Category Archives: Obituaries

James “Bill” Harris ’50

James “Bill” Harris ’50 passed away on January 23, 2020. He was born January 1, 1927 and is survived by his wife, three daughters, three grandchildren, one grandchildren numerous nieces and nephews. He was a World War II veteran, a reporter for the Daily Pantagraph, and a State Legislative reporter for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Read the full obituary here.

Jeanne (Cicciarelli) Centers ’53

Jeanne (Cicciarelli) Centers ’53 died January 11, 2020, in Peoria, Illinois. She was 88. Jeanne was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Illinois Wesleyan. Jeanne was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the Women’s Guild, serving as its president in 1967-68. She is survived by two children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Jack Snyder ’52

Jack Snyder ’52 of Bloomington, Illinois died on October 31, 2019. He was 90. Jack remained involved with Illinois Wesleyan throughout his life, through the Illinois Wesleyan Associates and as an adviser to IWU’s recent capital campaign. Jack was known for having developed over 20% of the land area of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. He also had developments in Champaign, Illinois; Springfield, Illinois; Peoria, Illinois; Pontiac, Illinois; Longboat Key, Florida; and Englewood, Florida. He is survived by his wife, three children, nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and his brother, Benjamin Snyder ’53.

James (Jim) Stuckey ‘51

We are saddened to inform you of the passing of James Stuckey ‘51.

James Stuckey ’51 of Bloomington, Illinois, died May 1, 2020. He was 93. Jim served in the U.S. Army before his time at Illinois Wesleyan, where he was a member of Sigma Chi. He later studied at the University of Illinois. Jim farmed in northern Ford (Ill.) County for most of his life before moving to Rochester, Illinois, in 2005. He was the county executive director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for Ford County (1961-72) and Iroquois County (1972-92). He was presented the Ford County Progressive Farmers Award in 1958. He was recognized by ASCS with state and national service awards in 1990. Jim was a dedicated public servant who served on the Piper City (Ill.) School and Parkland College boards. He was also on the boards of Piper City Home Guaranty Savings and Loan, Greenbriar Nursing Home and the Ford County Chapter of the American Cancer Society. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Piper City and United Presbyterian Church of Piper City. He volunteered for the Cooperative Extension Service and local 4-H program. Jim enjoyed playing bridge, jigsaw puzzles, word and number games, boating, sailing and skiing. He moved in 2017 to Westminster Village in Bloomington, where he was a member of a vocal group, attended exercise classes, called bingo and worked in the woodshop. He was preceded in death by his first wife Helenjean (Lauterbach) Stuckey ’51, and second wife. He is survived by three children, Randy Stuckey ’75, Charles Stuckey ’77 and Beth (Stuckey) Woodard-Wolfe ’78, 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one sister, and many nieces and nephews.

Bobby Winkles ‘52

We regret to inform you of the passing of Bobby Winkles ‘52. Bobby Winkles ’52 died April 17, 2020. He was 90. Bobby played baseball and basketball at Illinois Wesleyan, and was active in Sigma Chi. He played in Minor League Baseball for seven years before being offered the job of Arizona State University’s first head baseball coach. Bobby built the program from scratch and turned it into a national power by winning three national championships in his 13 years at the helm. He posted a combined record of 524-173, coached 16 All-Americans and was named NCAA Coach of the Year three times. He later managed for four years in Major League Baseball with the California Angels and Oakland Athletics, and also spent several seasons in a variety of roles with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and Montreal Expos. Bobby was inducted into the ASU Hall of Fame in 1982, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997 and College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was named Illinois Wesleyan’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner in 1971. Click here to read about Bobby’s legacy as the former Arizona State baseball coach.

Helen LaCroix (Johnson) ’53

We are saddened to inform you that Helen Mae LaCroix (Johnson) ’53 passed away February 10th, at the age of 88. She was born on January 22, 1932 in Chicago. At Illinois Wesleyan University she met Chuck LaCroix, and during their marriage the two had five children. She was a wonderful mother who valued the time she had with her loved ones. Her art has been exhibited in several art galleries, and she taught workshops at Gorton Community Center. She is survived by four children and four grandchildren.

Read the full obituary here.

Helen LaCroix monoprint as displayed by The Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art.