John David Zwanzig ‘57 passed away June 1, 2021 in Ottawa, IL, surrounded by his children. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, Illinois Wesleyan, and John Marshall Law School. Dave started his career as a private attorney in his father’s practice. He later became the Assistant State’s Attorney of LaSalle County, and then went on to become a LaSalle County Associate Judge, where he served on the bench for 25 years. He also taught family law at IVCC and the Sheridan Correctional Center. Dave was known by many for his generosity and his desire to help others. He is survived by his children, four grandchildren, his former wife, a brother, and a step-daughter.

Robert Randall ’52 of Gilman, Illinois, died May 5, 2021. He was 91. Robert studied business administration at Illinois Wesleyan. After graduation, he served in the United States Marines during the Korean War. Upon his return, he married his wife, and they later moved to Gilman, where they owned and operated the Ben Franklin store until it closed in 2006. He is survived by many extended family members.

Alma (Alexander) Somerville ’49 of Peoria, Illinois, died Feb. 26, 2021. Alma studied music at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was a drum majorette and active in Delta Omicron. She went on to a career as a singer, music teacher and choir director at Forrest Hill United Methodist Church of Peoria. She sang with the Peoria Philharmonic Chorale and was a soloist for the Christian Science Church. Alma and her late husband Ross Somerville ’51 lived in Bloomington, Illinois; St. Louis; Peoria; Las Vegas; Champaign, Illinois; and Belvidere, Illinois. In Las Vegas, she sang at UNLV with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and University United Methodist Church Choir. Alma also worked in several retail stores, retiring from Carson Pirie Scott in Urbana, Illinois, in 1986. She was an avid reader and painter, and enjoyed time spent with her family. She is survived by two children, including Susie (Somerville) Brown ’79, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

Carol (Fulk) Hunt ’52 of Ludington, Michigan, died April 7, 2021. She was 90.

Carol attended Michigan State University before transferring and graduating from Illinois Wesleyan. She both attended college and worked full-time while raising four children. As a teacher, she was known for being kind and nurturing, but also able to instill discipline in her students. She was active in her church, and loved her dogs and family homes and cottages in Michigan, Florida and North Carolina. She is survived by her husband, four children, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary here.

June Yolton Cusey McClister ’49 died in February 2020. She was 93.

June was a member of the IWU class of 1949. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. She is survived by her son (Phillip Cusey), daughter-in-law (Melissa) and 2 grand children.

Ida B. Gray ’58 passed away on April 3, 2021. Please see the full obituary here. 

Robert Joiner ’53 of Warrenton, Oregon, died March 19, 2021. He was 89. Bob attended Illinois Wesleyan on a euphonium scholarship, and was active in Phi Mu Alpha and Blue Key Honor Society. He later learned to play the trombone so he could play in jazz clubs. Bob joined the U.S. Army after his IWU graduation, and was stationed with the Seventh Army Symphony in Germany, where he directed a radio show and wrote the arrangements for singers and masters of ceremonies. Upon his return stateside, he completed work on a master’s degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bob was a highly sought-after musician and teacher, and he played in many bands. He also was a stock broker and salesman of musical instruments. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two stepchildren, several grandchildren and a great-grandson.

You can read the full obituary here.

Dana (Johnson) Brown ’59 of Bloomington, Illinois, died Jan. 31, 2021. She was 83. Dana studied Spanish and history at Illinois Wesleyan, where she also met her husband Wayne Brown ’60. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, Egas Senior Women’s Honorary Society and Mortar Board National Collegiate Honor Society at IWU. Dana enjoyed golf, tennis and traveling, especially to Sanibel Island, Florida, where her family vacationed regularly. She and her husband later spent many years at their winter home at Kelly Greens Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida, where Dana was a member of the club’s traveling golf and tennis teams. Dana was also a member of Crestwicke Country Club in Bloomington, and the Crestwicke Women’s Golf Association. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Normal, Illinois. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary here.