Summer 2001 - Wayne State College

Levi is employed by StrongInvestments.Dan Polk, Clarkson, issuperintendent of Clarkson PublicSchools. He has been the highschool principal for the past fiveyears. Dan and his wife Deb havefour children.Tami R. Denker, Sioux Falls, S.D.was promoted to auditor atTruGreen ChemLawn, Sioux Falls.She began her employment withthe company as a telemarketer.Karen Goetsch, Norfolk, is amember of the woodwind musicalensemble, “Windsong.” She is theinstrumental music teacher atNorfolk Catholic High School andSacred Heart School; Karen saysALUMNIMINI-FEATUREAnn O’GormanDownes ‘91that playing with the quartet keepsher challenged.Vanessa Schnoor, Winfield, Kan.,is employed as a first-and-secondgradeteacher at Trinity LutheranSchool. Vanessa will begin theLutheran teacher colloquy programat Concordia University in the fallof 2001.Dawn (Urwiler) Erickson,Ericson, is the high schoolcounselor at Hyannis, Neb. for the2001-2002 school year. Dawn’shusband, Tom, is a teacher in theAshby Public School system.Ryan Schwarz, and Laura Beck,Omaha, married April 21. Ryan is acredit manager for Wells Fargo inOmaha and Laura is a senior newA native of Winnebago, Ann O’Gorman Downes earned abachelor of arts in social science education from Wayne StateCollege in 1991. She received a juris doctorate from ArizonaState University in 1994. Following that, she was acommissioner with the Federal Indian Gaming Commission forthe Hoopa Valley Tribe in northern California, before returningto her hometown of Winnebago, Nebraska.Last year, Ann was named president of Little Priest TribalCollege in Winnebago. “Community service was alwaysstressed to me as I was growing up,” she said. “Education ismy passion, my first love, so when the opportunity here atLittle Priest Tribal College came up, I knew that it would,indeed, be a way in which I could serve my community.”The education she received at Wayne State Collegeprovided an excellent foundation for her professional andpersonal future. “My goal was to attend a smaller school,” shesaid. “I was at a large university and found that it didn’t offerthe support system I needed. Wayne State College provided aquality education close to home. I was able to have mysupport system nearby, which is especially important forNative American students.“I had phenomenal instructors who took a personal interestin their students. I’ve always said that Wayne State College isa great buy. I don’t believe a person can get the quality ofeducation at the cost anywhere else.”business associate for WorldInsurance, Omaha.Sheila Marie Brink and KevinJames Brunnert, Middlebury, Vt.married March 17 in Norfolk.Sheila will be attending graduateschool at the University of Vermontand Kevin is a lineman for CentralVermont Public Service Corp.Tracy (Wragge) Sporleder, Pierce,is an elementary teacher at St.Mary’s Catholic School, Osmond.Her husband, Russ, is the managerat Hometown Market in Pierce.IN MEMORY OFMary “Eleanor” (Bradley)Schulke ’26, (94), Fremont; May 1.She was past matron of Craig Orderof Eastern Star.Vira M. (Sunt) Antrim ’30, Firth;March 31. She taught school inNebraska and Colorado, retiringafter 44 years.Arnold W. Peterson ’34, ShawneeMission, Kan. Arnold was a retiredfarm service director.Loryn D. Kneeland ’38, (83),South Sioux City; April 24. Hebegan his career in education byteaching math and science andcoaching basketball, football andtrack in the Midwest. He later wentinto school administration as asuperintendent of schools; he retiredin 1983.Olive L. (Smith) Bliss ’38, ScottsValley, Calif., April 19. Olive wasa retired teacher.Ruth A. Wagner ’38, (85), Neligh;April 27. Ruth taught in variousschools in Neb. and Colo. untilretiring in 1981; she then moved toNeligh. She belonged to numerousclubs and organizations and was therecipient of special awards for herwork with youth.Fern R. Anderson ’39, Topeka,Kan; Sept. 1999. Fern was a retiredteacher.Philomena Billerbeck ’42 (90),Norfolk; April 14. Philomena wasan elementary school teacher inNeb., Iowa and Calif. for 47 yearsuntil her retirement in 1975.Dr. Darlene M. Ritter ’43 (75),Fremont; March 27. Darlene taughtat Nebraska high schools beforebecoming Professor of English atMidland Lutheran College,Fremont for 27 years. She was aFulbright teacher in Reggio Emilia,Italy and Reykjavik, Iceland. Sheretired as professor emeritus in1991 from Midland.Lynn M. Paege ’43 (79), Gregory,S.D.; March 9. Lynn served as ameteorologist in the U.S. Air Forceduring World War II. After hisdischarge he was employed in NewJersey as a research scientist and amicrobiologist until retiring toGregory in 1986.Elizabeth Deckert ’45 (93),Tilden; April 18. Elizabeth beganteaching in one-room schoolhousesand later taught at TildenElementary School for 21 years.She served as principal at Dist. 96,Meadow Grove for two years. Sheestablished the Elizabeth DeckertCollege Scholarship Fund atElkhorn Valley High School.Dorothy Mae (Rodekohr) Larson’46, (75), Central City; April 26.She taught school in northeastNebraska before working for theSoil Conservation Service.Mary Belle (Samuelson) Stuve’50, (72), Albuquerque, N.M.; Dec.25, 2000. She was a retiredteacher, having taught for 20 yearsat Albuquerque Public Schools.Prior to moving to Albuquerque,she taught at schools in Neb.Joyce (Peters) Lake ’52 (69),Le Mars, Iowa; April 27. Joycewas a homemaker, 4-H leader andSunday school teacher in her earlyadult years, later serving as avolunteer at various locations in theLe Mars area.Joan (Nuss) Carl ’52 (69),Hartington; May 4. Joan and herhusband Don purchased the BenFranklin Store in 1975. Shecontinued to work at the store,which is now called D&J Variety,until her retirement.Irene L. (Bolhm) Peuse, ’66 (91),Battle Creek; April 29. Irenetaught in rural schools in DixonCounty and also taught in SouthSioux City and Sioux City, Iowa.She retired after 32 years ofteaching and became a member ofthe Retired Teachers Association.Wayne State Magazine 25WSC Magazine Summer 012510/2/01, 2:49 PM