witre AB, Göteborg,
Sweden.
Matthew ’98 and Susannah Cook
Marison had a daughter, Anna, on May
23, 2001.
Les Meyer is a usability consultant for
State Farm Insurance, Bloomington, Ill.
Matthew Norris married Melissa
Ackerman on May 26, 2002.
Tony and Casper Orange Provo had
twins, Charlie and Morgan, on January
3, 2002.
Sarah Rhine married Raki Bogan on
September 29, 2001. Sarah teaches
first grade for the Darien (Ill.) School
District.
Todd Shores has been promoted to
assistant corporate controller at Frontier
Natural Brands.
Sandra Cuellar received the doctor of
pharmacy degree from the University of
Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
and is a pharmacy practice resident at
the University of Kentucky (Chandler)
Medical Center.
Wendy Curtis received the master’s
degree from the University of Northern
Iowa, Cedar Falls. She is a teacher at
Scott Community College, Bettendorf.
Frank DeBoni is an associate with the
law firm of Ellison, Nielsen, Knibbs,
Zehe and Antas, Chicago.
Lea Anne Guettler married Michael
Stoughton on October 20, 2001.
Mario Hernandez is a health care
professional specialist for Liberty Home
Pharmacy in Florida.
Kristin Kvam married Patrick Huston on
March 16, 2002.
Becky Passman married Leonard
Nahrgang on July 14, 2001.
Mikel Radue is an information technology analyst at Deere & Company,
Moline.
Dan Schimmel married Nadia
El-Barbarawi on June 30, 2001.
Melynda Virgil married Dennis Maurer
on March 24, 2001.
Brad and Stacy Christein Schoester
had a daughter, Payton Christein, on
December 3, 2001. Brad is a sales
representative at Molex, Inc., Lisle, Ill.
Stacy teaches first grade for the Indian
Prairie School District, Naperville, Ill.
1997
Greg Sheffield has opened an indoor
golf facility/bar in Bloomington, Ill.
Joni Anderson married Andrew Sharar
on December 31, 2001. She is a counselor at Muscatine (Iowa) High School.
Jennifer Sherlock is a graduate
student at Eastern Illinois University,
Charleston.
Cindy Hurlbutt Berg has been promoted to general services supervisor at
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, Moline.
Morgan Speechley married Matt Kaiser
on September 4, 2001.
Amy Sylvia married Kyle Richardson on
March 23, 2002.
Christopher ’96 and Sarah Suchor
Brynolf had a daughter, Abigail Sarah,
on October 24, 2001.
Joe and Kelly Dzuris Cole had a son,
Riley Jack, on October 2, 2001.
Christine Stevenson received the M.S.
degree in education from Dominican
University.
Wayne Sutton received the M.Ed.
degree from the University of Illinois,
Champaign. He is currently vice president of the Illini Union Board.
35
Class notes
James and Sarah Lamb Toland had
twins, Carter and Elise, on June 12,
2001.
Tiia Maekask is a third and fourth
grade bilingual teacher for the Chicago
Public Schools.
Suzie Stoffels is an account representative for Minolta Business Solutions,
Chicago.
Russell VanWetzinga married Julie
Hipple on May 4, 2002.
Matthew and Susannah Cook ’96
Marison had a daughter, Anna, on May
23, 2001.
Jordan Stoner is a GIS analyst for
DuPage County, Illinois.
Daniel and Julia Dyson Woessner had
a daughter, Leah Danielle, on November
16, 2001.
1998
Toni Tortorello Allaway teaches French
at Riverside-Brookfield (Ill.) High
School.
Ashley Borah married Bradley Gleason
on January 20, 2001. She received the
master’s degree in physical therapy
from Washington University and is now
a physical therapist at Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Hospital, Lincoln, Ill.
Amy Jegerski Bovi is a staff associate/
policy analyst for the American Medical
Association.
Jodie Corey is marketing coordinator
at North Hill Retirement Village, East
Moline.
Elizabeth Bertelsen Dornbush is a
recruitment specialist at Wolfe Clinic,
Ames, Iowa.
Patrick Fitzgerald received the D.D.S.
degree from the University of Illinois
College of Dentistry.
Kristina Hanson and Eric Misfeldt
were married on October 6, 2001.
Kristina received the J.D. degree from
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Eric is a research technician at Covance
Laboratories, Madison, Wis.
Kimberly Hills married Eric DeCook ’00
on May 18, 2002.
Seth Kress is a physical therapist at
Resurrection Health Care, Chicago.
Tami Lang married John Mattson ’99
on April 28, 2001.
Angela Leahy married Derek Casteel on
March 1, 2002.
36 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
Matthew McCallum is a training supervisor at Royal Neighbors of America,
Rock Island.
Carrie Joyce McCormick is a physical
therapist at KSB Hospital, Dixon, Ill.
Tyler Moore is an attorney with Barrick,
Switzer, Long, Balsley & Van Evera,
Rockford, Ill.
Mindy Morris teaches sixth grade
at Lincoln Intermediate School,
Monmouth, Ill. She is also head varsity
volleyball coach at Monmouth High
School and junior high track coach at
Central Junior High.
Chris Noble and Lauren Rolsing were
married on April 13, 2002. Chris has
been promoted to real estate representative at Walgreen Co., Deerfield, Ill.
Jenny Orh married Marc Afable on
October 6, 2001. She is coordinator
of test development for the American
Dental Association, Chicago.
James Parisi is an image tracker for
Rosa & Wesley Design, Lombard, Ill.
Stephanie Reglin married Erin Kurtiss
Pleskovitch on February 2, 2002. She is
a mental health professional with LSSI
Nachusa (Ill.) Lutheran Home.
Joel Richardson married Alice Sim
on May 18, 2002. He received the J.D.
degree from Washington University
School of Law and is employed by
Arnold and Porter, Washington, D.C.
Jamie Sanders is an account executive,
data & IP networks, for AT&T Global
Accounts, Chicago.
Hiroko Sato is studying in the peace
and development program at the
University of Jaume in Spain.
Brian Sebastian married Jaclyn Basler
’99 on March 9, 2002.
Matthew Tews received the doctor
of osteopathic medicine degree from
Des Moines (Iowa) University. He is an
intern at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing,
Mich.
Chris Timmons and Jami Weinstein
were married on September 1, 2001.
Ted and Martha McCall Whitmer had
a son, Peter Kuehl, on June 4, 2001
(Gretchen, 9). Martha received the
J.D. degree from the University of Iowa
College of Law, Iowa City.
Brenda Buckman Wiewel is a speechlanguage pathologist for the Wood Dale
(Ill.) School District.
1999
Anthony and Lindsay Johnston Bailey
had a daughter, Emily Renee, on
January 13, 2002.
Jaclyn Basler married Brian Sebastian
’98 on March 9, 2002.
Shirley Borys received the master’s
degree in counseling psychology from
Loyola University, Chicago.
Amy Bushong married Jon Lee on
December 8, 2001.
Tori Cannon is a physical therapist at
Apple Physical Therapy, Kirkland, Wash.
Christy Carlson and David Hanson
were married on December 22, 2001.
Erin Chamberlain received the
master’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from Illinois State
University, Normal. She is an audiologist at Bloomington-Normal Ear, Nose
& Throat.
Scott Cobert and Amy Zaiser were married on August 4, 2001.
Kevin Dajka received the McLaughlin
Scholarship and the North American
Veterinary Conference Award at
the University of Illinois College of
Veterinary Medicine, Urbana.
Wendy Warpness Gebhart attends
the National College of Naturopathic
Medicine, Portland, Ore.
Morgan Halstead is a senior production editor at Argosy, Cambridge, Mass.
Gretchen Janssen received the master’s of occupational therapy degree
from Midwestern University, and is now
an occupational therapist at Freeport
(Ill.) Memorial Hospital.
Tricia Keefe teaches seventh grade
science and math at Hawthorn Jr. High,
Vernon Hills, Ill.
Mary Klimowski teaches third grade at
Highland Elementary School, LaGrange,
Ill.
Brian Lindgren is an outreach facilitator at a domestic violence agency in
Chicago, Friends of Battered Women
and Their Children.
Bethany Litchfield received the M.S.
degree in occupational therapy from
Rush University, Chicago. She is now
an occupational therapist at Fox River
Pavillion, Aurora, Ill.
Laura Mason married Steven Hill on
May 26, 2002.
John Mattson married Tami Lang ’98
on April 28, 2001.
Bridget McManus received the M.S.
degree in physical therapy from
Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
Toni Moore teaches first grade for the
Rock Island School District.
Wendy Neagle married Andrew
Williams on July 28, 2001.
Michael Ollom received the M.S.W.
degree from the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor. He is a mental health
therapist at a community hospital in
Ottawa, Ill.
Misty O’Meara married Brian Otte on
May 27, 2001. She is a physical therapist at Dreyer Medical Clinic, Aurora, Ill.
Shannon and Todd Burzynski had a
daughter, Emmaline Mabel Rose, on
March 19, 2002.
Katherine Pannell is a speech-language pathologist at Comprehensive
Rehab, Inc., Davenport.
Wesley Calvert received the master’s
degree in math from the University of
Notre Dame (Ind.).
Jessica Parker is a licensing supervisor
for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois,
Chicago.
Marcus Carlson married Joni Holmberg
on July 21, 2001.
Jacqy Peterson teaches at Westran High
School, Huntsville, Mo.
Tim Schloneger married Shannon
Simoncelli on March 2, 2002.
Craig Schmaus married Amy Ites on
December 22, 2001.
Todd Schwartz is a ski instructor at
Park City Mountain Resort, Salt Lake
City, Utah.
Rakesh and Pooja Sharma had a
daughter, Divya, on April 28, 2001.
Diane Faivre Swiat is a corporate
laboratory supervisor at Ion Beam
Applications Analytical Laboratory.
Timothy Swiat is a compliance specialist at GE Financial Assurance.
Jeff Valentini received the master’s
degree in physical therapy from
the College of Health Sciences of
Midwestern University.
Victoria Van Kirk has been promoted
within Marriott Hotels, Resorts & Suites
to senior sales manager at the Hickory
Ridge Conference Hotel, Lisle, Ill.
Elizabeth Ross Yegge is an employment specialist at Fairbanks Resource
Agency, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Ryan Casey is a residence hall director
at St. Ambrose University, Davenport.
Sarah Curry and Aaron Fischbach were
married on November 17, 2001. Sarah
is a graduate student at St. Ambrose
University, Davenport.
Eric DeCook married Kimberly Hills ’98
on May 18, 2002.
Harry Fuentes is a mental health
instructor for Neumann Association,
Chicago.
Casey Gober is a financial consultant
with Raymond James, Algonquin, Ill.
Tenay Maholmes Lee is a credit analyst
at South Holland (Ill.) Trust & Savings
Bank.
Erica Long married Ryan Senegal on
March 30, 2001.
Joy Muskovin married Patrick Bauman
on June 16, 2001. Joy teaches kindergarten at St. James School, Loves Park, Ill.
Scott Nicholson is customer
operations/claims specialist at Baxter
Healthcare Corp.
Brian Oster married Amy Caudle ’02
on March 9, 2002.
Lindsay Patterson teaches sixth grade
for the Oswego (Ill.) School District.
2000
Alvin Portis attends Loyola University
School of Law, Chicago.
James Austgen is a graduate student in
physiology at the University of Missouri,
Columbia.
Jonathan Pugh married Danielle
DeCillo ’98 on December 8, 2001.
Deborah Bliss is a residential counselor for Rosecrance, Inc., Rockford, Ill.
Andy Brock passed the CPA exam and
is a certified public accountant with
Sikich Group, LLP.
Erin Roti teaches science at Prairie
Ridge High School, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Tiffany and Jamael Sanford had a son,
Jaydon, on April 11, 2001.
Stephanie Seitz married Jason Thornley
on June 30, 2001. She is a medical
technologist with Unity Health Systems,
Bettendorf.
Robin Sell teaches Spanish at Geneva
(Ill.) High School.
Kacey Smith is the center support coordinator for the Keller Graduate School of
Management, Chicago.
Dana Watland received the master’s
degree in communication disorders and
sciences from Eastern Illinois University,
Charleston. She is a speech-language
pathologist at Fulton School, Tinley
Park, Ill.
Craig Weinhold teaches at Brighton
(Colo.) Charter School.
Brandy Weis is a psychology graduate student at Illinois State University,
Bloomington.
2001
Amanda Achterberg is a graduate
student in communication sciences and
disorders at Eastern Illinois University,
Charleston, Ill.
Molly Adee teaches biology at CaryGrove High School, Cary, Ill.
Daniel Cesarek works in management
at Farm & Fleet, Urbana, Ill.
Katie Connolly is a graduate student at
Illinois State University, Normal.
Michael Crawford is a CSR specialist
with Deere & Company, Moline.
Nathaniel Cross teaches at Colorado
Springs (Colo.) Christian School.
Andrea Dirksen attends the Scholl
College of Podiatry, Chicago.
Rebecca Eaton attends the University of
Illinois School of Dentistry, Chicago.
Faythe Elsbury married Tonnie Farwell
on May 25, 2001. She is a medical transcriptionist for Trinity Medical Center,
Rock Island.
Brent Ferry is a geotechnical engineer
at Terracon, Bettendorf.
Amanda Fletcher works on the data
desk at The Dispatch, Moline.
Rachael Floit is a graduate student in
the field of industrial hygiene at the
University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Robert Freitag is a social services
assistant at Lake Shore Health Care and
Rehabilitation, Chicago.
Sayeed Ali works in investments at
Prudential Financial, Moline.
Kathryn Fritz is a child care supervisor at Anastasia Athletic Club, St.
Augustine, Fla.
Kristjan Backmeyer is in information
technology with the John Deere Seeding
Group, Moline.
Linda Gabreleski is a chiropractic
student at the National University of
Health Sciences.
Michelle Bauer is a quality control
technician for the Ace Hardware Paint
Division, Matteson, Ill.
Jennifer Gary married Patrick Kirts on
December 29, 2001.
Emily Benson works for Americorps as
a protective order/domestic violence
victim advocate at the Family Advocacy
Center, Indianapolis, Ind.
Matthew Boland is a loan reviewer for
RBC Mortgage, Chicago.
Elizabeth Burke works for the Chicago
Botanical Gardens, Glencoe, in the auxiliaries (special events) department.
Lisa Goergen is a graduate student
in speech pathology at Northwestern
University, Evanston, Ill.
William Golden is in sales and technical support at Eden Electronics,
Montrose, Minn.
Erin Granet is a manager for Goodwill
Industries at its Moline store.
Christopher Hayden is an accountant
at CNA, Chicago.
Tina Butterfield is a graduate student
at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.
37
Class notes
Sarah Holmer is a wardrobe dresser at
Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Chanhassen, Minn.
Katrina Mayhall is a graduate student
in the teaching program at Washington
State University, Port Hadlock, Wash.
Jamie Hope is a desktop publisher at
LinguiSystems, Inc., East Moline.
Monique McDonald is an assistant
administrator at ARC, Rock Island.
Jason Hutchison is a loan originator at
Valley Bank, Moline.
Kimberly Misic married Richard Taylor
on August 18, 2001. She is a proposal
writer for Wheels, Inc., Des Plaines, Ill.
Ayodeji Jarrett attends Howard
University School of Dentistry,
Washington, D.C.
Chad Johansen is an assistant golf
professional at Blackberry Oaks Golf
Course, Lisle, Ill.
Kerry Johnson is a graduate student
in physical therapy at the University of
Illinois, Chicago.
Kristin Juliano teaches first grade for
the Crystal Lake (Ill.) School District.
Nicole Nelson is a graduate student
at Finch University/Chicago Medical
School, North Chicago, Ill.
Jennifer Neuherz is a tax consultant at
Deloitte & Touche, Chicago.
Kathleen Nolan attends Valparaiso
(Ind.) University School of Law.
Brent Olson is a distribution coordinator at Loders Croklaar, Channahon, Ill.
Jason Kifer is district executive for the
Boy Scouts of America, Clinton, Iowa.
Casey Otten teaches fourth grade
at Baldwin Intermediate School in
Quincy, Ill.
Jessica Kittel works in customer service
for Follett Library Resources, McHenry, Ill.
Kimberly Painter is a graduate student
at Western Illinois University, Macomb.
Kim Klosak is an infrastructure analyst
at Deere & Co., Moline.
Jeffery Palo is business development
manager at Coca-Cola Enterprises,
Niles, Ill.
Mark Kolar is a graduate student in
public administration at Northern
Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill.
Amanda Krier is a graduate student at
Loyola University, Chicago.
Christopher Krystyniak is a support
staff member at the Handicapped
Development Center, Davenport.
Eric Langan is an assistant manager at
Carpetland USA, Davenport.
Jessica Frank Leichsenring is an assistant property manager at Gorman &
Company, Madison, Wis.
Walter Levernier is employed at
Levernier, Inc., Ringwood, Ill.
Paul Linden is membership development coordinator for the Illinois Quad
City Chamber of Commerce, Moline.
Cherie Peterson is a social work graduate student at Saint Louis University, St.
Louis, Mo.
Monica Poole is a logistics associate
at St. Charles Trading, Batavia, Ill.
and a part-time Spanish instructor at
Waubonsee Community College, Sugar
Grove, Ill.
Jonathan Preister teaches history at
Omaha (Neb.) Westside High School.
Alisa Riva married Duncan Bullock
on May 26, 2001. Alisa is a middle
school teacher at Little Flower School,
Pensacola, Fla.
Shelley Rogers is a healthcare representative at Lincare Home Respiratory,
St. Charles, Ill.
Laura Martens is a report editor for
Factual Photo, Naperville, Ill.
Brian Rust is an international coordinator at Cole-Parmer International, Vernon
Hills, Ill.
Heather Martin is an infrastructure
analyst at Deere & Co., Moline.
Kristina Sanders is a case manager at
Cornerstone Services, Joliet, Ill.
38 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
Julie Schuering and James Schuetz
were married on June 2, 2001. Julie
is a law student at Northern Illinois
University, DeKalb, Ill.
Lillian Krans ’29 Hokenson on
November 21, 2001.
Rowena Odenweller ’33 Hays on May
5, 2002.
Anita Sedillo is a physical therapy
graduate student at Arcadia University,
Glenside, Pa.
Jane Campbell C33 Knight on March
27, 2002.
Amy Short Shepherd is an office
manager at Fox River Animal Hospital,
Appleton, Wis.
Marion Brown ’34 Sorg on March 17,
2002. Among survivors are her sisters,
Harriett Brown ’40 Paschall and Betsy
Brown ’40 Blakley.
Chris Sweet is a reference librarian at
the Bloomington (Ill.) Public Library.
Ryan Tillman is a research assistant at
the University of Mississippi Medical
Center.
Amy Tirmenstein is membership and
development coordinator at Trailnet, St.
Louis, Mo.
Corey Ungaro is an application specialist at Cole Parmer Scientific, Vernon
Hills, Ill.
Jennifer Wilkes is psychiatric rehabilitation service coordinator at Somerset
Place, Chicago.
Anne Williams attends Iliff School of
Theology, Denver, Colo.
2002
Amy Caudle married Brian Oster ’00
on March 9, 2002.
Carrie Kokoska is a linguist for Wycliffe
Bible Translators.
Elizabeth Swenson C34 on January 16,
2002. Survivors include her brother,
Frank Swenson ’36.
Tom W. Brown ’35 on April 9, 2002.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Fennell
C37 Brown; and sisters, Betsy Brown
’40 Blakley and Harriett Brown ’40
Paschall.
J. Erik Holmer ’36 on December 17,
2001. Among survivors are sons, Mark
’64 and Paul ’67; daughter, Shari
Holmer ’72 Lewis; and granddaughters,
Krista Holmer ’90 Lane, Kaia Holmer ’97
Gale, and Sarah Holmer ’01.
Dorothy Peterson ’37 Bergstrom on
April 1, 2002. Among survivors are her
husband, Ellsworth; and daughter,
Karen Swanson ’64 Hart.
Roy C. Roba C37 on April 11, 2002.
Survivors include his son, William ’68.
Arthur E. Dahl C39 on April 25, 2002.
Among survivors are his sons, John C68
and Robert ’74.
Genevieve Brasmer ’42 Boone on
March 27, 2002.
Deaths
(notice received as of June 1, 2002)
Mildred Benzon Lundin C22 on
November 11, 2001.
Mabel Arnell ’24 Youngberg on April
7, 2002. Survivors include daughters,
Karin Youngberg ’58 and Paula Arnell
’60; and granddaughter, Carla Arnell
’91.
Mildred Anderson ’27 Anderson on
March 5, 2002.
Kay Spelletich C42 Getz on December
3, 2001. Survivors include her husband,
William C38.
Mayme D. Bolin ’43 on May 15, 2002.
She is survived by her sister, Erma Bolin
C40 Moser.
Daniel E. Johnson ’43 on December
17, 2001. He is survived by his wife,
Marguerite.
Francis Johnson ’43 on February 3,
2002. He is survived by his wife, Ruth
Palm ’44 Johnson.
Mary Olson ’43 on December 26, 2001.
Conrad L. Bergendoff ’44 on January
22, 2002. Survivors include his sisters,
Beatrice Bergendoff ’49 Wilson, and
Elizabeth Bergendoff ’58 Thulin.
George A. Miller ’44 on March 26,
2002.
Eleanor Johnson C44 Rosenfeld on
January 1, 2002. She is survived by her
husband, Melvin ’44.
Donald E. Kimbell ’45 on March 17,
2002. He is survived by his wife, Donna.
George F. Weihler C45 on March 26,
2002. His wife, Mary, survives him.
John Hauberg, Jr. C46 on April 5, 2002.
Herbert D. Anderson ’47 on March 16,
2002. He is survived by his wife, Mary
Ann.
Jack R. Scott C47 on January 22, 2002.
Elsie Krantz ’48 Hagberg on March 17,
2002. Survivors include her husband,
Milton ’49, and daughter Caroline
Hagberg ’75 Bjonback.
Joseph M. Anderson ’49 on January 16,
2002. His wife, Betty, survives him.
Gwen Englund ’49 Lonn on July 28,
2001. She is survived by her husband,
Don.
Robert H. Schmidt ’49 on March 5,
2002. His wife, Jean, survives him.
Jack D. Lofgren ’50 on December 23,
2001. He is survived by his wife, Jane
Minteer C50 Lofgren.
Joanne Lundborg, wife of James
Lundborg ’50, on May 21, 2002.
William L. Oaks ’50 on February 19,
2002. Among survivors is his wife,
Marilyn Blaser C52 Oaks; daughter,
Sarah Oaks ’85; and sons, Mark C76
and Fred ’81.
Elizabeth Lees C50 Barclay on January
9, 2002.
Eugene G. Johnson C50 on December
26, 2001.
Robert W. Carlson ’51 on February 9,
2002.
Waldo C. Schneider ’51 on May 24,
2002. Survivors include his wife, Inez
Carlberg ’50 Schneider and son, Robert
’81.
Jim R. Grafton C51 on April 20, 2002.
He is survived by his wife, Eleanor
Lange C48 Grafton.
William K. Kiser C51 on February 1,
2002.
Truman Plantz C51 on April 19, 2002.
His wife, June, survives him.
Joan Errion C51 Stacy on February 8,
2002. Her husband, John, survives her.
Donal L. Eyre ’52 on February 23, 2002.
C. David Wahlstrom ’52 on December
18, 2001. Among survivors is his wife,
Therese Hammar ’54 Wahlstrom, and
sister, Erica Wahlstrom ’49 Adams.
Robert L. Wallace ’52 on March 2,
2002. His wife, Wanda, survives him.
Robert D. Winter ’52 on November 3,
2001. He is survived by his wife, Doris.
Marguerite Wiberg ’53 Wolfe on
August 28, 2001. Her husband, Stanley,
survives her.
James C. Parsons C53 on March 19,
2002. Among survivors is his wife,
JoAnn Walz ’49 Parsons.
William H. Peal ’54 on February 2,
2002. His wife, Ann, survives him.
Blair G. Mills ’55 on January 23, 2002.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia.
Richard L. James ’56 on December 22,
2001.
Donald G. Bledsoe ’57 on May 21,
2002. Survivors include his wife,
Sharon Edstrom C60 Bledsoe.
James O. “Swede” Carlson ’57 on
March 31, 2002. Among survivors is his
wife, Marlene.
Marilyn Schoof ’59 Soderstrom on
February 18, 2002. Survivors include
her husband, Norm ’56.
Joyce Schmieg ’62 Scoggins on
December 29, 2001. She is survived by
her husband, Larry.
Douglas Dixon ’63 on May 7, 2001.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Nelson
’64 Dixon.
Carole Gehbauer C64 Fenton on March
23, 2002. Her husband, Robert, survives her.
Jeffrey A. Swanson ’66 on March 16,
2001. Among survivors are his parents,
A. William ’42 and Georgene Bowman
C44 Swanson.
Roger Taft, husband of Andrea Erickson
’67 Taft, on May 15, 2002.
G.E. “Skip” Duhlstine ’68 on April 10,
2002. Survivors include his wife, Terry
Frazier.
Lorraine Fletcher ’69 Hofer on January
14, 2002.
Jean Wilkins Daut C69 Suiter on
November 20, 2001. Her husband,
Glen, survives her.
Diane Enger ’71 on October 9, 2001.
Melanie Johnson ’71 Heald on June 4,
2002. Among survivors is her husband,
Michael ’70.
Caroline Breunig Werker ’71 on May
4, 2002. Survivors include son, William
’67 and daughters, Caryl Werker ’70
Sanders, and Celia Werker ’72.
Debra Berg, wife of Paul Berg ’72, on
November 20, 2001.
Diana Green, wife of Michael Green
’72, on April 7, 2002.
Forrest “Sonny” Kettering, husband
of Susan Simpson ’74 Kettering, on
February 5, 2002.
Roger John Bergfeld, six year old son of
Victoria Wilcox ’84 and her husband
Roger Bergfeld, on March 17, 2002.
John D. Carnithan ’98 on April 10,
2002. Survivors include his mother,
Diane Carnithan ’95 and sister, Jennifer
Carnithan ’96 Choi.
In memoriam
Edna Sorensen
Together with her geographer husband, Edna
Sorensen is believed to have visited more than
50 countries. Perhaps because she had a wealth
of experience being a stranger in a strange land,
she made a special effort
as the wife of Augustana’s
president to welcome new
members of the campus
community. Sorensen
was 91 at the time of
her death on February
2 in Bloomington, Ill. Her husband, Clarence
“Woody” Sorensen, who preceded her in death
in 1982, served as Augustana’s president from
1962 to 1975. During those years she created a
newcomers club for the spouses of new faculty
members, in hopes of helping them feel at home
in Rock Island.
Dr. Ann Boaden ’67 of Augustana’s English
department both studied and joined the faculty
here during the Sorensen years. “Mrs. Sorensen
seemed to grow in warmth as she aged. Her
elegance never changed, but it seemed less
buffed-up to a shine, and yet more luminous,”
Boaden says.
Her many memberships included Sigma
Alpha Iota, the international women’s music
fraternity, the Longfellow Club at Illinois State
University (where her husband had served as
founding dean of the graduate school) and
Augustana’s Old Main Society. In 1997, she was
named an honorary alumna of the College.
G.E. “Skip” Duhlstine ’67
He arrived on campus as the child of two wellknown members of the College staff, and he left
as Augustana’s assistant comptroller. Both of
Duhlstine’s parents were long-time employees—
his father, George, Sr. (better known as “Pops”),
worked with the physical plant and athletics
department; his mother, LaVada, worked in
food service. Duhlstine worked in Augustana’s
business office for several years immediately
following his graduation in 1967. From 1994 until
his death on April 10 at the age of 56, he was
vice president for administration and finance
at Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina. His
survivors include his wife, Terry.
39
Final shot
Final shot
What you get for sleeping in…Gurney races were
a highlight of this particular Homecoming. Hint: that year’s senior class has
a reunion coming up this fall. Please report any faces you can identify to
acmks@augustana.edu.
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40 Augustana Magazine | Fall 2002
e…
About last tim
About last time…“Hey, we’re not that old! 1930s indeed!”
writes Dorie Domeij ’42 Smith, who spotted familiar faces from her senior
yearbook (correcting our mis-date). That’s Bette Sundin ’44 at left and
Edith Hulting ’43 Gustus at right, with instructor Jane Brissman holding
both bridles. Thanks to all who responded!