Category Archives: Obituaries

Allan Horsman’58

Allan Horsman ’58 of Bloomington, Illinois, died May 20, 2021. He was 85. Allan majored in business administration at Illinois Wesleyan and went on to a career as finance director for the City of Bloomington. He was a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal church in Bloomington, as well as the Wade Barney Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite Consistory. He was active in IWU’s Pride Alumni Community. Allan enjoyed classical music and opera, and wintering in Florida. He will be remembered for his kindness and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his partner.

Carol (Fulk) Hunt ’52

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.

Robert Joiner ’53

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

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.

Mary (Fulkerson) Hopper ’59

Mary (Fulkerson) Hopper ’59 of Orange City, Florida, died Feb. 7, 2021. She was 83. Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Kappa Gamma. She also learned to play bridge at IWU, an activity she enjoyed her entire life. Mary taught at Lavallette (New Jersey) Elementary School and Tuckerton (New Jersey) Elementary School. She was active in religious life as a member of The Great Outdoors Church in Titusville, Florida, and Tuckerton United Methodist Church in New Jersey. She and her late husband enjoyed traveling, touring the country in their RV. She is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and extended family members and friends.

You can read the full obituary here.

Phyllis (Owen) Naccarato ‘59

Phyllis (Owen) Naccarato ‘59 of Hinsdale, Illinois, died July 24, 2020. She was 82. Phyllis studied sociology, psychology, and English literature at Illinois Wesleyan. She was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She spent her career in social work and touched the lives of many children. Aside from being a  fan of her grandchildren’s athletic teams, she was an avid Chicago sports fan. She was known for her dry humor and wit, along with her grace and style. She is survived by her husband, two children, and five grandchildren. 

Eris (Gustoff) Vidoni ‘58

Eris (Gustoff) Vidoni ‘58 of Pekin, Illinois, died Aug 10, 2020. She was 83. Eris had a lifelong love of music. She studied music at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was active in Sigma Kappa and many vocal groups. She trained professionally in New York after her graduation from IWU. She was a longtime teacher who also provided voice lessons from her home. She and her late husband were snowbirds who spent six months a year in Tucson, Arizona. Eris was a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church, and was active in Pekin Hospital League, Pekin Civic Chorus, and Pekin Education Association. She is survived by three daughters and three grandsons. 

Darrel Tate ‘57

Darrel Tate ‘57 died May 9, 2020, in Gainesville, Florida. He was 84. Darrel joined the U.S. Army after his time at Illinois Wesleyan. He later built an insurance agency in Glenview, Illinois, before moving to Florida. Darrel played tennis, pingpong, pickleball, and cards with friends. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan who relished in the team’s World Series victory in 2016. Darrel was active in his daughter’s sports and activities growing up and that continued with his grandsons. He loved spending time and sharing laughs with his family. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and five grandsons.