Edie Yakutis (Hook, 1984) retired after twenty-three years from the Microsoft Corporation in 2018. She is in her second year (of five) as a rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She completed her first year of the program living and studying in Jerusalem, Israel. In June. After the summer as the rabbinic intern at Temple Sholom in Cincinnati, she is continuing her studies in Cincinnati, OH and serve as the student rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom, visiting the congregation monthly, in Marquette, MI.

Karen Nesius Roeger ’83 and her husband Mike Roeger celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on September 1, 2019.

Congratulations to Karen and Mike! Wishing you all the happiness in the world!

Kirk Johnson ’83 and his wife Susan welcomed baby boy Joshua Wayne Johnson on April 18, 2019.

Congratulations to Kirk and Susan on the new addition to their family!

Tim Braun ’89 started a new job in August as Adjunct Faculty at Illinois Central College teaching freshman and sophomore music theory. He will be performing on clarinet as a member of the Prairie Wind Ensemble and recently completed several arrangements for handbell choir that have been performed over the past year. In addition to all of these things, he is working on a collection of handbell choir arrangements.

Way to go, Tim!

Jeff Lambert ’86 has been named a senior regional sales director for the Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. Lambert will oversee Illinois and Wisconsin in managing sales and producer relationships for the national company that provides insurance solutions for individuals and workplaces.

To read more about his  accomplishment, click here.

Congratulations, Jeff!

Prairie Fire Theatre toured How To Be a Superhero, its annual opera for children, in the Bloomington-Normal area. Directed by Rhys Lovell ’87, written by Nancy Steele Brokaw ’71, and musical direction by Charlie Berggren ’10.

Steven Riesenberg ’87 retired from the Illinois State Police following a 31-year career in law enforcement. He served in patrol, investigative and covert operations assignments while earning three department service ribbons. A bagpiper with the State Police Pipes and drums, he performed solo before three Illinois governors and twice on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives. In 2012, he preformed with the Illinois Wesleyan University Wind Ensemble at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts in Michael Schelle’s The End of the World. Steve concluded his career as the commanding officer of District 6 State Police in Pontiac, Illinois, and District 8 State Police in Peoria, Illinois.

Kevin Garner ’85 celebrated 25 years as pastor of Fox River Lutheran Chruch in Norway, Illinois, in March 2019. Kevin was featured in a story in The (Ottawa, Ill.) Times, and an open house was held at the church on March 31, 2019, to celebrate the anniversary.

Congrats Kevin!