April 03, 2026

Losses

Recognizing Beloit College community members we have lost.

1940-1949

Florence “Millie” Center Birkemeier ’45, active community member; Jan. 5, 2026, in Carol Stream, Illinois. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert C. Birkemeier ’43, and is survived by a son and two daughters.
Ralph G. Jacobsen ’47, retired sales consultant; Oct. 1, 2025, in Neenah, Wisconsin. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Jacobsen, and a daughter.
Helen Peck Polaski ’47, retired speech pathologist; Nov. 8, 2025, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. She was predeceased by her husband, Roy Polaski, and a daughter. Survivors include a son and two daughters.
Marilyn Cate Larson ’49, former owner of The Fireworks, avid tennis player; Oct. 15, 2025, in Rockford, Illinois. She was predeceased by her husband, Arne G. Larson ’50, and is survived by a son and three daughters.
Barbara “Bobby” Friend Lewis ’49, Jan. 18, 2026, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was predeceased by her daughter, Suzie, and is survived by a son and two daughters.

1950-1959

Esther Karstens Busse ’50, community volunteer; Nov. 23, 2025, in Schaumburg, Illinois. She was predeceased by her husband, George Busse, and is survived by two sons.
Frank A. Eames ’51, U.S. Navy veteran, retired owner and editor of The Elkhorn Independent; Jan. 7, 2026, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Eames, a son, and two daughters including Lisa Eames Terry ’92.
D. Stanley “Stan” Moore ’51, U.S. Army veteran, retired teacher; Jan. 5, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. He was predeceased by his wife, Janice Moore, and is survived by a daughter and a son.
James K. Giese ’52, retired city manager; Aug. 2, 2025, in Sykesville, Maryland. He was predeceased by his wife, Bernina Giese, and is survived by two stepdaughters.
Edgar L. Bergmann ’53, U.S. Navy veteran, retired teacher; Dec. 19, 2025, in Hofheim Taunus, Germany. Survivors include his wife, Helene-Maria Bergmann, and daughter, Miriam Bergmann ’92.
William H. Edwards ’53, U.S. Army veteran, retired job service representative; Dec. 21, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Wendy Edwards, and two sons.
Julian P. Howe Jr. ’53, U.S. Navy veteran, retired consultant; Nov. 16, 2025, in Loudon, Tennessee. He was predeceased by his wife, Diane Braun Howe ’55, and is survived by a daughter and two sons.
Marjorie Davis Jurkens ’53, retired elementary school teacher; July 20, 2025, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was predeceased by her husband, William G. Jurkens ’53, sister, Dorothy Davis Parker-Davies ’45, and sister, Jean Davis Prinslow ’48. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Lawrence Golberg ’54, U.S. Army veteran, retired insurance broker; Dec. 19, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. He is survived by three daughters.
Nancy Daniell Jewell ’54, active community member; Oct. 13, 2025, in Amelia Island, Florida. She was predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth Daniell Lundgren ’54, and is survived by her husband, Robert G. Jewell ’54, two daughters and two sons.
Marilyn Sword Petty ’55, retired textile weaver; July 19, 2025, in Santa Rosa, California. She is survived by a daughter and a son.
James F. Anderson ’56, retired senior vice president; Oct. 29, 2025, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Anderson, and two daughters.
June Sylling Cullum ’56, retired teacher; Nov. 3, 2025, in Savoy, Illinois. She was predeceased by her husband, James L. Cullum ’56, and is survived by a daughter and two sons.
Robert M. Donahue ’57, U.S. Army veteran, retired educator and coach; Sept. 17, 2025, in Murphys, California. He was predeceased by his wife, Marlene Brehmer Donahue ’54, and is survived by a daughter and a son.
Glenn A. Martin ’57, retired insurance agent, accomplished pianist; Jan. 6, 2025, in Lees Summit, Missouri. Survivors include his wife, Roberta Bruns Martin ’59, a son and two daughters.
Molly O’Rourke Vieg ’57, Nov. 12, 2025, in Chico, California. She is survived by a daughter and a son.
Michael L. Agin ’58, U.S. Army veteran, retired professor, involved community member; Dec. 8, 2025, in Houghton, Michigan. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Agin, five daughters and two sons, including Frank Agin ’84.
James T. Corkery ’58, U.S. Navy veteran, retired insurance broker; Jan. 14, 2026, in Reno, Nevada. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Corkery, a son and two daughters.
Edwin C. Kehm ’58, Sept. 26, 2025, in Elgin, Illinois. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Linda Richert Kehm ’58, and two sons.
David D. Stevens ’58, U.S. Army veteran, founder of Superior Teaching Systems; Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Charles, Illinois. Survivors include his wife, Constance Havlik Stevens ’59, brother, John Stevens ’66, a daughter and three sons.
Charles A. Kjelland ’59, retired U.S. government administrator; Jan. 12, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Powers Kjelland ’60, and is survived by three sons.
Jean Kennedy Picking ’59, retired teacher; Jan. 27, 2026, in West Olive, Michigan. Survivors include her husband, Robert Picking, a daughter and a son.
Ann Hoven Wesselhoff ’59, retired director of Meals on Wheels; Dec. 28, 2025, in Portage, Michigan. She was predeceased by her husband, Ronald Wesselhoff ’59, and is survived by one daughter and two sons.

1960-1969

Nicholas S. Kurten ’60, retired businessman with Superior Box Company, active volunteer; Oct. 4, 2025, in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy Noland Kurten ’60, and three sons.
Philip S. Runge ’60, U.S. Navy veteran, retired safety manager, sailor; May 24, 2025, in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. He was predeceased by his mother, Anne Spalding Runge ’37, and wife, Marjorie Lawrence Runge ’60. He is survived by a son and daughter, Sharon Runge ’84.
Stephanie Radford Huszar ’61, retired co-owner of Millwork Distributors; Sept. 18, 2025, in Green Valley, Arizona. Survivors include her husband, Kenneth G. Huszar ’59, two daughters and two sons.
Roberta Bliss Pittman ’61, retired computer programmer; Oct. 5, 2025, in Camarillo, California. She was predeceased by her husband, Harold Pittman.
George “Tom” Tisue ’61, retired scientist and educator; Dec. 3, 2025, in Whitehall, Michigan. He was predeceased by his wife, Krystyna Neuman, and is survived by two daughters and two sons.
Allan R. Barta ’63, retired vice president of administration, recipient of Beloit College’s Joe Kobylka ’51 Alumni Award; Nov. 6, 2025, in Sarona, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Judith Barta, and two sons including Phil Barta ’91.
G. Richard Black ’64, retired insurance agent; Nov. 15, 2025, in Huntington Beach, California. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Black.
Robert “Bruce” Dunlap ’64, former biochemist, consultant, professor of biochemistry; Dec. 31, 2025, in Miami, Florida. He was predeceased by his son, Eddie Dunlap, and is survived by his wife, Patricia Munhall, sister, Barbara Dunlap Oughton ’60, and a daughter.
Lee Meyer Henby ’64, retired clinical researcher; Oct. 27, 2025, in Waconia, Minnesota. Survivors include a daughter and a son.
David M. Bradford ’65, retired forester; Oct. 3, 2025, in Surprise, Arizona. He is survived by his wife, Jean Bradford, and a son.
John H. Kastendiek, Jr. ’65, retired dentist; Sept. 21, 2025, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Linda Kastendiek, and two sons.
Donis Urquhart Rothstein ’65, retired account manager; Feb. 13, 2025, in Ashland, Oregon. She is survived by a son.
Abigail Hughes ’68, retired superintendent of Vocational Schools for the state of Connecticut; Dec. 2, 2025, in Wooster, Ohio. Survivors include her husband, Jim Romich, and two brothers including Scott Hughes ’78.
Beverley Pederson ’68, retired software engineer; July 23, 2024, in Severna Park, Maryland. She is survived by her husband, Russell Taylor and a son.
Marianne Blair ’69, retired teacher; July 19, 2025, in San Francisco, California. She is survived by her husband, Alfredo Contreras.
Judith A. Siess ’69, retired librarian, active volunteer; Jan. 20, 2026, in Savoy, Illinois. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Stephen Bremseth.

1970-1979

Peter S. Komlos-Hrobsky ’70, former legal aid attorney and supervising attorney; April 6, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. He is survived by his wife, Elisabeth Komlos-Hrobsky ’70, and a daughter.
James P. Rose ’72, retired geological engineer; Dec. 1, 2025, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda Rose, and is survived by a daughter and a son.
W. Philip Sawyer ’71, retired training specialist with FEMA, active volunteer; June 22, 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. He is survived by numerous family members including his sister, Judy Sawyer Arndt ’73.
Edward J. Parnell ’73, retired analyst and programmer; Oct. 27, 2025, in North Chesterfield, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Green Parnell ’72, and two daughters.
Jan Baker Pass ’74, retired real estate investor; Dec. 17, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. She was predeceased by her husband, Larry Pass, and is survived by two sons.
Betsy Aaron ’75, freelance writer, consultant, and producer of podcast, “A Pacifist’s Guide to Living with Cancer;” March 7, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York. Survivors include numerous friends.
James G. Coke ’75, Sept. 28, 2025, in Spring, Texas.
Patricia Martin Margetis ’75, retired teacher; Feb. 1, 2026, in Mount Prospect, Illinois. She is survived by her husband, Zach Margetis, and a daughter.
Marguerite L. Sibley ’76, retired teacher; Jan. 6, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. She is survived by her husband, John Rundle, and two daughters.
David L. Grady ’77, retired marketing representative, active community member, Beloit College Athletic Hall of Honor Inductee; Oct. 14, 2025, in Beloit, Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife, Mary Kay Grady, and five daughters.
James E. Degan ’79, food services manager, former restaurateur; Jan. 7, 2026, in Beloit, Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mary Degan, and two daughters.

1980-1989

Jennifer Craig Knight ’87, former sales representative and designer; Nov. 25, 2025, in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She was predeceased by her husband, John Knight, and is survived by two sons.

1990-1999

Mark R. Albright ’97, advertising support manager; Oct. 15, 2025, in Milton, Wisconsin. He is survived by his partner, Richard Ehredt, and numerous family members.
Victor D. Schoonover ’99, English teacher, former instructor of art history at Beloit College: Feb. 4, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois. Survivors include his wife, Jennifer Wilz, and a son.