R Connections
Add My Story
Welcome to R Connections! This is your go-to place for information about your graduating class and to explore alumni news and sightings.
Tips for Exploring R Connections
- Select your class year from the dropdown below and click “Search” to see your class information, class agents, recent news and more!
- Use additional filters or enter a classmate’s name if you’re looking for something specific
Share Your Story
We’re always looking for alumni news and sightings! If you have exciting news to share or have recently gathered with Ripon College friends, let us know through the “Add My Story” button at the top. Be sure to include a photo when possible. We look forward to seeing what you’ve been up to!
In Memory of Jon R. Walterscheit ’59
In Memory of Jon R. Walterscheit ’59
Jon Walterscheit
JON R. WALTERSCHEIT ’59 of Marshall, Wisconsin, died Aug. 9, 2022, At Ripon, he majored in economics, participated in Lambda Delta Alpha/Delta Upsilon, and was commissioned through ROTC. He was both an offensive and defensive lineman for Ripon’s National Championship football team. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as an officer in 1967. He worked for AAA for more than 25 years. He also co-founded a family archery business that grew into an archery distributorship and retail pro shop known as Little Jon’s Archery. The business won distributor of the year in 1994. He also owned and worked a beef cattle farm. He enjoyed the outdoors, bow hunting, and particularly fishing in Canada, the Florida Keys and the north woods. Survivors include one son.
Full obituary: channel3000.com/jon-richard-walterscheit/
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Judith A. Lawson Magdich ’62
In Memory of Judith A. Lawson Magdich ’62
Judith Magdich
JUDITH A. LAWSON MAGDICH ’62 of Dixon, Illinois, died Aug. 9, 2022. At Ripon, she majored in music and educational studies and participated in Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She was an elementary school music teacher in Addison, Illinois, before moving to Dixon 58 years ago. She was a member of PEO, for which she also was past president; Jaycettes; several bridge clubs; and First Presbyterian Church. She was an English as a second language instructor, a member of the Dixon School Board and a KSB Hospital Pink Lady. She enjoyed golfing and traveling, especially to Hawaii. Survivors include one son and two daughters, including AMY MAGDICH CLEMENS ’86. Her husband, TOMAS M. MAGDICH ’61, died in 2014.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/saukvalley/name/judith-magdich-obituary?id=36189309
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Mary Lou Combs ’63
In Memory of Mary Lou Combs ’63
Mary Combs
MARY LOU COMBS ’63 of Wilmington, North Carolina, died Feb. 14, 2022. She attended Ripon and graduated from Oshkosh State University. She received her physical therapy degree while serving at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. She served in the Army Medical Corps for four years and obtained the rank of captain. She earned a Master’s Degree from Ohio State University where she then worked as coach of the women’s basketball team and athletic trainer for the football team. She was chief physical therapist for the Nisonger Center for the state of Ohio; worked for the Orient State Institute for the developmentally disabled; and physical therapist for more than 30 years around Wisconsin. She also was a chaplain. She enjoyed traveling, gardening and her pets.
Full obituary: strasserrollerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Mary-L–Combs?obId=24023139#/obituaryInfo
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Judith M. Stika Osborn ’58
In Memory of Judith M. Stika Osborn ’58
Judith Osborn
JUDITH M. STIKA OSBORN ’58 of Lakeland, Minnesota, died May 26, 1922. She attended Ripon for one year and then graduated from Lyons Township Junior College in LaGrange, Illinois. In Downers Grove, Illinois, she was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, school, church, Brownies and Girl Scouts, and worked for a camping trailer dealer and the Downers Grove Reporter. In St. Paul, Minnesota, she worked for the Ramsey County Historical Society as an administrative assistant and set up gift shops at the Gibbs Farm Museum, Landmark Center and Bandana Square. From 1986 to 1992, she and her husband owned and ran a country gift store in Bandana Square and Woodbury. She enjoyed volunteer work, gardening, reading, sewing, scrapbooking, knitting and quilting. She had two daughters.
Full obituary: bradshawfuneral.com/obituary/Judith-Osborn
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Waverly Ruth Wendorf Peterson ’47
In Memory of Waverly Ruth Wendorf Peterson ’47
Waverly Peterson
WAVERLY RUTH WENDORF PETERSON ’47 of Marshfield, Wisconsin, died March 29, 2021. She attended Ripon and graduated from the Milwaukee Business Institute in 1946. Before marrying she was office manager for the Wisconsin Gas Company in Sparta. She later lived in Madison, Beloit and Marshfield. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church and enjoyed weekend in northern Wisconsin, big band swing music, reading, gardening, music, dancing, golf, traveling and playing cards and bridge. Survivors include three sons and one daughter.
Full obituary: hansenschillingfuneralhome.com/obituary/Waverly-Peterson
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Joan C. Butler Hart ’53
In Memory of Joan C. Butler Hart ’53
Joan Hart
JOAN C. BUTLER HART ’53 of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, died Sept. 13, 2021. She attended Ripon College and Prospect Hall Business School. She lived in Chicago while her husband, Howard was in optometry school and Stamford, Connecticut while he was in the U.S. Army. They then lived in the Milwaukee area. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, rug hooking, quilting, playing the piano, gardening, singing in the church choir, talking with friends, playing bridge and collecting cheese dishes. Survivors include her husband, Howard; one son and one daughter.
Full obituary: harderfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Joan-C-Hart?obId=22327415#/obituaryInfo
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Donna L. Waffenschmidt Dickie ’53
In Memory of Donna L. Waffenschmidt Dickie ’53
Donna Dickie
DONNA L. WAFFENSCHMIDT DICKIE ’53 died May 9, 2022. After attending Ripon for one year, she worked clerical in positions in the Baraboo area. She then farmed with her husband in the town of Freedom for more than 50 years. She was a member of North Freedom Baptist Church, where she served as pianist, women’s ministry leader, Sunday school teacher, and clerk. She enjoyed reading, playing the piano, daily crosswords and playing bridge. Survivors include three daughters.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/wiscnews/name/donna-dickie-obituary?id=34713539
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Thomas E. Steckbauer ’71
In Memory of Thomas E. Steckbauer ’71
Thomas Steckbauer
THOMAS E. STECKBAUER ’71 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died Nov. 19, 2021. He attended Ripon College and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and served in the Army National Guard. For most his career, he worked in food service sales. He enjoyed boating, the Green Bay Packers, his dogs and grilling on his deck. He was a devout Catholic. Survivors include his wife, Judy.
Full obituary: thenorthwestern.com/obituaries/wis341080
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Diancy “Dots” Taylor Adams ’67
In Memory of Diancy “Dots” Taylor Adams ’67
Diancy Adams
DIANCY “DOTS” TAYLOR ADAMS ’67 died Sept. 1, 2021. After attending Ripon, she lived in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, St. Peters, Missouri, and Dubuque, Iowa, finally settling in Montpelier, Vermont, in 1986. She later graduated from Woodbury College as a paralegal. She enjoyed motorcycles, coffee, old movies and her cats. Survivors include one son and four daughters.
Full obituary: guareandsons.com/obituaries/Diancy-Dots-Taylor-Adams?obId=22486434#/obituaryInfo
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of David Bush ’70
In Memory of David Bush ’70
David Bush
DAVID A. BUSH ’70 of Edina, Minnesota, and Belleair, Florida, died July 1, 2021. He played football for one year at Ripon College, then worked at restaurants his father owned. He moved to Edina in 1977, was an active member of the Edina Hornet football staff for 41 years and an officer with the Edina Police Department from 1969-1980, and after retiring from law enforcement had a career in sales. Survivors include one son and one daughter.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/david-bush-obituary?id=6400250
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Harald M. Ness Jr.
In Memory of Harald M. Ness Jr.
Harald Ness
HARALD M. NESS JR., who taught at Ripon College in 1998-1999, died Sept. 28, 2021. He served his country in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of captain. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin State College in Superior, Wisconsin, received graduate meteorology training in the University of Wisconsin-Madison in conjunction with his Air Force service, and obtained a Master of Arts degree from Central Michigan University. After his Air Force service, he taught mathematics at high schools in Hayward and Kohler, Wisconsin, and at the University of Wisconsin Center-Fond Du Lac, and was the mathematics department chairman for the University of Wisconsin Center System. After his retirement, he taught at UW-Fond du Lac, Marian College and Ripon College, among other institutions.
Full obituary: zacherlfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Harald-M.-Ness,-Jr.?obId=22542435#/celebrationWall
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Robert D. Schieler ’56
In Memory of Robert D. Schieler ’56
Robert Schieler
ROBERT D. SCHIELER ’56 of Warrenville, Illinois, died July 20, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in philosophy and participated in Ver Adest, athletics, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He received a master of divinity from Eden Theological Seminary and his doctorate of ministry from Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Evanston. He first served as a young parish minister with his father in Ripon, Wisconsin, the chaplain and professor at Elmhurst College for 13 years and senior minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Downers Grove, Illinois, for more than 17 years. He wrote the book Revive Your Mainline Congregation. He enjoyed sports, outdoor activities, music, singing and dance. Survivors include one son and one daughter. His wife, CHARMAINE WEYER SCHIELER ’56, died in 2013.
Full obituary: adamswinterfieldsullivan.com/obituaries/Rev-Dr-Robert-D-Schieler?obId=21853463#/obituaryInfo
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Kevin O. Hernandez Godoy ’14
In Memory of Kevin O. Hernandez Godoy ’14
Kevin Hernandez Godoy
KEVIN O. HERNANDEZ GODOY ’14 of San Antonio, Texas, died Sept. 10, 2021. At Ripon, he studied kinesiology and played football. He graduated from Texas A&M San Antonio in 2018, then earned his Master’s Degree in special education from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2020. He was a long time member of Extreme Youth Leadership then worked for nearly four years at Reagan High as a special education teacher, PALS sponsor, and assistant football coach. His faith was very important to him and he regularly attended Maranatha Church in San Antonio.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kevin-hernandez-godoy-obituary?id=29422317
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Constance “Connie” Homuth Newman ’60
In Memory of Constance “Connie” Homuth Newman ’60
Connie Newman
CONSTANCE “CONNIE” HOMUTH NEWMAN ’60 of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, died Oct. 27, 2021. She attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota and Sacramento State before earning a degree in English from Ripon College. She worked on the Fond du Lac Public Library Bookmobile for many years. She had been a volunteer at Act Two and Just Fare. She was an active member of Church of Our Saviour, where she had served as a lector and was a member of Tabitha Circle. She was also a member of Light House Investors. Survivors include two sons.
Full obituary: zacherlfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Constance-Connie-G.-Newman?obId=22792994#/celebrationWall
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of James F. Pyle ’63
In Memory of James F. Pyle ’63
James Pyle
JAMES F. PYLE ’63 of Whitehall, Michigan, died Dec. 2, 2021. At Ripon, he majored in biology and participated in football and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He also studied business administration at Michigan State University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a pattern maker for Pyle Pattern and Manufacturing for 30 years until his retirement in 1996. He was a member of the White Lake Eagles and AMVETS. He enjoyed fishing on Lake Michigan, captaining the PYLOT, snowmobiling- both competitively and recreationally, and spending time at the “farm” and at his cabin on the Little Manistee River. Survivors include his wife, LINDA BULGRIN PYLE ’66; one son and two daughters.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/muskegon/name/james-pyle-obituary?id=31751964
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Barbara Ann Hodson Roguske ’65
In Memory of Barbara Ann Hodson Roguske ’65
Barbara Roguske
BARBARA ANN “BARB” HODSDON ROGUSKE ’65 of New London, Minnesota, died July 29, 2022. At Ripon, she majored in history and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. She lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and Burnsville, Willmar and on the Crow River near New London in Minnesota. She was an insurance service representative for Rogers’ Benefit Group. She was a Sunday school teacher for 40 years, led Brownie and Girl Scout troops, and sponsored many children at Agua Viva Children’s Home in Guatemala. After retirement, she volunteered as a reading tutor to second-graders. She traveled to more than 70 countries for pleasure and mission work and was a passionate fan of baseball. Survivors include her husband, FREDERICK R. ROGUSKE ’64; one son and one daughter; and a sister-in-law, CAROLYN ROGUSKE MACKLEM ’71.
Full obituary: wctrib.com/obituaries/obits/barbara-barb-ann-roguske-5d23ea5d0dfeca44dbd8523a-62e808a72dc004149834d40f
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Greg Dryanski ’74
In Memory of Greg Dryanski ’74
Greg Dryanski
GREG DRYANSKI ’74 of Norman, Oklahoma, died July 7, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in biology and participated in wrestling and Beta Sigma Pi. He studied medicine in Poland before completing his doctor of medicine degree at the American University of the Caribbean on the island of Montserrat. He had medical practices in Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Norman, Oklahoma, where he worked at a Veterans Administration Hospital. He enjoyed history, fine-scale models, table-top gaming and visiting museums. In retirement, he lectured on topics of military history, particularly the struggles of Poland and its people in the 19th and 20th centuries. Survivors include his wife, Eva; one son and two daughters.
Full obituary: dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/norman-ok/greg-dryanski-10839145
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Pearl Terbilcox
In Memory of Pearl Terbilcox
Pearl Terbilcox
Pearl M. Terbilcox, age 72, of Ripon, WI, passed away on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at Markesan Resident Home in Markesan, WI. Pearl was born on October 14, 1949 in Norway, MI, the daughter of Howard James and Lucille Wolfgram. On November 14, 2008 she married William Terbilcox in Oshkosh, WI. He passed away on April 4, 2010. Pearl worked as a cashier at Ripon College for many years. She loved to crochet, solve cross-word puzzles, elephants, and anything Betty Boop. Most of all she cherished time with her family, especially her grandchildren.Pearl is survived by her children, Jason (Bonnie) Miller of Oshkosh, WI, Jeremy Miller of Ripon, WI, and Kelly (fiancé Brandon) Witak of Ripon, WI; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a half-sibling. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard James and Lucille Wolfgram; husband, William Terbilcox; and several brothers and sisters.
Full obituary: riponpress.com/obituaries/pearl-m-terbilcox/article_e0dcb6ea-06bf-11ed-8d51-5f946de26cc9.html
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Kent “Rocky” Robinson ’74
In Memory of Kent “Rocky” Robinson ’74
Kent Robinson
KENT W. “ROCKY” ROBINSON ’74 of Houston, Texas, a former member of the Ripon College Board of Trustees, died July 9, 2022. At Ripon, he majored in economics and politics and government and participated in football and Phi Kappa Pi (Merriman). He received a law degree from Southern Methodist University and a master of business administration from Cox Business School. He began his legal career in 1978 at Andrews, Kurth, Campbell and Jones, now Hunton Andrews Kurth, where he remained until retiring as a partner in 2018. He belonged to numerous professional organizations and served on several local and state boards. He enjoyed coaching his children’s soccer, softball and baseball teams. Survivors include his wife, Deborah; one son and two daughters; a brother PERRY ROBINSON ’79; a sister-in-law, SARAH HEMSTOCK ROBINSON ’89; and a cousin, ROBINSON BUTZ ’73.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/kent-robinson-obituary?id=35905758
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement
In Memory of Ellen Dunphy ’09
In Memory of Ellen Dunphy ’09
Ellen Dunphy
ELLEN DUNPHY ’09 of Redwood City, California, died July 4, 2022. At Ripon, she majored in theatre with a minor in communication and participated in WRPN, theatre productions and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. She spent time in the Milwaukee and Chicago theatre communities before settling into the San Francisco scene for the past seven years. She was a company member of the Left Coast Theatre Company. She performed with many theatre companies and advocated for gastric cancer research during the pandemic and her own illness. She also wrote and performed her solo show, “Imaginary Endings,” about the intersection of her disease and her role as a patient. She was an avid traveler, visiting 10 countries and many national parks. Survivors include her husband, Andrew Clinnin.
Full obituary: legacy.com/us/obituaries/sfgate/name/ellen-dunphy-obituary?id=35653890
Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement