R Connections

News update from the First Congregational Church in Ripon, WI –

On Sunday, July 21st, we will welcome Reverend Jeffrey Dodson, his wife Ashley, and their three daughters: Ainslie who is almost 4 years old, and 17-month-old twins Eleanor (Ellie) and Frances (Frankie) into our congregation. 

For Jeffrey and Ashley, their lives together began as camp counselors at Pilgrim Center in the summer of 2009. A native of the Colorado Springs area, Jeffrey spent two years at Colorado State University before transferring to Ripon College in August 2003. As some of you may remember, he was the Christian Education Coordinator in this church for two years. He graduated from Ripon in 2006 with a Theater major and Religious Studies minor. 

Jeffrey’s family has many ties to the UCC church. His twin brother Jonathan is a UCC-ordained minister who is currently a Chaplain in Hudson, Ohio, while Jeffrey’s sister-in-law is also an ordained UCC pastor and is the Associate Minister at First Congregational in Hudson. Jeffrey’s mother is currently moderator of her church in Hawaii. Jeffrey has two more brothers and his father liv- ing in southern California. 

Ashley is from Monticello, Wisconsin, where her immediate family still lives. In addition, she has a number of extended family members in and around Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. She is a 2009 graduate of Viterbo University with a BA in Religious Studies and minors in Psychology and Servant Leadership. 

After their summer at Pilgrim Center, Jeffrey and Ashley headed off for their first year at seminary, Jeffrey to Chicago Theological Seminary and Ashley to Eden Seminary in St. Louis. After a year, Ashley transferred to Chicago Theological Seminary where they graduated with their Master of Divinity degrees in May 2014. While still in seminary, Ashley and Jeffrey returned to 

Pilgrim Center for a second time and were married in Ley Chapel on October 6, 2012. 

Between 2014 and their 2016 move to Grand Junction, Colorado, they were co-Executive Directors at a UCC camp in Vermont. Following that, Jeffrey was a hospital Chaplain in Littleton, Colorado. They went to another UCC camp in Iowa where Ashley served as the Program and Facilities Manager before moving to Grand Junction where Jeffrey served as a short-term Pulpit Supply Minister. When the Senior Minister position opened up permanently in Grand Junction, the Search Committee gave him the opportunity to apply for the job and he was installed. Earlier in that year he was ordained through the Southwest Association of the Rocky Mountain Conference in Colorado. 

Jeffrey’s hobbies include theater, hiking, the outdoors, sports, micro brews, science, being a dad, Star Trek and reading science fiction and historical biographies. Ash- ley loves photography, hiking, kayaking, chasing after the girls and cooking.

Submitted by: DevStudent

WINNEBAGO COUNTY (WREX) — Associate Circuit Judge K. Patrick Yarbrough will retire from his position on Aug. 31, 2019.

Judge Yarbrough was appointed as an associate judge on Jan. 26, 2007. He was Winnebago County’s first African American judge. During his time on the bench, he presided over criminal, juvenile and mental health cases in Winnebago County. Since 2009, he has been assigned to hear juvenile delinquency cases. And since 2014, he has served as the supervising judge of the Winnebago County Juvenile Courts Division.

Judge Yarbrough is a Rockford native who graduated from Guilford High School in 1979. He received his bachelor’s from Ripon College and his juris doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Among his decades of service, Judge Yarbrough served as a member and past president of the Rock Valley Area Big Brothers Big Sisteres Board of Directors; a judicial liaison to the Children and Our Courts Board of Directors; member of the board of directors for the Blackhawk Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member and sponsor of the Veterans Memorial Hall Black History Month committee’s Tuskegee Airmen and Montford Point Marines programs. Judge Yarbrough is a member of the I Bike Rockford Bicycle advocacy organization and a board member of 17th Circuit Therapy Dog Volunteers, Inc.

“Judge Yarbrough has contributed so much to the youth of our community from his current position. He has always had their welfare, and the long term betterment of our community as his guiding purpose,” said Chief Judge Eugene Doherty. “He impacted many, and he will be missed by many.”

Submitted by: DevStudent

Dr. Jennifer Haywood Sabath DO ’92 sutured up Dr. Jason Winkelmann ND ’15 on 8.22.19 in Lake Zurich, Illinois. We have never met and only learned about both attending Ripon through conversation during the procedure. And although at different times, we also learned that we attended medical school one town away from each other.

Submitted by: Jason Winkelmann

Some Ripon men Class of 1971 got together at Buckhorn Cafe in New Lisbon, Wisconsin on August 26 for golf and rich reminiscing about their halcyon days at Ripon.

Submitted by: Thomas Bachhuber

Left to right: Benjamin Kweskin (Garrison’s friend), Garrison Anderson ’16, Ben Valdez-Hempel ’17, Scott Gustafson ’88 and Mike Lamm ’05 at the Nationals vs. Cubs game on August 18 in Washington, D.C.

Submitted by: Gregg Petersen

Amy Christine (Ecker) Reisdorf, age 49, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at UW Health University Hospital. Amy was born on April 27, 1970 in Enterprise, Alabama, the daughter of William and Rosemary Ecker.

Amy was an extremely intelligent and driven person who was successful at everything she pursued. A graduate of Ripon College and a proud sister of the Kappa Chapter of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, she enjoyed a highly successful career in the financial services industry. Her passions included midget auto racing, UW athletics, travel, and most of all her family and friends. Amy loved life and will forever be remembered as a great and loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Amy is survived by her son Cade, father Bill Ecker, brother Chris Ecker, significant other Steven Wineke, and stepchildren Justin Reisdorf and Melissa (Taylor) Rezachek. She also leaves behind many other beloved family members and friends, and her beloved dog Cooper. Amy was preceded in death by her mother Rosemary.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 29th at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 2420 St. Albert Drive, in Sun Prairie. Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 28th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace in Sun Prairie, and on Thursday, August 29th at the church from 9:00 am until the time of Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family, which will be directed to organizations that Amy supported.

Cress Funeral Home
1310 Emerald Terrace
Sun Prairie, WI
608-837-9054

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

DAWN STOLLFUS HART ’97 and her husband, Isaac, have opened Hart Mercantile in downtown Ripon. The store featured handcrafted decor and functional pieces for the home. She is pictured with her son Liam, 10, daughter Ella, 13 and husband Issac.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

West Bend – Geraldine A. “Gerry” Birkholz, age 94 years, of West Bend, took her final journey home to the Lord on June 29, 2019 at St. Joseph Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Gerry was born on March 21, 1925 in Omro, WI to the late August and Elizabeth (nee Kersten) Birkholz. Gerry graduated from Omro High School and later from Ripon College. She did her graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Colorado.

Gerry taught English for 40 years, starting her career in 1947 in the Westfield School District. From 1949 to 1953 she taught in the North Fond du Lac School District, teaching dramatics at Roosevelt Jr. High in Fond du Lac from 1953-1958. In 1958, Gerry began teaching in the West Bend School District, retiring in 1987. She also was a Dramatics Coach, Forensics Coach, as well as the East Girls Golf Coach from 1972 – 1987. Gerry was also involved with the UW-Madison intern program.

Gerry was the only surviving charter member of Grace Lutheran Church in Omro and a current member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church and their Senior Choir, Orchestra, and Missionary League (LWML). She was also a member of the Mayor’s Beautification Committee, West Bend Columns, Washington County Volunteers, Musical Masquers and Children’s Theater, the National Education Association (NEA), the West Bend Education Association (WBEA) and the Washington County Retired Teachers Association. She enjoyed traveling the globe, visiting over 40 countries. She also sailed on the QE II, and flew on the Concorde. Gerry was an avid Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger Fan.

Gerry is survived by three nieces, Amy (Gene) Kriener of Burlington, Rebecca (Ed) Strey of Omro, and Elizabeth (Joseph) Bothe of Milwaukee; two nephews, Mark (Jessica) Birkholz of Milwaukee, and Henry Clement of Beloit; along with 13 great-nieces and nephews; eight great-great nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Maynard (Lois) Birkholz and twin brother Gerald (Joan) Birkholz; and niece & Godchild, Sue Clement.

Funeral services in remembrance of Geraldine will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 809 S. 6th Ave., West Bend. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 10 am until the time of service. Burial at will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, July 5, 2019 at Omro Cemetery in Omro, WI.

Memorials to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church (West Bend), West Bend Columns, Grace Lutheran Church (Omro), or Bethesda Home (Watertown) would be appreciated.

The Myrhum Patten Miller and Kietzer Funeral Home of West Bend has been entrusted with Gerry’s arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Henderson, NV – Dwight Currier Harris, 87, died Thursday, July 11, 2019, under hospice care at 2012 Colvin Run Drive, Henderson, NV. Dwight was the loving husband of Marlys E. (Trimpey) Harris, with whom he shared 36 years of marriage.

Born September 4, 1931, in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of the late Elizabeth Zoe Currier Harris and Burtt Harris. Dwight attended Wayland Academy, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; Princeton University; Dickinson College; graduated from Ripon University with the dual major of Finance and French; and earned an MBA at the University of Indiana and University of Pittsburgh.

Dwight’s career in banking spanned nearly 40 years, including Mellon Bank, Pittsburgh, PA, where he began investment research and analysis; Farmers Bank and Trust Company, Hanover, PA, as President and COO; and Peoples National Bank, Lebanon, PA, as President and CEO. In 1993, he joined the PA State Treasury as an investment officer and account manager until retirement in 2008. During his career, he served on various boards and community associations and was an avid fan of tennis, jazz, playing bridge, and gourmet food.

In addition to his wife, Dwight is survived by six children: Victoria Sands and husband Jeffrey of Burke, VA; Sandra and spouse Dianne Wainwright of Pittsburgh, PA; Judith Zang of Alexandria, VA; David and wife Katarina of Pittsburgh, PA; Ronald Davis and wife Ashley of Vancouver, WA; Jeffrey Davis and wife Connie of Apex, NC; brother Burtt and wife Carole; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and was preceded in death by son Daniel Currier Harris.

Dwight never met a stranger and will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.

Private services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Wayland Academy, 101 N. University Avenue, Beaver Dam, WI 53916 (Class of 1950)

Ripon College, P.O. Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971 (Class of 1954)

Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 Swensen Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Submitted by: DevStudent

James Murfey was born in 1947 in Cleveland, OH. On July 25, 2019 he lost a very short battle with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). He was 71. His wife of 33 years Janet, daughter Megan, son Brooks, daughter-in-law Katie, grandson Charlie and brother “Skip” were by his side as he peacefully passed. His family loved him dearly and miss him dreadfully. Jim attended Hawken School, Taft School in CT, Ripon College in WI, and got his MBA from Cleveland State University. He spent his working years at Pickands Mather and Cleveland-Cliffs. Jim was a longtime member of both the Kirtland Country Club and the Tavern Club. He served as President of the Board of Trustees of Red Oak Camp for many years. In 2005 the family moved from Kirtland Hills to a horse farm in NH, and from there to Aiken, SC five years ago. Jim, or “Murf” as his friends called him, loved golf, shooting, and spending time with his family. He was helpful to anyone with computer problems and was known for his sense of humor and silly one-liners. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Clara and Latham W. Murfey, Jr. and his younger brother William H. Murfey (Karen). He is survived by his middle brother Latham W. Murfey, III (Marion), several nieces, a nephew, and cousins. Private burial will be at held at the family plot in Lakeview Cemetery on Saturday, August 3rd in Cleveland. A 4pm service will follow at St. Hubert’s Episcopal Church, 8870 Baldwin Road, Kirtland Hills, OH and a reception at 5pm at the Kirtland Country Club. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to Red Oak Camp. www.redoakcamp.org/donate.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Ripon 50’s reunion group: left to right: Ned Lufrano ’54, President Zach Messitte, Bob Witt ’55, Verne Churchill ’54 and Bill Donaldson ’54 back home at Ripon visiting with President Zach Messitte.

Submitted by: Ned Lufrano

Louisville – Yes, there are 2 Ls in Willson! Mike died March 7, age 80. Born in Columbus, Ohio, in July of 1938; he was a graduate of U. of Ill where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1961, Willson was selected as one of the first volunteers in the newly formed Peace Corps under the first director and one of the founders of the Peace Corps, R. Sargent Shriver. Following training at Rutgers University and meeting with President Kennedy at the White House, he and 61 other volunteers were assigned to Colombia, South America, where they worked in a rural community development program for two years. After that and a few years working in Chicago, Willson and his wife, Suzanne Brown of Carbondale, IL, lived in Panama and Venezuela where he worked for Grant Advertising and later, Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company. B&W moved the family to Louisville in 1969. Willson later was Advertising/Marketing Director for Kentucky Fried Chicken in Louisville until his retirement in 2000.

Mike was active in the Louisville Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Assn., Sierra Club and Audubon Society. He and his family were proud of his 25+ years of sobriety and celebrated this with friends. Always a sincere believer, the fact that the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016 made things complete for him. But he deeply loved his companeros of Colombia One and said that the Peace Corps experience was pivotal in his life.

Mike was preceded in death by two sisters: Laurie Flyte of Chicago and Jill Landem of Colorado, and by his son, Matt Willson of Louisville, Phoenix and Denver. He is survived by his sister, Haley Simon of Chicago, and two brothers, Peter Willson of Naperville, IL, and Mark Willson of Hinsdale, IL.

Pearson Funeral home is handling but there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, Mike would have appreciated contributions to any environmental or wildlife organization, animal shelter, or your own favorite charity.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

When Bruce Bubacz (BOO-boch) was growing up on the southeast side of Chicago in the 1950s, one of his middle school teachers called his mother to complain about the books he was reading and the influence he was having on his classmates.

“The material is a little too mature,” the teacher cautioned over the phone.

Mrs. Bubacz shrugged off the complaint.

“Oh, we’re not going to do anything about that. He’s doing what he’s doing,” she replied.

Decades later, Bubacz is still impacting students and is celebrating his 50th year as a formal educator and 47th year at UMKC, where he is curator’s teaching professor of philosophy and chair of the philosophy department.

“I think what she was really complaining about was the fact that the other students were listening to me, instead of her,” Bubacz, 74, says of his former teacher with a laugh. He sits in his office at one of two neatly organized desks, its surface covered in open binders, a mug full of pencils, and framed photographs of his dogs, his daughter and a moment from his wedding day.

Three brown bookshelves—full of texts on philosophy and law—line the room. Degrees, certificates and pictures of his former professors cover the walls. An empty, leather armchair sits near the center of the room and completes the office’s scholarly air.

“I always enjoyed telling other kids what I was reading about,” says Bubacz. “That may be one of the reasons I took the direction that I did.”

After graduating high school in Chicago, Bubacz went to Ripon College in Wisconsin, where he studied philosophy as an undergraduate. From there, he went on to get a master’s degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he taught for three years before receiving his Ph.D. in 1973.

That same year, Bubacz began working at UMKC as a professor of philosophy and has since served in many roles at the university. From 1979 to 1985, he served as the founding director of the College Honors Program (now known as the Honors College). From 1987 until 2000, he chaired the philosophy department. He served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2000 to 2002 and then as chair of the mathematics and statistics department from 2004 to 2005. From 2005 to 2007, he was UMKC’s provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs.

No matter the position he’s had at UMKC, Bubacz has always taught classes, which he sees as his true role at the school.

“Even when I was provost, I taught,” he says. “You’re not supposed to do that because you’re not supposed to have enough time. But I was not going to stop teaching. It’s what I enjoy most.”

His enjoyment is apparent while he works.

Nearly half a century after accepting the job at UMKC, Bubacz gets ready to begin an Introduction to Philosophy class on a Thursday evening in Katz Hall. Standing at the front of the room, he’s over 6 feet tall with slicked back grey hair and wearing square-rimmed glasses. He wears dark green pants with a tie to match, a white button-down with light green stripes and a mint-colored blazer. A gold kangaroo is pinned to the lapel, same as every day.

He begins the class by asking if anyone has any questions. A few students stir in their seats, but none speak up.

“Well, as usual, I have some questions,” he says with a smile and launches into a review of the previous week’s text. Fifteen minutes later, after Bubacz reads some of Plato’s Euthyphro aloud and cracks a few jokes about the text, a few students begin to perk up. He paces the front of the room, gestures with his hands and probes them with more questions. When a student raises her hand to answer, he gets excited and says, “Go ahead!” She answers correctly. “That’s right,” Bubacz says. “That’s exactly right.”

“You’ve been altogether too quiet today,” he says after the students fall silent again.

After instructing the students to engage in group work, Bubacz sits on a table at the front of the room and looks from group to group, tuning in, saying nothing. When he reconvenes the class, the students are more talkative than before. Ideas bounce around the room, and before long, a serious philosophical discussion is underway. Still, Bubacz doesn’t forget to keep things amusing.

“Some people don’t speak well in front of a group,” he says to the class. “Some people would rather have a root canal.”

At the end of the period, he stands facing the window and says, “Sorry today was not as nice a day out there as it has been.” He shrugs playfully. “I tried.” Bubacz walks among the students as they pack up to leave, talking to lingerers, laughing and happily answering a few questions.

Back in his office, Bubacz considers the rewards of teaching. “I love it. I take a great deal of joy out of the students,” he says. “I feel I can still work up the energy and engage them.”

Many people would become burned out after working in the same career for 50 years, but not Bubacz.

“There was this thing going around a couple years ago, about ‘How old do you feel?’ In my case, maybe 50, maybe late 40s,” says Bubacz. “You have aches and pains and creaks, but so what? What kind of enthusiasm do you have? How excited are you about what you’re doing? How much fun are you having?”

For Bubacz, the answer to these questions was sufficient to deny the contract buyout offered to tenured faculty members over 62 this year.

“When the deal came out, I thought about it for one minute, and that was it,” says Bubacz. “I said, ‘No, I’m having too much fun.’”

Bubacz made his decision despite a word from his financial adviser.

“You know, for someone of my vintage, the retirement plan here is really good, and my financial adviser is saying, ‘You’re essentially working for nothing,’” Bubacz explains. “I said, ‘But that’s not why I work.’”

Submitted by: DevStudent

Dorothy Schattschneider answered the call to come home on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Ripon Medical Center after several years of much loving care and concern from relatives and friends.

On the cold and blizzardy Sunday morning of February 6, 1921, Dorothy’s father walked the railroad track into Ripon to secure the assistance of Dr. Christian Senn and his 15 year old nurse, Margaret Welk (Senn) to assist him, Victor Boers and wife, Antolena (Buetow) Boers in Dorothy’s birth, at the family farm on Locust Road. Dorothy attended Loper School, Longfellow School, and the Ripon Secondary Schools, graduating with honors in 1938. With the assistance of the annual AAUW and Ripon College Competitive Academic Scholarships, she attended Ripon College and graduated with a B.S. degree from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and an M.S. degree from UW-Madison. She was honored with election to Pi Lambda Theta and Delta Kappa Gamma, both International Honor societies for Women in Education.

Dorothy began her 45 years of teaching, in Green Lake and Fond du Lac County rural schools; followed by Fox Lake Public Schools; Wadsworth, Illinois, Elementary School as the Reading Consultant; and ending her career with 30 years in the Fond du Lac Public Schools- McKinley, Sabish, summer sessions at Theisen and Goodrich, with several evening classes in English Improvement at FdL Vocational and Technical Institute.

There were several firsts involved in Dorothy’s career. She was the first married woman to receive a contract in the FdL School District- heretofore, married women were only granted “Letters of Appointment” which could be terminated at any time for any reason. She initiated the FdL Area Spelling Bee, the annual Spanish Pronunciation Contest, the annual Foreign Language Field Trip to the Milwaukee Folk Fair, the Sabish annual Poetry Contest, the citywide Delta Kappa Gamma Literary Contest, piloted a Sabish Gifted and Talented Project- her students retitled themselves as the T.A.G. Group! She assisted with the school newspaper, yearbook, and forensics program. She served on the FdL District Book Selection Committee (Censorship), a building committee, an Administrative Placement Committee, and as the Sabish English and Foreign Language Department Coordinator.

Dorothy was a member of the Fox Lake Girl Scout Council, the FdL AAUW Association, the Alpha Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma of which she was a charter member and served as its secretary and also president for two terms. She assisted with Congressman Steiger’s Campaign Committee. She enjoyed a week of guest lecturing in the Geography Department at UW-Oshkosh, and hosting 15 student teachers from the Education Department of Marian College and UW-Oshkosh. She was currently a member of the FdL Area Retired Educators’ Association and a lifetime member of WEA and NEA.

Lester Laboyeske and Dorothy were married on July 2, 1944, with the Rev. Egon Schieler officiating, at a home ceremony. They lived in homes which they built in North Fond du Lac, Taycheedah, and on Bay Road, Green Lake. They enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and traveling to scenic and historic areas in most of the states, including Hawaii and Alaska, Mexico, Costa Rica, Islands of the Caribbean, Panama, and to visit relatives and “People to People” friends in Germany, Austria, and Denmark. They were charter members of The Green Lake Preservation Society and took great pride in their successful efforts in the sewering of Green Lake and other conservation projects. Dorothy served as the secretary and treasurer of GLPS for 10 years. After 56 years of happily married life together, Lester expired on August 19, 2000.

On January 5, 2002, Carroll Schattschneider, a lifetime friend, and Dorothy were married at Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ in Ripon, with The Revs. Rebecca Johnston and Tom Meyer officiating. They enjoyed retirement in their Green Lake home, memberships in the Ripon Lions Club and The Federated Church of Green Lake, until Carroll’s death on September 19, 2006.

Throughout her lifetime, Dorothy was active in the mission of Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ in Ripon as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Department Coordinator, Vacation Church School Director, Scholarship and Pastoral Search Committee Chairs, two terms as Council member- also serving on the executive board and as secretary, and as a member of the Mission Committee. In 2001, she was honored with the Angel Award by the congregation. In 2014, Ripon Lions Club recognized Dorothy, with the highest Lions award given, the Birch Sturm Fellowship Award.

Dorothy is survived by her stepdaughter, Lori (James) Purath and their children Stephanie and Christopher; nieces, Wanda Boers of Ripon, June Smith, and Doris LeViness; nephew, Victor (Audrey) Boers II and their children Jason and Jered of Pine Grove, PA; five godchildren; several dear cousins; and many dear former students and colleagues. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Antolena (Buetow) Boers; a brother, Lawrence; and nephew, Roger Boers.

A visitation for Dorothy will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 from 9:00 am- 11:00 am at The Federated Church of Green Lake, 489 Scott St., Green Lake, WI 54941.

A memorial service for Dorothy will be held on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 11:00 am at The Federated Church of Green Lake, with Reverend Karen Gygax Rodriguez and Rev. Dr. Kevin P. Mundell officiating. Inurnment will take place at Hillside Cemetery, City of Ripon, WI. Memorials may be directed to Our Saviour’s United Church of Christ, 343 Scott St., Ripon, WI 54971, The Federated Church of Green Lake, 489 Scott St., Green Lake, WI 54941, and Ripon Lions Club, W13201 Cork St., Ripon, WI 54971. A sincere thank you to the staff of Maplecrest and Ripon Medical Center for their exceptional and compassionate care. Dorothy is “Going Home to Stay!”

Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences

Submitted by: DevStudent

Mara Latsons Warren ’61, Karen Schneider Center ’61, “Sugar” Evann Maltby Balmes ’61, and Mary Bachus Miller ’61 gather in Lake Geneva and share great memories of Ripon.  So many stories, so many laughs…always such fun when we get together after all these years.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Along with teaching high school math at Poynette High School, I have also been named an Assistant Professor for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and will be facilitating a community of learners as they work to complete their Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning.

Phil, a Ripon College Physical Plant employee from 1974-2018, and I met while attending the National Scouting Historian Summit in June of 2019 at Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, NM. Our paths crossed while at Ripon but had not met each other previously.  We certainly enjoyed recounting interesting events and professors during our time at Ripon. Phil had been a leader for Troop 735 in Ripon for 43 years.  He retired as Scoutmaster the same time he retired from the College. I have been involved in Scouting at all levels for 20+ years in Lake Forest, IL and actually took on my 1^st leadership role as Cubmaster from current Ripon Board of Trustee Chair Ron Peterson ’70.

Submitted by: DevStudent

A group of former Smith Indies met at John Morton’s ’86 fishing camp/Center for Male Excellence on Big Muskellunge Lake near Sayner, WI.

Back row L-R: Jim Young ’86, Steve Ganey ’86, John Morton ’86, John Thomas ’86

Front row: John Fisher ’86, Lars Greiner ’86, Paul Wenner ’86, Jon Kostelic ’86, Chandler Bathrick ’86

Submitted by: DevStudent

In August 2019, I started working as a data scientist in the Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  I’m currently applying my knowledge of neuroscience, statistics, data analytics, and computer science towards gaining a better understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, autism, and depression.

Submitted by: DevStudent