Class Notes
Your fellow alumni readers want to know want what you're up to these days. Share your news about job changes, promotions, awards/recognition, retirement, and family milestones with us. Class notes are featured in our Outlook email newsletter and annual magazine.
Here are some common reasons to send us a class note:
- A new job or promotion
- A baby or adopted a child
- You got married or entered into an official union
- Published a book
- A fellow alumni has passed away
Lois Scott Poulos `82 recently completed 5 years at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, IL, and currently serves as the Director of Mission Outreach.
Kristine Murphy Ihrke `92 started as the Area Director of Sales for the Kahler Hospitality Group in Rochester, MN overseeing group and catering sales for five properties.
Sarah Knutson `05 was named managing partner at McCarty Law, LLP. Her appointment marks a milestone as the first woman in the firm’s 75-year history to hold the role.
Career News: new jobs, promotions, awards and retirements
- Dr. Ron Hull `66 has published his 16th book, LA 2032: Starting Over, an
apocalyptic novel about two teens rebuilding Los Angeles after a virus wipes out most of the world's population. He also has a story in Legacy of Whispers: Unsuspecting Orphan, an anthology from The Final Twist Writers Society. His work is available on Amazon, and more can be found at ronhullauthor.com and authorsden.com. - Michael Nissenbaum `77 retired in May 2025 after a 35-year career in the Restaurant Industry (Marriott, Sbarros, AVI Foodsystems and Firehouse Subs) holding Director and VP positions and an 18-year career in the Optical Industry (EssilorLuxottica) working as their Contract and Regulatory Compliance Manager.
- Sandra Anderson Herzog `79 retired in October 2022 after a 40+ year career providing services to Licensed Family Child Care Providers nation-wide.
- Alan Masnek `80 retired after 45 years in various roles within the transport and flexible packaging industries located in California, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Mexico, Singapore and Malaysia.
- Sue Fuller Korycansky `81 retired in July, 2025 after a 44 year career in Hotel Sales & Marketing.
- Jackie Stroot `81 retired in June 2025. She was primarily a Program/Project Manager in Aerospace (McDonnell Douglas, Control Data) and Healthcare network management (United Healthcare, Optum Health Transplant Solutions, Aetna/First Health).
- Scott Richter `82 accepted a new position in April working for Allied Resource Recovery as a Commercial Recyclable Materials Buyer supporting sustainability for businesses and organizations throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
- Jim Vegel `83 retired from ICU Medical after 3 years as Vice President of Quality/Regulatory. Jim also held various Operations and Quality leadership positions while at Medtronic for 32 years.
- Louise Rondello Halek `84 retired after 40 years of teaching PreK, elementary, and middle school in St Louis Park MN.
- Daniel Johnson `84 retired at end of 2024. In his 40-year career he held positions as an Industrial Engineer, Process Engineering Manager and Director of Manufacturing for a German American Manufacturing company.
- Jeff Johnson `85 retired in 2024 after 30 years as a systems programmer for Marshfield Clinic.
- Jay Dengel `88 retired from USPS after 17 years of service in June 2024.
- Jeff Brown `89 retired after 36 years of teaching Architecture, Engineering, CAD and Animation at High School level. He will now be teaching part-time at the Junior College level.
- Stephanie Frazier Mecus `91 was recently promoted at DEKRA North America to Client Engagement Manager.
- Steve Kleist `93, `95 will celebrate 30 years of marriage to Michelle Royer Kleist `93 in September 2025. They met on campus at UW-Stout.
- Dan Lea `16 began a new job as a Public Relations and Media Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
- Sarah King `19 was promoted to Director, Grants at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids.
Life events: births, marriages, anniversaries and deaths
Arrivals:
- Nancy Werner Yow `70 and husband Ron welcomed a grandson, Rhodes Larson Yow on April 20, 2025.
- Kevin Wilde `80 and Mary Goplin Wilde `80 welcomed their second Grandson in April 2025.
Wedding:
Anniversary:
- Peter Fulcer`60 and wife Mary Jean celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June 2025.
- Barbara Schmidt Nordberg `69 and Roger Nordberg celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
- Jeanne Uppena Cordts `71 and John Cordts celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in August 2025.
- Dennis Baran `72, `73 and Michael Baran will celebrate 30 years of marriage in October 2025. They will have 3 new grandchildren by September 2025.
- Rosanne Cuda Weber `72, `79 and James Weber celebrated their 50th anniversary in June 2025.
- Jan Antonneau Anderson `73, `89 and husband Rod will be celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary in December 2025.
- Mike Lenth `74 and Margaret Goedjen Lenth `75 celebrated their 50th anniversary in June 2025.
- Mark Hatzenbeller `79 and Laura Slater-Hatzenbeller `79 celebrated their 46th Wedding Anniversary in June 2025.
Passing:
- Carol Burns `56, July 23, 2025, Oconto Falls
- Wendell Carlson `59, July 22, 2025, Lac La Belle
- Leland “Lee” Appleyard `60, June 13, 2025, Sparta
- James “Jim” Carlson `61, June 20, 2025, Minneapolis, Minn.
- David McBain `64, August 10, 2025, Sparta
- Arthur Cothran Jr `65, July 13, 2025, Beaver Dam
- Norbert Radle `67, August 22, 2025, Neenah
- Leslie Simonson `67, June 15, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
- James VanEpps II `67, August 24, 2025, Portage
- Larry Burrows `71, August 6, 2025, Eau Claire
- Richard Bell `73, July 11, 2025, Chippewa Falls
- Margaret “Peggy” Siesennop Snyder `75, August 17, 2025, Tomahawk
- James Friday `76, June 10, 2025, Eau Claire
- Herbert Rudd `76, June 5, 2025, Gleason
- Zita Yublitz Stanley `76, February 4, 2025, Greenwood, Ind.
- Carol Kobza `77, August 26, 2025, Wisconsin Rapids
- David Derus `80, August 13, 2025, Menomonee Falls
- Jeffrey Lobner `80, August 13, 2025, Saratoga
- Gary Colby `82, June 5, 2025, Osseo
- Jerry Retallick `84, June 12, 2025, Fayetteville, Ark.
- Charles Riley `84, July 29, 2025, Mesquite, Nev.
- William “Bill” Maves `88,June 12, 2025, Elk Mound
- Patricia McHugh `89, July 29, 2025, Sparta
- Daniel Hefter `90, August 5, 2025, La Grange, Texas
- Darla Monica Tong `94, June 30, 2025, Green Bay
- Irene Nordquist Sahyun `94, July 21, 2025, Santa Barbara, Calif.
- Andrew Hable `96, August 6, 2025, Elk Mound
- Benjamin Wiebusch `03, June 14, 2025, Minneapolis, Minn.
- Melanie McCole Stickney `06, May 5, 2025, Lake Geneva
- Stephen Mountain `06, April 29, 2025, River Falls
- Vickie Jensen `08, August 25, 2025, Osceola
Friend of the University:
- Ryan J. “Bump” Hebert, 53, husband of Angela Bowe Hebert `03, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
- William “Bill” Porter, 75, passed away on July 25, 2025. Bill worked at the Bookstore on campus for many years and his wife Wendy Dittman `98, `07 was a program director on campus before her retirement.
Faculty/Staff News: awards, retirements and deaths
Faculty/staff passing:
- James “Rich” Lawrence, 78, died on June 14, 2025. Rich served as a football coach at UW-Stout from 1986-1992.
Outlook Magazine
Our Outlook Magazine is an annual printed publication highlighting alumni success stories from across the country. If you would like to submit an Outlook magazine story, please email alumni@uwstout.edu.
