Taps

LTC Kebisek congratulates Hongbo on obtaining his U.S. citizenship.

Hongbo Jia 2019 visited the Academies in October 2020. Hongbo enrolled at the Academy in 2015 and reached his goals of becoming the Raider Team Commander and a Company Commander his senior year. After graduation, he attended the University of Illinois and enlisted in the Illinois National Guard. In July 2020 Hongbo obtained U.S. citizenship and subsequently applied to West Point as a soldier (not as a high school student). In September 2020, he received his official letter of assurance from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Hongbo will join the class of 2025 and attend West Point in fall 2021.

Alen Shchekin 2019 of Long Grove, Illinois, and Noah Hill 2019 of Kildeer, Illinois, visited campus during college break to see the Old Boys Memorial Hall. As cadets, they spent many community service hours making displays for the hundreds of trophies earned in previous years. NMNA, SJMA and SJNMA trophies are represented. Stop in the “old library” when you are on campus to see their company’s hard work. Both alums started college at the University of Kansas in the fall of 2019.

Zexin Zhang 2019 visited campus in June 2020 while on a road trip. He started his sophomore year in Marquette, Michigan, this fall and will major in internet security.

In Memoriam

We regret to announce the names of the following Old Boys, alumni, and friends who have passed away and were reported between November 2019 and November 2020. To report a death, please contact the Advancement Office at (262) 646-7118 or advancement@sjnacademies.org.

ALUMS…

Daniel J. Bergin N1938 passed away on June 10, 2020, in Park Forest, Illinois. He graduated from NMNA and Bradley University. During WWII he served as a Navy Lieutenant with Amphibious Forces/USS John Penn, receiving a Purple Heart in the Guadalcanal Campaign.

Edward B. Elkon S1941 passed away on January 21, 2020, in Glendale, Wisconsin at age 97. His son, Arthur, said his father was a proud graduate of the Academy. Edward is the retired president of Preferred Harvest Company.

Lawrence E. Gilford S1941 passed away on November 17, 2019, at age 96.

Michael D. Orth S1943 passed away on June 26, 2020, in Port Washington, Wisconsin. After graduating from Duke University, he entered the United States Marine Corps and served until 1946. He ran the Hometown Ice division for many years and retired in 1986.

Donald W. Sicklesteel S1943 passed away on July 5, 2020, at age 95. Don graduated from SJMA and Michigan State University. He participated in the V12 Navy College Training Program to become a commissioned officer during WWII and served as an Ensign on a Navy ship in the Pacific toward the end of the war. Don was in corporate management with Parker Hannifin and Borg Warner.

Elmer Harry Wawak S1944 passed away on May 4, 2020, in Troy, Michigan. He was the president of Wawak Insurance Agency in Southfield, Michigan. As a student at SJMA, he held the highest cadet rank of those times - Senior Captain. Mr. Wawak attended Lake Forest College in Illinois. He later joined the U.S. Navy and was selected as honors man by his company commander for his military aptitude and prowess.

John “Jack” Kirsch S1945 passed away on November 2, 2020, in Sturgis, Michigan, at age 93. Mr. Kirsch was a four-year cadet and Captain of G Company. He was involved in many clubs and activities and loved his time at the Academy. After his SJMA graduation, Mr. Kirsch served in the U.S. Navy and then attended Albion College and Indiana University. He joined the Kirsch Company, founded by his grandfather, Charles Kirsch, in 1951. He remained with the company until it was sold in 1981. Mr. Kirsch was named Sturgis Citizen of the Year in May 2005.

He enjoyed sport fishing, playing golf and traveling the world and was a longtime loyal fan of the University of Michigan Wolverines. Mr. Kirsch had many involvements, but what he truly loved was time with his family and his church. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Genevieve “Sugar” Kirsch; two sons; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Kirsch served on the Academy’s Board of Trustees. In 2002, Mr. and Mrs. Kirsch were inducted into The Heritage Society. The Academy gymnasium court was named the “John & Genevieve Kirsch Court” in 2010 after extensive renovations in Farrand Hall Gymnasium. In 2015, Mr. Kirsch received the Notable Man Award from the SJNA Old Boys Alumni Association.

Robert L. Silberman N1945 passed away on March 2, 2020, at age 91. Bob was a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a major in Mechanical Engineering and later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. He served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers 1948-1949 and remained in the Army Reserves until 1960. Robert Waller S1946 passed away on July 7, 2019, in Pasadena, California. In the mid-1950s, Bob moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to start his business career and soon after, a family of his own. He was a graduate of Occidental College and took graduate classes at both USC and UCLA. Bob was a successful businessman, philanthropist, community volunteer, and serial entrepreneur, creating and investing in many companies ranging from stamps, to coins, to department stores, to venture capital, to real estate.

William Pappas S1947

of Glenview, Illinois, passed away on July 9, 2020, at age 91.

Ralph Satter S1947 passed away in January 2020.

Leroy “Lee” Schwaba, Sr. S1947 passed away on May 8, 2020, in Lake Forest, Illinois. He went to high school at SJMA and graduated from DePaul University. He was an insurance agent for 50 years with Equitable Life.

David C. Lau S1948 passed on December 28, 2019, in Watertown, Wisconsin. He served in the U.S. Air Force 1951-1954 and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in June 1954. After graduation, Dave entered the family business, Clyman Canning Company (later Aunt Nellies Farm Kitchens). He eventually became President of Aunt Nellie’s Farm Kitchens, a subsidiary of Beatrice Foods Company of Chicago. In 1988, he and a group of investors purchased Aunt Nellie’s and operated it until 1991 when it was sold to the Pillsbury Company. Aunt Nellie’s is now Seneca Foods.

Lau (cont.):

Dave was a founding member of the EAA Aviation Foundation’s “The Gathering,” held annually to support aviation education, outreach and advocacy. Dave learned to fly in a J-3 Cub and earned the Wright Brothers Award for 50 years of accident-free flying. He loved his flying adventures and flew to the North Pole in his Beechcraft Bonanza, to the breadth of the Australian Outback, and to the Paris Airshow from the United States via Greenland in his TBM 700. He also loved big-game hunting in Africa.

Gerald (left) and classmate Bill Lynch S1948

Gerald Stryker S1948 passed away on April 30, 2020, in Holland, Michigan. He worked as a press operator for Bristol Meyers for many years. Gerald proudly served our country during the Korean War in the United States Marines.

Richard “Dick” Hamlin N1950 passed away on August 21, 2020, in Wichita, Kansas. After earning his Aeronautical Engineering Degree in the early 1970s, he spent most of his time working at aircraft companies such as Beechcraft, Boeing, Cessna, Learjet, Lockheed Martin, and Piper.

Wayne Hochmuth S1950 passed away on May 10, 2019. Wayne served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps 1954-1956, participating in Operation Sagebrush, the largest stateside maneuver since World War II. Following his service, he earned an MBA with a major in finance. Following graduation, he worked for several consulting firms, including doing extensive work for the space technology division of NASA during the early phase of the man-on-the-moon project. In 1966, he moved his family to Wisconsin Rapids to join Consolidated Papers, Inc. as Manager of Corporate Planning and ultimately became the General Manager and Vice President of Consoweld Corp. Dr. John Bartizal Jr. S1951, father of John Bartizal III S1986 and Joseph Bartizal S1988, passed away in August 2020 in Illinois. Dr. Bartizal was a graduate of SJMA, Tulane University, Marquette University, and Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. He was a retired professor from Loyola University Medical School and former Captain in the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Bartizal was a member of American Legion Post 2910, Chicago Medical Society, AMA, American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons and a Fellow of American College of Surgeons. He was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades.

Alva Grant N1951 passed away on April 18, 2020, in Edina, Missouri. Alva was an Army veteran and past commander of Knox City American Legion Post #358.

Ernest Kurtock S1952 passed away in July 2020. Ernie supported SJMA after his graduation and always held the Academy in very high esteem.

Gary S. Poffenbarger S1953 passed away on May 17, 2020, in Union City, Indiana. He worked for CSX Railroad for 30 years.

Terry Knueppel S1954 passed away on September 19, 2020, in Peoria, Illinois. Terry earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Northwestern University. He was a member of the Illinois National Guard 1959-1962. Terry’s pride and joy was his family business, Dental Arts Laboratories, Inc. (DAL) in Peoria. DAL was founded in 1934 by Terry’s father, Adolph. Terry joined the family business in 1960 and dedicated every day for 60 years to ensuring its success.

Evans Angelos S1955, U.S. Army veteran, passed away on January 1, 2020. He was a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and a member of MISCA and the Order of Ahepa-Oak Lawn/Englewood in Illinois.

William “Bill” Schliep, Jr. N1955 passed away on January 24, 2020.

Michael Silagi S1958 passed away on June 28, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Robert Kotovic S1960 passed away in July 2020.

Jay F. Nelson S1960 passed away on March 30, 2020, at his home in Jersey Village, Texas. Jay followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in the construction industry all his life, finally retiring in 2017. Jay enjoyed motorcycle riding and traveling with his wife, Sue Ann.

Victor Cohn S1961 passed away in March 2020. He and his wife, Susan, lived in Laguna Woods, California.

Greg Van Praag S1972 and Kirk Langbehn S1978 respectfully perform a Final Salute at the funeral of Rodney Broman S1962.

Rodney Broman S1962 passed away on January 24, 2020, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Michael Grayson S1962 passed away in August 2020. After graduating from SJMA, Mike went to college for two years and then joined the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam during 1965 and 1966. He left the Corps in 1967 and joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department where he stayed until leaving to start his own Air Charter Company.

Charles “Dave” Pulse S1962 passed away in Eureka, Illinois, on May 23, 2020, at age 76 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and attended Wagner School, Glenbard West High School, and SJMA. Dave was a train enthusiast and spent a lot of time volunteering at museums and restoring trains.

Michael L. Tobin S1962 passed away from complications of Parkinson’s disease on March 27, 2020, in Rockwell, Iowa. He graduated from SJMA where he was awarded “Best Drilled Cadet.” Michael was in the United States Army 1962-1966 and a member of the 101st Airborne division. He was in sales for various companies throughout his life but was most proud of The Bookmark stores he and his wife, Sandi, owned and operated in Owatonna and Albert Lea, Minnesota.

James “Jim” M. McDonald III N1963

passed away on April 25, 2020, in Wickenburg, Arizona. After graduating from NMNA, he attended the University of Arizona. Jim served as an officer in the U.S. Army 1967-1970, including a tour in Vietnam with the 119th Aviation Company (Gunship Pilot). Jim worked in commercial real estate in Tucson, Arizona, but his passion was always cutting horses. He loved quarter horses in particular, which he bred, raised and trained.

Conrad Jeffrey Sindt S1965 passed away on February 11, 2020, in Albion Township, Michigan. He was an avid horseman, showing several years on the American Quarter Horse circuit.

David Eastham N1966 passed away on February 22, 2020, in Miami, Florida. David moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami, and except for a two-year posting in Germany with the Army, he never left Miami. He attended Florida International University and worked for the Miami-Dade County Property Assessor’s Office.

Douglas Brattin N1969 passed away on August 23, 2020, in Arizona. Doug and his wife, Alice, lived in Walworth, Wisconsin, for many years.

Stephen Hinman S1975 passed away in May 2020. Steve was the kind of guy that you met once and made a friend for life. His smile was always present, his wit razor sharp, and his laugh infectious. Steve loved his family and loved his family of friends. He never met a fish he didn’t want to catch or a campfire he didn’t want to tend. Steve was a legend at PDH and will be missed by all.

Stephen A. Boand N1980, son of Bard Boand N1967, passed away on May 8, 2020.

Leslie A. Washington N1988 passed away on December 19, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Les studied economics and communications at the University of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and moved from Illinois to Nevada. He was the VIP Marketing Host for The Light Group in Las Vegas.

Hernan Casale S1992 passed away August 18, 2019. His son, Hernan Casale, Jr., attended SJNMA.

Armando Ortega N1994 passed away unexpectedly on April 18, 2020. His brother, Jesus Ortega, said graduating from NMNA was Armando’s proudest moment of his life.

Michael Becchelli 1999 passed away unexpectedly on January 11, 2020, in Sedona, Arizona. Michael was a three-year cadet and a Second Lieutenant in Echo Company.

John J. Wilson 1999, twin brother of David Wilson 1999, passed away on February 13, 2020.

Ryan Curtis Flockhart 2000 passed away unexpectedly on September 25, 2020 in Davenport, Iowa. He was a member of Carpenters Union #4 and was employed by Walsh Construction.

David Halcisak 2005 passed away in October 2019.

Joseph Ascher 2013 passed away on December 14, 2019.

Diego Granda Corzo 2015 passed away in September 2019 in Spain where he was an exchange student in his last year of college.

FRIENDS...

Yvette Abston, daughter of former staff member COL Ralph L. Abston and sister of Nick Abston S1993, passed away on June 19, 2020.

Carol Askew Cunningham, sister of Will Askew N1967, passed away on December 24, 2019. Carol was a class of 1965 graduate of Kemper Hall. Catherine Bennett, mother of Ann Schoper (Birk Infirmary nurse practitioner), passed away in October 2019.

Scott J. Beveridge, son of Jim Beveridge (principal at NMNA from 1972-1990), passed away on December 23, 2019.

Bob and Nanette

Nanette Bramlett passed away on July 26, 2020, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The wife of Bob Bramlett S1970, former member of the Academy Board of Trustees, Nanette accompanied her husband on campus for events and meetings. An avid golfer, Nanette often joined alumni at the annual OBAA golf outings.

Darlene “Dar” Cigel passed away on August 3, 2020, in Antigo, Wisconsin. She is the mother of Craig Cigel S1978 and was a proud supporter of the Academy.

Steve Curtis, grandfather of Cadet Caitlynn Curtis 2021, passed away in January 2020.

Joel Daly, father of the late Doug Daly N1977, passed away in October 2020. Joel was best known for serving as an anchor for WLS-TV in Chicago, Illinois.

Elaine Gauss, mother of Jeff Gauss S1978, passed away on May 30, 2020.

Agnes Godchaux, widow of Frank Godchaux III S1944, passed away on April 16, 2020.

John Guler, father of Eathan Guler S1990, passed away on April 28, 2020. Joanne Mawhinney, mother of James Mawhinney S1977, passed away on May 11, 2020.

Peggy Neger, wife of John Neger S1952, passed away on February 27, 2020.

Sarah Park-Tobin, wife of Tyler Tobin S1967, passed away on April 8, 2019, in The Villages, Florida.

Alice Polivka H1987 passed away on June 18, 2020, at age 90. Alice’s late husband, Jack S1944, served on the Academy’s Board of Trustees for many years. Their son, Tom, graduated from the Academy in 1977, and grandson, Vlad, in 2018. Tom shared that as the saying goes: “Behind every good man is a great woman.” When it came to supporting the Academy, Jack and Alice were a team. Alice was not alone in showing her support for the Academy. She was accompanied by Phyllis Kindt H1987 (Bill S1946), Sugar Kirsch H2000 (Jack S1945), Laverne Smith H1987 (Norbert S1940), Lilah Stangeland H1999 (Roger S1947), Marilu Trevino H1987 (Victor S1958), and Fran Vorys H1987 (Harry S1943). Alice was a member of a truly unique group of women who, by supporting their husbands, advanced the Academy enormously.

Carl A. Roggow, father of John Roggow S1968 and Mark Roggow S1972, passed away on March 18, 2020. Carl and his late wife, Irmgard, were both big supporters of the Academy and loved the eight years they spent traveling to campus.

Mary Jean Kamin, mother of Bryan Kamin N1993, passed away on May 4, 2020.

RADM Ronald J. Kurth USN (Ret.)

H2013 passed away on April 10, 2020. Admiral Kurth graduated from the United States Naval Academy. He qualified as a naval aviator and served with distinction in Vietnam and the Cold War. Admiral Kurth also earned his masters and doctorate degrees from Harvard University and became an expert on the Russian military while serving as attaché in Moscow and as the president of the Naval War College. Upon retirement, after 36 years of service, he became the president of Murray State University in Kentucky.

From 1998 to 2005, Admiral Kurth led SJNMA as president. His enhanced leadership and high standards allowed the Academy to enter the 21st century and continue the mission to develop character and the future leaders of our worldwide society. Admiral Kurth and his wife, Charlene, were retired in Florida.

Phyllis Leach H1974 passed away on November 28, 2020, at the age of 89. Phyllis is survived by her two sons, Fred Leach S1974 (trustee) and David Leach S1977. She had three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A committed nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, helping others was her calling. She was active in her community and received many awards for her contributions.

Phyllis was a member of the Academies’ Leaders Circle each year since 2010. In 2013, she was inducted into The Heritage Society.

John and Joanne

Joanne Wiechers H2011 passed away on June 2, 2020, in DePoe Bay, Oregon. Joanne and her husband, the late John Wiechers N1954, were avid supporters of the Academy.