R Connections

CRISTA STALEY ELLIS ’69 of Saratoga Springs, New York, died March 14, 2023. At Ripon, she studied philosophy and participated in College Days and Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She also studied graphic design at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. She worked as a journalist at Lerner Newspaper and The Pioneer Press in Chicago, and retired as a graphic artist from Ayco Co. in Clifton Park, New York, in 1988. She was an accomplished painter and potter, showing in art exhibits. She also enjoyed knitting, dying and spinning her own fibers, nature, water, Crosby Stills and Nash, cooking, sewing, babies, barns and driving to Vermont to see the fall colors. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

Full obituary: gordoncemerickfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1915/Crista-Ellis/obituary.html

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

PHILIP AYRES METCALF ’67 of Bethel, Connecticut, died March 9, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in philosophy and participated in student theatre, music, government and Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi. He also received a degree in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He started his career in publishing at Random House, later moving into telecommunications and voice recognition software. He was an avid golfer, tennis player, hiker and church choir member. He also enjoyed gardening, travel, cooking and fine dining, architecture and garden design, reading, listening to music, and reciting trivia. Survivors include two sons and one daughter.

Full obituary: patch.com/connecticut/bethel/obituary-philip-ayres-metcalf-77-bethel

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

MARIANN THULL RUSH ’55 of Madison, Wisconsin, died March 29, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and participated in Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She lived in Alexandria, Virginia, and Madison, Wisconsin. She was the owner of Monroe Restorations, renovating homes built primarily from the year 1890-1910. She managed those properties and rented them out. She had a deep appreciation for nature and adventure and learned to fly.

Full obituary: channel3000.com/obituaries/mariann-thull-rush/article_c614291e-d0d2-11ed-a4e9-bf8f257c4546.html

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

MICHAEL J. BENDER ’95 of North Freedom, Wisconsin, died March 30, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in history and participated in student government. He was a dog lover and will be especially missed by his four-legged companions, Hejamie and Buddy. Survivors include his mother, Sandra.

Full obituary: redlin-ertzfuneralhome.com/obituary-detail.php?obituary_id=10762764

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

FRANCES LANDERS FERGUSON ’50 of Ormond Beach, Florida, died April 8, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in history and participated in Alpha Chi Omega/Alpha Gamma Theta. She received a master’s degree in education from Stetson University. She moved to Florida in 1960 where her husband served as a rector in the Episcopal Church. She taught kindergarten in Titusville and Daytona Beach for more than 30 years. She and her husband then split time between Ormond Beach and Wolf Laurel, North Carolina. She enjoyed mining for gems, watching game shows, word puzzles and traveling, including visits to every state in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. Survivors include one son and one daughter. Her husband, WALTER SUMNER FERGUSON ’50, died in 2008.

Full obituary: news-journalonline.com/obituaries/pdtb0469104

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

PAUL B. CORS ’53 of Laramie, Wyoming, died March 28, 2023. He grew up in Ripon and as a high school student wrote the “Fauna of the South Woods” chapter in The South Woods Park Anniversary Booklet, 1902-1947. At Ripon College, he majored in classics. He received a master’s degree in library science from Rutgers University. He worked with the New Mexico State University libraries in Las Cruces, as first director of the newly formed Centralized Processing Center at the Wyoming State Library in Cheyenne, and with the University of Wyoming in Laramie as chief acquisitions librarian, professor and head of Collection Development. He was an active member of the American Library Association, National Audubon Society and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. He held lifelong interests in railroads and the natural world.

Full obituary: montgomerystryker.com/paul-b-cors/

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

ROBERT L. BRANDT ’49 of Peoria, Arizona, died March 25, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in mathematics, physics and chemistry. He studied at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of California, Berkeley, and later earned a master’s degree in chemistry. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He worked at Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington; and as a software and systems engineer for General Electric and Honeywell in Arizona. He was active in the Phoenix Toastmasters and was an area Governor. He volunteered as Clerk of Session for 24 years at Northminster Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir. He enjoyed wordplay, puns and music. Survivors include three sons and one daughter. His wife, SHIRLEY BARNARD BRANDT ’47, died in 2019.

Full obituary: heritagefuneralchapels.com/obituaries/Robert-Loyd-Brandt?obId=27656639#/obituaryInfo

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

JANE BARBER EMERSON ’46 of Jefferson City, Missouri, died April 16, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in chemistry and mathematics and participated in Alpha Phi/Kappa Sigma Chi. Her father was WILLIAM HARLEY BARBER, a longtime professor of physics at Ripon. She taught chemistry to ROTC students at Ripon, and while in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, she had a teaching assistantship in mathematics. She lived in Emporia, Kansas, for almost 60 years where her husband was a mathematics professor and department chair at Emporia State University. She taught Sunday school classes in her church and enjoyed reading, humor, genealogy, nature, being outdoors, gardening, playing the piano and cooking. Survivors include one son and one daughter; and a brother-in-law, RICHARD G. HALLOCK ’53.

Full obituary: riponpress.com/obituaries/jane-cornwell-barber-emerson/article_5ba5b91c-e08b-11ed-91df-5fb737916d21.html

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

ANN IRWIN HINES ’51 of Georgetown, Texas, died April 16, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in English with a minor in philosophy and participated in Ver Adest, Kappa Delta/Delta Phi Sigma and Partners in the Legacy. She was the Homecoming Queen in 1950. She completed a post-graduate medical record librarian program in 1952 and in 1990 received a master of science in health professions from Southwest Texas State University. She enjoyed literature and reading, crossword puzzles, humor and pranks, and traveling, especially to Scotland, England and Ireland. Survivors include her children.

Full obituary: statesman.com/obituaries/paco0476245

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

MARK J. WRIGHT ’75 of Mankato, Minnesota, died March 26, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in history and participated in student government, Beta Sigma Pi and swimming. He was a conference champion in the 200 breaststroke. Additionally, he received a master’s degree in finance from Columbia University. He was a longtime member of the Ripon College Board of Trustees, serving on committees such as finance, infrastructure and investment. He also financially supported many initiatives and volunteered for reunion committees and recruitment efforts. Professionally, he was president and CEO of Acadia Windows & Doors; CFO for a radio partnership at Sandab Communications; principal of The Wright Consulting Group; and consultant/practitioner with the Regional Center for Entrepreneurial Facilitation. Survivors include his wife, MARCIA WILSON WAHOSKE ’75; and two sons. Marcia’s father was ROBERT WILSON ’42, a professor of physics at Ripon.

Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/mark-wright-obituary?id=51567587

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

ROBERT C. PROCTER JR. ’59 of Monona, Wisconsin, died April 27, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in economics, as well as politics and government, participated in Theta Chi/Alpha Omega Alpha and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army and worked at Procter Insurance Agency. Survivors include his wife, Stefania Moroni; three sons and one daughter.

Full obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/robert-procter-obituary?id=51828707

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

THOMAS F. KUEHL ’61 of Gulf Breeze, Florida, died March 19, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in athletics and was commissioned through ROTC. He was voted president of the chapter when his fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, received its charter as Phi Delta Theta, Wisconsin Gamma Chapter. He worked as a commodities broker, managing grain elevators and working for grain companies; was a member of the Kansas City Board of Trade and president of Far-Mar-Co.; and then an independent commodities broker in Pensacola Beach, Florida. He enjoyed tennis, hunting and fishing, and was a member of Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 and Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen; two daughters; two stepsons; and brothers, including WILLIAM KUEHL ’64 and RICHARD KUEHL ’67.

Full obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/27532750/thomas-frank-kuehl

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

BARBARA CRESS GRANDY ’48 of Chetek, Wisconsin, died May 10, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in chemistry and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She was a longtime member of the City of Chetek Planning Commission and also served on the board of directors for the Chetek Library. She was avid golfer and was active in several bridge groups. Survivors include two sons.

Full obituary: https://drydenwire.com/obituaries/barbara-c-grandy/

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

DUANE L. KOPLIEN ’57 of Weyauwega, Wisconsin, died May 14, 2023. At Ripon, he studied economics and participated in Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He also studied at the University of Hawaii and served in the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Patricia, lived in Milwaukee for 12 years, owning and operating Brasch’s Sunrise Eggs. They then operated Brasch’s House of Cheese, specialty store, bakery, restaurant and farm market in Fremont, Wisconsin, for 31 years. Farming was his occupation and his hobby, and he focused on the farm market arm of the business, growing, harvesting and procuring much of the produce himself. Survivors include three children.

Full obituary: https://waupacanow.com/2023/05/16/koplien-duane/

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

RONALD SCOTT “SCOTT” HEIDERICH ’64 of St. Paul, Minnesota, died May 7, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in mathematics, participated in the undefeated 1963 football team and his 50th reunion committee, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served for a year in Vietnam. He was a retired library assistant of the Saint Paul Public Library, was involved with the Minnesota Streetcar Museum for more than 40 years and had served on its board of directors.

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

SARA FOUDRIAT EGGERT ’72 of Greenville, South Carolina, died April 27, 2022. At Ripon, she majored in psychology and educational studies and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. Her passion was raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren. She spent many hours riding her horse and also quilted extensively. She volunteered as an aide in public schools and taught Sunday school at her church. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe with her favorite trip being horseback riding in Sicily. Survivors include her husband, ALAN R. EGGERT ’71; two sons and one daughter; and a brother-in-law DAVID A. EGGERT ’77.

Full obituary: https://thomasmcafee.com/obituary/sara-eggert/

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

(HOWARD) LEE JONES ’73 of Austin, Texas, died Jan. 15, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in student government and Sigma Nu/Theta Sigma Tau. He received a master’s of business administration degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1978 and a master’s degree in history from the University of North Texas in 2012. He had worked as an outreach coordinator with the Government Emergency Telephone Service and Wireless Priority Service since 1995, first at Verizon and then for the Department of Homeland Security. He also gave presentations regarding priority call setup services available for emergency responders in times of telephone network congestion. Survivors include one son and one daughter; three sisters, including LINDA JONES KAMMEN ’69; and a brother-in-law, RICHARD KAMMEN ’68.

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

J. PETER JENSEN ’58 of Santa Rosa, California, died May 5, 2023. At Ripon, he studied economics and participated in theatre, ROTC, Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi, Partners in the Legacy and as a founder of WRPN. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked for Aetna Insurance Co. in several locations. He lived in Belmont, California, for 52 years. He was a longtime member of Transfiguration Episcopal Church and Masterworks Chorale Society. He loved gardening. He was a member of San Mateo Master Gardeners, a docent at Filoli Historic House and Garden, a Boy Scout leader, a member of the Rotary and San Mateo Radio Club and an instructor and state coordinator for the AARP Safe Driving program. Survivors include his wife, Jan; one son and one daughter.

Full obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sfgate/name/j-jensen-obituary?id=52093799

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

JOAN ANDERSON BACHUS ’57 of Chico, California, died May 18, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in biology, participated in Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta, serving as president her senior year, and was a 50th reunion committee volunteer. She was the first in her family to earn a college degree. She worked as a library researcher for Encyclopedia Britannica before obtaining her teaching credential. She taught in Chicago and California. She was an avid golfer, playing into her 80s, and enjoyed gardening, stitchery, sewing, quilting and dogs. She also wrote a golf column for a local newspaper and volunteered at Empire Mine State Historic Park and Hospice Gift and Thrift. Survivors include one son; one daughter; and a sister-in-law, MARY BACHUS MILLER ’61. Her husband, JOHN A. BACHUS ’58, died in 2003.

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

DANIEL D. HARMON III ’54 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died June 6, 2023. At Ripon, he studied economics, participated in Ver Adest, athletics and Sigma Nu/Theta Sigma Tau, and was commissioned through ROTC. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Korea. He worked for the family insurance firm The Harmon Agency. In his younger years, he raced boats, was a multi-year golf champion at the Oshkosh Country Club and an avid fly fisherman. The Dan Harmon III Fly Fishing School is conducted yearly by the Central Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He also was a dedicated Packers fan and served on several community boards. Survivors include his wife, Judy; two sons and one daughter. His brother, JOHN HARMON, was Ripon’s honorary degree recipient in 2020.

Full obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/oshkoshherald/name/daniel-harmon-obituary?id=52191952

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement