Class Notes
Notices received as of June 1, 2018.
1959
David Olson is pastor of the International Church of Stockholm. He is also a gem cutter, and set up a shop in Bangkok in 2017.
1961
Carolyn Nelson Sanderson retired as the organist at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Niles, Ill., after 55 years of service.
1962
Diane Edmund Griffin was elected as a new member of the American Philosophical Society in May 2018. She is a professor of Medicine and Neurology, Molecular Biology and Immunology, and a University Distinguished Service Professor at Johns Hopkins University.
1984
Mary Sophia Waggener Hawks is a Parish (Faith Community) Nurse at Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville, Tenn. In April 2018, her registered nurse ministry transitioned to full-time.
Carolyn Leyva is the director of rehabilitation services at South Georgia Medical Center. She has been a physical therapist for more than 31 years.
1988
Chris McAuliffe married Mina Torres on April 23, 2016. He published the history book, Cycling in Chicago, in October 2017 (Arcadia Publishing). He is the business development specialist with the Chicago Municipal Employees Credit Union.
1992
Jeremy Barnhart is the vice president of franchise development for Apex Leadership Company (ALC). Since its inception in 2011, ALC has raised more than $46 million for elementary schools nationwide, serving over 1.7 million kids in more than 2,600 schools.
Marji Puotinen was accepted into the Homeward Bound program, a year-long leadership program for women with science backgrounds, with the goal to build a global network of 1,000 science women and empower them to be more effective in making a difference in addressing global climate change.
1993
Paula Anderson Nimrick was promoted to controller at McLaughlin Body Company in March 2018.
1994
Jennifer Sands married James Saint on Oct. 26, 2017. She is director of programs for CFJ Manufacturing in Fort Worth, Texas.
Susan Grupe Wahlmann and Michael Wahlmann '95 were featured in three nationwide public-service announcements as part of National Stroke Awareness Month in May. They were selected by the National Stroke Association to share Susan’s experience as a young survivor, and were flown to New York City for the filming.
1995
Anthony Holman, a former Augustana basketball player, was recently named the NCAA's managing director for championships operations and playing rules. He will be the lead administrator for the College World Series, along with overseeing championships in bowling, men's ice hockey, FCS football, women's volleyball, beach volleyball and rifle. Holman has worked for the NCAA since 2009.
Michael Wahlmann and Susan Grupe ’94 Wahlmann were featured in three nationwide public-service announcements as part of National Stroke Awareness Month in May. They were selected by the National Stroke Association to share Susan’s experience as a young survivor, and were flown to New York City for the filming.
1996
James Letsos attended the retirement celebration of Dr. Paul Olsen, head track & field and cross country coach and English professor, on May 12, 2018, at Augustana.
1998
Danielle DeCillo Pugh was promoted to executive director at JPMorgan Chase.
Margo Umans Schmitt obtained a Doctorate in Education from Western Illinois University.
2000
Zubair Ansari had a son, Adam Ameen Ansari, in May 2018 (Rubina).
2002
Kristin Spooner Mattera had a daughter, Abigail Betty, on March 28, 2018.
Adam Michels had a son, Cameron, on March 9, 2018 (Courtney Hill; Josephine, 5, and Violet, 3).
Lisa Freberg Pickel had a daughter, Leighton Monroe, on March 14, 2018 (Brian; Avery). Lisa is executive liaison to the CEO and director of events at Matson Money.
2004
Stacey Muren Rauser had a son, Evan Bennett Rauser, on Nov. 28, 2016.
2005
Christina Herrera Olson and her husband, Michael, have three children: Chloe Anna Maria (August 28, 2013); Gavin Gene (May 9, 2015); and Emory Cruz (May 23, 2017).
Kristina Wallig had a daughter, Ella Amelia Thompson-Wallig, on Jan. 14, 2018 (Paul Thompson).
2008
Jay Mansk and Karen Stanfa ’09 Mansk had a daughter, Rachel Anne, on March 10, 2018 (Haley, 2).
Abigail Claeys Webster had a daughter, Collette, on May 7, 2018.
2009
Karen Stanfa Mansk and Jay Mansk '08 had a daughter, Rachel Anne, on March 10, 2018 (Haley, 2).
Allison Stoner had a daughter, Vivian Leia, on Aug. 24, 2017 (Andrew Geraci). Allison is an occupational therapist with Easterseals.
Lucy Slininger Zamastil was installed as an active member of the Senior-Junior Forum in Wichita Falls, Texas.
2010
Katherine (Andi) Walker married Robert Wimmer in May 2018. She is a program planner at the State Bar of Wisconsin in Madison.
2011
Andrew Hansen was named the Illinois Department of Public Health’s EMS Instructor of the Year. He is a firefighter paramedic in Arlington Heights.
2012
Jaron Gaier and Maggie Hayes were married on June 29, 2014. They had a son in 2015, and started a farm in 2016.
Mark Tanner earned his Ph.D. in translational biology and molecular medicine from Baylor College of Medicine on Jan. 8, 2018.
2013
Kaitlyn Ainsworth earned a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Northern Illinois University in December 2017. She is currently pursuing a second master’s and teaching fifth grade in Belvidere, Ill.
Eric Pease and Alison Bjork were married on Sept. 30, 2017. Eric graduated in May 2017 from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his MBA in healthcare leadership from Rockhurst University at the same time. He is currently completing is medical residency in psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Alison graduated from the University of Illinois in May 2017 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
2014
Madison Logan is returning to Augustana in the fall of 2018 to be a clinical supervisor and instructor in speech-language-hearing.
2015
Chandler Brooks received a master’s of science in nursing from the University of Illinois Chicago in December 2017.
2016
Jackie Jastrzebski received her commission in the U.S. Air Force in the summer of 2016 after graduating from Augie. She is a public affairs officer and will spend the next year assigned to Osan Air Base in South Korea.Deaths
Deaths
Notices received as of June 1, 2018.
Raymond Lorimer ’40 on May 1, 2018.
Betty Anderson Hammar ’44 on Oct. 4, 2016.
Marian Nelson ’44 Lindvall on May 19, 2018.
Elizabeth Sherrard ’44 Magee on May 4, 2018.
Gladys Nelson ’46 Anderson on May 12, 2018.
Avis Swenson ’46 Johnson on Feb. 25, 2017.
Helen Landwehr ’46 Swanson on Sept. 5, 2017.
Kenneth Wilcox ’46 on March 10, 2018.
Carolyn Johnson ’48 Ekeberg on April 16, 2018.
William Nelson ’48 on Feb. 15, 2018.
E. Joyce Henning ’48 Trevor on April 29, 2018.
Susie (Ida) Montgomery ’49 Bell on May 25, 2018.
Gertrude Swanson ’50 Johnson on May 11, 2018.
David Hedlund ’51 on April 22, 2018.
J.R. Witherspoon ’53 on Jan. 24, 2005.
Edward Sward ’55 on Oct. 17, 2017.
Peter Burks ’57 on May 23, 2018.
Jerry Johansen ’60 on May 8, 2018.
Mary Holmes ’60 Stoltz on May 2, 2018.
Ronald Ferrell ’67 on May 25, 2018.
Ronald Walter ’67 on Jan. 29, 2018.
Lois Thorson ’68 Sigman on April 21, 2017.
Kenneth Bryant ’72 on March 4, 2018.
Peter Holmer ’72 on May 7, 2018.
Wilma Bady Samuels ’79 on May 30, 2018.
Craig Hadler ’81 on May 5, 2018.
Laura Knees ’83 Shock on May 3, 2018.
Honorary Alumna – 2002
Lillian Nelson on May 21, 2018.