Winter 2021 Courier Obituaries

Obituaries

1933

Frances “Fran” McLaughlin Stauffacher, 109, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on November 12. Fran was Coe’s oldest known alum. Prior to attending Coe, she was part of the second graduating class from Mount Mercy Junior College (now Mount Mercy University) in 1931. At Coe, she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She was an American Red Cross recreation worker during World War II, and she later worked on the Eldora, Iowa, Twin-Weekly newspapers that were published by her late husband, George R. Stauffacher ’32. After retirement, she and George moved to Florida before moving back to Iowa and joining the Meth-Wick community in Cedar Rapids. Fran is survived by a niece; six nephews; and nine great-nieces and -nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, George.

1939

Joe Ainsworth, 104, of Pensacola, Florida, on July 8. Joe served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He held many jobs throughout his life including military police officer in the Army, delivery driver for Coca-Cola, fingerprint specialist in the FBI, insurance agent and furniture store owner. He was a lifetime member of The Gideons International and was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church for nearly 80 years. Joe is survived by a son, Steven Ainsworth; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

1941

Theodore Kubicek, 100, husband of the late Margaret Zimmerman Kubicek ’41, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 14. Theodore earned his bachelor’s degree in 1941 from the University of Iowa and his Juris Doctor degree with distinction from the Iowa College of Law. In his senior year he was one of four editors of the Iowa Law Review. Following law school, he became a special agent in the FBI until 1946 when he began practicing law with his father and brother-in-law in Cedar Rapids. During college, Theodore was a member of Gamma Eta Gamma legal fraternity and Pi Kappa Alpha. During his professional career, he became a member of the Linn County Bar Association (receiving the Distinguished Service Award), Iowa State and American Bar associations. He was a fellow of the American College of Probate Counsel, an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, president of the Cedar Rapids Law Club and the Linn County Bar Association, president of Bohemian Savings and Loan Association and later chairman of the board. Theodore wrote many articles for publication that were included in the Drake Law Review and Iowa Law Review, among others. He retired from practicing law in order to devote his time to writing. He self-published his first book, "You and Your Estate," in 1988. His second book, "Your Worldly Possessions," was published in 1992 by McGraw-Hill Inc. He was a professional member of the National Writers Association. Theodore loved teaching and was an adjunct instructor at Kirkwood Community College for four years, a tutor at the Lincoln Learning Center for two years and a lecturer at many legal seminars. He also was a scoutmaster and member of Conopus Club and Lodge 262 of Western Fraternal Association and was a member and elder at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. Theodore is survived by three children, Mary Jen Bear, Dave Kubicek and John Kubicek; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 75 years, Margaret.

1944

Elizabeth “Betsy” Snively Deardoff, 98, of Moline, Illinois, on August 31. Betsy worked for the Rock Island Arsenal for 20 years, retiring in 1979. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Milan, Illinois, and was part of the Ruth and Naomi Circles of the church. Betsy is survived by a daughter, Kathleen Little; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

1948

Donald Chadima, 94, of National City, California, on September 17. Donald served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea at the 38th Parallel as a sergeant in the Public Health and Welfare Section. He received several medals, including a Good Conduct Medal. In 1950, he moved to San Francisco and wrote copy for several advertising firms before establishing and running his own advertising firm, Castleman and Chadima, for more than 40 years. Donald is survived by a daughter, Loren Chadima; a son, Donald Chadima; and several grandchildren.

James Schacker, 93, of Naples, Florida, on July 6. James served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He later worked as a salesman for General Electric and then for Price Electric in St. Paul, Minnesota. He went on to found the electrical wholesale firm Viking Electric in 1964 and grew it into one of the largest companies of its kind in the United States until he retired in 2000. He also was an accomplished pilot. James is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Schacker; three children, Gregory Schacker, Mary Christine Schacker Hennessy and Timothy Schacker; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

1949

Charles Hopkins, 94, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on October 11. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1944, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served honorably until his discharge in 1946. Upon his return to Iowa, he enrolled as a student at Coe and continued his successful high school track career, claiming the half-mile conference title two years in a row and earning induction into the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. He had a 40-year career in the property and casualty insurance industry, which took him and his family to Illinois, Florida and Minnesota before returning to Iowa. Charles is survived by a son, Steve Hopkins; a daughter, Judy Huebsch; a sister, Glenis Nunn; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a devoted companion, Eileen Naber. He was predeceased by his wife, Joy Kennedy Hopkins ’51.

1950

Elmer “Frank” Dulong, 95, of Hampton, Virginia, on September 22. Frank served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II as a radioman aboard a tank landing ship in the Pacific. He graduated from Coe in 1950 as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He continued to serve as an accounting and finance officer and a management analysis officer until he retired from the Air Force in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel, having earned many Meritorious Service Awards and commendations for his service. During his time in the Air Force, Frank earned his MBA at Indiana University Bloomington, and after retiring from the service, he went to work for The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., in the office of the comptroller. In 1976, GWU transferred him to Hampton, where he oversaw financial matters at the off-campus division of the College of General Studies. He later took a position with Bionetics Corporation in Hampton perfecting budgets for grant proposals, finally retiring in the late 1990s. During his years in Hampton, Frank was very active in the Kiwanis Mercury 64 club, where he held many positions, received many honors and tributes and served as the lieutenant governor, capital district, division 13. He organized many Kiwanis gatherings, events and conventions and especially loved attending international conventions. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hampton. Frank is survived by a son, Frank T. Dulong; and many other relatives. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Jacqueline Massey Dulong ’51.

Richard Klima, 97, of St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 9. Richard served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked for Electronics Communications Inc., where he designed printed circuit boards, some of which were used in NASA's Apollo space program. He retired in 1987 after 30 years with the company. Giving back to the community was important to him, and he became an 18-gallon blood donor at his local blood bank. Richard is survived by two daughters, Debra Boileau and Cynthia Klima; a son, Richard Klima Jr.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Martha “Ann” Wood Nelson, 92, of Wenatchee, Washington, on August 7. Ann earned her bachelor’s degree from George Williams College in 1948. Throughout her life she worked as a Youth Center supervisor for the Lawson Street YMCA in Chicago, a carhop at Indiana’s first drive-in, a department store clerk, a day camp counselor, a policewoman, an encyclopedia salesperson and a bank teller. Ann loved music and sang with four different Methodist Church Choirs and the Yakima Symphony Chorus for more than 30 years. She participated in choral presentations at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. She also performed in several musicals and sang at numerous weddings and funerals over five decades. Ann was a member of both the BX Chapter of PEO and Wesley United Methodist Church for more than 50 years. She also was a member of the Nob Hill School PTA and a Bluebird leader for several years. Ann loved the outdoors and climbed Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood, as well as Mount Adams seven times. In 1968, she hiked the entire Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier. Ann and her late husband, Ollie, enjoyed tandem bike rides; in 1996, they traveled 2,500 miles on their tandem bike from Yakima, Washington, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for Ann’s 50th high school class reunion. Ann is survived by four children, Eric Nelson, Kristi Heilman, Karen Marsh and Kathie Williams; two sisters, Susan Bailey and Sallea Wood; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

1953

Christopher Johnston, 91, of Saline, Michigan, on May 31. Christopher served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He built a long and successful career in sales. He was a longtime member of Barton Hills Country Club and founded the annual invitational golf tournament. He later became an inaugural member of Travis Pointe Country Club. Christopher is survived by three children, Christopher Jr., Karen and Judy. He was predeceased by his wife, Lydia Hill Johnston ’53.

Robert “Bob” Wright, 89, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 4, 2020. Bob is survived by his wife, Marian; five children, Susan Poore, Mary Ellen Mitchell, Patty Wright, Barbara Wright and Steve Wright; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other family members.

1954

Luanne Dunn Glosser, 88, of Charlottesville, Virginia, on October 5. As a child, Luanne was a model known as “Chicago’s Shirley Temple” and was featured in numerous marketing campaigns for companies including Wheaties, Coca-Cola and Sears, to name a few. As an adult, she worked as a church secretary and a kindergarten teacher for Canterbury Nursery School. She also worked for a needle and thread shop, was the gift shop manager of the English Inn and sewed, worked and sold items at C'ville Arts in Charlottesville. She loved knitting and sold her items under the name of LUNA to customers all over the world. Luanne was a member of the University of Virginia (UVA) Women's Club for many years and also volunteered at the UVA Hospital, later becoming the gift shop manager. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority when she was at Coe. Luanne is survived by two sons, Mark and David Glosser; a daughter, Pamela Glosser; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; six nephews; and two nieces.

Steve Story, 87, of Hawkeye, Iowa, on July 14. Steve earned his master’s degree in school administration from the University of Iowa in 1958. He was an athletics coach and social studies teacher in Clarence, Iowa, from 1954-1958. He taught social studies and was an athletics coach at North Fayette High School from 1958-1966. He was high school principal and athletics director at North Fayette High School from 1966-1994 and was named Boss of the Year in 1971. Steve developed the student foreign exchange program with England, Germany and Spain. In 1990, he met and shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School in England. Steve’s community service included the Fayette County Historical Society; being charter president and a founding member of the West Union Jaycees; and being president of the West Union Chamber of Commerce. He was the Fayette County Democratic Party chairman and delegate to the 1964 national convention. He was a board member of the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union and Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) from 1969-1994 and was selected for the IHSSA Hall of Fame in 1993. Steve was a member of the local History and Literature Club. He worked as a referee and umpire at community schools and volunteered with the West Union Ambulance service for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Donna, worked with friends to restore pioneer cemeteries, and Steve served as president of the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries. Steve was an accomplished organist who wrote more than 25 full-length musical programs featuring local musicians and performed on the historic 1896 Kimball pneumatic organ at the Union Sunday School in Clermont, Iowa. He was an organist at the United Methodist Church in West Union, where he was a member since 1958. He also developed a community concert program to raise money for charitable causes. Steve was Fayette County Union's West Union Citizen of the Year in 1964 and 1994. Steve is survived by his wife, Donna; three daughters, Karen, Janet and Linda; a sister, Judy Story Tsui; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three nephews; a niece; two great-nephews; and two great-nieces.

Marie “Ann” Tea Mullen, 88, of Downers Grove, Illinois, on August 17. At Coe, Ann was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and was proud to be part of the court for May Fete. She met her late husband, Wayne Mullen ’56, at Coe and cherished the memory of their pinning ceremony in front of Voorhees. After Wayne returned from serving in Korea, the couple was married and lived in the Quonset huts on campus while Wayne finished his last year at Coe. Throughout her life, Ann taught first grade, nursery school and Sunday school. She also worked at Herrick’s Flower Shop arranging flowers, served lunches at North High and answered phones in customer service at InterVarsity Press. Ann was an accomplished baker and taught cooking and cake decorating at the College of DuPage. She served as den mother in Cub Scouts and helped with Brownies, a Girl Scout troop and 4-H. She was a member of First Congregational Church (now United Church of Christ) for over 80 years and was an active volunteer. Ann is survived by five children, Ken Mullen ’77, Linda, Jeffrey Mullen ’89, Terri and Glenn; a sister, Phyl; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces, including Christie Mullen ’84; and many nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Wayne; a brother-in-law, Bruce Mullen ’56; and a sister-in-law, Marsha Mullen Aukerman ’59.

1956

Caryl Heyer Zachary, 86, of Lyndhurst, Virginia, on September 20. Caryl was on the newspaper staff at Coe, and one of her most memorable college moments was interviewing Vincent Price when he came to campus. She worked as a federal employee, retiring as a certified aircraft specialist. Later in life, she went back to school to complete her college degree, graduating with a master's in environmental sciences. She was active in Eastern Star, Federated Women's Clubs and at the various churches she attended. Caryl is survived by her husband, Ralph; a daughter, Caryl Lynn Welch; two sons, Karl and Kurt Zachary; and two grandchildren.

Stanley La Sota, 86, of Cary, Illinois, on August 10. Stanley was drafted into the U.S. Army as a radio teletype operator immediately after attending Coe. He worked for Centel Telephone Company for 35 years. Stanley is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy; two children, Beth Malinowski and Stan La Sota; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Tom Wilkinson, 86, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on August 8. Tom attended law school at the University of Iowa before being drafted into the U.S. Army after his first year. His service in the Army was short due to an injury, so he returned to Cedar Rapids and worked as a claims adjuster for Iowa National Mutual Insurance Company. He then returned to law school at Iowa, graduating in 1962 with his Juris Doctorate. Tom maintained a private practice for nearly his entire career. In 1963, he was appointed an assistant Linn County attorney. He focused his work on estate planning, corporate law and real estate. He was passionate about renewable energy and did the legal work for several Hydro projects. Tom was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Marion-East Cedar Rapids and formerly Cedar Rapids West. He led the clubs’ student exchange programs for many years. He and his wife, Alice, hosted students from over 15 countries in their home for Rotary and Friendship Force. He also was a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa Bar Association and American Legion Post 298. Tom is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Alice Wilkinson; two sons, Thomas and David Wilkinson; and four grandchildren.

1957

Robert “Bob” Sadilek, 85, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on September 30. Bob spent four years in the U.S. Air Force Academy as a member of the Air Force Academy Band. While at the academy, he earned his master's degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Bob's life was dedicated to teaching and playing music. He was the band director at McKinley Middle School for 35 years, instrumental music teacher at Grant Wood, Tyler, Buchanan and Squaw Creek Schools and private trombone instructor to many successful musicians. He won multiple awards during his teaching career and led his band to the Iowa Bandmasters Association Convention in the early 1990s. He played his trombone with multiple organizations throughout the years, such as the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Veteran's Band and Dixie Notes Plus Band. He was a member of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band since it began in 1951, acting as the chairman of the band commission until June 2020. Bob is survived by his wife, Judith Klimes Sadilek ’60; three daughters, Elizabeth Sadilek-Labenski, Julie Mullett-Conner and Jennifer Szymanowski; a brother, Rick Sadilek ’68; a sister, Shirley Sadilek Paulson ’61; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three nephews; and one niece.

1958

Howard Kucera, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on October 6. At Coe, Howard was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi and was an ROTC distinguished graduate with a regular commission in the U.S. Air Force. While serving at the Air Force Intelligence Center in Arlington Hall Station, Virginia, he earned a master’s degree in physics from George Washington University. He was elected to Sigma Pi Sigma, an honor society in physics. After the completion of his service, Howard taught physics and math at the University of Dubuque. He began working for Collins Radio Company in 1963 as a radio propagation engineer in the research department working on the Echo I and II satellite programs. He also contributed on the DLA program, was a program manager for the AFSC, Navy Growth Radio and JTIDS and served as president of Collins Management Club. He retired as the director of contracts, pricing and government fiscal affairs. He was an active Coe alumnus and received the Distinguished Service Award from the college in 2013. The Howard Kucera Physics Scholarship has been established at Coe in his memory. Howard is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann Turnbull Kucera ’58; a son, Charles Kucera; a daughter, Beth Kucera ’81; a sister, Cindi Anderson; two grandchildren, Alexandra Fangman ’14 and Maddy Fangman Taylor ’15; two step grandchildren; and one step great-grandchild.

1960

Beverly Morse Perry, 81, of Santa Rosa, California, on April 7. Beverly moved to California in her 20s with three childhood friends to start a new life. She loved to travel and was an avid supporter of the Santa Rosa Symphony. Beverly is survived by two sons, John and David.

1961

Luanne Waldock Lawler, 82, of Kissimmee, Florida, on August 2. Luanne taught special education in private and public schools for 25 years. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ken Lawler ’61; two children; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

1963

Beverly Holden Skinner, 79, of Moss Beach, California, on August 19. Beverly worked at Burke Marketing Research, then became one of the first female supervisors at John Deere. She returned to college and earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Ambrose University. In 1987, Beverly retired early from John Deere and moved to North Carolina to follow her newfound passion for stock car racing, choosing to live three miles from Charlotte Motor Speedway. She worked for a time distributing the Winston Cup Scene racing magazine before joining the visual merchandising display team at Hanford's Inc., a family-owned flower and gift wholesale company. Beverly enjoyed spending time with the Cabarrus County Master Gardeners and identified plants for their annual plant sale. She also fulfilled her lifelong wish of visiting all 50 states. Beverly is survived by three children, Kerry, Brett and Korrine Skinner; five siblings, Janeth Peterseim, Marcy Keppy, Myron Holden, Linda Miller and Stan Holden; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

1966

Marilyn Baumgartner Andersen, 90, of Center Point, Iowa, on September 5. Marilyn attended the University of Iowa College of Nursing and worked as a nurse for her husband, Dr. Kenneth Andersen, as they started a family. When her youngest started kindergarten, Marilyn attended Coe for her bachelor’s degree, then went on to earn a master’s degree in literature from the University of Iowa. Marilyn was active in the Center Point community, giving generously of her time and resources to many local organizations including the Center Point Lions Club, the Center Point Ambulance Service and Fross Park. After her husband passed away, she donated to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail to help pave it the rest of the way to Center Point in his honor. She was a longtime dedicated member of the Linn County Foster Care Review Board and the Center Point Library Board. She also served on the city council in Center Point for many years and served as mayor pro tem. Marilyn and her husband established the Kenneth and Marilyn Andersen Library in Center Point and the Andersen Family Scholarship for graduating seniors of Center Point-Urbana (CPU) High School. She also donated generously to the CPU School for Fine Arts and science programs. Marilyn is survived by two daughters, Holly Andersen ’72 and Christa Andersen ’75 and her husband, Terry Potter ’74; two sons, Phil Andersen ’77 and Ken Andersen ’79; nine grandchildren, including Lorick Andersen ’10; five great-grandchildren; a niece; and many “adopted” sons and daughters.

Sherry Folsom-Meek, 76, of Hugo, Minnesota, on August 29. At Coe, Sherry was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. After graduation, she taught for a year and then began a career in real estate. She later continued her studies, earning her master’s degree in adaptive physical education from the University of Kansas in 1983 and her doctorate from Texas Women’s University in 1986. She taught at several universities prior to Minnesota State University at Mankato, where she remained until retiring in 2015. Sherry was internationally known for her work in the field of developmental adapted physical education and had numerous awards and publications to her credit, including six books of which she was the primary author. She worked for many seasons with the Special Olympics and Camp Courage, an organization that serves participants with developmental disabilities and special needs. Inspiration for these accomplishments was her late daughter, Trish. Sherry also served on the Coe Alumni Council for several years. Many of her sorority sisters and Coe friends contributed to the college’s landscape restoration efforts to honor her memory and the impact she had as an educator and friend. Sherry is survived by her ex-husband, Charles Meek; a sister, Gina Folsom; a brother, Richard Folsom; an uncle, John Folsom; a nephew; and many cousins, friends and colleagues.

Antonette “Toni” Kirchner Pickering, 76, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on August 22. Toni was a full-time mother to her seven children. She also worked in customer service for a time at Frontier Global and later Alliant Energy. She volunteered her time helping women and children with PATCH and the Madge Phillips Center. Toni is survived by her children, James Paul Pickering, Samuel "Pick" Pickering, Pippin Pickering, Aerin Freno, Kenley Pickering, Kerrin "KK" Magu and Elen "ET" Pickering; and 10 grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Jim Pickering ’66.

1968

Peter Taggart, 74, of Des Moines, Iowa, on August 18. At Coe, Peter sang in the choir and was a member of Lambda Xi Alpha. Peter earned his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. While in Chicago, he worked for Morton Salt. After moving back to Des Moines, he went on to earn master’s degrees in history and English. After working in teaching, real estate and marketing for many years, Peter rediscovered his passion for teaching and became a professor of history at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. While teaching, he also ran a business consultancy where he helped many struggling companies rebuild. Peter loved all sports, especially baseball, and he developed a baseball statistic called TAG that was used by major league players in salary negotiations and was a regular feature in the Sporting News. He served on Coe’s Alumni Council and on the Board of Trustees from 1990-1991. He also was a member of the Des Moines Scottish Rite. Peter is survived by a daughter, Libby Singh; a son, Colin Taggart ’00; a brother, Bob Taggart; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol Meyer Taggart ’68.

Gail Warren Bruckner, 73, of Geneva, New York, on August 18. Gail was a housewife and mother. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bob Bruckner ’65; four children, Daniel, Matthew, John and Elizabeth; a brother, Lyle; and 10 grandchildren.

1969

Thaddeus Snarzyk, 86, of Marshalltown, Iowa, on August 24. Thaddeus served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He worked as an information technology consultant, first for Collins Radio and then as the IT department manager for the city of Cedar Rapids. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, Optimists and American Management Society. Thaddeus is survived by two children, Brian and Judy; a sister, Antoinette “Toni”; and three grandchildren.

1970

Richard Albert, 72, of Camden, Arkansas, on July 10. Richard moved to Arkansas in 1971 to work for AmeriCorps as a VISTA. He was an avid golfer in later years. He is survived by his wife, Gayle Coston; and two stepchildren, Erin Coston Waller and John Coston.

1972

Thomas Burchers, 70, of Tripoli, Iowa, on September 4. Thomas taught music in central Iowa for several years before becoming the high school band director for Tripoli Community Schools in 1975. He remained in that position until 1999, after which he became the school district’s technology coordinator until 2010, retiring after 35 years of service. Throughout his life, Thomas was active in educational associations including the Iowa Bandmasters Association, for which he served as secretary. He performed with various groups including the Waterloo Municipal Band and the UNI New Horizons Band. His dedication to music education was recognized repeatedly, including induction into Washington High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame and receipt of the NEIBA Karl King Award. Thomas is survived by two sons, Thomas and Marcus; and a brother, Jim. He was predeceased by his wife, Carla Kane Burchers ’72; and his mother, Margaret Victorine Burchers ’40.

1975

Elizabeth Ragona Gillon, 92, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on August 12. Before attending Coe, Elizabeth worked at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids. After graduating from Coe, she continued her education at the University of Iowa, earning a master’s degree in Russian language and literature in 1983. She had the opportunity to travel abroad to study Russian language, history and literature in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1987 and taught English and American literature in Moscow in 1989 and Olomouc, Czech Republic, in 1992. Elizabeth also taught English composition and American literature at Mount Mercy College (now Mount Mercy University), English as a Second Language (ESL) at Kirkwood Community College and English language survival skills to recent immigrants at Lincoln Learning Center. She also worked at American College Testing (ACT) in Iowa City and Pearson Testing grading college entrance essay exams. Elizabeth is survived by her children, Thomas Gillon ’72, Jerry Gillon, Betsy Boudreau, Jean Ann Wyant, and Matthew Gillon; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

1976

Beverly Braundmeier Hartke, 79, of The Villages, Florida, on August 9. Beverly served in numerous positions in music, teaching and business in Florida, Iowa and Washington. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Ralph Hartke; a daughter, Julia; a brother, Art; two sisters, Connie and Diane; and four grandchildren.

1977

Glen McCord, 65, of San Francisco, California, on July 14. Glen played football at Coe and was CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team in 1977. He moved to San Francisco to pursue coaching and further his college education. He lived and worked there for over 40 years. Glen is survived by his mother, Gloria McCord; a sister, Sharon Schanbacher; two brothers, John and Douglas McCord; four nieces; and two nephews.

1978

Patricia Barta Waskow, 87, of Marion, Iowa, on August 16. Before attending Coe, Patricia was a stay-at-home mom to her two children. She was an active member of the Jane Austen Society and volunteered at the Cedar Rapids Public Library for many years. Patricia is survived by her children, Julie Basten and Kurt Waskow ’07; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

1985

Laura Broulik Kowal, 57, of Galena, Illinois, on August 9. Laura had a successful career in the health care industry, having management and director roles with UnityPoint in Dubuque, Iowa, Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Illinois, and Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She retired in 2016 and worked part time at River Bend Gallery and Carlotta's in downtown Galena. She volunteered at the Elizabeth Nursing Home in Elizabeth, Illinois, doing therapy dog work with her beloved Goldendoodle, Effie. Laura is survived by her daughter, Kelly Kowal; six siblings, William Broulik, Dale Broulik, Susan Spivey, Mark Broulik, Stephen Broulik and Wesley Broulik; her mother-in-law; four sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

1986

Deanna Kerr, 58, of Lisbon, Iowa, on August 29. Deanna attended the American Institute of Business for one year. She worked as a bookkeeper and an accountant. She is survived by her longtime partner, Rex Fox; her mother, Norma Kerr; two siblings, David Kerr and Barbara Tracey; two nephews; and a niece.

Steven Schmidt, 60, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on August 31. Steven earned a degree in business and French from Luther College. He worked for General Mills for over 40 years, from high school until his retirement in 2019. He was a passionate volunteer and philanthropist for the Rapids AIDS Project (RAP) and Alzheimer's Association. Steven is survived by his husband of over 38 years, Mark Downing; his daughter, Nikkole Williamson; his mother, Joyce Schmidt; a brother, James Schmidt ’85; three grandchildren; a niece; a nephew; a brother-in-law; and two best friends. He was predeceased by his sister, Janet Schmidt Block ’79.

1987

Steve Graham, 65, of Marco Island, Florida, on July 6. Steve earned his master’s degree from Drake University. He was the chief financial officer for the Newton Community School District and then for the Cedar Rapids Community School District, where he proudly served in that position for 21 years, retiring in 2018. He was a member of a number of community organizations. Steve is survived by his wife, Alison Detling Graham ’93; six children, Christopher Graham, Mallorie Kaut, McKenna Graham, Brady Graham, Asher Graham and Eli Graham; six siblings, Mike Graham, Jeff Graham, Laurie Valentine, Dave Graham, Tammara Michalec and Regina Graham; and several nieces and nephews.

Scott Tully, 55, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, on October 5. Scott earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1990. He began his legal career with a large Tulsa firm and then founded the Tully Law Firm in 2007. For 25 years, he was a fierce advocate for his clients and believed the $1,000 case was worth as much as the $1,000,000 case. Although primarily practicing in Oklahoma, he was also proudly admitted to practice in Iowa and Alabama. Scott enthusiastically gave countless hours and donations to community organizations close to his heart and had a soft spot for underprivileged children. He was known for supplying classrooms with books, buying entire little league teams their uniforms when fundraising was tough, mentoring local high school football players, randomly picking up strangers’ tabs and strapping his motorcycle down with dozens of toys for annual toy drives. Scott is survived by his wife, Robin Marie Tully; his children, Lindsey McConnell, Lacey Ullrich, Maggie Logan, Mollie Detamore and Piper Tully; his mother, Nancy Crawford; his brother, Billy Tully; eight grandchildren; two nieces; a nephew; and a great niece.

1994

Laura Poresky, 48, of Des Moines, Iowa, on September 15. Laura earned her master’s degree in textiles and clothing from Iowa State University. She worked at Old Cow Town in Wichita, Kansas, for several years before moving to Des Moines. She started working at Living History Farms in 2002. She was responsible for all the costuming for the interpreters, making sure they wore period-appropriate clothing and sewing most of it herself. Visitors to Living History Farms can see her work as they talk to the interpreters at the 1850 Farm, the 1870s Village and the 1900 Farm. Laura participated in the Drake University Community Choir, ushered at Hoyt Sherman Place and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She was involved with the Midwest Open Air Museums Coordinating Council; Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums; the Des Moines Area Barn and Contra Dance; and attended the Chrononaut Cotillion, which included the Brass Gears Adventures Society and Des Moines Science Fiction Society. Laura is survived by her mother, Barbara Poresky; her sister, Pamela Baker; two cats, Gatsby and Lilly; four uncles; and four cousins.

1995

Tina Shoffner, 52, of Hollister, California, on August 21. Tina is survived by her wife, Kelly Shoffner; a daughter, Amanda; two sons, Daniel and Michael Hohn; two brothers, David and Floyd Shoffner; two sisters, Patricia Gleghorn and Barbra Wilson; a daughter-in-law; seven nieces; five nephews; and extended family and friends.

1996

Lorene Holten-Wenger, 49, of Marion, Iowa, on May 16. Lorene was a stay-at-home mom to her three children. She is survived by her husband, Steve Wenger; her children, Raymond Wenger, Christiana Wenger and Gwynevere Wenger; her father, Martin Holten; and her brother, Wade Holten.

2006

Jan Konings Barcz, 66, of Central City, Iowa, on October 2. Before attending Coe, Jan graduated from the University of Wisconsin — Stout. She worked for Rockwell Collins and retired in 2015. She was an active member of Calvary Community Church. Jan is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jim Barcz; her sons, Scott, David and Tim Barcz; her siblings, Jon Konings and Kris Szudajski; and nine grandchildren.

2014

Christopher Janss, 28, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, on July 30. Chris worked several different jobs before becoming a welder for Acterra Group in Marion. He was an avid outdoorsman and a handyman who would find a way to fix anything. Chris is survived by his parents, Scott Janss ’92 and Jane Janss; his daughter, Laila; four siblings, Justin Janss ’11, Brandon Janss ’12 and his wife Kourtney Pudil Janss ’12, Taylor Wagaman and Bryce Janss; his significant other, Alivia Buch; his grandmother, Delores Janss; several nieces and nephews; and many more family members and friends.

Faculty

Former assistant professor of speech and forensics John Foxen, 93, of Williamsport, Maryland, on November 14, 2019. John served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He taught at Coe from 1955-1957 and later became dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Alfred University in Alfred, New York, retiring in 1988. He was an active member of the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He also was a member of the Shepherdstown Men’s Club where he served as past president, and he was a volunteer docent at the Shepherdstown Visitors Center and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. John is survived by his daughter, Rebecca L. Jones; and his son, Matthew Posten Foxen.

Former mathematics instructor Helen Friend Smith, 98, of Morley, Iowa, on August 12. Helen earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1943. She then graduated from the University of Illinois in 1944 with her master's degree in mathematics. She taught various high school subjects in Illinois and Iowa, and taught mathematics at Coe from 1946-1949. Helen was elected to membership in the Iowa Academy of Science in 1947. She was a longtime member of Morley Faith United Methodist Church and later, Olin Community United Methodist Church. She was deeply involved in the Sunday School program, teaching classes for many years. She also was active in various Morley Community Women's groups and other local organizations. Helen is survived by her sons, Greg and Scott Smith; a sister, Marianne Holdman; and a sister-in-law.