DESTINY'S DEEP SEA

2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1970s | 1960s | 1950s | 1940s | Deaths

2000s

Teri Ahrendt ’02 is currently working at West Telecommunications in Omaha.

Curtis Braden ’02 was married to Angela Weinman on Aug. 17. Curt is an assistant general manager for 24-Hour Fitness in Omaha.

John Brummer ’02 teaching in the St. Edward (Neb.) school system. John has taken on the role as instructor in all of the school’s science classes in grades 7-12.

Jason Dannelly ’02 married Michelle Svoboda on June 15. He is working fulltime for Waitt Media in Grand Island, Neb., and is also running naiafootball.net, a football web site dedicated to small college football in the United States.

Melanie Hinze ’02 and Andrew Lyons ’01 were married July 11 in Las Vegas. Andrew is employed by State Farm Insurance in Omaha.
Kelly Kuiken ’02 was married to Matt Giltner on June 22. Kelly is a substitute teacher in Omaha area schools. They are currently living in Gretna, Neb.

Adam Martin ’02 is a new K-12 vocal music instructor, assistant track coach, and show choir director in Meadow Grove, Neb. He currently lives in Tilden, Neb.

Justin Christensen ’01 married Natalie Flynn ’02 on June 15. Justin is employed in the loan department at First Nebraska Educators Credit Union in Omaha. Natalie attends College of St. Mary, where she studies nursing and runs cross country.

Megan Cosgrove ’01 and Curtis Isaacson ’02 were married June 22. Megan teaches art and Spanish at Omaha Christian Academy and Curtis is the vocal music teacher at Northwest High in Omaha.
Teresa Harrison ’01 was married to Troy Scott on July 27. Teresa is a Superior High School special education teacher. The couple lives in Superior, Neb.

Lindsay Joslin ’01 and Josh Benoit were married July 13 in Blair. Lindsay joined Fort Calhoun (Neb.) Community Schools as the K-4 special education teacher. Aside from her teaching duties, she will also serve as assistant coach for junior high volleyball. The couple reside in Blair.

William Dennis Potts ’01 has recently earned a promotion to manager of product cost and invoicing at Hormel Foods of Rochelle, Ill.

Jennifer Schaaf ’01 was married Aug. 17 to Travis Tougaw. They are both attending graduate school at University of Nebraska-Omaha. She is pursuing her master’s degree in social work.

Jessica Clark ’00 is attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s School of Social Work master’s program. She is continuing to work at Developmental Services of Nebraska Inc.

Brian Jones ’00 and Lori Argotsinger were married July 9 in Estes Park, Colo. Brian works at Discount Windows Inc. in Denver.

Richard Martell Jr. ’00 was married to Celeste Johnson ’01 on June 22. Richard is currently employed as a school teacher in Broward County, Fla. Celeste works as a substitute teacher. The couple lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Gina Ronk ’00 and Kip Johnson were married June 29 in Omaha. Gina teaches sixth grade in the Omaha parochial school system.

1990s

Ryan Barrett ’99 and Tracie Sittner were married July 27. Ryan is a member of the Nebraska National Guard and is a self-employed contractor with Barrett Construction.

Kristi (Conkling ’99) Dayoob has been accepted into a position at Richard Young Outpatient Center in the Department of Psychopharmacology Research Center in Omaha.

Daniel ’99 and Jennifer (Williams ’00) Formo have moved to Madison, Wis., where Dan is working for Mid America Computer Corp. out of the home. Jennifer is looking for employment in the Madison Metropolitan School District. She will likely be substitute teaching this year.

Liza Moberg ’99 was recently featured in an article in the Omaha World-Herald about a knitting club she started at Omaha North High. Liza is also a German teacher at North High.

Rob Wheeler ’99 is pursuing a degree in pharmacy. Rob has been on a one-month rotation schedule in Aurora, Neb. He will graduate in May 2003.

D. Matt Worley ’99 is in his third year in Master of Fine Arts at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, Calif. He was featured in promotional materials for the theater.

Matt Anderson ’98 was married to Lori Quick on July 20. Matt and Lori is working toward a Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis.

Todd Ashby ’98 was promoted to account executive at Envoy, a full-service marketing, advertising, public relations and interactive firm. Todd joined Envoy in 2001 as an account coordinator.

Amy Benedict ’98 was married to Mark Olson on Sept. 28. Amy is a grant evaluator and technologist for Iowa Western Community College.

Julie Holmes ’98 was married to Brian Bruning on Sept. 7, in Pilger, Neb. Julie is currently a special education teacher for West Point (Neb.) Public Schools.

Taffy (Forsen ’98) Jones is now teaching at Herman (Neb.) Elementary, which is also the elementary school she attended. Taffy lives in Blair with her husband, Luke, and son, Treyton. She taught special education for three years in Fort Calhoun, Neb.

Eric R. Krystof ’98 is senior software engineer at Oriental Trading Company in Omaha.

Dan Olsen ’98 is teaching screenwriting for film at Fullerton College in Fullerton, Calif.

Derek Otte ’98 was married to Cassandra Zehner on June 15. Derek is employed by Marta Railroad Services of Gillette, Wyo. They now live in Gillette.

Ben Sandy ’98 competed in the 25th Lincoln Half-Marathon. Ben placed fourth overall in the half-marathon with a clocking of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 55 seconds.

Stephanie Carlson-Pruch ’97 currently teaches elementary art at Castelar Academy in Omaha. She is working toward her English as a second langauge endorsement at Creighton University in Omaha. Stephanie has two J. Doe statues on permanent display in Omaha.

Sara Hildreth ’97 graduated in June from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Sara is now a pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Madison, Neb.

Heather (Olsen ’97) McCain has been promoted to art director at Swanson Russell Associates in Omaha. She joined SRA in 1999.

Sandy Smith ’97 married Lance Watkins on June 29. They reside in Due West, S.C. She has taken a ninth grade English teaching position at Abbeville High School (S.C.).

Shannon ’96 and Mary (Hennings ’96) LeFave have become parents of a son, Aidan Joshua, who was born July 17. He is welcomed home by big brother, William, 3. The family lives in Deshler, Neb., where Mary is a stay-at-home mom and Shannon teaches science at Deshler Public School.

Dan and Angie (Heise ’95) Knudsen are the parents of a daughter, Holli Marie, who was born June 14, 2001.

Daniel and Nichole (Jaskiewicz ’94) Rogert of Waterloo, Neb., announce the birth of Madisyn Rachel on July 19. She weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces. The couple also has a son, Tyler Reed, 3.

Cory Sornson ’94 competed in a national music competition in Nashville on Sept. 7. There were approximately 50 individuals who made it to the finals.

Tory J. Steffen ’94 received a master’s degree in social work in May from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Tory will be a therapist at Visinet, Inc. in Omaha.

Amy and John Arensberg ’93 have a new daughter, Taylor Dawn, born April 14, 2001.

Amy (Barta ’93) Becker teaches junior high English in Fort Calhoun. Amy was chosen as a part of an elite group of teachers across the country to participate in “Teaching Shakespeare 2002.”

Amos and Carol (Mueller ’93) Gray have a new child, Joshua Jeremiah, who was born Jan. 11, 2001. Carol is national director of “Kid-Ability!” a child abuse prevention program for Girls Incorporated of Omaha.

Pam Shelton ’93 has been hired as director of financial aid at Clarkson College in Omaha. She had been serving as assistant director of admissions at Dana.

Wade and Becky (Johnson ’92) Davenport had a baby boy, Joshua James, born June 18. He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 21.5 inches long.

Keely Gibbs ’92 married Chris Bovais on July 5, in their hometown of Gresham, Ore. They now reside in Lorton, Va.

Dan Adkins ’91 was featured in a large article in the Beatrice (Neb.) Daily Sun summarizing his new-found passion of piano tuning.

Lori Ohms ’91 married Kevin Bayne on June 19, on the beach of Anaeho‚ Omalu Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lori is an installation and training representative for Mid America Computer Corporation in Blair. They reside in Omaha.

Gina (Roden ’90) Birdsall is a new teacher at West Harrison (Iowa) Public Schools. She is the English and communications instructor and also advisor for the Speech Club. Before coming to West Harrison, Gina spent 12 years teaching 7-12 language arts at Manning (Iowa) Community Schools. Her family includes husband Craig, daughter Kayla, and son Tyler.

Shannon Longwell ’90 was promoted to ATM operations manager for First National Bank of Omaha

1980s

Steve Meister ’88 graduated from the Family Medicine Residency Program at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton and is now finishing his Navy obligation as a staff family physician in Guam. Steve writes that his wife Karen and children (Noah, 4 and Sydney, 2) have adapted well. Karen is teaching at the only Lutheran Church in Guam. They look forward to 2004 when they will be returning to the Midwest.

Carl Jennings ’87 was featured in the The Omaha World-Herald about his hopes to improve Peony Park in Omaha.

Faith (Smith ’87) Senff is the new resource teacher for fifth though eighth grades at Shelton (Neb.) Public School.

Jolynn (Oliver ’84) Tonsfeldt is serving in a one-year position as an instructor of education at Northwestern College in Sioux City, Iowa. She taught English and German for 13 years at Le Mars (Iowa) Community High School and spent the last three years as a 4-H and youth development specialist in the Plymouth County (Iowa) Extension Office.

1970s

Paul D. Johnson ’76 was elected president of the Fremont (Neb.) Area Community Foundation. Paul is a certified financial planner for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Steven M. Barratt ’74 was recently selected as a voting delegate for the National Rural Letter Carrier Association’s Annual Convention in Portland, Maine, and appointed assistant state steward for the Iowa Rural Letter Carrier Association. Steven also is the mayor of the city of Kirkman, Iowa, and Board President of Regional Water Inc., a rural water district in southwest Iowa.

Charles Crow ’74 retired after 28 years of teaching at Meridian (Neb.) High School. He also recently retired from the United States Air Force National Guard after 23 years of service.

Brent Siegrist ’74 is currently serving his second term as the speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives. Brent taught high school government for 18 years, received Dana’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000 and is now manager of special projects for Valley Corp. of Bettendorf, Iowa. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Iowa State University. He lives in Iowa with his wife, Valerie, and two children.

Russ Finken ’73 is currently the principal at Glenwood (Iowa) Middle School. Russ is also taking classes to earn his specialist degree from University of Nebraska-Omaha. Russ hopes to become a personnel director at a larger school district or a school district superintendent. He plans to finish his degree in the spring of 2003.

1960s

Brent Peterson ’69 was awarded the Nebraska Hospital Association’s “Excellence in Service” award in October. The award recognizes the outstanding contribution of one Nebraska hospital executive who is active in state and national hospital initiatives, demonstrates leadership within his or her hospital and contributes to the advancement of high quality, efficient and effective health care services in his or her community. Brent serves as CEO of Cherry County Hospital in Valentine, Neb.

Ralph Breckle ’67 and wife, April, bicycled some 250 miles over five days from Hopkinsvile, Kent., to Red Clay State Historical Park. The couple did this to symbolically apologize for the U.S. government’s treatment of the Cherokee Nation during the 1,000-mile march on the Trail of Tears.

Phyllis (Ehmen) Deunk ’63 was named postmaster of Hallam, Neb. She was the postmaster in Douglas, Neb., for two years before her position in Hallam.

1950s

Elsie-May (Lund ’57) Moreau received her master’s degree from Saint Joseph’s College in Maine in 2001.

Rev. Arthur Simon ’52 was presented with the Wittenberg Award from The Luther Institute, an inter-Lutheran center in Washington, DC, dedicated to fostering education and research on social, educational and ethical issues in the public sphere. Arthur is a pastor and founder of Bread for the World, a Christian Citizens Movement, and won Dana’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1980.

1940s

Dr. Alvin Rueter ’42 was awarded the 2002 Metro Lutheran Gold Pen Award for his weekly radio broadcast, “Sing For Joy!”

Deaths

Mark Rosenthal ’83 died Sept. 15, at age 41. He is survived by sons, Benjamin and Jackson; partner Dean E. Pierce; father and step-mother, Henry ’56 and Dianne; mother, Sharlene (Lauritzen ’57); a brother; many aunts, uncles and cousins.

David Hiller ’73 died at the age of 57 on May 31. He married Lana Goon in 1970. David retired from he Nebraska Furniture Mart after 28 years. He worked for Dial America for six years, and was working for TPG Telemanagement Services. He was a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha. He is survived by wife, Lana; three children, James, Mark and Daniel; three grandsons, and one granddaughter; two sisters; nephews; and nieces.

Rosie (Hayes ’60) Schulke, a former teacher and coach who was the first woman to join the Nebraska Coaches Association, died July 13 of colon cancer. She was 65. Rosie taught and coached volleyball at Ponca High School from 1957-1973. She was also a member of the Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golf Association and Fremont Golf Club. Survivors include husband Jon ’57, sons Sarr, Jan and Saylor; daughter Joni Hegy; mother Fern Frangenberg; a brother; a sister; and seven grandchildren.

Robert Plugge ’44 died Oct. 2 at the age of 79. Survivors include his wife Ellenora (Jensen ’43), sons and daughters-in-law, Roger ’66 and Julie, Rick ’77 and Patty; daughter Rita Engleken, Randy and Michele, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Viggo I. Carlsen ’35 died Aug. 9 at age 89. Viggo was a public school teacher for 42 years. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, David and Lois Carlsen; two daughters, Ellen (Carlsen ’67) Ellick and Norma (Carlsen ’69) Glodas; three brothers, Verner D ’36 T ’39, Niels D ’49 T ’56, and Stanley D ’45 T ’47; sister Eunice (Carlsen ’47) Larsen; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, the Rev. Verner Carlsen, Rev. Niels Carlsen, and Stanley Carlsen; and a sister, Eunice (Carlsen ’60) Larsen.

Erma Sentman ’33 died Sept. 16, following a stroke at the age of 90. Erma received her teaching certificate from Dana and taught for two years before marrying Leonard Sentman. The couple farmed for more than 50 years. Erma was an active member of the North Liberty First United Methodist Church where she was involved with WSCE, UMW, the Whip-poor-will club and 4-H. Survivors include two daughters, Beverly Joan and Mary Ellen Campbell; five grandsons, and five great-grandchildren.

William Thomas Wilkinson Sr. ’32 died June 29, at the age of 93. He was married for 61 years to Claire (Nelson) Wilkinson. Survivors include daughters, Susan Clifford and Shirley Seng; son, Tom Wilkinson; nine grandchildren; five great-granddaughters; a sister, Alice Schafer, and many nieces and nephews.

Lillie (Petersen ’29) Rasmussen died July 7. Lillie taught school in one-room rural school houses in North Dakota while attending college. In 1934 she married Pastor Paul G. Rasmussen and together they served parishes. After her husband’s death in 1959, Lillie returned to school teaching. Lillie was an active member of Lutheran Church Women, and she also visited churches and missions in India and Palestine. After retirement, she moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., where she lived for 16 years. She is survived by two brothers, George Petersen ’40 and Paul Petersen; a son, Paul Rasmussen; three granddaughters; and five great-grandchildren.

Announcements

The annual Arizona Alumni Luncheon will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003, at The Pavilion at the Arizona Golf Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Anne Christopherson (402) 426-7248 or achristo@fs1.dana.edu.

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