Dan Zora ’71

Dan Zora ’71 of Cypress, Texas, died July 15, 2020. He was 71. Dan was a member of Sigma Chi and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Illinois Wesleyan. He also met at IWU his future wife Barbara (Barth) Zora ’71; the two were married in 1974. The day after graduation, Dan went to work for State Farm Insurance Company in Bloomington, Illinois. He and his family later moved to Austin, Texas, where Dan continued a 35-year career with the insurance company. In retirement, he started a realty company. Dan loved playing golf, and was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls. He was very active in his children’s lives, especially as a youth sports coach, and enjoyed attending his granddaughter’s sporting events. Dan also served as a scorekeeper for volleyball teams coached by his daughter. He is survived by his wife, two children, granddaughter, three siblings, including William Zora ’68, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

 

Linda (Fisher) Shearin ’71

Linda (Fisher) Shearin ’71 passed away on October 10, 2019. She was born on June 25 ,1949. She graduated from Bement High School in 1967, and belonged to many music and teaching professional organizations. She is survived by her daughter, sisters, stepsiblings, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Read the full obituary here.

Julie (Bauman) Swango ’74

Julie Swango ’74 of Normal, Illinois, died Dec. 14, 2019. She was 67. Julie studied elementary education at Illinois Wesleyan and later earned a master’s degree in education from Illinois State University. She served as a thrid-grade teacher in McLean County (Ill.) Unit 5 schools for 35 years. She was a talented seamstress, baker and gardener. She loved to travel, especially to her family cabin in Wisconsin, where she emjoyed time with her loved ones. Julie was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Merna and Sigma Kappa, both of which blessed her with lifelong friends. She is survived by her husband Gary Swango ’73, three children, four grandchildren and two sisters.

Earl Kirk ’71

Earl Kirk ’71 of Aurora, Illinois, and Evansville, Indiana, died Nov. 27, 2019. He was 70. Earl studied French at Illinois Wesleyan University and went on to earn graduate and ABD degrees at Indiana University. He was employed as an instructor at Southwestern College (1978-79), an instructor and administrator at Baker University (1978-2003), and as the director of study abroad an Harlaxton College coordinator at the University of Evansville (2003-15). Earl was a world traveler, fluent in several languages, and had a love of people, history and cultures. He was an inspirational educator, administrator and mentor who encouraged students to achieve their goals in education, studying and traveling abroad. He is survived by three siblings, a special aunt and uncle, and several nieces, nephews and other family members, colleagues and friends.

John Marc Albright ’77

We are saddened to report the death of John Marc Albright ’77, who passed away on August 13, 2019 at his home in Ladera Ranch, California. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1977 with a bachelor’s in Mathematics. Marc was an astute athlete, and rode across the country from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean on a bicycle when he was young. He is survived by his wife, Wendy Jo, his daughter, Ronni, and his sisters.

 

Read the full obituary here.

Jeffery King ’72

Unfortunately, Jeffery king ’72 passed away on August 9th, 2019 in Naperville, Illinois at the age of 74. He was born in Chicago in 1944. In high school, he participated in football and basketball. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1972. He was married to Patricia King, and the two fathered eight children. He received a Purple Heart in Vietnam, and later retired from Caterpillar Tractor and Unocal. Jeffery is survived by his wife, Sarah Brass-King, four daughters, two stepchildren, four brothers, one sister, and a number of grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and great grandchildren.

Read the full obituary here.

Cameron “Cam” Willey ’73

We are sorry to inform you that Cameron Willey ’73 passed away on August 8th, 2019, surrounded by friends and family. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1960 and from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1973, the presedent of Theta Chi. Cam became a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1983 from Drake University. During his life, he was a Detective, Range officer and Sergeant in Peoria county, Illinois. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court in 1987. He accomplished all of this, and was a loving father and husband with a beautiful smile, despite living with a rare genetic disease. He is survived by his wife, Carole, his siblings, his nephews.

 

Read the full obituary here.

Dr. Karen Hockenyos (Yarnell) Goodwin ’71

Dr. Karen Hockenyos (Yarnell) Goodwin, PhD, age 70 of Pagosa Springs, CO, passed away at home on April 24, 2019, surrounded by family after a year-long struggle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, (John G Goodwin, Jr.), two children (Sarah and Jacob), two grandchildren (Madeleine and Carson), siblings (Jon, Kris, and Mark) and their extended families.

You can read her full obituary here.