Alumni News and Stories

Career news, life events and alumni success stories
In this Section

Your fellow alumni readers want to know want what you're up to these days. Share your news about job changes, promotions, awards/recognition, retirement, and family milestones with us. Class notes are featured in our Outlook email newsletter and annual magazine. 

Here are some common reasons to send us a class note:

  • A new job or promotion 
  • A baby or adopted a child
  • You got married or entered into an official union 
  • Published a book
  • A fellow alumni has passed away

Submit a Class Note

Kevin Gain `96 was named Wisconsin Technical Education Teacher of the Year.

Chase Welsch `21 is attending medical school at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Jerry Wallerius `87 and his wife, Mary Beth, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on September 5, 2023. 

Lance `72 and Karen Berg `72 Bell celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on November 18, 2023.  

Career News: new jobs, promotions, awards and retirements
  • Bird Norton Derrick `70 received an MEd from Idaho State University in 1999 and continued to teach and serve as transition specialist/coordinator at Rigby High School until 2010 when she retired. 
  • Daniel Stewart `70 is working on the national core indicatory grant for the Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University in Bloomington. 
  • Jim Maas `72 retired from UW-Steven Point, where he was a media specialist. 
  • Steve Fedie `74 retired as executive secretary from the Wright County Athletic Conference.  
  • Kay Manger-Hague `75 retired on May 31, 2023, after 38 years with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), with 23 of those years as the director of credentialing operations with the commission on dietetic registration.
  • Blakely Sanford `76 retired in November after 50 years as a tax preparer.
  • Jeff Greuel `81 retired from teaching after 40 years at the Little Chute Area School District. 
  • Randy `81 and Rachel Aspenson `79 Glenn have retired to Wilmington, NC. Randy worked for 35 years with Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, lastly as a senior director of packaging development, and Rachel taught at various elementary schools and raised three boys. 
  • Lori Hoard Kangas `84 retired after 39 years of teaching. She was the special education teacher and work experience coordinator for the Robbinsdale Area School District.
  • Doug Jaeger `85 is retired from Kraus-Anderson Construction. He began with the company in 1982 as a field laborer and moved into project management in 1985. 
  • Shelly Spallees Hansen `85 was awarded the 2023 Hospitality and Tourism Teacher of the Year/Teacher of Excellence Award from the Minnesota Hospitality Association. She is an educator at John Marshall High School in Rochester, Minn.  
  • Steven Richardson `85 is the director of database development at FAIR Health Inc. 
  • Paul Fredette `89 received the California Industrial Technology Education Association 2023 Outstanding Middle School Program award for the technology education woodworking program at the Balboa Middle School in Ventura, Cali.
  • John Miller `90 retired after over 32 years of teaching. He taught most of his career at West Allis-West Milwaukee School District.
  • Cheri Beck Andresek `93 is the senior product developer for Harley Davidson in Milwaukee. 
  • Kris Isaacson `93 owns Fiber Lab in downtown Menomonie. 
  • Christy Stuckert `95 is the comptroller for Beacon Specialized Living facilities in Wisconsin.
  • Kevin Gain `96 was named Wisconsin Technical Education Teacher of the Year.
  • Jenny Zuege Wehmeier `97 received the 2023 Wisconsin ProStart Teacher of the Year awarded from the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. She is a culinary arts educator for the Elkhorn Area School District. 
  • Louis Weiher `98 is the second-generation owner of Carmel Builders. In 2018 Weiher received the elite Big50 award by Remodeling magazine and has also served as president of the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
  • Andrea Uher `99 was the Skills USA Advisor of the Year in 2022-2023. 
  • Kevin Stensberg `01 is the assistant vice provost, student success and residential engagement at The George Washington University in Washington D.C.
  • Dawn Oler `03 received the Fulbright U.S. Teacher Award.
  • David Free `06 is a product design engineer at Elwood Corp. in Racine. 
  • Nathan Panning `06 is the lead of the tax group at BGM in the Twin Cities. 
  • Troy Schimek `06 is a mental health counselor at Parker Mainstreet Pediatrics.
  • Ashely Fassbender Long `07 is the customer service manager of the Healthcare & Specialty Division of PPC Flexible Packaging at the Pewaukee and Buffalo Grove, Ill. locations. 
  • Amelia Treptow Rogers `08 is the director of events and engagement at Rhode Island College. 
  • David Lytle `14 retired in April after 41 years from the printing industry.
  • De’Andre Jones `16 will be awarded the 2024 Mena Valdez Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award from the NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community (LKC). De’Andre is the director of alumni engagement at Seattle University. 
  • Cassie Flackey McMahon `17 graduated with her masters in education and reading 316 license from Viterbo University.
  • Chase Welsch `21 is attending medical school at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. 
  • Hannah Phelps `21 is the assistant and student gallery coordinator in the UW-Stout Furlong Gallery.
  • Sarah Chojnacki `22 is the associate dean of health and sciences at Moraine Park Technical College in Fond Du Lac.
Life events: births, marriages, anniversaries and deaths

Arrivals:

  • Tim `68 and Jane Banks welcomed their second grandchild, a granddaughter, Vera Jane Banks on May 25, 2023.
  • Kevin `80 and Mary Goplin `80 Wilde welcomed their first grandchild, Benjamin, on April 7, 2023.
  • David `90 and Tammi Stark `91 Huls welcomed their first grandchild, Kira Lee, on May 31, 2023.
  • Teri Isaacson `98 and Greg Larsen `01 welcomed their first grandchild, Georgia Rose, on November 10, 2023. 
  • Andrea Uher `99 welcomed a son on June 24, 2022.
  • Michelle Jensen Lassa `06 and her husband, Levi, welcomed a baby girl, Eden Eloise in August. 

Wedding: 

  • Alexa Peters `18 and Chase Becherer `16 married in August 2023. 

Anniversary:

  • Jim `63 and Kriss Hanson `63 Schorer celebrated 60 years of marriage on August 17, 2023. 
  • Gloria Gade `68 and John Hardy celebrated their 55th anniversary in June 2023. They cruised the British Isles and France.
  • Jim `67 and Karen Kaiser `68 Jacobs celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in June. 
  • Dennis `70 and Joanne Rank `71 Barfuss celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.
  • Ron and Bird Norton `70 Derrick celebrated 55 years of marriage in 2022. They have three children, nine grandchildren and just welcomed their first great-grandchild. 
  • Michael `71 and Dorene Durley celebrated their 50th anniversary on August 11th. 
  • Susan Petersen `71 and Frank `71 Singer celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on August 28, 2023. 
  • Ken `72 and Colleen Thorp `73 Pokallus celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 12, 2023. They reside in Londonderry, N.H.
  • Lance `72 and Karen Berg `72 Bell celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on November 18, 2023.  
  • Kathy Zutz `73 and Jerry `73 Wiskow celebrated their 50th anniversary on October 27, 2023.
  • Ray `82 and Ann Hallada `83 Hill celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in June. 
  • Jerry Wallerius `87 and his wife, Mary Beth, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5, 2023. 
  • Mark `91 and Maarja Aalgaard `91 Wisroth celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary on July 22, 2023.
  • Mike `92 and Stef Snyder `96 Jax celebrated 20 years of marriage.
  • Nanci Miller `93 and Scott `93 Foster celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on August 14, 2023. 
  • Alysse Nockels `01 and Karl Hacken `01 celebrated 20 years of marriage. 
  • Aaron Stein `02 and his wife, Amy, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on July 12, 2023.

Passing:

  • Edith Glazener `46, Menlo Park, Cali. 
  • Charles “Charlie” Mowbray `51, January 13, 2024, Janesville
  • Robert Solberg `51, February 14, 2024, Brookfield
  • Phyllis Patch Larson `52, October 14, 2021, Palm Springs, Cali.  
  • Edith Iwen Honnef `56, February 18, 2024, Appleton
  • Robert Tennessen `56, September 6, 2023, Robbinsdale, Minn. 
  • John Kleven `59, November 7, 2023, Salem, Virg.
  • Alice Cramer Byrnes `60, August 17, 2023, Big Rapids, Mich. 
  • Barbara Hennessy `60, September 10, 2023, Winona, Minn. 
  • Duane Webb `61, July 26, 2023, Stevens Point
  • Janet Low `62, July 6, 2023, Faribault, Minn.
  • Reva Fritz Hanson `62, November 1, 2020, Withee 
  • Shirley Strachota Graham `62, February 15, 2024, Burnsville, Minn. 
  • Thomas Wagner `62, October 7, 2023, Lakeland, Flor. 
  • Wallace Berube `62, December 31, 2022, Rochester, NY 
  • Walter Gilbertson `62, September 9, 2023, Winona, Minn. 
  • Daniel Linneman `63, July 14, 2023, Lake City, Minn.
  • John Pagels ’63, October 1, 2023, Brighton, Mich. 
  • Kenneth Bonner `63, August 9, 2023, Beaver Dam
  • Barbara “Barb” Campbell Baker `64, June 7, 2023, Fort Gratiot, Mich.
  • David “Bear” Schneck `64, May 27, 2023, Greendale
  • Mary Merwin `64, July 1, 2023, Delavan
  • Sandra Whyte Schlei `64, October 13, 2023, Rocky Knoll
  • Robert “Bob” Wortock `65, April 1, 2023, Racine
  • James “Jim” Vier `66, December 23, 2023, Austin, Tex.
  • Shirley Payne Kreyling `66, May 16, 2023, Kiawah Island, SC
  • Martin Szpak `67, April 4, 2023, Talladega, Alab.  
  • William Hunt `67, July 10, 2023, St. Paul, Minn.
  • Judy Kochenderfer Skarie `68, July 5, 2023, Moseley, Virg.
  • Gerald Norris `68, April 21, 2023, Appleton
  • Ronald “Ron” Butt `68, April 17, 2023, Muskego 
  • Earl Vance `70, September 28, 2023, Menomonie 
  • Ellen Durst Snowdon `70, September 1, 2023, Madison
  • Steven Molner `70, October 31, 2023, Plover
  • Leo Udee `71, February 11, 2024, Elk River, Minn.  
  • Ronald Cockeram `71, August 4,2023, Charleston, West Vir.
  • Kenneth “Kenny” Kranz `72, January 26, 2024, Jackson
  • Larry Langhorst `72, September 6, 2023, Liberty, Mo. 
  • Sue Fricker  Smith `72, January 9, 2024, Franklin
  • Barbara Sippel `73, April 16, 2022, Memphis, Tenn.
  • Bert Lietzow `73, July 6, 2023, Pardeeville
  • Gerald “Jerry” Parks `73, January 19, 2024, Plymouth, Minn. 
  • Ralph “Jim” Wardman `73, August 20, 2023, Cedar Park, Texas
  • Helmuth “Hal” Thiele Jr. `74, February 6, 2024, Grafton
  • Ivan Priem `75, December 24, 2024, Plymouth, Minn. 
  • Jack Kohlhagan `74, February 15, 2022, Greenfield 
  • Caryn Andree Rozmenoski `75, January 15, 2024, Waukesha
  • Gary Spindler `75, June 5, 2023, Sheboygan
  • Raymound Kasel `75, August 4, 2023, Clintonville
  • Sandy Baneck Tepe `75, June 23, 2023, Wausau
  • Thomas McLaughlin `76, December 10, 2022, Hibbing, Minn. 
  • William Idziorek `76, July 22, 2023, Superior
  • Cheryl Kozicki `77, June 23, 2023, Green Bay 
  • Russel Arneson `77, January 22, 2023, Wausau
  • Courtney Nystuen `79, August 15, 2023, Northfield, Minn. 
  • David Salisbury `79, February 28, 2023, Savannah, Georg.
  • Peter Cupery `78, June 24, 2023, Madison
  • Audrey Stockfish Banach `80, September 19, 2022, Salem
  • Donald McLean `80, August 7, 2021, Menomonie 
  • Peter Bauman `80, January 16, 2024, Wimberley, Tex. 
  • Susan Haugen `80, June 21, 2023, Eau Claire
  • Anne Frantz-Cook `82, February 12, 2024, Menomonie 
  • Glenn Bowen `82, April 23, 2023, Forest Lake, Minn.
  • David Jacobs `84, September 29, 2023, Chicago, Ill. 
  • Alan Bouressa `85, July 7, 2023, Denmark
  • Jennifer Krupke Beck `86, Hardford
  • John Benson `86, June 14, 2023, Bloomington, Minn. 
  • Robert Spletter `86, August 1, 2023, Winter Garden, Flor. 
  • Sharon Rhodes Becker `87, January 8, 2024, Hudson
  • Todd Kempinger `88, August 27, 2023, Oshkosh
  • Stacey Smith `87, April 1, 2023, La Crosse
  • Jacob Greenway `91, June 7, 2023, Menomonie
  • Theodore Haimann `94, July 1, 2023, Chandler, Ariz.
  • Angela Karnopp Peterson `96, January 13, 2024, Kewaunee
  • Jason Meyer `98, June 16, 2023, Medford
  • Ann Schachtner Austreng `06, August 14, 2023, Somerset
  • Benjamin Wilfer `12, June 11, 2023, Appleton

Friends of UW-Stout: 

  • Allan “Al” Buros, October 27, 2023, Viroqua
  • Gerald Myers, December 25, 2023, Tucson, Ariz. 
  • William “Bill” O’Neill, January 12, 2024, Menomonie 
Faculty/Staff News: awards, retirements and deaths

Faculty/staff passing:

  • Janice "Jan" R. Jordan, 80, of Menomonie, passed away on Oct. 16, at Mayo Clinic in Menomonie, surrounded by family. Jan was born April 19, 1943, in International Falls, Minn. She graduated from Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D. Following college, she moved to Omaha, Neb., to begin her career and met her husband, Ron. They moved to Menomonie, where Ron joined his uncle's business, Michelbook Marine. Jan was proud of her 31-year career at UW-Stout, retiring as special assistant to the chancellor emeritus (chief of staff) in 2009.
  • Robert J. Philumalee, age 71, passed away after a long courageous battle with cancer on Aug. 22.
    Rob was born on December 19, 1951, in Janesville. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy until 1973 and remained in the Naval Reserve until 1982. Rob worked for the State of Wisconsin for more than 25 years and was proud of what he did. He retired as an operator with UW-Stout's Power Plant in 2010.
  • Courtney “Court” Nystuen, age 86, passed away on Aug. 15, at his home at Parkview East, Northfield Retirement Community, in Northfield, Minn. Court was born on June 11, 1937, in Minneapolis, and grew up in Northfield. He earned his master's in architecture from the University of Minnesota and served as professor of architecture at UW-Stout for 31 years, retiring in 1998.
  • Robert “Bob” Johnson, age 77, passed away on Jan. 18, at home in Menomonie, after a heroic two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Following a 37-year career at UW-Stout, Bob retired in 2006 as assistant vice chancellor of Student Life Services. He cherished every moment with his family; taking time to teach something new, sharing his wisdom and patience, all with a good dad joke to keep everyone smiling. He will be remembered for living his life by his motto, "It’s not what you accomplish, but the relationships you build on the journey."
  • Ted Hendzel Jr., of Eau Claire, passed away on Feb. 16. Ted served as director of UW-Stout's Physical Plant for more than 19 years, from 1991 to 2010.

Our Outlook Magazine is an annual printed publication highlighting alumni success stories from across the country.

If you would like to submit an Outlook magazine story, please email alumni@uwstout.edu

Outlook Magazine - Fall 2023 Outlook Magazine - Fall 2022  Outlook Magazine - Fall 2021                 Outlook 2023                       Outlook 2022                              Outlook 2021                            

Outlook Magazine - Fall 2020  Outlook 2019
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