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.
Mary Lou (Gooding) Mercier ’50
Mary Lou (Gooding) Mercier ’50 remembers being an IWU cheerleader in 1950-51 and joining Sigma Kappa sorority. She met her husband on a blind date while he was a student at ISU. She would tell a student that IWU has good teachers.
Carol (Vanderbeek) Schmidt ’58
Carol (Vanderbeek) Schmidt ’58 remembers IWU Homecoming, dances, parties and the art department building. If she were to return to campus she would like to visit the art department and the Kappa Delta House. She feels the quality of art instruction was the major influence in her life, as she taught art clsses in her home studio for 50 years. She has traveled to many countries including Mexico and Jamaica and has enjoyed seeing the museums in Europe. She spends winters in Fountain Hills, AZ and summers in Illinois and Wisconsin.
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.
June Yolton Cusey McClister ’49
June Yolton Cusey McClister ’49 died in February 2020. She was 93.
June was a member of the IWU class of 1949. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. She is survived by her son (Phillip Cusey), daughter-in-law (Melissa) and 2 grand children.
Ida B. Gray ’58
Ida B. Gray ’58 passed away on April 3, 2021. Please see the full obituary here.
Message from Harlan D. Dalluge ’58
Covid 19 has curtailed most everyone for over a year….but, now thanks to the vaccines, life begins to move back toward “normal” My wife, Jeannine, and I have resumed “outside” activities with the caution of masks and outdoor activities. We love being able to return to Yosemite National Park (as pictured) to enjoy huge waterfalls, park beauty, hikes through fantastic Redwood trees, etc. Also, Bocce leagues have resumed and fishing in the San Francisco Bay are currently safe, enjoyable outdoor activities And with more than 1,000 wineries within a 50 mile radius safely seating people outdoors some 15 feet apart, we have resumed those enjoyable visits. Back to near normal is great! We encourage everyone to get their vaccines as soon as possible. Fond memories of my IWU days.
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.