From Jan Lilyholm Fogel, ’60, comes the news that Carol Neff McCormick Van Matre, ex-60, died in September 2015. According to Jan, her college roommate died from complications following a stroke. Carol is survived by a son, Don VanMatre, Jr. She had a long career as an elementary school teacher in Lake Geneva, WI. -written by Larry Uffelman ‘60
Her obituary can be see by clicking here
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Roberta Gene “Bobbi” (Kesslar) Kulier, 72, of Granite City and formerly of Odell, passed away
peacefully on Wednesday (Jan. 6, 2016) at St. Luke’s Hospital, Chesterfield, Mo.
Roberta was born Jan. 1, 1944, in Springfield, a daughter of the late Robert and June (Handley) Kesslar. She was joined in matrimony with Michael Andrew Kulier on Sept. 23, 1967, sharing 49 years of happy marriage.
A graduate of Odell High School and Illinois Wesleyan University, Roberta was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. Roberta worked as an English teacher at Mundelein High School, and edited textbooks for the Foresman Co. She loved reading and crossword puzzles, and enjoyed taking walks with her family.
She is survived by and will be missed by her husband, Michael, Granite City; her children, Jennifer (Christopher Hebel) Kulier, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Sara (Ronald) Hollmann, Vandalia.
Barbara Ford ’68, who has enjoyed a distinguished career in international librarianship, credits a summer abroad program while she was a student at Illinois Wesleyan with sparking her interest in global affairs.
Click here to read the entire article.
Alanna Whittle Preussner was granted professor emerita status during graduation ceremonies at Truman State University in Kirksville MO on December 12. Dr. Preussner taught English at Truman for 26 years and also served as the university’s grants specialist, associate vice president for academic affairs and graduate dean, and director of graduate studies in English.
Daniel Bassill’s work helping inner city youth connect with tutors/mentors has been featured in past IWU magazine articles and was recognized in 2001 when IWU awarded an honorary PhD recognizing his work. Since 2011 Daniel has continued the work under a Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC structure, with far fewer resources than in past years, but with the same strategies. On October 21, 2015 his use of GIS maps was featured in a Chicago Tribune column by Dawn Turner. You can view the article here. This is a blog Daniel has been writing since 2005 to share ideas, information and strategy that others can use to help build and sustain programs that would help inner city kids move through school and into college, then jobs and careers.
John Ady ’62 was inducted into the Arizona Veteran’s Hall of Fame (AVHOF) Class of 2015. Ady served in the United States Army Reserve, the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the Illinois Army National Guard from August 1962 to January 1993. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit from the U. S. Secretary of Defense. The AVHOF recognition is awarded for service to the community since leaving the military.
