In Memory

Franklin Austin, e’54, 87, Oct. 3, 2019, in Englewood, Colorado. He had a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force and worked on a family farm in retirement. Survivors include three daughters, one of whom is Sallie Austin-Swanson, ’81; a son; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

James Baird, j’55, 86, May 1 in Kansas City. He owned the Holt County Sentinel newspaper in Oregon, Missouri. Surviving are three daughters, one of whom is Laura Baird Gatson, c’82; two sons, one of whom is Rob, ’83; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Philip Baker, b’58, 84, Nov. 10 in Venice, Florida. He had a long career as a senior systems engineer and instructor at IBM. He is survived by his wife, Linnie; four daughters, one of whom is Kristin Baker Larpenter, c’91, g’95; a sister; and four grandsons.

Glen Beauchamp, e’53, 91, May 29 in Selma, Indiana. He was a retired colonel in the U.S. Marines and served several tours overseas. He later taught high school mathematics. Survivors include three sons; a brother, Gary, c’66, m’70; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Olive Selfridge Bloom, ’54, 87, Sept. 30 in Wichita. She and her late husband, Lewis, m’57, were founding members of the South Central Kansas Community Foundation in Pratt, and she received the foundation’s first Outstanding Service Award. Surviving are three sons, Barry, c’78, m’81, Lamont, m’79, and Jim, j’80, g’83, g’08; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Eli Boucher, g’50, 99, Oct. 8 in Lenexa. He was a retired teacher, principal and superintendent at several school districts in central Kansas. Survivors include two daughters, one of whom is Michele Boucher Heidrick, d’71; three sons, two of whom are Greg, p’74, and Dana, c’79; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Robert Braden, c’55, 89, July 15 in Apple Valley, California, where he was a pilot and retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Surviving are his wife, Valoris, a son, two daughters, four grandsons and two great-grandchildren. 

Thomas Breckenridge, j’53, 88, April 1 in Sunrise, Florida, where he retired after a long career in advertising.

John Cleland, b’58, 84, Nov. 7 in Topeka, where he had a 40-year career with Security Benefit Group and retired as senior vice president, chief investment strategist and chairman of the board of Security funds family. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. He is survived by his wife, Betty Seltsam Cleland, d’58; two daughters, Anne Cleland Hannon, b’83, and Allyn “Sunny” Cleland Murphy, c’84; two sons, Aric, b’87, and AJ, c’94; a brother, Joe, g’65; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Marilyn Barnum Cody, c’50, 91, May 31 in Houston, where she was a member of P.E.O. Sisterhood and volunteered at her church. Two daughters, two sons, 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren survive.

Donald Darnell, d’59, g’63, 87, May 24 in Amarillo, Texas. He was a high school teacher and track coach and retired as director of personnel for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. He is survived by three daughters, one of whom is Debra Darnell Kielman, ’77; a son, Mark, e’82; three sisters; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Herbert Doubek, c’53, m’56, 91, June 21 in Manhattan. He was a longtime resident of Belleville, where he was a family practitioner and Republic County coroner. He was honored as Kansas Family Physician of the Year in 1992. Surviving are two daughters, one of whom is Debra, m’86; a son; a brother; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth Wohlgemuth Duckers, j’55, 86, Oct. 11 in Bellaire, Texas. A longtime Salina resident, she was a news reporter at the Salina Journal and a public information officer at St. John’s Military School. A memorial has been established at KU Endowment. She is survived by two sons, Ed, b’81, and Kyle, b’82; a daughter, Sarah, b’83, l’86; four sisters, three of whom are Dorothy Wohlgemuth Lynch, d’59, Joan Wohlgemuth Musbach, c’64, and Lois Wohlgemuth Stanton, d’65; and seven grandchildren.

Janice Horn Ferguson, d’52, 90, June 7 in Prairie Village. She was an elementary school teacher and homemaker. Surviving are a son, Scott, e’83; a daughter; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Dorothy Monahan Franklin, ’52, 92, Dec. 28, 2019, in Saratoga, California, where she was a homemaker. A son, a daughter and a sister survive.

Joyce Ellis Friesen, n’52, 88, Sept. 25 in Lawrence, where she was a retired operating room nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She is survived by two sons, Stan, c’79, and Rick, f’83; two daughters, Karen, ’85, and Judy Friesen Kamerer, b’88; a sister; and six grandchildren.

Robert, e’55, and Carol Christmann Gallieart, b’55, both 87, July 28 in Bellevue, Washington, of natural causes. He was chief test pilot for the 747 aircraft at Boeing, which included work for Air Force One, and she was a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter and a son.

Irene Faringer Hain, ’51, 92, July 31 in Lawrence. She was an accountant for nearly 30 years at AT&T. 

Robert Hamm, ’50, 93, Aug. 26 in Kansas City, where he retired as regional manager in the glass division at PPG Industries. He is survived by two sons, one of whom is Michael, b’76; a daughter; a brother, Bill, d’59, g’66; a sister; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grand-children.

Rosalie Henry, c’53, c’55, 89, Nov. 17 in Ness City. She was a longtime resident of Fairway. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. 

Zelina Higginbottom Hickox, d’51, 92, July 19 in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was a retired kindergarten teacher. Two daughters, a son, seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren survive.

William Huse, c’59, m’63, 83, Oct. 10 in Kansas City, where he was a physician and served as chief of staff at several area hospitals. Survivors include his wife, Linda Irving Huse, h’74; two sons, Shawn, ’86, and Jason, ’88; a daughter; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Laura Willan Johnson, c’58, 83, May 11 in Olathe. She was a longtime resident of Medicine Lodge, where she was a physical therapist. Surviving are three daughters, Lettitia Johnson Bernard, p’82, LeeAnn Johnson Gienke, c’87, p’87, and Lenise Johnson Mellott, p’87; a son, J.C., e’89, g’91; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Richard Judy, c’54, g’55, 87, Sept. 10 en route to the Grand Tetons. He lived in Indianapolis and was best known for his publications and teaching about Soviet economics at the University of Toronto, breeding innovations at the Judy Ranch in Jewell County, his founding of several successful software companies and his seminal book, Workforce 2020: Work and Workers in the 21st Century. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Jane Lommel; two sons, Alex, ’84, and Stephen, f’87; three daughters; and a sister, Susan Judy Harper, c’68.

Robert Kline, c’54, 88, Oct. 7 in Montgomery, Alabama. He served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force before becoming business administrator at his church. He is survived by his wife, Gene Hart Kline, ’56; a son; a daughter; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Earl Knauss, b’55, 87, Nov. 13 in Kansas City, where he was treasurer and chief financial officer at Farmland Industries. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Karen; two daughters, one of whom is Michelle Knauss Sonderegger, f’84; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson. 

Ronald Lenser, e’56, 88, Oct. 9 in Dallas, where he owned R.A. Lenser & Associates, a petroleum engineering and geologic services firm. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment. Two daughters survive. 

Doris Greenbank Livingston, j’51, 91, Sept. 30 in Wichita. An El Dorado native, she was editor and co-publisher of the Butler County News and vice president of Traf-O-Teria System and Butler County Printing. She is survived by her husband, Wayne, c’53; a son, Robert, c’81; two daughters; six granddaughters; and several great-grandchildren.

Garland Longhofer, d’50, g’55, 94, Sept. 14 in Hutchinson, where he had a long career as a high school teacher and counselor. Surviving are two daughters, Jane Longhofer Briscoe, ’72, and Becky Longhofer Grant, d’77; a son, Tom, b’78; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Ralph MacNaughton, m’54, 91, May 27 in Leawood. He was a radiologist at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City. Survivors include three daughters, two of whom are Mary, ’81, and Kathleen MacNaughton Hance, c’92, m’96, g’15; a son, Paul, ’92; and 13 grandchildren.

Mary Mahoney, d’54, 87, Feb. 17, 2020, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She was a high school physical education teacher and coach and was involved in national and Olympic gymnastics competitions. Surviving are a brother, Tim Mahoney, assoc.; and a sister.

Paul Maurer, p’57, 90, Nov. 3 in Upland, California. He owned several pharmacies. Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline Crampton Maurer, n’49; a son; a daughter; and a grandson.

Beverly Jackson McCain, d’56, 85, Sept. 30 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was an elementary school teacher and active in her church community. She is survived by three sons, three stepsons, 13 grandchildren and three great-grand-children.

Roger McKinley, g’50, 94, Aug. 8 in Winchester, Virginia, where he had a long career with the U.S. Department of Defense and earned the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Service Medal in 1981. His wife, Genevieve, two sons, a daughter, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive. 

Frances Hara McNellis, d’59, ’96, 83, Nov. 3 in Lenexa. She lived for many years in Lawrence, where she taught high school history, government and political science. Survivors include her husband, Jesse, c’57, g’59; two sons, John, e’82, g’86, and Michael, c’87; a daughter; and several grandchildren.

Robert Meeker, c’57, l’63, 85, July 25 in Leawood. He retired as general counsel and vice president at Business Men’s Assurance Company. His wife, Pamela, survives.

Georgia Anne “Sis” Hedrick Mercer, c’52, 89, Sept. 6 in Houston, where she taught children with learning disabilities. Surviving are two sons; a daughter; a brother, Clay Hedrick, c’48; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Donna Daise Murray, d’58, 84, Oct. 18 in Larkspur, Colorado, where she was a homemaker and member of P.E.O. Sisterhood. She is survived by her husband, Dick, a’58; two sons, one of whom is Dave, c’84; a daughter; a brother, John Daise, d’55; a sister; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Virginia Jennings Nadeau, f’57, 85, Oct. 31 in Kansas City. She was an interior designer and owned Jennings Interiors on the Country Club Plaza. She also served on the advisory board for the Spencer Museum of Art at KU. A memorial has been established with KU Endowment.

Charles Nakoa, c’51, 91, Aug. 12 in Honolulu, where he retired as executive director at Queen Lili’oukalani Children’s Center. His wife, Suzanne, survives.

George Prochaska, ’52, 90, Oct. 20 in Topeka. He was a retired naval captain and worked at Southwestern Bell for nearly 15 years. Surviving are his wife, Kathleen; a son, Mark, c’79, m’84; three daughters, two of whom are Anne Prochaska Landgraf, n’81, and Mona Prochaska Packer, n’84; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Thomas Raymond, m’58, 89, Aug. 31 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he was an otolaryngologist. He is survived by his wife, Anna, a son, two daughters, four granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

George Richardson, b’50, g’51, 92, April 30 in Sequim, Washington. He retired as executive vice president at Del Monte. A daughter, a son, a brother, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren survive.

Russell Settle, c’56, m’60, 85, July 1 in Overland Park, where he was a physician. He is survived by his wife, Sue; two daughters, one of whom is Natasha Settle Karlin, ’92; two stepdaughters, Kimberly Castle Queen, c’88, and Lori Castle Grieve, h’91; two grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and a step-great-grandchild.

James Shirley, b’57, 88, Sept. 2 in Akron, Ohio, where he was a CPA. A son, Philip, c’89, survives. 

Shelby Smith, b’50, 93, Nov. 6 in Wichita. Throughout his career he was an FBI agent, director of security at Boeing and an investment banker. He also served in the Kansas House of Representatives. Survivors include his wife, Betty Shartel Smith, ’52; two sons; two daughters; and 12 grandchildren. 

Con Spainhour, p’55, 87, Nov. 14 in Winfield, where he was director of pharmacy at the Winfield State Hospital and retired at Winfield Pharmacy. Surviving are two sons, one of whom is John, ’89; six daughters, one of whom is Elisabeth Spainhour Walsh, ’98; a sister, Suzan Spainhour Stremel, d’62; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Carolyn Oliver Swift, c’53, g’57, PhD’73, 89, Nov. 9 in Carrollton, Georgia. She had a long career in psychology and community mental health, which included directing the Stone Center for Developmental Services and Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She is survived by two daughters, Lynn Swift Anderson, c’79, l’84, and Mary, c’82, g’92; a son, George, c’85; and a grandson. 

Dot Taylor, ’55, 89, Nov. 11 in Topeka, where she worked at the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Historical Society. 

Robert Walker, c’52, l’54, 90, Oct. 11 in Los Angeles. He was an attorney and executive at several banks and retired at Wells Fargo. Survivors include four sons, one of whom is Patrick, c’87; three daughters; and 13 grandchildren.

Diane Johnson Weil, c’51, 91, July 26 in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, where she was active in a garden club and named Pennsylvania Gardener of the Year in 1998. Her husband, Harry, two daughters, a brother and a grandson survive.

Marvin Weishaar, b’54, 88, Oct. 27 in Liberty, Missouri, where he owned an accounting firm and was active in various community organizations. He is survived by his wife, Mary Czinczoll Weishaar, ’55; four sons, Marc, b’85, Martin, c’86, l’89, Matthew, b’91, and Michael, d’95, g’99, PhD’07; a daughter; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Mark Yeokum, a’59, 83, Aug. 5 in Leawood, where he retired after a long career with Trans World Airlines. Surviving are his wife, Jo Anne; a son, Dan, b’84; a daughter, Sarah Yeokum Kelly, b’86; a sister; and two grandchildren.

H. Lee Zimmerman, ’50, 94, July 12 in Lawrence, where he owned Zimmerman Steel. He is survived by a son, Kim, ’76; a daughter, Nancy Zimmerman Roberts, d’77; and two sisters, Kathryn Zimmerman Heylman, ’46, and Carolyn Zimmerman Engelken, d’55.