B ERNIER ’94 H ELPS B UILD L IBRAR Y , C OMMUNITY

When Julie Soeldner Bernier ’94 became the director of the small public library in Rowley, Mass., a town 35 miles north of Boston with a population of 6,000, she knew what kind of impact the facility could have on the community.

“In a small town such as Rowley, the public library is really the only community center,” Bernier says. “So we are trying to build it up each day.”

And build the library up is exactly what Bernier, a native of Manitowoc, Wis., has done since taking the job in 1999. Due largely to her efforts, Rowley opened the doors to a brand new facility last January. She helped write a construction grant that made Rowley’s one of 10 libraries to receive funding from the state in 2001. With additional funding from a town tax override in 1998, a total combined amount of $3 million was made available for construction of the new facility.

Throughout the process, Bernier helped oversee the construction, updated local and state reports, organized the move from the former location to the new one and prepared staff to work in the new building. At the same time, she continued to maintain her day-to-day responsibilities of running the library.

“It was a tremendous amount of work,” says Bernier, who credits her Ripon education with giving her the tools to see the broad picture in any situation.

“But the best thing about the new building is how much busier the library has become,” she says.

After graduating from Ripon with a degree in history and elementary education, Bernier received her master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin in 1996.

Craig Sauer ’05 Sauer is a senior working toward majors in mass communication and history. He is from Columbus, Wis.

Phillip ’95 and her husband, M’barek Oubelkho, of Neenah, Wis., December 2003.

Daughter, Ella Kathyrn, to Karin Sand Weiss ’95 and her husband, Travis, of Oregon, Wis., Feb. 28.

Daughter, Courtney Lynn, to Andrew D. Vande Hey ’96 and his wife Maxine, of Kaukauna, Wis., Dec. 20, 2002.

Son, Tiernan James, to William C. Deppiesse ’98 and his wife, Danae, of Oshkosh, Wis., April 4. Will is a commercial loan officer at First National Bank-Fox Valley in Oshkosh.

Son, Ryan Nicholas, to Megan Wolgamot Malvey ’98 and her husband, Michael, of Roseville, Minn., Dec. 8, 2003.

Son, Noah Lee, to Chad R. and Ami Stevenson Wangeline ’99/’99, of Fort Collins, Colo., Nov. 1, 2003. Chad works at a radiochemistry lab, and Ami is getting her doctorate in botany at Colorado State University.

Obituaries obituaries

If you are aware of a Ripon College alumnus who has passed away please send that information along with a printed obituary from the paper to the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Ripon College, P.O. Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971.

George John Hulka ’34 of Cedarburg, Wis., died June 29. He was a retired agent for Old Line Life Insurance Co. He also served as Cedarburg’s emergency government director in the ’60s. During World War II, he served in the Army and rose to the rank of colonel. He was a life member of the 40 & 8 Voiture and past commander and life member of the American Legion Rose-Harms Post

Class of 1994

L A B ARBERA ’82 E ARNS R ESEARCH F ELLOWSHIP

The national Physician Assistant Foundation has named Dawn Benning LaBarbera ’82 of Grayslake, Ill., the recipient of the 2004 Breitman-Dorn Endowed Research Fellowship.

The fellowship provides financial assistance to doctoral candidates who are making a contribution to research on the influence of physician assistants (PA) in medical care. PAs are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. The endowment encourages a commitment to research in the PA profession.

LaBarbera, who serves as research coordinator and assistant professor at Rosalind Franklin University of

Medicine and Science in North Chicago, is a doctoral candidate in organization and management at Capella University in Minneapolis. Her thesis measured vocational satisfaction within the PA profession and found PAs to be highly satisfied with their careers, specialty choices and jobs.

LaBarbera is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, Association of Physician Assistant Programs, Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and American Society of Radiologic Technologists. She was also a founding member and public relations/community service officer for the Northeastern Illinois Physician Assistant chapter.

She has taught numerous courses at the physician assistant program at Rosalind Franklin, lectured at various health conferences and supervised numerous masters’ theses. She is a member of various committees at Rosalind Franklin, including the faculty senate, faculty affairs committee and radiation safety committee.

LaBarbera also works part-time in a family practice office in Libertyville, Ill.

She and her husband, Thomas, live in Grayslake with their two children, Michael and Danielle.

355 in Grafton. He had been a contributor to Ripon College for 39 years. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Ruth Patch Westhause ’34, of Ripon, Wis., died July 3. She was a retired piano/organ teacher, and also a retired Ripon High School English teacher. She was a member of the Oshkosh Area Keyboard Teachers Association and the National Music Teachers Association. With her husband, the Rev. Erwin C. Westhause, she helped found Terrace Shores Church in Green Lake, Wis. She was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church in Oshkosh, Wis., and also attended Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Ripon. Survivors include a sister, Esther Patch Jones ’37 of 128 W. Elmwood Place, Minneapolis, MN 55419 and two stepsons.

Mary Eleanor Dickhut “Dickie” Wildes ’37 of Merrill, Wis., died Dec. 27, 2003. She was a retired teacher having taught in the Merrill Public Schools from 1960-80. She was Teacher of the year in 1979 in Merrill. Her career also included teaching assignments in Wisconsin in Tomah and Lincoln County Teacher’s College. She is survived by a daughter, Judy Esser of N2231 Rae Dr., Merrill, WI 54452.

Robert H. Casati ’42 of Columbia, Mo., died March 28. He was involved in continuing education with the University of Missouri Extension Service. He had attended Ripon before being drafted during World War II in 1941. He finished his degree in agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife, Jane Casati of 206 Manor Dr., Columbia, MO 65203, two sons and a daughter.

Robert H. Dittberner ’43, of Columbus, N.C., died July 16. He was the retired vice president of Leggett and Platt Inc. He was a U.S. Army veteran and attended Congregational Church of Christ in Tryon. The Dittberners have established a Ripon College endowed scholarship. Survivors include his wife, Jayne Blumenshine Dittberner ’45 of Tryon Estates, Apt. A204, 615 Laurel Lake Drive, Columbus, NC 28722 and one daughter.

Ruth Ferdinandson Knuth ’45 of Mount Prospect, Ill., died in March. She was a homemaker and is survived by two daughters.

Diana Starnes Duncan ’50 of Kansas City, Mo., died Dec. 25, 2003. She is survived by her hus- band, Donald M. Duncan ’51 of 12321 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, MO 64145, a son and two daughters.

David L. Finley Sr. ’50 of Dunlap, Ill., died Feb. 18. He was a retired inspector for Caterpillar Tractor Co. He is survived by a son and three daughters.

Herbert P. Mahler ’50 of Mequon, Wis., died

M ISSAK ’00 T EACHESAND R EACHES H OMELESS S TUDENTS

The challenges of an ordinarily hectic elementary classroom can affect the most educated and patient of individuals. For Jodi Missak ’00 the everyday struggles of an ordinary elementary classroom are something to be desired.

Since 2002, Missak has been a kindergarten through second grade instructor at the Metropolitan Ministries Academy in Tampa, Fla. Metropolitan Ministries is a non-profit organization designed to help homeless, and those at risk of becoming homeless, by promoting dignity and instilling selfsufficiency. Missak’s students consist of homeless children who find themselves and their families temporarily living at the shelter.

In addition to ordinary challenges, Missak faces an experience unique to working with homeless children. Most of her students have been homeless for more than half of their lives, and her class is comprised of students who have little or no previous schooling, says Missak in “The Works,” a University of South Florida St. Petersburg publication. She says students often suffer from sleepiness and suppressed appetites due to the stresses of constant adjustment. Dealing with the emotional needs of homeless students can be trying, but, according to academy administrator Bonnie Guertin, Missak manages the pressures beautifully.

“Jodi has a very sweet and caring side. She’s nurturing and she gives them love, and our kids really need that. Those kids adore her and that speaks volumes,” says Guertin.

Missak says she appreciates the chance to teach small classes and to be more affectionate towards students than in a traditional school. The unique learning situation at the shelter lends parents the opportunity to become more involved in their children’s academic lives. The school has weekly parent meetings, and encourages increasing parental activity. “I think the rewarding part of my job would be the feeling of knowing I have played an important role in their family’s transition to a life without homelessness. I am not a typical teacher,” says Missak.

At Ripon, Missak majored in French and edu- cation. Upon graduation, she completed a teaching internship, and then worked at a private school in Florida with only seven students. Looking to expand her experiences, Missak interviewed with Metropolitan Ministries in 2002. As an undergraduate, Missak had hoped of being a child counselor, and she has found her current position to be closely related. Teaching often in small groups and a hands-on atmosphere, Missak contends that her individualized education at Ripon enabled her to be confident in this type of teaching atmosphere. She says Ripon’s education department was successful in preparing her to confront tough issues surrounding underprivileged students and untraditional classrooms.

“I truly have seen many families really come a long way. …Some [parents] have even earned college degrees. I feel proud that my work plays a role in that kind of outcome,” says Missak.

Christy Olson ’06

July 13. He was the former president and CEO of Henri’s Food Products Co. and had been instrumental in helping Milwaukee host the Great Circus Parade for many years through his sizable financial support. He had also been a major donor to the Milwaukee Zoological Society having given that group $1 million in 1996 for the Mahler Family Aviary. He had attended Ripon for one year before transferring. He is survived by his wife, Nada, a son and four daughters.

Albert J. Loach ’52 of New Buffalo, Mich., died May 12. During his career, he had been a salesman with Hoerner Waldorff. He is survived by his wife, Bonita (Bonnie) Loach of 18626 Forest Beach Dr., New Buffalo, MI 49117.

Gertrude Powell Johnson ’53, of Yakima, Wash., died March 6. She was a retired real estate agent. She was an Army officer’s wife volunteer, and a life-long bridge player who achieved the Life Master rating in the American Contract Bridge League. After settling in Yakima in 1971, she sold real estate for many years. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi for 31 years and held every office and chaired several committees. She was also a member of the United Christian Church. Survivors include her husband, Kenneth G. Johnson ’52 of 202 South 28th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902, two sons and one daughter.

Lidann Bruss of Dousman, Wis., a member of the college’s Parent Advisory Board, died July 11. She had been a teacher in the Mukwonago School District and had been on the Parents’ Board since 1998. She is survived by her husband, Terry, of 548 W 33286 Onisch Dr., Dousman, WI 53118 and two daughters: Terilyn Bruss ’02 and Meghan Bruss ’05.

Muriel Keipe of Ripon Wis., a retired head resident in Tri-Dorms, died July 23. She worked for the College as housemother and head resident in Tri-Dorms from 1969-79 and had previously worked for Fabriko in Green Lake as a shipping department supervisor. She was 96 years old. Survivors include a son, two daughters, great-granddaughters Michelle L. Mirr ’01 and Abigail R. Mirr ’05. The family has requested that memorial gifts be directed to Ripon College.

C. George Niebank Jr. of Gainsville, Ga., died July 30. He served as a Ripon College Trustee from 1977-86 and had served as chairman of the Illinois State Judiciary Inquiry Board from 197680. He was a Yale University graduate. He was commissioner of the newly-established U.S. Court of Military Appeals in 1952-53 before joining the law department of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in Chicago where he worked until 1982 when he retired as senior vice president-law for Santa Fe Industries. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Tootie” Niebank, two sons, including Justin Niebank ’78, three stepsons and two daughters.