Class Notes
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
Heidi Behrens Braun `88 wrote and published her first children’s picture book, Insect Action! An Alphabet, Rhyming, and Movement book. It was illustrated by Sally Wood Johnson `88.
Todd Nelson `89 is the owner/operator of Venture X Dallas – Braniff Centre, a 25,000-square-foot coworking and shared workspace.
Kaylee Harris `21 was named to the PCMA Foundation’s 20 in Their Twenties Class of 2025.
Denise Rosby `14 is a mental health therapist at UW Health and owner of Choose You Counseling LLC.
Career News: new jobs, promotions, awards and retirements
- Darcy Doiel `74 retired from teaching in 2020 and is working as a full-time artist.
- Bruce Reid `78 retired from Martin County School District in Florida after teaching for 45 years in middle and high school. He plans on spending a quiet retirement traveling and spending time with his wife, 4 children, their spouses, grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
- Barbara White Nehls '80 retired in June after 26 years in education and 18 years in non-profit social services.
- James “Jim” Kriha '85 retired on December 31, 2023, after 38 years with Amcor Packaging.
- Jeff Bzdawka `85 sold Knowland to a strategic investor and is president of Hapi.
- Todd Holland '87 retired as a program manager after a combined 38 years with Intelsat, Motorola, Unisys, Glenayre and AlliedSignal. He resides in this Prescott, Ariz. With his partner Judy who he met at Stout 40 years ago.
- Heidi Behrens Braun `88 wrote and published her first children’s picture book, Insect Action! An Alphabet, Rhyming, and Movement book. It was illustrated by Sally Wood Johnson `88.
- Rob Demeuse `88 retired from the Mauston School District. He worked as a computer and business education teacher for 4 years and the last 28.5 years as the director of technology.
- Todd Nelson `89 is the owner/operator of Venture X Dallas – Braniff Centre, a 25,000-square-foot coworking and shared workspace.
- Brian Hicks `91 is the CEO of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
- David Reeves `91 received the silver plate award from the International Foodsevice Manufacturing Association.
- Steve Schultz '92 is the executive vice president of special projects for the Boldt Group.
- Mark Wilson '94 retired from Ford Motor Company after 30 years. He has started his second career at ARB 4X4 Accessories as the vice president for OE business development.
- Kelly Nelson '94 published Brownie the War Dog: Veterans’ Best Friend.
- Alison Marschall Hutchinson `98 was inducted into the MPI-Wisconsin Hall of Fame in September.
- Diane Deering-Gaston '00 and her husband built their dream Euro-Chic chalet home in Colorado.
- Tracy Poser Walsh `02 will have her garden photography on display at the Plymouth Community Center.
- Matt Wilson `10 is the owner of Tempo Golf Club in Huntersville, NC.
- Lindsey Reynolds Shoemaker '11 received the 2024 Victim Coordinator of the Year from the Ohio Department of Corrections. She is now a corrections specialist and has been with the department for 10 years.
- Danny Gissing '14 is the director of TRIO student support services and learning support center at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
- Denise Rosby `14 is a mental health therapist at UW Health and owner of Choose You Counseling LLC.
- Kaylee Harris `21 was named to the PCMA Foundation’s 20 in Their Twenties Class of 2025.
Life events: births, marriages, anniversaries and deaths
Arrivals:
- Laura Slater-Hatzenbeller `79 and Mark Hatzenbeller `79 welcomed two new grandchildren in August 2024. One is a boy and one a girl, born 10 days apart.
- LaNae Maass '15 and her husband, Collin Euteneuer '15, welcomed a daughter in May 2024.
Wedding:
Anniversary:
- Robert '54 and Beverly Peterson '54 Spinti celebrated 70 years of marriage.
- Marshall `58 and Beverly Anderson Wake celebrated their 62nd anniversary on August 18, 2024.
- David `65 and Sandra Carlson `65 Wheeler celebrated their 60th anniversary on September 1, 2024.
- Ron '68 and Darlene Aikens '69 Withrow celebrated their 55th anniversary in June 2024.
- Brad '69 and Linda Adam Johnson celebrated their 55th anniversary in June. They celebrated by taking a cruise with their sons, spouses and grandchildren.
- Michael `69 and Mary Agrimis Holden celebrated their 55th anniversary on September 13, 2024.
- Bernadette Molter `72 and William `72 Chase celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on February 24, 2024.
- Jack `72 and Jill Paske '73 Capelle celebrated their 50th anniversary in Sept. 2023.
- Bob and Christy Berry '83 Gutke celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 30, 2024. They have 2 grown sons, Robert III and Budd, and 3 grandchildren: Owen, Robert IV and Amelia.
- Steve “Ray” Richardson '85 and his wife, Terri, celebrated their 30th anniversary on July 17, 2024.
- Hailey Melander Crimmins `15 and Kevin celebrated five years of marriage on October 26, 2024.
Passing:
- Barbara Johnson Perry `51, September 27, 2024, Bloomington, Ill.
- Warren Barberg `51, August 18, 2024, Eau Claire
- Donna Krisik Arntson `52, November 23, 2024, Rochester, Minn.
- Gaylord Roe `52, October 20, 2024, Manitowish Waters
- Lois Spaulding `53, July 5, 2024, Neillsville
- Miriam Eckert Erickson `54, September 24, 2024, Gibraltar
- Joanne Fritz Troupe `55, July 15, 2024, Manitowoc
- Deloran “Dee” Peterson `57, September 17, 2024, Elkhart Lake
- Bovaird “Bo” Brown Gabriel `59, October 29, 2024, Menomonie
- Ruth Olson Apps `59, December 7, 2024, Madison
- Francis “Fran” Lamer `60, December 6, 2024, Wausau
- Fredrick “Fred” Baue `60, November 27, 2024, Iron River
- Robert Mitchell `60, July 8, 2024, Cohasset, Minn.
- Irene Kettunen Schubert `61, November 17, 2024, Fairfax County, Virg.
- Darlene Breheim Wernsman `62, November 9, 2024, Fredericksburg, Virg.
- Ahmed Akinwole Alhamisi (formerly Lawrence Graham Jr.) `63, September 22, 2024, Charlotte, NC
- Gale Grimslid `63, November 13, 2024, Holmen
- Frank Fieschko `64, September 22, 2024, Janesville
- Donald Schultz `65, July 27, 2024, Perry, Mich.
- Duane Ramberg `65, December 2, 2024, Minneapolis, Minn.
- Joseph O’Leary `65, February 17, 2024, Portage
- Marilyn Miller Streif `65, July 16, 2024, Elk Mound
- Suzanne Brubaker Sibley `65, August 11, 2024, St. Paul, Minn.
- Chuck Bernath `66, October 22, 2024, Orlando, Flor.
- Marvin “Marv” Clemons `66, August 28, 2024, Portland, Oreg.
- Paul Aken `66, September 6, 2024, Beach Park, Ill.
- Carolyn King McCormick `67, October 1, 2024, Lake Geneva
- Julie Erickson Waterman `68, September 8, 2024
- Kathleen Barnett Gaard `71, July 20, 2024, Anchorage, Alaska
- Dave Tieff `72, July 20, 2024, Hudson, Flor.
- Jack Capelle `72, August 8, 2024, Wisconsin Dells
- Thomas Fleter `73, July 3, 2024, Wauwatosa
- Todd Blum `73, July 25, 2024, Beloit
- Richard Zak `74, September 24, 2024, Door County
- Rosemary Vae Davis `75, August 27, 2024, Cumberland
- Cheryl Sorensen Matthias `77, July 10, 2024, Manitowoc
- Debra Robole `77, May 17, 2024, Menomonie
- Jeffrey Reitsma `77, June 20, 2024, Crystal Lake, Ill.
- Richard Reinikainen `78, September 2, 2024, Buffalo, NY
- Richard Szarkowitz `78, September 23,2024, Wausau
- Bradly “Brad” Heard `81, July 2, 2024, Hazelhurst
- Ned Ostenso `85, November 17, 2024, Minneapolis, Minn.
- David Reda `86, October 22, 2024, Ojibwa
- James “Jim” Solie `87, August 31, 2024, Hudson
- Richard Manthei `88, June 27, 2024, Eau Claire
- Gerald Waara `89, September 24, 2024, Crystal River, Flor.
- Cindy Stellpflug Paulson `92, July 18, 2024, Menomonie
- Michael Morgan `94, September 2, 2024, Palmdale, Calif.
- Heather Schnorr Reese `96, October 10, 2024, Madison
- Michelle Donovan `96, October 5, 2024, La Farge
- William “Bill” Harmon `96, October 3, 2024, Deforest
- Becky Rosin Hammes `97, September 11, 2024, Orfordville
- Nancy Houda Klahn `97, July 7, 2024, Nekoosa
- Timothy Brandt `97, October 28, 2024, La Valle
- Sean Arena `05, March 6, 2024, La Crosse
- Cody Hegna `08, October 8, 2024, Woodbury, Minn.
- Jerome Portnoy `10, July 26, 2024, Aiken, SC
Friends of UW-Stout:
- Richard Zeithaml, June 12, 2024, Eau Claire
Faculty/Staff News: awards, retirements and deaths
Faculty/staff passing:
- Virginia "Ginny" Schober, 99, of Menomonie, died peacefully on Aug. 8 at Comforts of Home in Menomonie. Ginny retired from UW-Stout's Human Resources in 1985.
- Bonnie Kirkwood, 92, passed away on Sept. 18, at Oak Gardens Place in Altoona. Bonnie had a master's degree from Iowa State Teachers’ College. She taught in the apparel, textile and design department at UW-Stout from 1964 until her retirement in 1996.
- Constance “Connie” Bixby, September 26, 2024, Menomonie- Office manager from 1961 until she retired in 1998.
- Michael D. Ritland, 88, passed away on Oct. 20, at MCHS-Luther in Eau Claire. Mike had a 37-year career at UW-Stout as a professor in the psychology, guidance and counseling departments and served as assistant dean of the School of Education. He was chairperson of the Stout Athletic Hall of Fame and received the UW-Stout and Luther Distinguished Service awards.
Outlook Magazine
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.
