Majorie “Marge” Egger ’51, sadly passed away on Tuesday, May 23 2017 in South Elgin, Illinois. She lived in Elgin for her entire life and was an Executive Secretary at the Elgin National Watch Co. before retiring. Marge was a member of the Elgin First Baptist Church and the National Secretaries Association. She is survived by her stepdaughter and two sister-in-laws.
To read the full obituary, click here.
Nina Jane Baird ’48 unfortunately passed away on Monday, June 10, 2019 in Glen Carbon, Illinois at the age of 92. She was born on January 8th, 1927 in Edwardsville, Illinois. She married Everett Baird in 1946, and the two owned and operated Midwest Foundry Supply until Everett’s death in 1975. Nina was elected as the Edwardsville city clerk in 1981, and retired from the position in 2001. She is survived by her son, Thomas Baird, her three grandchildren and her four great-grandchildren. Nina was a member of Saint John’s United Methodist Church in Edwardsville, Edwardsville Rotary club, Edwardsville Junior Service Club, League of Women Voters, and was one of the original founders of the Edwardsville Community Foundation. Awards Nina received included the Paul Harris Fellow award, the Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce Athena award, and she was a distinguished recipient of the Women of Achievement award.
To read her full obituary, click here.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Jack William Rhind ’59. Jack passed away on May 16, 2019. To view his obituary, click here.
We are saddened to report the passing of Emeritus trustee John Stutzman ’54. John passed away on August 9, 2019 at age 91. With his wife Erma, who survives, he established the Peace Fellows Program at Illinois Wesleyan. To read his full obituary, click here.
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mary Green ’48. Mary passed away on July 8, 2019. Along with her husband, Kenneth Green, she is survived by her children: Robert Lawrence Green , Marcia Brothers and Donald Roy Green; 2 grandchildren and cousin, Sara Jane Siddon. To view her full obituary, click here.
We are saddened to announce the passing of Lois Thoman ’59. Lois passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 10, 2019.
Lois is survived by her sons, Jeff (Sandi) Thoman, and Michael (Margaret) Thoman, 4 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
To read her full obituary, click here.
Nancy J. Froelich, 88, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019. She was also preceded in death by her husband Bill ’49 and one son. She is survived by her 3 children, 11 Grandchildren, and 15 Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister and 3 nephews. She’s received the following honors: YWCA Woman of Distinction, IWU Distinguished Alumni Award in 1989, Bloomington Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow, State of Illinois Preservation Award, ISU John Maitland, Jr. Commitment to Education Award and the McLean County Mayors’ Association Person of the Year and named a a History Maker by the McLean County Museum. She was twice elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. She served on the Board of the Mennonite College of Nursing and was a recipient of an honorary Nursing degree “for her dedicated interest support and understanding of the profession of nursing.” Mennonite School of Nursing said,” she was a builder, leader, and role model for women in leadership.”
Read her full obituary here.
Nancy (Hoose) Froelich ’52
Nancy (Hoose) Froelich ’52 and husband Bill Froelich ’49
Sue Frances Maisch, age 81 of Louisville, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2019. She earned a B.S. in Nursing at Illinois Wesleyan University in 1959. She was one of the first permitted to live on campus rather than the hospital Nurses Dorm. Sue was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. In 1960 she married Weldon Maisch ’57 and they began their life journey in Decatur, IL. Schooling, corporate merger, EPA regulations and energy crisis lead them to live in six different cities. Sue’s professional employment included emergency room, nursing school instructor, University Health Service, company Health Nurse and Psychology and Addiction Rehab. She took time out to be a full time mother, continuing her nursing by volunteering at Planned Parenthood, Red Cross and the Methadone Clinic. Sue is survived by husband Weldon Maisch ’57, two sons, and six grandchildren.
Read full obituary here.
Helen Lucille (née Geneva) Harbison, 93, peacefully passed away at home on July 17, 2019. Helen was born September 3, 1925 in Freeport, Illinois to William B. Geneva and Carolyn (née Schertz) Geneva. In 1947, Helen graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) with a degree in History and a minor in English. She was a proud sorority sister of Kappa Delta at IWU. She became a stewardess for United Airlines, where she later met her husband, Air Vice-Marshal William “Paddy” Harbison RAF, CB, CBE, AFC, FBIM. With her passion for health and nutrition, she later ran her own business as a diet consultant. Helen is survived by her two sons and three grandchildren.
Helen was an avid alumnae member of IWU and went to the reunions almost every year. Her husband and other family members often accompanied her to the reunions and enjoyed the numerous homecoming events. Through the years, she kept in touch with many of her sorority sisters from Kappa Delta. She had many wonderful memories of her years as a Kappa Delta sister. Helen’s husband Paddy had the opportunity to give a lecture at one of the homecoming events, “A Pilot’s Perspective on World War II”, where he talked about his experiences as a WWII pilot for the British air force (RAF).
Helen made a digital oral history at IWU which is stored in the digital commons. Link: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/oral_hist/26/
She talks about her time at IWU and how her sorority, Kappa Delta, gave her support and enjoyment.
Helen’s father, William B. Geneva, was also a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in 1911 and of the IWU Law School in 1917.
Helen’s family would like to thank IWU for all the wonderful reunions. She and her family loved being part of the IWU family.
Helen and William Harbison on Day of Interview
Helen (Geneva) Harbison ’47
Jean Holdridge Reeves, 99, died June 5, 2019. Jean was born January 27, 1920 in Marion, Ohio. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University as a Kappa Kappa Gamma sister with a degree in home economics and from the University of Connecticut with master’s degree in child development. In 1944, feeling a sense of duty as the youngest of four sisters, she enlisted in the American Red Cross to serve during WWII and was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. Her tour of duty in the Red Cross is digitally documented in the UNC-G Women Veterans Historical Project.
You can view her obituary here.
