Bill Labounty ’52 volunteers at McLean County Museum of History. Bill works with their publications, newsletter and Cemetery Walk program printing. He published a book of maps which is still for sale at the museum. He has worked at the museum since 1994. Bill was Director of Printing at ISU from 1970-1993. 
Harlan’s hobby of making “statuettes” of bocce players, dogs, tennis players, grand-kids, etc. has provided the funding for his wife (Jeannine) and him to travel extensively–mostly to national and state parks around the U.S.. As a new adjunct to this hobby, He has added “wine bottle art,” again all personalized with people’s photos and names. With well over 1,000 wineries within 50 miles of their home in Rio Vista, CA, there are no problems getting free wine bottles for the newest hobby modification. He thinks back to all the photo classes he took at IWU and he’s appreciative as old age has pushed him into new ventures. He says that “Retirement can be fun!”
Unfortunately, Martha Swank McCloud Pusey ’49 passed away on September 1, 2019. She graduated from Tiffin Columbian High School and Illinois Wesleyan University, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Throughout her left, Martha was a home economics teacher in the Anthony Wayne School District. She was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross, James Episcopal Thursday Thrift Shop, and the Pardee Educational Center. Martha was also a member of P.E.O. Sisterhood, and the Waterville United Methodist Church. She loved to travel, and several times hiked to the Mt. Pisgah summit. She is survived by three children and several grandchildren.
Read the full obituary here.
We are sorry to inform you that Bernadine Corinne LaForge Douglass ’43 passed away on September 12, 2019, remembered as peaceful person. She was born on March 4th, 1921 in Mesa, Arizona. At Illinois Wesleyan, where she earned her BM in music, she met Thomas Douglass and would later marry him. Throughout her life, she taught music at Southwestern University in Texas, sang in church, sang for marriages, sang for funerals, and was blessed to be a loving mother to three children. She is survived by her two sons and three grandchildren.
Read the full obituary here.
Unfortunately, Mary Plummer ’47 passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2019 as resident of Olney, Illinois. She was born on December 11, 1924. Read the full obituary here.
We are sorry to inform you that Thomas Partington ’52 passed away on February 5th, 2019. He was born on August 18, 1927. Read the full obituary here.
I am saddened to inform you of the passing of Virgil Cole ’52, who passed on May 17, 2019, in Mountain Home Arkansas at the age of 92. He was born on January 27, 1927. Virgil married Betty Schabacker in 1958, adnd was an employee for Country Mutual Insurance Co. He was an Army Air Corp veteran and served bravely in World War II. He is survived by his wife, Betty, nieces, newphews, cousins, and his two cats.
Read the full obituary here.
I regret to inform you of the unfortunate passing of Cecilia Nettleton on Thursday, September 12, 2019. Memorial services for Mrs. Nettleton will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, September 20, 2019 at Park Point Village Community Room, 3025 Chesbrough Boulevard Rock Hill, SC 29732. Visitation with family and friends will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs. Nettleton’s name to Illinois Wesleyan University, Office of Advancement Department, Music Department, 1312 Park Street, Bloomington, Illinois 61702. You may read her full obituary here.
Illinois Wesleyan University Homecoming
October 4-6, 2019
We are looking forward to another great Homecoming this fall! Your story started here, and Illinois Wesleyan University helped guide your path to where you are today.
This is cause for celebration! Come back to campus on October 4-6 to celebrate, reminisce, and revisit your story.