Skip to content

In Memory

40s

Ford Bohl, e’49, 92, June 20 in Olathe, where he was a consultant for the planning and design of more than 375 commercial aquatic projects and swimming pools. He is survived by his wife, Nan Hyer Bohl, ’51; two daughters, one of whom is Catherine Bohl Lawless, d’74; and two sons, one of whom is Ford Jr., ’76.

Max Falkenstien, c’47, 95, July 29 in Lawrence, where he was the Voice of the Jayhawks for 60 years, providing both play-by-play and color commentary for football and basketball games. He was a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame, and his No. 60 jersey has been retired in Allen Field House. He also worked at Douglas County Bank, where he retired as senior vice president in 1994. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Isobel Atwood Falkenstien, ’50; a son, Kurt, b’77; a daughter; a sister; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Carol Mayer Hassig Floersch, d’47, 93, June 10 in Lawrence. She taught kindergarten in Kansas City, Kansas, and later became a librarian, working in several area elementary schools. Surviving are a son, Robert, d’75; three daughters, Carolyn Hassig Eklund, c’78, h’79, Marilyn Hassig Obee, ’79, and Amy Hassig Vestal, c’84; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Harlan Frazier, b’49, 92, Dec. 2 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was an accountant for more than 20 years and later owned a retail business in Nebraska City. Two sons, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren survive.

Bill Kanaga, e’47, 93, July 21 in Orleans, Massachusetts, where he retired as partner and advisory board chairman at Ernst & Young. In 1983 he received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Citation. Surviving are his wife, Sarah, two sons, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Ellen Patterson Long, c’49, 93, Sept. 20, 2018, in Olathe, where she was a homemaker. She is survived by three daughters, two of whom are Bonnie, ’78, and Nancy Long Gilkison, ’78; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Arthur Moore, f’49, 94, June 19 in Osage Beach, Missouri. He was founder and CEO of Snorkel Fire Equipment Company in St. Joseph. Survivors include his wife, Susan; a son, Arthur Jr., c’88; two daughters; a stepdaughter; and three grandchildren.

Gloria Fungaroli Morton, c’49, 93, March 14 in Lawrence, where she was active in her community. A sister survives.

Charles Schuler, b’47, 96, April 26 in Naples, Florida. He owned a Holiday Inn and wrote several poems, short stories and a novel. Survivors include his wife, Nancy, two sons, a daughter, a sister, five grandsons and eight great-grandchildren.

John Wells, b’43, 97, April 29 in Mission. His career in municipal and commercial construction spanned more than 50 years. Surviving are a son, John Jr., b’68; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Marjorie Martin Wheeler, n’49, 90, July 3 in Kansas City, where she was a homemaker and active in her church. She is survived by her husband, Charles, m’50; two daughters; a son; a sister; a brother; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

50s

Frances Walker Auda, n’56, 85, May 21 in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where she was a labor and delivery nurse for more than 40 years. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. A son, a daughter and three grandchildren survive.

Brooks Becker, PhD’59, 87, April 28 in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He led the state’s department of air pollution control and solid waste management before founding RMT, an environmental engineering company, in 1978. Surviving are his wife, Mary Clark Becker, c’59; a son; two daughters; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Gaylord Benton, b’52, g’53, 88, May 9 in Blue Springs, Missouri. He was an attorney for Texaco Inc. and was active in his church. A daughter survives.

Marilyn Gibson Blincoe, ’51, 89, April 27 in Lodi, California. She provided a loving home for more than 250 foster infants over more than 50 years—first in Seattle, and then in Burlingame, Atherton and Lodi, California. Surviving are her husband, Robert, b’50; two daughters; three sons; 20 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Murray Davis, b’50, 92, June 26 in Olathe. He retired as president of Mercantile Bank and Trust Company, where he worked for 30 years. Survivors include his wife, Helen Piller Davis, c’50; four sons, Murray, j’77, Scott, m’78, Matthew, c’81, and Timothy, e’85, g’87; two daughters, Barbara Davis Delcore, n’80, g’03, and Cathy Davis Heiman, d’87; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Sharon “Amma” Stout Forker, c’59, 81, May 13 in Olathe, where she was a homemaker and advocate for civil and social issues in her community. Surviving are her husband, Alan, c’60, m’64; two daughters, Jennifer, j’88, and Julia Forker Sobek, c’90; a son, Jeff, c’91; and a brother, Byron Stout III, b’62.

LeRoy “Roy” Hieger, m’57, 87, June 18 in Round Rock, Texas, where he was a retired U.S. Army colonel and professor and chair of the pathology department at the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. His wife, Charlene, a son, two daughters, a brother, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive.

Kenneth “Bud” Jennings, ’57, 89, June 20 in Lawrence, where he owned Bud Jennings Carpet One. He collected more than 1,000 Jayhawk figurines and other memorabilia, which are permanently displayed in the Jayhawk Collection in the KU Memorial Union. He is survived by two sons, one of whom is Jerry, j’78; a sister; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Lynn Johnson, e’58, g’61, 83, April 11 in Denver. He had a 33-year career as a groundwater geologist with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Surviving are his wife, Joan; a stepson; a sister, Jean Johnson Gilmore, ’67; and a brother.

Robert Koppes, a’54, 90, June 28 in Kansas City, where he was an architect for more than 50 years. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn; four daughters, two of whom are Ellen Koppes Brewer, d’81, and Ruth Koppes Redlingshafer, ’83; a son; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Muryl Laman, c’54, m’58, 87, July 27 in Pueblo, Colorado. He was a physician and retired major in the U.S. Air Force. Surviving are his wife, Patricia “Pam” McKillop Laman, c’56; two daughters; a son; and four granddaughters.

Bromleigh Lamb, c’51, g’53, 89, May 16 in Portland, Oregon, where he retired as an administrative law judge for the state. He is survived by his wife, Mary Boyer Lamb, ’53; a son; four daughters; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Harold Lucchi, e’50, 92, March 22 in Midland, Texas, where he had a long career in the oil industry. Two daughters, two brothers, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren survive.

Guy Mabry, b’50, 93, May 18 in Centennial, Colorado. A member of the Alumni Association’s national Board of Directors from 1993 to ’98, he spent his entire career with Owens-Corning Fiberglas, retiring as executive vice president. Survivors include two sons, Mike, c’98, and Tom, g’01; a daughter; and six grandchildren.

Mary Atkinson Martel, f’58, 82, May 19 in Topeka. She retired as an occupational therapist at the Capper Foundation. Surviving are a son, a daughter, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

John McCall, c’55, m’59, 86, June 26 in La Jolla, California, where he retired after 35 years as a practicing endocrinologist. He is survived by his wife, Nancy O’Loughlin McCall, d’57; a son; a daughter; a sister, Ann McCall Tomsho, f’63; and two grandchildren.

Richard “Dick” McCall, b’53, 87, May 29 in Andover. He lived in Newton, where he started McCall’s Shoes, a family business that grew to include stores in surrounding cities and worldwide delivery. Surviving are his wife, Barbara Findley McCall, c’54; a daughter, Rebecca McCall Galloway, ’91; a son; a sister; a brother; and four grandchildren.

Wanda Stalcup Morrison, n’57, 85, May 31 in Hutchinson, where she was a registered nurse. She also served for 16 years on the executive committee of the Kansas Republican Party. She is survived by her husband, Robert; three sons, two of whom are Robert Jr., ’78, and Richard, c’89; a sister; and three grandsons.

Walter Joe Muller III, c’56, 84, April 13 in Winter Park, Florida. He was a psychiatrist and founded La Amistad, a long-term treatment center for teens and young adults with schizophrenia. Survivors include his wife, Delle; two sons, one of whom is Allan, ’83; two daughters, one of whom is Laura Muller Griffin, j’85; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Nancy Dunne O’Farrell, c’58, 82, May 18 in Prairie Village, where she was a homemaker and volunteered in her community. She is survived by two daughters, Anne O’Farrell Russell, c’82, j’84, and Amy O’Farrell Sullivan, c’88; two sons, Tom, ’86, and Pat, c’95; a brother, Bob Dunne, b’52; a sister, Betty Dunne Nelson, c’51; and nine grandchildren.

Dean Owens, b’53, l’68, 87, May 22 in Lawrence. He was an attorney in Salina, and he and his wife, Doris McConnell Owens, f’53, later enjoyed retirement in Lawrence. Survivors include a son, Steve, c’77, m’82; two daughters, Susan Owens Bloom, d’80, g’87, and Sarah Owens Steele, b’83; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Stanley Sager, c’51, 89, May 12 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was a trial attorney and co-founded Sager, Curran, Sturges and Tepper law firm. He also was an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico. In 2013 he received an honorary doctor of law from Washburn University in Topeka. Surviving are his wife, Shirley Wilkie Sager, ’53; two daughters; two sisters, one of whom is Portia Sager Maxon, ’53; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Robert Smith, c’53, l’55, 86, June 9 in Austin, Texas. He retired as executive vice president at Fourth Financial Corporation in Wichita. His wife, Nancy, two stepsons, a stepdaughter, a sister, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive.

Arlen Tappan, a’59, 84, June 14 in Topeka, where he had a 42-year career with the Kansas Department of Transportation. Surviving are his wife, Delores; four sons, one of whom is Jon, ’87; a daughter; a sister; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Arthur Vogel, c’59, m’63, 81, April 24 in Leawood. He was an anesthesiologist and instructor at Boston University School of Medicine and University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He is survived by his wife, Judith Buck Vogel, d’60; three daughters, two of whom are Katherine Vogel Barber, g’88, and Laura Vogel Brink, l’95; a sister; and six grandchildren.

Helen Smith Wahl, g’58, 87, June 10 in Green Valley, Arizona. She lived in Kansas City for several years, where she taught physical education and was a high school counselor. She also was president of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus. Surviving are her husband, David, c’62, d’66; and two sons.

60s

James Anderson, c’62, g’64, 79, May 19 in Port St. Joe, Florida. He had a 35-year career as professor of history at the University of Georgia. He is survived by his wife, Geri; two sons; and a sister, Marianne Anderson Wilkinson, c’57, g’64.

Leland Cole, c’61, 79, June 2 in Copley, Ohio, where he had a long career as an attorney. He also was president of C.E.D., a mineral processing company. Survivors include his wife, Mary Challinor Cole, d’63; a son; two brothers; and two grandchildren.

Richard Crocker, j’60, 80, June 4 in Wichita. He worked at the Washington Post for nearly 25 years, retiring as assisant managing editor. Surviving are his wife, Elvira, and a son.

Mike Dwyer, c’65, 75, May 7 in Leawood, where he practiced law for more than 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Sally Richardson Dwyer, d’68; a daughter, Meghann Dwyer Hoffman, a’02; a son, David, c’06; two brothers, Terry, e’80, and Kevin, e’82; two sisters, one of whom is Cheri Dwyer Rhodes, c’85; and four grandchildren.

Kenneth Ellington, b’63, 86, July 6 in Overland Park, where he retired from a career in accounting. His wife, Bonnie, assoc., survives.

Alvin Franson, e’63, 79, April 23 in Venice, Florida. He was a retired U.S. Navy commander and founded a communications firm. Survivors include two sons, a sister and two brothers.

Richard Hall, b’69, 71, June 23 in Charleston, South Carolina. He had a 20-year career as a supply corps officer in the U.S. Navy and later taught high school mathematics. His wife, Linda, a son, a daughter and four grandchildren survive.

Robert “Tad” Harrington, d’68, 72, May 27 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He taught English literature for nearly 30 years at a K-12 school and also produced and directed several school musicals. Surviving are his brother, Thomas, b’62; and a sister, Nancy Harrington Woody, d’66.

Catherine Holland, c’65, d’71, 76, June 5 in Russell, where she was a retired physical therapist. Several nieces and nephews survive.

Jim McMullan, a’61, 82, May 31 in Wofford Heights, California, where he was an actor. His career spanned more than three decades and he appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including “Downhill Racer” and “Dallas.” He is survived by his wife, Helene, assoc.; and two sons.

Clifford “Kip” Niven, c’68, 73, May 6 in Leawood. He was an actor and starred in several movies and TV shows, including “The Waltons” and “Alice.” Most recently, he portrayed Phog Allen in Kevin Willmott’s film “Jayhawkers.” He also was a frequent performer in Kansas City theatre. His partner, Claudia, a son and two daughters survive.

Elaine Linley Norman, d’64, 76, May 17 in Overland Park. She was a sixth-grade teacher and longtime member of P.E.O. Sisterhood. Surviving are a daughter; two brothers, Michael Linley, c’70, g’72, and Alfred Linley, c’73, g’76; and two grandchildren.

John Pierce, c’67, 75, May 22 in Collinsville, Oklahoma, where he was a pilot and retired as director of flight operations at Medshares Management Services. He is survived by his wife, Chris Kraeger Pierce, d’66; and two daughters, one of whom is Toby Pierce Hunt, ’92.

John Racy, g’64, 82, May 28 in Lawrence, where he taught mathematics at Lawrence High School. His wife, Larysa, two sons and a daughter survive.

Ronald Reuter, c’66, l’69, 75, July 1 in Kansas City. He practiced law in Johnson County for nearly 45 years and also served as city attorney for several municipalities. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; five sons, two of whom are David, e’99, and Michael, c’02, ’04; and five grandsons.

Kenneth Scherrer, b’61, 81, May 6 in Lenexa. He lived in Butler, Missouri, for several years and owned a hardware store. He later opened Ken’s Furniture & Appliance. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Vandever Scherrer, b’61; three daughters, one of whom is Ilene Scherrer Hurst, ’95; and nine grandchildren.

William Stoddart, b’63, 77, June 18 in Oklahoma City, where he began his career as a stockbroker and retired after working in the funeral business. His wife, Martha, two sons, a daughter and eight grandchildren survive.

Larry Vujnovich, c’65, 76, April 26 in Olathe. He worked in human resources for the U.S. District Court in Missouri. Surviving are a son, Michael, c’95; and three grandchildren.

Gary Weaver, m’68, 75, May 5 in Brunswick, Maine, where he was a gastroenterologist. He is survived by his wife, Susan Jordan Weaver, n’68; a son; a brother; and a grandson.

70s

Cheryl Parrish Bornkessel, d’73, ’92, 68, June 25 in Overland Park, where she was an elementary school teacher for nearly 40 years. She is survived by her husband, Bob, d’75; a daughter, Brooke Bornkessel Kunstman, ’03; a son; a sister, Cindy Parrish Viskocil, d’75; a brother, Robert Parrish, b’79; and four grandchildren.

Tim Frey, c’70, 71, Jan. 25 in Phoenix. He was a school psychologist in Lawrence and McLouth and later retired as director of research and federal projects for the Chandler School District in Chandler, Arizona. A brother survives.

Jim Lichty, a’75, 65, June 17 in Prairie Village. He was an architect and owned Archetype Design Group in Leawood. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Michelle Cato Lichty, d’77; a daughter, Jacqueline Lichty Dunbar, e’05; a son; and a brother, Thomas, j’81.

Marki Bonebrake Nolterieke, d’70, 70, April 25 in Houston. She managed a dental office for more than 30 years. She is survived by her husband, Marty, j’70; a son, Ryan, e’97; a daughter; a sister, Marsha Bonebrake Bourgeois, c’74; a brother, David Bonebrake, ’76; and five grandchildren.

James Stevens, c’79, l’82, g’83, 61, May 10 in San Francisco. He was an attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency. Surviving are his wife, Susan Cox Stevens, c’80; two sons, one of whom is Trevor, ’13; a daughter, Paige, ’15; two sisters, Laura Stevens Bryan, c’74, m’76, and Leah Stevens Waage, c’77, m’81; two brothers, Rhoads, c’76, and Victor, m’82; and two grandchildren.

80s

Trudie Foltz Hoffman, p’83, 81, May 17 in Manhattan. She and her husband, Bill, b’55, lived in Westmoreland and owned Hoffman Pharmacy. Survivors include four daughters, Jean Hoffman Bramwell, ’82, Kay Hoffman Tomasu, p’84, Mary, h’86, and Nancy Hoffman Vanderpool, p’03; two sons, one of whom is William Jr. “Skip,” b’89; a brother; 15 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Pamela Luthye Rodriguez, f’87, 64, March 1 in Phoenix. She was the first female aviator and first female commander in the Kansas National Guard. She later worked for the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs. Surviving are her husband, Victor; her mother, Elma Luthye, assoc.; a brother, Stephen Luthye, e’79; two sisters; two stepsons; three stepdaughters; 14 step-grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Mike Titus, g’88, 70, June 18 in Topeka, where he retired from the Kansas Air National Guard. He also was a teacher. A daughter, Gillian, j’03, g’18, survives.

William Chad Wagner, b’89, 51, May 28 in Shawnee. He was a U.S. Army captain and director of policy and oversight for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s acquisition and grants office. Surviving are his wife, Lisa Schuler Wagner, b’89; two sons, one of whom is Matthew, b’18; and a brother.

Jeff Wurster, c’81, 60, Feb. 24 in Kansas City, where he was an attorney. He is survived by his father, W. Joel, m’56; his mother; two brothers, Steve, j’83, and Mark, m’84; and a sister.

90s

Jared Nave, c’97, 45, May 12 in Wichita. He taught English in Seoul, South Korea, for two years and later worked at Dillons in Topeka. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. His parents, two sisters and a brother survive.

00s

Charles “CJ” Wright, c’00, 42, June 4 in Lenexa. He was an auditor and accounting analyst at Sprint. Surviving are his wife, Karen, his parents and a stepbrother.

10s

Erin Langhofer, s’16, s’17, 25, Aug. 2 in Kansas City, where she was a counselor and therapist at Rose Brooks Center and helped survivors of domestic abuse. She is survived by her parents, Tom, c’83, and Marcy Flynn Langhofer, c’83; and her sister, Kathryn, c’14.

Kenny Owens, ’13, 35, July 19 in Lawrence. Surviving are his father, Kenneth, ’84; his mother; a sister; and his grandfather.

UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

Daniel Bays, 77, May 9 in St. Louis. He was professor and chair of the history department and also directed the Center for East Asian Studies. Survivors include his wife, Janice; a daughter, Kristen Bays Hite, d’93, g’00; a son, Justin, ’98; a brother; and two granddaughters.

Edith Elam Black, c’50, g’74, 90, June 30 in Lawrence. She worked at the School of Social Welfare from 1970 to 1995 and was assistant dean for several years. She also served on KU’s first affirmative action board and participated in Kansas Paraguay Partners. In 1978 she received the University’s Outstanding Woman Staff Member Award. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Surviving are her husband, John Poertner; three sons, two of whom are James “Randy,” j’75, and Chris, b’76; a daughter, Elizabeth, s’77; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Nancy Moore Boozer, d’51, 90, May 23 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She coached KU women’s basketball and field hockey teams, and in 1972 she started the women’s golf program. Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Boozer Morgan, d’76, Beth Boozer Buford, d’78, and Beverly, b’84; a sister, Virginia Moore Tucker, ’43; and four grandchildren.

Douglas Dechairo, c’62, m’66, 78, May 26 in Lawrence, where he was director and chief of staff at Watkins Student Health Services. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. He is survived by his wife, Lucy; two daughters; a son; two stepdaughters, one of whom is Alison Aviles, c’12; a stepson; two brothers, T.C., ’59, and Roger, ’72; and a sister, Joyce Dechairo Stember, ’67.

Gustave Eisemann, m’48, 93, May 26 in Mission Hills. He was a physician and clinical professor of medicine at KU Medical Center. Surviving are his wife, Elinor, ’79; three sons, one of whom is Allan, m’86; and eight grandchildren.

Vincent Muirhead, 100, April 30 in Lenexa. He was a retired U.S. Navy pilot and professor and chair of the aerospace engineering department. Survivors include three daughters, two of whom are Rosalind Muirhead Underdahl, c’66, and Jean, c’70, g’75; a brother; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Dennis Sooby, 91, July 8 in Lawrence, where he was the University’s chief pilot for many years. He is survived by his wife, Delores; three sons, Steve, d’74, Tom, ’81, and Larry, ’87; and a daughter, Rita, c’81.

Charlotte Withrow, s’69, 82, April 23 in Overland Park. She worked in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at KU Medical Center for more than 15 years. A sister survives.

ASSOCIATES

Gerald “Gary” Ackerman, assoc., 85, April 19 in Wichita, where he worked at Boeing. He is survived by two daughters, one of whom is Becky Ackerman McCorry, c’91; three sisters; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Claire Porter Campbell, assoc., 81, June 1 in Aiken, South Carolina. She was a homemaker. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Surviving are her husband, William, a’62; two sons; a daughter; and five grandchildren.

Louise Haworth, assoc., 91, Jan. 18 in Salina, where she was a homemaker. She is survived by a son, Bob, ’81; a daughter; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Nellie Hoff, assoc., 100, June 1 in Sachse, Texas, where she was a first-grade teacher. A daughter, three granddaughters, two step-granddaughters and several great-grandchildren survive.

Robert Proctor, assoc., 91, June 20 in Lawrence. He was a clinical psychologist in Topeka and taught courses at Washburn University. A niece and several nephews survive.

Sonya Smith, assoc., 78, June 17 in Prairie Village, where she was a homemaker. Surviving are a son, Scott, c’85; two daughters, Stephanie Smith Kissick, c’90, l’93, and Laura Smith Faulkner, ’90; and five grandchildren.

Katherine Stannard, assoc., 92, May 2 in Lawrence. She was active in the KU community and funded the Jerry and Katherine Stannard Conservation Laboratory, which KU Libraries dedicated in 1998. Survivors include three daughters, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Martha Varnes, assoc., 102, Feb. 24 in Indianapolis, where she was active in her community. A daughter, two sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive.

TAGS
SHARE:

RELATED ARTICLES

School Codes

Magazine Departments