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In Memory of Peter J. Mortenson ’58
In Memory of Peter J. Mortenson ’58
Peter Mortenson
PETER J. MORTENSON ’58 of Madison, Wisconsin, died Sept. 30, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in WRPN, student theatre and Sigma Nu/Theta Sigma Tau. He was born July 26, 1936. His professional positions included operations manager at WKOW-TV; program service director at D’Arcy Advertising Co., Chicago; vice president of Stoffels/Mortenson, Madison; marketing services manager at Wick Building Systems, Mazomanie; and vice president-account supervisor at Lindsay, Stone, & Briggs. He retired in 2001. He was a member of Gov. Lucey’s Blue Ribbon Commission to study the implications of cable TV, and the Madison Advertising Federation, from which he received the Silver Medal Award in 2006. He was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed reading, music and the outdoors. Survivors include his wife, Jean; one son and one daughter.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/madison/name/peter-mortenson-obituary?id=36746962
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Redouan El Younsi ’90
In Memory of Redouan El Younsi ’90
Redouan El Younsi
REDOUAN EL YOUNSI ’90 of Tetouan, Morocco, died Oct. 8, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in French, computer science and a self-designed major in international commerce and management. He also participated in athletics. In Morocco, he worked for his family’s business, Haddou El Younsi and Fils, which produces and exports natural essential oils and spices. He also was elected secretary general for the Tetouan Chamber of Commerce and a member of the industrial branch and president of the electoral body commission. His duties included meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Morocco and visiting Washington, D.C., as a part of a delegation of the Association of the Mediterranean Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his wife Awatef Tbatou; two sons, including MEHDI EL YOUNSI ’20; and a niece, DINA EL YOUNSI ’96.
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Dorien Schmidt Hammann ’55
In Memory of Dorien Schmidt Hammann ’55
Dorien Hammann
DORIEN SCHMIDT HAMMANN ’55 of Plymouth, Wisconsin, died Oct. 13, 2022. She retired as a health unit clerk with Sheboygan Memorial Hospital. She volunteered with various organizations including Cub/Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTA, F.I.S.H., her church, bowling league and Meals on Wheels. She was a member of Crystal Lake Golf League and enjoyed traveling by RV and bicycle, sporting events, children’s activities and live theatre. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.
Full obituary: sheboyganpress.com/obituaries/wis373397
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Marjorie Miller Swartz ’52
In Memory of Marjorie Miller Swartz ’52
Marjorie Swartz
MARJORIE MILLER SWARTZ ’52 of Modesto, California, died Oct. 23, 2022. At Ripon, she studied biology and psychology. She lived in California, Texas, New Mexico and Mississippi, settling in Modesto in 1985. She worked for the Modesto Credit for 17 years until her retirement. She loved animals and enjoyed cooking, especially desserts. She was Lutheran by faith. Survivors include one son and two daughters. Her husband, DONALD L. SWARTZ ’52, died in 1997.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/modestobee/name/marjorie-swartz-obituary?id=36926373
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Jerel G. Reynolds ’72
In Memory of Jerel G. Reynolds ’72
Jerel Raymond
JEREL G. REYNOLDS ’72 died Dec. 23, 2019. At Ripon, he majored in history. He was a co-owner of Britches Excavating. Survivors include a sister, LORI REYNOLDS ’83.
Full obituary: jsonline.com/obituaries/mjs017095
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Jane Ann Furzland Stelter ’54
In Memory of Jane Ann Furzland Stelter ’54
Jane Ann Stelter
JANE ANN FURZLAND STELTER ’54 of Evans, Georgia, died Oct. 30, 2022. At Ripon, she majored in English and participated in Ver Adest and Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She taught high school English and Spanish in Madison, Wisconsin, while her husband finished medical school. After her husband’s enlistment in the U.S. Army, she traveled the world as a military wife. At all of their locations, she volunteered for a variety of organizations. Her interests included music, quilting and art. Survivors include one son and two daughters. Her husband, GERALD P. STELTER ’54, died in 2014.
Full obituary: thomaspoteet.com/obituaries/Jane-Ann-Stelter/#!/Obituary
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Verne Clark Lewellen Jr. ’60
In Memory of Verne Clark Lewellen Jr. ’60
Verne Lewellen
VERNE CLARK LEWELLEN JR. ’60 of Harrisonburg, Virginia, died Nov. 5, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in history and participated in athletics. He worked in sales for the majority of his career in Montgomery County, Maryland, and moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in retirement. He was a member of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church in Harrisonburg. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and participated in many sports as an athlete, coach and spectator. He enjoyed vacationing in Chincoteague, Ocean City and Wisconsin, and on fishing trips to Canada. Survivors include one son; and a great-niece, JENNIFER DONOHUE ’12.
Full obituary: kygers.com/obituary/verne-lewellen-jr
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Richard L. Edwards ’53
In Memory of Richard L. Edwards ’53
Richard Edwards
RICHARD L. EDWARDS ’53 of West Bend, Wisconsin, died Feb. 16, 2022. At Ripon, he participated in athletics and ROTC. He was a lifelong Wisconsin resident, a loyal Packers and Brewers fan and loved to fish and golf. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; two daughters, including ANNE EDWARDS HASKIN ’74; and a son-in-law, BRUCE G. HASKIN ’73. His two sons, now deceased, were RICHARD “RICK” A. EDWARDS ’78 and THOMAS G. EDWARDS ’80.
Full obituary: myrhum-patten.com/obituary/RichardDick-Edwards
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Raymond A. Vande Moore ’59
In Memory of Raymond A. Vande Moore ’59
Raymond Vande Moore
RAYMOND A. VANDE MOORE ’59 of Naples, Florida, died Nov. 17, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in economics, played varsity tennis for three years, was a member of Sigma Chi and was commissioned through ROTC. He served as a captain in the Army and then became self-employed, working as a manufacturers’ sales representative until retiring at 67. He lived half the year in Florida and half in Wisconsin. He enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bocce ball. He also was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. Survivors include two sons.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/raymond-vande-moore-obituary?id=38065835
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Richard Roeming ’57
In Memory of Richard Roeming ’57
Richard Roeming
RICHARD L. ROEMING ’57 of Brandon, Wisconsin, died Nov. 14, 2022. He attended Ripon College for one year. He worked in a variety of jobs, ultimately retiring from J.J. Keller in Appleton in 1997. He was a devoted Christian and held leadership roles at Bethel Reformed Church. He also served on a number of community boards and was a long-time hospice volunteer with Agnesian Health Care. Survivors include one son and one daughter.
Full obituary: fdlreporter.com/obituaries/wis376435
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Frederick R. Roguske ’64
In Memory of Frederick R. Roguske ’64
Frederick Roguske
FREDERICK R. ROGUSKE ’64 of New London, Minnesota, died Nov. 26, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in mathematics and economics and participated in athletics and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega .He received a master’s degree in business administration from Emory University. In the early part of his career, he worked for several companies including Green Giant, American Continental (golf carts) and PALS. He then founded his own Tree N Turf Services business in 1976 and founded or acquired multiple other businesses in Kandiyohi County. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and serving international missions throughout the world. He visited more than 80 countries, 70 of them with his wife. Survivors include one son and one daughter; and a sister, CAROLYN ‘SAM’ ROGUSSKE MACKLEM ’71. His wife, BARBARA HODSDON ROGUSKE ’65, died in 2022.
Full obituary: https://www.wctrib.com/obituaries/obits/frederick-fred-roy-roguske-5d23ea5d0dfeca44dbd8523a-6387b29b2dd514752ac63a86
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Ronald M. Sterr ’53
In Memory of Ronald M. Sterr ’53
Ronald Sterr
RONALD M. STERR ’53 of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, died Nov. 21, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in history and physical education, participated in Ver Adest and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega, and was commissioned through ROTC. He lettered in football, basketball and track. He served in the U.S. Army as a company commander at Fort Gordon, Georgia, then served in the Reserve Corps. He retired from the military in 1981 as a lieutenant colonel. Years at Merrill Senior High School as a history teacher, assistant football coach, head baseball coach and chairman of the social studies department. In 2010, he was inducted into the Merrill Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a member of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church and a lifelong sports enthusiast. Survivors include one son and one daughter.
Full obituary: https://merrillfotonews.com/2022/11/23/ronald-m-sterr/
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Brian Patterson ’65
In Memory of Brian Patterson ’65
Brian Patterson
BRIAN L. PATTERSON ’65 of Santa Cruz, New Mexico, died Nov. 14, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in biology and participated in Theta Chi/Alpha Omega Alpha. He earned a master of business administration from Northwestern University. He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, worked in the financial industry in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, and in computer programming for Analysts International and Medtronic. He found great joy in the outdoors, including watersports, camping, hiking, fishing, skiing and biking. He enjoyed traveling to participate in birding. He was a devoted woodworker and enjoyed building and fixing things. He volunteered with the Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program, Española Community Market and Camino de Paz School and Farm. Survivors include his wife, Denise Wilder; and three sons.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/santafenewmexican/name/brian-patterson-obituary?id=38315819
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Daniel Patrick Pacer ’00
In Memory of Daniel Patrick Pacer ’00
Daniel Pacer
DANIEL P. PACER ’00 of Chicago, Illinois, died Nov. 29, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in business management and played baseball for hall of fame coach Gordie Gillespie, the same coach his father had played for in college. He received a master’s degree in e-commence technology from Depaul University. He was a senior web developer for Stats Inc. in Chicago and for Americaneagle.com. He enjoyed all sports, including Cubs games, Bears games, golfing and playing on summer softball teams. He ran numerous half-marathons and completed the Chicago Marathon in 2017 for charity. He loved science and technology, animals cooking and trying new recipes. Survivors include his father, Tom Pacer.
Full obituary: obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/downers-grove-il/daniel-pacer-11045800
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Robert D. Hovey ’52
In Memory of Robert D. Hovey ’52
Robert Hovey
ROBERT D. HOVEY ’52 of Mission Hills, Kansas, died Dec. 11, 2022. At Ripon, he participated in ROTC, Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi and Partners in the Legacy. He attended law school at the University of Kansas. He joined his father’s law firm in 1954 and worked there 50 years to the day. He was member and president of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, The American Royal, The Saddle and Sirloin Club, Vanguard Club and The Kansas City Club. He enjoyed spending weekends at Yellowbarn Farm and outdoor activities, watching university basketball and summer trips to Colorado. Survivors include his wife, Eugenia; and four daughters.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/kansascity/name/robert-hovey-obituary?id=38408631
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Peter J. Powell ’50
In Memory of Peter J. Powell ’50
Peter Powell
PETER J. POWELL ’50 of Chicago, Illinois, died Dec. 15, 2022. At Ripon, he studied philosophy and participated in Ver Adest, music, student government and Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi. He also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received an honorary degree and Distinguished Alumni Citation from Ripon. He was ordained to the priesthood at Nashotah House Seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. His career was devoted to serving the Native American community. In 1961, he founded St. Augustine’s Center. He was a scholar of the Plains Indian and wrote several major works including People of the Sacred Mountain, which won both the 1982 National Book Award in History and the Anisfield-Wolf Award in Race Relations. Survivors include four children.
Full obituary: symondsfuneralhome.com/obituary/FrPeterJ-Powell
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of James E. Gueths ’61
In Memory of James E. Gueths ’61
James Gueths
JAMES E. GUETHS ’61 of Shawano, Wisconsin, died Dec. 21, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in physics and mathematics and participated in drama, musicals, athletics and Lambda Delta Alpha/Delta Upsilon. He received a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Connecticut. He was a professor of physics and later the assistant vice chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, helping to create the Koehn Institute and formed an academic advisory committee. He then became vice president of Wisconsin National Life Insurance Co. in Oshkosh. He was a co-author of the book “The Academic Intrapreneur.” He retired to Shawano, where he was a member of Peace United Church of Christ and enjoyed reading, playing cards, gardening and hunting. Survivors include one son; two daughters; and stepchildren.
Full obituary:
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Akira “Aki” Tomita ’61
In Memory of Akira “Aki” Tomita ’61
Akiri Tomita
AKIRA “AKI” TOMITA ’61 of Kawasaki Shi city, Japan, died Oct. 22, 2022. He received a degree in business administration from Greenville College. He worked for 10 years in the Tokyo office of Chemical Construction Corp, New York, as the general office manager. He then returned to his hometown near Kanazawa Shi city. He worked for one of the major local home builders until his retirement. He then worked part time building a resort facility on Guam, U.S.A. Survivors include his wife, Tomoko Tanaka Tomita; and two children.
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Charlotte Stibbe Olsen ’51
In Memory of Charlotte Stibbe Olsen ’51
Charlotte Olsen
CHARLOTTE STIBBE OLSEN ’51 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died April 9, 2022. At Ripon, she majored in biology and participated in Ver Adest and Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She was a teacher and spent the last 27 years of her career at the prestigious University School of Milwaukee high school. Nick-named “Aunt Char,” she taught biology flavored with a heavy dose of wisdom about life skills. She enjoyed traveling. Survivors include a sister, JUDITH STIBBE DE LEEUW ’60.
Full obituary: jsonline.com/obituaries/mjs062035
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of John T. “Jack” Fehlandt ’57
In Memory of John T. “Jack” Fehlandt ’57
John Fehlandt
JOHN T. “JACK” FEHLANDT ’57 of Sun City, Arizona, died Oct. 23, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in student theatre and Phi Kappa Pi/Merriman. He served in the U.S. Army for a number of years and spent time in Japan. In Illinois, he was involved in local politics in Villa Park and then in the Village of Streamwood where he volunteered on the plan commission, zoning board and Veterans Memorial commission. He was elected to the Board of Trustees and as village president for four years while working full time in the banking industry in Chicago. He started his own home inspection business in 1992. He moved to Arizona in 2016. He enjoyed traveling and hot air ballooning.
Full obituary: yourvalley.net/stories/john-jack-t-fehlandt,338347
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
Alicia Rytlewski ’10 to perform piano, voice recital April 26
Classical pianist and vocalist Alicia (Rhyner) Rytlewski ’10 will perform an alumna piano and voice recital in Demmer Recital Hall of Ripon College’s C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m. Rytlewski will be performing pieces mostly from her debut album of songs, “When We Were Bears,” released in late January. […]
Ripon College Rally Days 2025 exceeds goal
Ripon College surpassed its goal of achieving 1,000 gifts during the eighth annual spring giving event, Rally Days 2025, from April 2-4, with more than eight hours left of the event. At the end of Rally Days, the College received 1,091 gifts and raised $506,534.20. The theme this year was “Impact History.” Every contribution moved […]
Celebrating ‘National Puppy Day’ with Danielle Gunter ’06
Danielle Paiz Gunter ’06 is helping feed dogs and cats in no-kill shelters. As executive director of Puppy Food Bank, she spearheads efforts to collect donations that fuel the work of rescue organizations across the country. Since its founding in October 2022, Gunter has helped Puppy Food Bank distribute more than 500,000 pounds of dog […]
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Upcoming events
Physics and Engineering Seminar – Jared Zeman ’19
Jared Zeman ’19 will be presenting his Ph.D. research to our undergraduate students.
Alumna Recital: Alicia Rytlewski, piano
Pianist and vocalist Alicia (Rhyner) Rytlewski ’10 released her debut album of original works, “When We Were Bears,” in January of this year and is celebrating the release with a recital of works in Demmer Recital Hall. The Milwaukee-based composer, performer, and educator graduated summa cum laude from Ripon with a music major and minors […]
Milwaukee Brewers v. Chicago Cubs
Includes an all-inclusive ticket in the Associated Bank Power Alley. Featuring a private game experience with dinner buffet, non-alcoholic beverages, and 2 Molson Coors products per person. Register: