Marian (Goben) Henning ’52

Marian (Goben) Henning ’52 died Nov. 21, 2021, in New Berlin, Wisconsin. She was 93. Marian studied at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan. She worked as a receptionist in the personnel department at State Farm. She met her future husband, Hugh Henning H’94, at Wesley United Methodist Church, where they were members for 57 years before relocating to Wisconsin in 2011. Marian was purposeful, poised and kind. Her greatest joy was being a wife, mother and grandmother. She loved hosting family gatherings, creating cross-stitch projects and playing golf with the ladies at Bloomington Country Club. She was active in Alpha Gamma Delta and a 55-year member of P.E.O. Chapter FM. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by two children, including Brad Henning ’77, and five grandchildren. 

Richard Kenneth Green ’51

Richard Kenneth Green ’51 of Delphi, Indiana, died Oct. 5, 2021. He was 94. Ken served in the U.S. Navy Reserve before attending Illinois Wesleyan. He taught vocal music for two years at an elementary school in Clifton, Illinois. He later served as an industrial engineer for various companies, including Landis+Gyr in Lafayette, Indiana. He was a member of the Delphi United Methodist Church and its chancel choir, chairman of the senior adult ministry, and a lay leader for the church. He was also a member of the Carroll County Cancer Association, a board member and former president of the Lafayette Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA), and former volunteer driver with the Carroll County Council on Aging, where he had served on the board of directors. Ken enjoyed camping, photography and attending musical performances. He is survived by three children, two grandchildren, a great-granddaughter and two sisters.

Charles “Chuck” Leonard ’57

Charles Leonard ’57 of Casper, Wyoming, died Oct. 23, 2021. He was 87. Chuck’s studies at Illinois Wesleyan were interrupted by two years of service in the United States Army, but he returned to campus after his service and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1959. Chuck met his wife, a student at Illinois State University, and they lived in the Illinois communities of Rantoul and Onarga, and later Albuquerque, New Mexico, before settling in Casper in 1969. Chuck pursued many business ventures in Casper. He owned and operated a service station, established a cleaning service, and worked for Casper College. But work was never as important as his faith and family. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and served as an elder. He is survived by his wife, four children, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Oliver Lee Jackson ’58

Artwork by Oliver Lee Jackson ’58 is currently presented in a solo exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum. The free exhibition will run through Feb. 20, 2022. It features work spanning five decades of Oliver’s career. A 120-page catalog, featuring work from this exhibition and a 2019 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is forthcoming. Click here to read more about Jackson’s artwork.

Marlene (Sebby) Thruston ’58

Marlene (Sebby) Thruston ’58, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, died June 13, 2021. She was 84. Marlene majored in nursing at Illinois Wesleyan and was employed at Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora, Illinois, and Morristown General Hospital in Morristown, Tennessee. She also worked for several private physicians. Marlene and her husband, whom she met in line at Arnaud’s restaurant in New Orleans in 1963, lived in Tennessee, South Carolina and Puerto Rico at various times. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she volunteered in various capacities and served as a teacher for Mother’s Day Out. She also volunteered at her daughters’ schools and extracurricular activities. Later, she volunteered with Mobile Meals Ministry, and as a direct patient care volunteer for Spartanburg Regional Hospice. She enjoyed playing bridge, baking, sewing, reading, traveling and cheering on the Clemson Tigers football team. Above all, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who treasured time spent with family. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, five grandchildren and a brother. 

Read the full obituary here.

John David Zwanzig ’57

John David Zwanzig ‘57 passed away June 1, 2021 in Ottawa, IL, surrounded by his children. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, Illinois Wesleyan, and John Marshall Law School. Dave started his career as a private attorney in his father’s practice. He later became the Assistant State’s Attorney of LaSalle County, and then went on to become a LaSalle County Associate Judge, where he served on the bench for 25 years. He also taught family law at IVCC and the Sheridan Correctional Center. Dave was known by many for his generosity and his desire to help others. He is survived by his children, four grandchildren, his former wife, a brother, and a step-daughter.

Robert Randall ’52

Robert Randall ’52 of Gilman, Illinois, died May 5, 2021. He was 91. Robert studied business administration at Illinois Wesleyan. After graduation, he served in the United States Marines during the Korean War. Upon his return, he married his wife, and they later moved to Gilman, where they owned and operated the Ben Franklin store until it closed in 2006. He is survived by many extended family members.

Alma (Alexander) Somerville ’49

Alma (Alexander) Somerville ’49 of Peoria, Illinois, died Feb. 26, 2021. Alma studied music at Illinois Wesleyan, where she was a drum majorette and active in Delta Omicron. She went on to a career as a singer, music teacher and choir director at Forrest Hill United Methodist Church of Peoria. She sang with the Peoria Philharmonic Chorale and was a soloist for the Christian Science Church. Alma and her late husband Ross Somerville ’51 lived in Bloomington, Illinois; St. Louis; Peoria; Las Vegas; Champaign, Illinois; and Belvidere, Illinois. In Las Vegas, she sang at UNLV with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and University United Methodist Church Choir. Alma also worked in several retail stores, retiring from Carson Pirie Scott in Urbana, Illinois, in 1986. She was an avid reader and painter, and enjoyed time spent with her family. She is survived by two children, including Susie (Somerville) Brown ’79, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

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.