Marguerite (Nigro) Flanigan ’54 died Nov. 9, 2020, in St. Paul, Minnesota. She was 89.

Marguerite earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was active in Sigma Alpha Iota. She later met her husband while pursuing a master’s degree at Northern Illinois University. Together they raised five children in Champaign, Illinois, and New Lenox, Illinois. Marguerite was a gifted mezzo-soprano and pianist who regularly performed in church. She taught private piano lessons for many years and was an elementary school music and classroom teacher who retired from Goodings Grove School in Homer Glen, Illinois. In her later years, she moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul, where she made countless friends. Her family was of the utmost importance to her, and her home was always open to family, friends, or anyone else who came to her door. She is survived by two sisters, five children, eight grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

You can read the full obituary here.

Mary (McCarthy) Migielicz ’42 of Savoy, Illinois, died Nov. 11, 2020. She was 99.

Mary earned degrees at both Lincoln College and Illinois Wesleyan; she studied vocal music and joined Sigma Alpha Iota at IWU. Mary taught music and English at high schools in the Illinois communities of Divernon, Wood River, Charleston and Lincoln. She married a fellow teacher in 1951 and soon left teaching to raise four daughters. But she remained active in music, directing a women’s choral group, singing and directing music at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lincoln, and organizing community concert series. She continued to work as a substitute teacher until she was nearly 80 years old. After her husband’s death, Mary moved into a senior living facility, where she continued to engage in music as a member of the Windsor Singers and the Windsor Bell Choir. She is survived by four daughters and three grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary here.

Aline (Rosendahl) Henerberg ’47 died Nov. 7, 2020, in Bourbannais, Illinois. She was 94.

Aline studied nursing at Illinois Wesleyan and Olivet Nazarene universities. She later earned a master’s degree from Governors State University. Aline was employed for 33 years at Manteno (Ill.) State Hospital as a nurse and hospital administrator. She was also a nursing professor for 20 years at Kankakee Community College. She is survived by her husband and four children, including James Bourland ’74, three stepdaughters, 20 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary here.

James Bavester ’53 of Bloomington, Illinois, died Nov. 7, 2020. He was 92.

Jim majored in biology at Illinois Wesleyan. He served with the 307th Airborne Medical Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, in the U.S. Army. Jim retired from Pfizer and later owned and operated Novak Flowers with his wife. After retirement, he enjoyed volunteering with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, golf and travel. He was a longtime member of Bloomington Country Club and Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, four daughters, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary here.

Carl Litt ’53 died Nov. 24, 2020, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was 90.

Carl majored in business administration and was active in Tau Kappa Epsilon at Illinois Wesleyan. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War and was stationed in Seattle. Upon learning that he had worked part-time at a clothing and shoe store during his time at IWU, Carl’s Naval recruiter assigned him the job of buying and delivering clothing and footwear to sailors. After the war, he worked in menswear as a manufacturing representative, eventually becoming president of the Men’s & Boys Wear Trade Group of Illinois. Carl met his wife, who was working at a clothing store in Wilmette, Illinois, and together they raised four children. Carl was very proud of his offices in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart and the many friends and acquaintances he made there. He was an avid golfer, youth basketball coach, and a fan of the Chicago Bears and Duke University men’s basketball team. He served as president of the Mills Investors Club of Oak Park, Illinois, and a member of the Golf Collectors Society. He is survived by four children and four grandchildren.

You can read the full obituary, here.

Samuel Goich died at the Regency Care Center in Somerset on August 14th, 2010 at the age of 88.

Born in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Goich had lived in Somerset for over 50 years. He was a United States Marine, serving his nation faithfully in both World War II as well as Korea. Mr Goich was the commanding officer for the 1st Provisional Demilitarized Zone police company in Korea from 1953 to 1955. He worked as a labor relations advisor for various companies . Mr. Goich was a member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Elizabeth and the Masonic Triune Lodge No. 422 in Lansing, Ill., for over 50 years. Mr. Goich was predeceased by his wife, Susan. He is survived by his sister, Angelina Derby.

You can read the full obituary here.

Ardith E. (Coultas) Stewardson ‘59, died Sept. 11, 2020. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University with a degree in Business Administration, she worked as a secretary at EB Films, and for several years as secretary to the registrar at Northwestern University. After accompanying her husband for study in Germany and Switzerland, she worked part-time at Adrian College in the alumni office and home economics department while she raised her two children Andrea and Curtis.  You may read her full obituary here.

Robert Reilly ’57 of Fayetteville, Arkansas, died Aug. 3, 2020. He was 84. Bob majored in music and formed a small jazz group called the “King’s Men” at Illinois Wesleyan. He was also a member of the Bloomington-Normal Symphony Orchestra along with another IWU music major, Mary Anne (Cubin) Reilly ’58, a cellist who later became his wife. Bob was a member of Phi Mu Alpha and the Blue Key Honor Society. After graduation, Bob began teaching in Homer, Illinois. He later took part in a three-year graduate fellowship program offered through the National Defense Education Act to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in the psychology of classroom learning. His career as a college professor started at the State University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh, in the educational psychology department. He later taught at the State University of New York in Oswego, Shippensburg State College and, eventually, the University of Arkansas, where he worked for 30 years. Bob often presented and published his work, including an educational psychology textbook. He stayed connected to music throughout his life, playing clarinet and saxophone in bands in all the places he lived. He and Mary Anne also enjoyed hiking, camping and visiting national parks. He is survived by his wife, two children, 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three siblings.

John “Jack” Poust ’54 of Silvis, Illinois, died Oct. 12, 2020. He was 89. Jack majored in business administration and met his future wife Nancy (Roberts) Poust ’54 at Illinois Wesleyan. Jack was a longtime member of Orion (Ill.) United Methodist Church, where he served as chair of the board, a trustee, and on the memorial committee. He also attended Riverside United Methodist Church. Jack served on the Orion athletic booster club and was honored in its sports hall of fame. He was a member of the Blackhawk Shrine, Coal Valley Sunrise Rotary and Western Township Library Board. Jack and his wife enjoyed playing cards, camping, traveling, and visiting family and friends. Jack was preceded in death by his wife. He is survived by two sons, three grandsons, two step-grandchildren and many nephews, nieces and other relatives.  You may find his full obituary here.

Rev. James William “Bill” Jones ’51 of North Fort Myers, Florida, died July 20, 2020. He was 90. Bill dedicated his life to Christ at a summer church camp in 1945 and became the youngest preacher in the Central Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was a recognized leader as president of both his high school class and Illinois Wesleyan’s student union. He later graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary while serving as a student pastor. Bill was an inspiring preacher who served on many UMC boards and agencies, and was a delegate to the Jurisdictional Conference and the World Methodist Council on Evangelism. He served congregations big and small, and touched countless lives through his ministry. He loved traveling and frequently led mission trips. He is survived by his wife Anne (Snyder) Jones ’53, three daughters, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.