Carol M. Williams ’57, 86, of Mahomet, IL passed away Monday, June 26, 2023 at Carle Hospital in Urbana, IL. Carol was born July 11, 1936 to Floyd and Jessie (Dean) Rench in Peoria, IL. In her early school years, she attended a one-room schoolhouse with her mother as the teacher before going on to graduate from Chillicothe High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She spent her entire teaching career in the Champaign School District, finishing at Champaign Centennial High School, where she built a strong choir program. She married Carl W. Williams on November 18, 1962. They met while both were teaching at Edison Middle School (then Edison Junior High). They had two children: Kate (Mark) Smith and Joe (Pam) Williams. Carol is survived by her children and their spouses, all of Mahomet, and her four beloved grandchildren: Molly Smith of Washington, DC, Nate Smith of Denver, Anna Williams of Mahomet, and Ben (Susan Fox) Williams of Urbana. Carol delighted in her grandchildren and their friends and was a well-known figure at all of their events for soccer, band, choir, and theatre during their years in the Mahomet-Seymour school system. You can read more here.

Jerry Philpott ’59 passed away on June 19, 2023. Jerry was born March 8, 1937, in Springfield, IL, to Les and Jean Philpott. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, who he married November 11, 1983 in Bloomington, IL. He is also survived by three daughters: Elizabeth Wilmeth (Lee), Marcia Philpott, Amy LaMarra Sawyer (Will); and three grandchildren: Grace Wilmeth, Emma Wilmeth and Woods Sawyer. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and all their accomplishments. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dick Philpott.

Jerry graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1959, where he was a proud member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Over the years, he kept his fraternity brothers in touch with each other and encouraged the younger brothers to do the same. He was an active alum, receiving IWU’s Loyalty Award in 2010, and a citation for Distinguished and Exceptional Service from Phi Gamma Delta National in 2010. You can read more about Jerry here.

Judy (Snook) Brust ’58 passed away on April 13, 2023 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Judy was born on May 10, 1936, in Joliet, Illinois to Ralph and Ethel Snook. Judy grew up in Plainfield Township, and was involved in Girl Scouts, 4H, and the Plainfield Congregational Church.

Judy graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University’s School of Nursing in 1958. She graduated with a BSN and went on to perform many different roles such as a clinical nurse, hospital nurse, surgical nurse, and a neonatal nurse, that being her very favorite. Judy met her future husband Norman Dale Brust in choir practice at Plainfield Congregational Church. They were married on June 12, 1959. Norman was principal at Plainfield Grade School. He later earned a PHD at the University of Illinois. While raising a family of five, Norman’s work took them to live in many places in the country and even to Taiwan. They last settled in the St. Louis, MO area when Norman died in 2003 after 44 years of marriage.

Judy was an excellent baker and seamstress. She enjoyed gardening, was a member of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, volunteered for the symphony, sang in the choir, and played the hand bells. Judy was able to travel to many different countries for choir and handbell performances.

She was a loving and caring mother. She was generous and loved getting presents for everyone. She brought humor and love wherever she went. Read more about Judy here.

Mary Kate “Katie” Reeder Brandon Fraley ’58 passed away on November 1, 2022 in Taylorville, Illinois. Born in Dewitt, Illinois in 1936, Katie was a dynamic elementary school teacher who influenced countless students over four decades in the classroom. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Illinois Wesleyan University and was a member of Sigma Kappa. As part of her lasting legacy, her grandson Samuel also graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education. You can read Katie’s full obituary here.

Rhea Fae (Truxell) Kerkera ’54 passed away on February 22, 2021. She was born on February 2, 1932 in Edinburg, Illinois. Rhea was a member of Sheridan First United Methodist Church, and did volunteer work for almost fifty years. She is survived by her son, daughter, and many friends.

Jack K. Stephens ’57 of Monmouth, IL. passed away Monday, July 11, 2022. Jack was born May 30, 1931 in Joplin, MO, the son of Lyman Kenneth and Lola Margaret (Perry) Stephens. He was raised and educated in Normal, IL, graduating from Normal High School in 1949. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1957 and later his Master of Music degree in 1961. Jack married Joy Ruth Fairchild ’62 in Heyworth, IL on August 10, 1961. Ruth passed away on July 12, 2022. View the full obituary here.

Robert “Bob” Levine, M.D. ’48 passed away on June 21, 2022. Bob was born in Chicago, IL on July 20, 1929. He attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science. After graduating from medical school in 1953, Bob served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force. In 1963, Bob and his wife moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where Bob became a partner in a private surgical practice. After retiring from surgery, Bob maintained his interest in improving and supporting the health care system. View the full obituary here.

Norman Erickson ’50 died May 17, 2022. He was 95. Norm served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before attending Illinois Wesleyan, where he was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon. He later earned a master’s degree at Roosevelt University. Norm taught physical education and coached basketball for 36 years at Deer Path Junior High School in Lake Forest, Illinois; his legacy there is honored by way of the annual Norm Erickson Invitational Tournament. Norm also remained connected to athletics as an Illinois High School Association basketball and football official. Norm served for 19 years as a Libertyville (Ill.) Township trustee, and as waterfront director, camp director and owner of Camp Mishawaka in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Norm loved the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs. He loved his friends and family even more. He is survived by three sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. You can read his full obituary here.

Patricia (Hartman) Yoder ’53 of Bloomington, Illinois, died May 13, 2022. She was 91. Pat majored in elementary education and was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority at Illinois Wesleyan. She met her late husband, John Yoder ’49, the older brother of her roommate, during her time as an IWU student. Illinois Wesleyan played an important role in the Yoders’ lives; they were dedicated fans of the Titans their entire lives and returned to campus regularly. Pat taught at Jefferson School in Bloomington before she and John started their family. She was a fun, creative mom who loved to cook and entertain, especially when hosting family gatherings. Pat was a member of the Bloomington-Normal Symphony Orchestra Guild, where she held a variety of leadership positions. She and John also loved spending time at their second home in Cambria, California, where she also enjoyed hosting family and friends. She is survived by five children, including John Yoder ’78, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. You can read her full obituary here.

Frank New ’53 of Tempe, Arizona, died Mar 24, 2022. He was 91. Frank earned a bachelor’s degree at Illinois Wesleyan University and a master’s degree from Garrett Theological School in Evanston, Illinois. While at IWU, he met and married Mary Lou (Doland) New ’53. Frank spent 44 years as a Methodist minister in Central Illinois. He and Mary Lou retired to Sun Lakes, Arizona, where he spent two years on staff at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church. In 2005, they moved to and became active residents of Life Care Retirement Community at Friendship Village of Tempe. After a cancer diagnosis, they moved to an assisted living facility, where they lived for two years. Through his life and work, Frank touched many lives. He is survived by his wife, three children, including Sherry New ’79, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.