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.

Mario Mancinelli of Bloomington, Illinois, died March 15, 2022. He was 99. Mario served as a faculty member in Illinois Wesleyan’s School of Music for 35 years. He was hired in 1948 to teach strings and chamber music, and conduct the student orchestra. He retired in 1983 with emeritus status. Mario attended Ohio State University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He was also a faculty member at Brevard Music Center for 25 years. He was a member of the American String Teachers Association, American Federation of Musicians, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and an honorary member of Phi Kappa Phi. Mario was an accomplished violinist and played regularly in Central Illinois orchestras. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing and listening to classical music, playing cards, and watching the Indianapolis 500, World Series and the Olympics. He was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal. He is survived by two children and a granddaughter. 

Helen “Bee” (Schaeffer) Bennison ’45 died Feb. 18, 2022, in Bloomington, Illinois. She was 98. Helen was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma and met future husband Jacob Bennison ’44 during her time at Illinois Wesleyan. The Bennisons lived briefly in Park Forest, Illinois, and Lafayette, Indiana, before moving in 1954 to Bethesda, Maryland, where Helen worked for the National Institutes of Health in its grants division. In retirement, the Bennisons moved to Madison, Wisconsin. After Jake’s death in 2014, Helen returned to her hometown of Bloomington. Helen was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed flower gardening. She cared deeply for her family and had special relationships with her late husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and sister Charlotte Schaeffer ’44. She is survived by three daughters, including Charlotte (Bennison) Donat ’70 and Carol (Bennison) Nyweide ’73, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.