The memorial service for Bryan Olofson ’66 has been cancelled.
May 202019
May 152019
Charles Robert “Bob” Berg ’65 of Detroit died May 8, 2019. He was 76. Raised in central Illinois, Bob became a spokesman and adviser for two of Michigan’s most influential politicians: former Michigan Governor William Milliken and former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young. After his time at Illinois Wesleyan, Bob held reporting roles in Iowa and Nebraska. He left for Lansing, Michigan, to head a state capital bureau for United Press International. He later became state capital bureau chief of Panax Newspapers and, by 1977, was hired to work in the public affairs office of Milliken, the longest-serving governor in state history. He held the role until Milliken left office in 1982, at which point he was hired as a press secretary for Young, the city’s first black mayor. When young left office in 1994, Bob started a public relations firm that lives today as Van Dyke-Horn Public Relations. During his time in Detroit, Bob worked to form a relationship between the Detroit Public Schools and Illinois Wesleyan, in which IWU became the only out-of-state university to participate in the district’s Wade McCree Scholarship Program. Bob was recognized in 2000 with IWU’s Loyalty Award, in 2014 with a John Rakolta Jr. Leadership in Race Relations Award, and in 2018 by the Urban League of Detroit as one of its Distinguished Warriors. He served on the boards of the Coleman A. Young Foundation, Roeper School, Detroit Police Foundation, Detroit Urban League, and Caring Athletes Team for Children’s & Henry Ford Hospitals. He was also a member of Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his longtime partner, three children, four grandchildren and two siblings, including Karen (Berg) Dolan ’70. An obituary may be viewed here.
A public visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 16 at Swanson Funeral Home, 14751 West McNichols Road in Detroit. A funeral will begin at 1 p.m. May 17 at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, 8625 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit.
A second funeral will be held at 11 a.m. May 20 at Cissna Park United Methodist Church, 221 W. Koplin Ave. in Cissna Park, Ill. Burial will be at Floral Hill Cemetery, 301 W. Main St. in Hoopeston, Ill.
May 142019
Ellen Flanagan ’63 with her legacy graduate grandson Tate Lewis.
Photo: Robert (Trey) Frank ’14
May 142019
Bryan Olofson ’66 of Effingham, Illinois, died March 18, 2019. He was 74. He was know as “Olee” to his family and friends. Bryan played football at Illinois Wesleyan. After graduation, he started his own company, Central Business Forms, Inc. serving banks in Southern Illinois until he retired in 2013. Bryan is survived by his wife, two daughters, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two sisters.
You can view his obituary here.
May 082019
Marcia (Allen) Manner ’60 recently returned to campus for the first time since graduating. She received a tour from a current student along with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. She was thrilled to get to see how campus has changed and see her old residence hall where she met the students who work at the same front desk that she used to work at.
She is pictured here with a current IWU student.
May 062019
Navana Ahrends ’63, a region director for the Illinois Retired Teacher’s Association State Board, will speak at a meeting of the Bureau County Retired Teachers Association on Thursday May 16. Navana was a member of Sigma chapter of Delta Omicron while at IWU and is currently a member of the alumni chapter Zeta Eta. You can read about her speaking engagement here.
Apr 172019
You did it, Titans! You were the key to our success. On April 11, 2,205 donors collectively raised $518,316. And thanks to the generosity of our pacesetter challenge donors, our grand total is $776,316 (and still counting!)
This video captures a few successes from #AllInforWesleyan. Check out the social media activity and revisit iwu.edu/all-in to see how your gifts made a difference.
Apr 122019
We are saddened to report the passing of Frances Swain Ramos ’62. Frances passed away on March 12, 2019.
She was a captain in the U.S. Army, serving as a registered nurse. Frances enjoyed gardening, crafts and reading. She was a great mother who enjoyed reading to her children, taking them to museums, the park and the beach when they were younger. Frances will be deeply missed by her family and friends. You can read her obituary here.
Apr 082019
Check out the All In Happy Hours taking place around the country. Show your Titan pride by spreading the word about All In for Wesleyan to your personal networks via social media, calls, texts, emails, etc.
You’ll have a great time while encouraging others to make an additional gift on All In and share stories about how IWU Unlocked Opportunities for each of us. Visit our webpage for more information and registration.
Apr 022019
On April 11, alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of IWU show your pride and support by being All In for Wesleyan. During this 24-hour giving day, let’s unlock opportunities together – you are key to our success!
Be All In, All Day, make an additional gift at iwu.edu/all-in and spread the word on social media using#AllInforWesleyan. Check out our social media toolkit!