Sayra “Sal” (Foster) Johnson ’58 of Princeville, Illinois, passed away on August 6, 2025. She was 88 years old. While at Illinois Wesleyan, she studied business, was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and played clarinet in the concert band. After graduation, she married Philip Johnson (Drake University) and dedicated her life to her family and home. He preceded her in death in 2017. She is survived by one son, two daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Patricia Tolson ’57 passed away on November 25, 2024.  We send our deepest condolences to her family.

Duane Harvey Hodges ’49 is having her 100th year birthday celebration on June 28th at the Windsor of Savory. Congratulation Duane!

Ferguson Elwyn Rood ’59 recently passed away on February 24, 2025. He was involved in the community and service organizations include the Toastmasters. he was beloved by his family and many others and will be missed dearly. See his obituary below.

Irmalee Brown ’49 recently passed away. We send our deepest condolences to her family.

Kathy Rankin ’52 passed away on March 6th 2024 and is survived by her husband Don, and their 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. You can read the full obituary here.

John Allyn O’Bannon ’55 passed on to be with God and his ancestors on January 18, 2023 after several years of surviving many health challenges. John was born October 4, 1933 in rural Edgar County, Paris, Illinois, the son of Lloyd Allyn O’Bannon and Ruth Elizabeth Perisho O’Bannon. John graduated from Paris High School, class of 1951. He then attended and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois with a bachelors degree in Music Education in 1955. John was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. Upon graduation, John auditioned for and was accepted to the Marine Corps Band with plans of working with their studio production corps. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, headed for the band and pursing a career in electronics. John was honorably discharged. You can read the full obituary here.

Artist Oliver Lee Jackson ’58 was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Iowa for his creative and scholarly works. Read the full Gazette article here.

Dick Hewitt ’46 died after a long life and short illness in April, 2020. Late in his sophomore year, he enlisted in the Army – IWU granted all the new GIs a “complete” for their classes for this semester – and eventually shipped out to Europe, where he fought in major battles of WWII, D-Day, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. He finished his education at Northwestern and Columbia, where he earned his first of two Master’s degrees. He spent his career in education, as a college counselor, a high school teacher and subsequently a high school administrator, principally in Northbrook, IL. In retirement, he and his wife Joyce traveled extensively and took advantage of the musical bounty of Chicago. He played piano and sang until he was in his late 80s, and never forgot his happy time at Wesleyan and the delight of being a part of the music department. His survivors include three children and five grandchildren, and he leaves a legacy of many laughter-filled times spent in his company.