R Connections

Donald Reckinger ’47 passed away on Feb. 17, 2019. Entered Ripon College in the fall of 1941.  Member of Delta Sigma Psi. Served in the Army Air Corps 1942-1946. While in the service went to University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago in Meteorology and then served on the supply air ship out of Brazil to Italy. Returned to Ripon in 1946 majoring in Math and Sciences. Graduated in 1947. He was in Education for 6 years. Received his M of Ed from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Changed careers and was a statistician for Kemper Insurance in Chicago for 32 years. In retirement lived in Florida and Wisconsin. Loved to travel, fish and garden and volunteered for AARP as a tax consultant for 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Marguerite L. Pautsch ’49, 3 sons and a daughter.

Submitted by: Marguerite Pautsch Reckinger '49

Washington, DC – Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate Douglas R. Cole of Ohio, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Doug Cole is a Partner at Organ Cole LLP in Columbus, Ohio, representing clients in complex litigation and intellectual property matters.  From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Cole served as State Solicitor of Ohio in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General.  In that role, Mr. Cole briefed and argued cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on behalf of the State of Ohio.  Before serving as State Solicitor, Mr. Cole was a Professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he taught courses in Corporations, Contracts, and Law & Economics.  Mr. Cole continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor at the law school.  Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Cole served as a law clerk to Judge Frank H. Easterbrook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.  Mr. Cole earned his B.A. from Ripon College; his B.S.E.E., with honors, from the University of Wisconsin; and his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Chicago Law School.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Lee Gordon ’66 of Newport Beach, California, died June 20, 2019. At Ripon College, he majored in philosophy and was a member of Sigma Chi/Omega Sigma Chi. He also studied philosophy at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He enjoyed planes and boats. Survivors include his wife, Dr. Elaine Clough.

Submitted by: DevStudent

Ripon – Julie Marie Johnson, age 53, of Ripon, WI, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019 after a long and hard fought battle with cancer. She was at peace surrounded by her loved ones.

Julie was born on September 16, 1965 in Ipswich, SD, the daughter of Cletus and Ella Heinz. After graduating from Ipswich High School she attended Dakota State University where she excelled at basketball. After finishing her undergrad she attended South Dakota State University where she found her love of coaching. Her next stop was Ripon College where for 29 years she would coach, teach, and for the last nine years work as the Director of Athletics. She loved coaching and mentoring student athletes and was very passionate about seeing them go on to do bigger and better things. Julie was very active in the community and a member of various organizations.

Surviving Julie is her husband of 22 years, Steve Johnson; her son, Hunter; mother, Ella Heinz; two sisters, Marian (LeRoy) Kilber and Joanne (Richard) Klein; three brothers, Mel (Marge) Heinz, Terry (Cindy) Heinz, and Dennis (Peggy) Heinz; father-in-law, Charles Johnson; brother-in-law, Dan (Julie) Johnson; sister-in-law, Kathleen (Jon) Mueller; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Cletus Heinz; mother-in-law, Betty Johnson; and brother-in-law, Mark Johnson.

Julie was most of all a great and loyal friend, loving mother and devoted wife. Julie will be truly missed by all who were lucky enough to cross paths with her and the many people she touched. Most of all we will miss her smile and the ability to find good in all people.

Visitation for Julie will be held on Friday, June 21, 2019 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the Wilmore Center on the campus of Ripon College, 400 Union St., Ripon, WI, 54971.

A Celebration of Life for Julie will be held on Friday, June 21, 2019 at 6:00 pm also at the Wilmore Center, with Chaplain Barry Zabel officiating. A reception will be held immediately following in the atrium of the Wilmore Center. In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to honor Julie’s commitment to Ripon College, donations may be made “In Memory of Julie Johnson” for a purpose to be designated by the Johnson family. Please forward donations to: Office of Advancement, Ripon College, PO Box 248, Ripon, WI, 54971. Other donations may be directed to the Ripon Food Pantry and Thrift Store, 102 W. Jackson St., Ripon, WI, 54971.

Julie’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the care given Julie for over three years by the staff of Dr. Jones and especially the staff and nurses of Agnesian Hospice.

Please visit www.butzinmarchant.com to send online condolences.

Submitted by: DevStudent

 JEFF OREAR ’78 and his Hatz Classic Biplane.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

Michelle Benedict ’94, presented a talk in May at the Regional Aquarists Workshop hosted in Columbus, OH.  Also known as RAW, the annual event is the national conference for aquarists.  Michelle’s talk, entitled “Using Novel Training to Increase Visitor Impact,” was given to a conference attendance of over 400 people.  The talk explains how positive reinforcement training can be used to connect fish and aquarium visitors.  This presentation expands on the viral video of Michelle’s puffer fish training which now has over 30 million views.

Submitted by: Michelle

Last night I had a small reunion at my house in Highland Park, Illinois including

Ann Kowenstrot Biddle ’92 currently from Alaska but on a Midwest college tour with her daughter Elsa, Amy Dawe Watkins ’92 currently from La Grange Park, Illinois, Myself Jennifer Haywood Sabath ’92 currently from Highland Park, Illinois and Kristin Koch Hanscom ’92 currently from Mundelein, Illinois.

It was like we saw each other just yesterday and we picked up where we left off, this is the kind of bond that Ripon College creates!

Submitted by: Jennifer Haywood Sabath

Mara Latsons Warren ’61, Karen Schneider Center ’61, “Sugar”Maltby Balmes ’61, Mary Bachus Miller ’61…four Duffie girls gathering in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin in June of ‘19 to celebrate nearly 320 years of life.  These beautiful girls spent many hours laughing and remembering their years at Ripon College.  The bonds we formed then still hold us together today!

Submitted by: Evan Maltby Balmes

WILL HIGGINS ’78 and wife, Dorothy Stites Alig.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

DAVE JUNG  ’78 with Colonel Gail Halvorsen, “The Candy Bomber”.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

PAUL NANCARROW ’78 and wife, Lee.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

JEAN BLACK ’77, MARYJO MACSWAIN ’77, ALAN LAWRENCE ’77, CONNIE JESS ZOLKOSKE ’77, and ALAN LAWRENCE ’77’s wife Diana at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

GREG ’77 and BARB MENGEL ROMANELLO ’78 in London.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

MARCIA ROKUS MAUK ‘69 & Grant Mauk at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

First row left to right: DAN DYKSTRA ’69, Mitty Dykstra, DON NUNEMAKER ’69, Janice Atkins, Nancy Wachholtz, JOAN KNUTSON WOLFGRAM ’69. Back row left to right: SAM JOHNSON ’69 (partially obscured), ART WASKEY ’69, PAUL ATKINS ’69, BOB WACHHOLTZ ’69, DAN WOLFGRAM ’69. Golden R Dinner, at Alumni Weekend 2019

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

SCOTT NYQUIST ’69 & CYNTHIA SANBORN NYQUIST ’69 at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

NANCY GONIA BAJOREK ’69 & Dr. Bob Hannaford at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

DAVE RICHARDSON ’69 & Marci Burton Richardson at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

JOHN BILLINSKI ’69 & Kyrin Billinsky at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus

JEFF SCHEFERMAN ’69 & JAY TAYLOR ’69 at Alumni Weekend 2019.

Submitted by: Yvonne Nicklaus