R Connections

MINERVA L. MEYER DIEKVOSS BATT ’48 of Columbus, Wisconsin, died Sept. 6, 2020. She attended Ripon College from 1944-1945 and later graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. She worked at Barlow & Seelig Mfg. Co. in Ripon and served with her minister husband, the Rev. Samuel Batt, in five parishes in northern Illinois. She retired to Columbus and tutored seventh-grade girls in math. She was active in the Columbus United Methodist Church and served as an officer in the Women’s Society of World Service in the Evangelical United Brethren Church and its successor United Methodist Women. She taught school and performed office work. Survivors include two daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

MARY KILB MICHEL ’49 of Escanaba, Michigan, died Dec. 5, 2020. She attended Ripon College in 1946, attended Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota, and graduated from Northern Michigan University with a teaching degree in 1970. She taught at Bark River School for 32 years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Eagles #1088, Elks Auxiliary #354 and the Highland Golf Club. She was a member of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Church. In retirement, she wintered in Arizona and enjoyed painting, golfing, traveling, sewing and hosting family and friends. Survivors include four daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

CARLTON “SMOKEY” BLOCHWITZ ’51 of Avon Park, Florida, died Sept. 25, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in psychology and was involved in Ver Adest, football, ROTC and Alpha Omega Alpha. He later was a member of Partners in the Legacy. He studied law at Drake University. He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and in Korea. He enjoyed traveling in his motorhome during the summers, and tennis. Survivors include his wife, Carol; and children.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

PETER H. ORVIS ’51 of Arlington, Virginia, died Aug. 13, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in mathematics and physics and participated in Ver Adest, athletics and Phi Kappa Pi. He received a master’s degree in system management from the University of Rochester. He had a career as a surface warfare officer. His duties included working on the staffs of the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, and the Chief of Naval Operations. He also taught at the U.S. Naval Academy. He retired at the rank of captain in 1974. After retirement, he worked for the company Survivors include his wife, Jean; one son and two daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

NANNETTE WEIMAR KEENAN ’51 of Franklin, Tennessee, died Oct. 30, 2020. After Ripon, she attended Northwestern University where she excelled in theater and landed the coveted position of assistant to the famed acting teacher Alvina Krause. She and her husband, Joseph Keenan, were active in theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and Murfreesboro, Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. She also taught speech and theater at Middle Tennessee State University. She was a passionate professional actress and director, an avid gardener, and volunteer of many organizations and social causes, including the Church of the Resurrection Episcopal Church in Franklin. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

KENNETH E. FENSKE ’53 of Waupun, Wisconsin, and formerly Germantown, Wisconsin, died Feb. 5, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in German and participated in Ver Adest, ROTC and Merriman/Phi Kappa Pi. He played football, was co-captain his senior year and was on the All-Midwest Conference first team as a defensive end. He played golf and served as Junior Class President and fraternity treasurer. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany and was a manager for the Wisconsin Telephone Company, Chicago Decal Company and 3M. For 40 years, he was an insurance consultant and received many industry honors. He was a member of Toastmasters, Kiwanis and Rotary, and enjoyed flying kites, swimming, fishing, golfing, reading, Bible studies, playing cards, photography, refinishing antique furniture and traveling. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; and two daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

EVERETT L. SCHWALBE JR. ’55 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, died Feb. 19, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in athletics and Merriman/Phi Kappa Pi, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 until retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. He owned a Standard service station with his brother, Glenn, in the early 1960s; managed the Ben Franklin store in downtown Brillion for several years; sold insurance; and was a supply chain manager for Speed Queen. He was a member of Holy Family Parish and Knights of Columbus and was a Boy Scout leader and a football coach. He enjoyed camping and doing handyman work. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

VICTOR G. WOESTE ’59 of Eugene, Oregon, died March 1, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in WRPN radio, football, ROTC and Merriman/Phi Kappa Pi. He later became a Partner in the Legacy.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

STANLEY E. BALL ’60 of Brighton, Michigan, died Feb. 15, 2020. At Ripon, he studied economics and was a member of Theta Chi/Alpha Omega Alpha, He received a master’s degree in finance from Indiana University Bloomington. He worked at Ford Motor Credit Co. for 31 years in the commercial paper department, retiring as assistant treasurer in 1995. He and his wife then worked in fund-raising for Send International, an international mission agency, for eight years. He served on the Cornerstone EPC missions committee for 13 years. He was an avid baseball and Green Bay Packers fan. He enjoyed working with model trains, playing golf and the beach. Survivors include his wife, JUDITH PELINO BALL ’60; and three daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

COLDWELL SIDNEY “SID” JOHNSTON III ’60 of Scottsdale, Arizona, died Nov. 8, 2014. At Ripon, he studied economics and participated in Sigma Alpha Epsilon/Delta Sigma Psi. He had a long career in banking that eventually took him and his family to Phoenix, Arizona, where he spent the majority of his life. He retired as a senior vice president at Bank of America in 1993. He loved animals and enjoyed the beach in San Diego, surf fishing, reading, tennis and watching football. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

GEORGENE KLANER KOBLENZ ’60 of Chicago, Illinois, died Dec. 5, 2020.  At Ripon she studied biology and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta. She later was a charter member of Partners in the Legacy. She had worked as a funeral director for more than 60 years and was a longtime employee of Household Finance Corp.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

DANIEL L. BENKA ’61 of Prince George, Virginia, died Jan. 26, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in football and Phi Kappa Pi. He was commissioned through ROTC and received the ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate recognition. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1987, including tours in Vietnam, three years in France and two years in South Korea. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1978. While serving, he received his master’s degree in economics from the Florida Institute of Technology. He then worked with the Department of Defense and Dominion Energy. He was a member of several community groups and served numerous high-level posts with the Jaycees. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; one son and one daughter; and a brother, JOHN BENKA ’60.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

WILLIAM W. SOUTHERN ’61 of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, died June 12, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in psychology, participated in athletics and Merriman/Phi Kappa Pi, and was commissioned through ROTC.  He served in the Army and completed a master’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University. He enjoyed walking his dog, taking trips with his wife, and attending local basketball games, tennis matches, track and cross country meets, and school events. Survivors include his wife, Marie; two sons and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

DAVID J. GROTHE ’62 of Hayward, Wisconsin, died Jan. 26, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in history, participated in Sigma Alpha Epsilon and was commissioned through ROTC. He joined the Army as a second lieutenant, where he received paratrooper training. He had a varied career, working as a fry cook, chef, purchasing agent for a hotel, tax consultant, bookkeeper, and manager of a flight kitchen for an airline. He enjoyed boating and was a co-owner and vice president of Marina Del Sol. He lived in numerous places, including Wisconsin Rapids, Fort Benning, Georgia, Las Vegas, Hilo, Hawaii, and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Full Obituary below:
https://www.bratley-nelsonchapels.com/obituary/David-Grothe
David Grothe, age 81, of Hayward, WI passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Water’s Edge Care Center in Hayward.
Dave was born June 7, 1939 in Milwaukee, WI the son of Oscar and Lois (Koehler) Grothe.  He graduated from high school in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.  He went on to graduate from Ripon College in Ripon, WI.  Dave also joined the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant where he received paratrooper training.
Dave had a varied career working as a fry cook, chef, purchasing agent for a hotel, tax consultant, managed a flight kitchen for an airline and was a bookkeeper.
His hobbies revolved mostly around boating, having a part interest in a chriscraft, owning several sailboats, becoming part owner and vice president of Marina Del Sol, culminating in building a 28’ wooden boat starting with a set of plans over 13 years.
Dave lived in a variety of places; Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Fort Benning, GA, Las Vegas, NV, Hilo, HI, Corpus Christi, TX and Hayward, WI.
His is survived by his brother, Daniel Grothe of Hayward, WI and three nephews and four nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lois Holt; and sister-in-law, Nancy Grothe.
A private committal service is planned for David at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI with Pastor Ed Anderson officiating.  Military honors will be accorded by the State of Wisconsin Military Funeral Honors Program.
In lieu of flowers please send a donation to First Lutheran Church 10680 Main St, Hayward, WI 54843

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

DAVID R. LIVES ’62 of Fairfield, Ohio, died Jan. 23, 2021. At Ripon, he studied politics and government and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a material manager at several hospitals until retiring in 2008. He was a longtime resident of Forest Park where he was on various boards and committees, including serving on city council from 2001 to 2007 and 2011 to 2015. Survivors include one son and two daughters.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

ANTHONY N. STEPHANIE ’63 died Aug. 27, 2019. At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in Delta Upsilon and football, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army, guarding missile sites during the Cold War. He then worked in the paint and wall coverings industry. He served as president of the National Decorating Products Association and Mid-American Decorating Stores. Survivors include his wife, Becky; one son and two daughters. His first wife, JULIE PAULSON STEPHANIE ’64, died in 1989.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

JAMES L. UNDEM ’63 of Savannah, Georgia, died April 24, 2018. At Ripon, he studied economics, was a member of Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi, and was commissioned through ROTC. He received a master of business administration degree in marketing from Indiana University Bloomington. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, stationed in South Korea. He worked for Nixdorf Computer in Chicago and Boston office, then for many years in Houston, Texas. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed golf, softball, camping, fishing and music. Survivors include his former wife, Jan; one son and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

MELODY MOLAND KANTEN ’69 of Baldwin, Wisconsin, died Jan. 11, 2021. She received a degree in fine arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and was an advertising executive for Colle & McAvoy Advertising Agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She loved animals, living on a farm, downhill and cross country skiing, scuba diving, kayaking and flying. She also enjoyed riding horses, bicycling, walking and creating objects out of wood. Survivors include her husband, Tom.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

JOHN G. WINKLEPLECK ’73 of Naples, Florida, died Feb. 20, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in economics and was a member of Theta Chi. He later was a member of the 1851 Club. He received a master of business administration degree in finance from Cleveland State University. He spent his entire career in banking in Cleveland, at Central National Bank, Ameritrust and Key Bank, from which he retired. He was an avid golfer and loved racket sports, especially tennis, squash and paddle tennis. He was a member of Tavern Club and Mayfield Country Club, serving a term as president. Survivors include his wife, Nancy; and one daughter.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement

ROBERT M. MERRITT ’74 of Wilmington, Delaware, died Jan. 13, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in psychology and participated in athletics. He received master’s and Ph.D. degrees in applied social psychology from New York University. He retired from Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia as a project manager. Survivors include his wife, Maria; and two sons.

Submitted by: Associate Director of Engagement