Fall 2024 Issue

Newsnotes Fall 2024

November 15, 2024

The ’50s

Wilma Maassen David ’52 was named one of 75 Heroes chosen by Florida’s governor and first lady honored at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. Her work over four decades with individuals experiencing memory loss and their caregivers, in the form of support groups and education, was recognized at the event. David lives in Penney Farms, Florida.

The ’60s

Rev. Charles Stickley ’61 reached a ministerial milestone by celebrating 60 years with the Reformed Church in America. Stickley was ordained in 1964 and installed in his first parish at Eastlawn Reformed Church in Muskegon, Michigan. In 1973, he began serving as pastor of the Hurley Reformed Church in Hurley, New York, retiring in 2006. Since then, he has continued to provide ministerial support to numerous churches and communities in the Hudson Valley of New York.

Nyla Rozeboom Heerema ’63 received the Distinguished Cytogeneticist Award at the 2024 American Cytogenomics Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. Heerema lives in Pella, Iowa.

The ’70s

David Claassen ’72 authored a book titled, “Growing Older Gracefully: 31 Reflections on Finishing Well.” The book explores the challenges of the aging process and how we can experience this stage of life as a fulfilling journey. You can read more about Claassen’s book on his website (daveclaassen.com) or purchase it from Amazon.

Jann Freed ’77 was named a Women of Influence honoree by the Des Moines Business Record. The Women of Influence awards celebrate the work of women who have made a difference. Freed’s book, “Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering,” was a Des Moines Public Library business book pick. Freed lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Bryan ’79 and Mary Piper Poulter ’80 participated in the eighth annual Big Red Bike Ride. First Row: Kent Dierks ’81, Deb Cullinan Willhite ’80, Sandi Brecht Lafferty ’81 and Dan Dvorak ’83. Second Row: Terri Wiebenga, Pam Trisler Wilkin ’81, Mary Piper Poulter ’80, Renee Menary and Jeff Menary ’80. Third Row: Duane Willhite ’79, Rod Wiebenga ’81, Vickie Dierks, Dave Dailey ’81, Terri Dailey, Scott Raymer ’82, Steve Vander Pol ’79, Barb Murphy Vander Pol ’80, Kent Horstmann ’82, Craig Wilkin ’81 and Bryan Poulter ’79.

The ’80s

Rhonda McGuire Dyer ’82 attended the 42-year reunion of the Trinity University, formerly Trinity College, (Carmarthen, Wales) program at the home of Steve Gulick ’83. The group raised a toast in memory of Jon Dressel, program director, during their time together. First Row: Paige Downs, Mary Llewelyn, Cary Chapin Yarema, Ariel Dallam, Dorrie Kelly Valenzi and Hal Brown. Second Row: Steve Gulick ’83, Libby Lupfer, Mary Geary, Mary Shaw, Dawne Barnes and Jay Kelly. Third Row: Brad Depke ’82, Rhonda McGuire Dyer ’82, Teri Kristiansen, Patsy Fox and Mark De Vries ’84.

Berta Aug ’84 joined four generations of the Dutch immigrant Sikkink family for a reunion in rural Preston, Minnesota. A total of 100 family members were in attendance, eight of whom are Central College graduates, including Mary Sikkink Furda ’63, Eileen Prinsen ’63, Sally Sikkink Arendt ’67, Carolyn Sikkink ’67, Berta Aug ’84, Virginia Aug ’86 and Jill Arendt Haack ’90. Former Sikkink neighbor Judy Roelofs Fox ’62 also attended.

Tracy Long ’85 took a whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Inspired by the adventure, she wrote a story and entered the Share Your Story contest. Long won the contest for the month of June and later became the grand prize winner for 2023. To read her entry, visit recreation.gov. Long lives in Reston, Virginia.

Kim Huitink Hegedus ’86 was named the Business Record’s 2023 Forty Under 40 Alum of the Year. Hegedus is executive vice president and chief lending officer of Community State Bank.

Susan Healy ’88 is an elementary school reading specialist and Cabi stylist. The Des Moines Cabi Love Local Team held an event in May that served women from the local Dress for Success and Dorothy’s House organizations.

Loretta Short Loyd ’89 and husband David traveled to Pascani, Romania, for their son’s wedding. Ian ’17 and his wife Roxana were married in March 2020, but due to the pandemic, didn’t get to celebrate with Roxana’s family in her home church. Loretta and David are happily retired and live in Austin, Texas. Pictured fourth from left: Roxana, Ian ’17, David and Loretta Short Loyd ’89.

The ’90s

Jason Wilfawn ’97 was named the Mississippi High School State Strength Coach of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association. Wilfawn lives with his family in Oxford, Mississippi.

Cory Gilday ’99 is director of athletic performance for Triple Canopy at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

Kristi Pieper Carlson ’99 and fellow classmates held a reunion during one of their favorite times of year in Pella: Tulip Time. Pictured: Sara Poppens Jacobson ’99, Heather Spurlock Ouverson ’99, Teresa Coller Cretin ’99, Julie Lambirth ’99, Kelly De Vries Danniel ’99, Kim Hiemstra ’99, Jamie Hiscocks Cash ’99, Julie Augspurger Rayburn ’99, Kaite Weeks Cook ’99, Kristi Pieper Carlson ’99 and Kell Sanger Vos ’99.

The ’00s

Megan Alvarado ’01 graduated from the first-ever LIDERAMOS Quad Cities Cohort in February 2024. Alvarado was one of the 23 Quad Cities area Latinx graduates with a variety of careers, leadership development, community involvement and social backgrounds.

Jenny Stahr Fee ’02 is a reporter for the Indianola Independent Advocate. One of Fee’s articles was among 25 stories featured in The New York Times’s newsletter in “Journalism to Savor” on Dec. 22, 2023. The story recounted how an Indianola bookseller unearthed a 318-year-old Bible and traced its path from Scotland in 1705 to present-day Central Iowa.

Tim O’Neil ’02 is a senior workforce solutions specialist for TrueNorth Companies. O’Neil was named to the Board of Directors for The Healthy Birth Day, Inc. and is a nationally recognized and award-winning leader in the benefits and wellness industry. O’Neil resides in Urbandale, Iowa.

Phil Jeneary ’07 launched Tight Lines Consultancy, a full-service government relations, lobbying and grassroots advocacy firm. Jeneary and family live in Waukee, Iowa.

Sarah Wilson Johnson ’07 teaches fourth grade in the Pella Community School District. Johnson lives in Knoxville, Iowa.

Kristin Clague ’08 is the operations coordinator at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she resides.

Jeremy Siefken ’08 is head of people at Grubhub. Siefken lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The ’10s

Justin Saxfield ’10 is a senior technical recruiter supporting the technology and research group at Microsoft. Saxfield lives in Denver, Colorado.

Ali Swenson ’10 is an assistant director of finance and operations in the Center for Study Away at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she resides.

Greg Best ’11 is the senior director of human resources at Robertshaw. Best lives in Denver, Colorado.

Allison Moeller McKibbon ’11 is a senior client relationship director for Icon Wealth Partners. McKibbon works and resides in Houston, Texas.

Kenny Harrington ’12 works as an internal wholesaler for F&G Annuities & Life in Des Moines. Harrington lives in Ankeny, Iowa.

Miranda Holdsworth Lemons ’12 is a customer care specialist II at ITA group. Lemons and family live in Newton, Iowa.

Melanie Louis Schmidt ’12 works for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. Schmidt is part of the North America Fire Program traveling team and resides in Newton, Iowa.

Brandon Wagner ’12 is a senior brand experience manager-global training at Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa, where he resides.

Travis ’13 and Tess Ory Hook ’16 married June 7, 2024. The couple resides in Norwalk, Iowa.

Elizabeth Benson Corbett ’14 is a senior accountant for the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. Corbett lives in Waukee, Iowa.

Tate Offenburger ’14 and Kyle Roemerman married June 22, 2024. Offenburger is a student development specialist at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, where the couple resides.

Joe Heath ’16 is an associate actuary at Modern Woodmen of America and became a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in March. Heath and family live in Taylor Ridge, Illinois.

Ben ’17 and Emily Hayes Miller ’17 married June 22, 2024. The Millers live in Wilcox, Arizona.

Ryan and Dionne Riley Steinkamp ’17 married Aug. 5, 2023. The couple lives in Carroll, Iowa.

Steven Peterman ’18 is a fire protection engineer for Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company. Peterman lives in Buffalo, Minnesota.

Josh Prokupek ’18 works at Pella Corporation as an IT manager of infrastructure systems. Prokupek resides in Pella, Iowa.

Natalie Huisman ’19 is an athletic trainer at Kinetic Edge in Pella, Iowa, where she lives.

The ’20s

Brady Johnson ’20 is the head football coach at Ellington High School in Ellington, Connecticut. Johnson lives in Southington, Connecticut.

Michelle Lindhart ’20 is an education specialist for CEDARS Youth Services. Lindhart lives and works in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Samantha Thompson ’20 is an optometrist at Westrum Optometry in Des Moines and Advanced Eye Care in Urbandale. Thompson lives in Johnston, Iowa.

Ciara Davies Blakley ’21 is a research associate at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute. Blakley lives in Weston, Missouri.

Tylor Obermeyer ’21 is a senior material and operations planner at Conagra Brands. Obermeyer lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

Grant Boyse ’23 is a market data analyst at Musco Lighting in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Boyse lives in Pella, Iowa.

Paige Busick ’23 is an administrative services manager in the Office of the Provost at the University of Iowa. Busick lives in Tiffin, Iowa.

Advanced Degree

Joseph Kotz ’17 earned a Master of Science in leadership development from Drake University in May 2023.

Huma Liptak ’18 earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University in May 2024. Liptak is a resident at the University of Michigan Health-West.

Mary Rose Fair Eggleson ’19 earned a Master of Arts in higher education and student development from Wheaton College.

Macin Harvey ’19 earned a Master of Science in health care informatics from the University of San Diego.

Natalie Huisman ’19 earned a master’s degree in sports management from Louisiana State University.

Mackenzie Fuller Johnson ’19 earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Missouri and is pursuing an emergency medicine residency at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Samantha Thompson ’20 earned a Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee in May 2024.

Ciara Davies Blakley ’21 earned a Master of Public Health in global health epidemiology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 2023.

Paige Busick ’23 earned a Master of Arts in education from the University of Northern Iowa focusing on educational psychology.

New Arrivals

Jason and Megan Mitchell Payne ’04, son, William Mitchell Daniel, Dec. 13, 2023.

Angela Knutson and Chad Whittle ’06, daughter, Lucy Kathryn, June 12, 2024.

Christine and Tyler Cobb ’07, son, William Michael, April 17, 2024.

Scott Melvin and Kristin Clague ’08, son, Felix Archer, April 27, 2024.

Josh and Stacey Whittle Hogberg ’10, daughter, Naomi Irene Mae, Nov. 20, 2023.

Michael ’11 and Cyndi Johnson O’Rourke ’11, son, Hudson John, Nov. 27, 2023.

Michael ’12 and Ashley Albaugh Lamos ’12, daughter, Sadlar LeAnn, March 30, 2023.

Alex and Miranda Holdsworth Lemons ’12, son, Kyrian Dominique, Dec. 15, 2023.

Zach and Dani Aldridge Cole ’13, son, Briggs Taylor, May 24, 2024.

Jon and Justine Jackovich Hines ’13, son, Russell Charles, March 31, 2024.

Jessica and Austin Blanchard ’14, daughter, Elsie Laurel, March 29, 2024.

Nate and Jill Johnson Greisen ’14, daughter, Rudi “Rue” Ann, May 25, 2024.

David ’16 and Alex Savolt Demmer ’15, son, Greyson Samuel, June 13, 2024.

Jacob ’15 and Aimee Moberly Forgie ’15, son, Riley Allen, Oct. 1, 2023.

Samantha and Joe Heath ’16, daughter, Avery Brooke, April 10, 2023.

Danna Verastegui and Parker Smith ’16, daughter, Serena Louise, March 22, 2024.

Tony and Kaitlyn Huisman Stoker ’16, daughter, Kendyl Kaye, April 9, 2024.

Joseph and Savanna Baugh Ringstad ’18, daughter, Mabel, Aug. 30, 2023.

Dylan ’19 and Delanie Donovan Tuttle ’19, son, Walker Herbert, June 14, 2024.

In Memoriam

Harriet Sheibley Vander Ploeg ’44, Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 10, 2024.

Howard De Motts ’45, St. Cloud, Minnesota, March 29, 2024.

Evelyn De Wild Lloyd ’47, Coon Rapids, Iowa, May 2, 2024.

Beverly Den Hartog Furcht ’50, Pella, Iowa, April 20, 2024.

Lowell Ryan ’51, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 12, 2024.

Rev. Sylvester Van Oort ’51, Stillwater, Oklahoma, Jan. 20, 2023.

Mary Menninga Heideman ’52, Holland, Michigan, April 13, 2024.

Robert Snow ’55, Fairfield, Iowa, June 18, 2024.

Barbara “Barb” Ebbers Denniston ’56, St. Englewood, New Jersey, April 11, 2024.

George De Vries ’57, Bozeman, Montana, March 7, 2024.

Wilma Reynen Suntken ’58, Scarborough, Maine, April 30, 2024.

Richard “Dick” Ter Maat ’60, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sep. 13, 2023.

Janice “Ellen” Rempe Hamilton ’61, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, Dec. 3, 2022.

Arlyn Rus ’62, Naples, Florida, Jan. 12, 2024.

Peter “Pete” Schakel ’63, Holland, Michigan, March 20, 2024.

John Foss ’68, Esko, Minnesota, April 4, 2024.

Donald “Guy” Blair ’69, Pella, Iowa, March 29, 2024.

Jim Meinsma ’69, Middleburgh, New York, Feb. 21, 2022.

Brian O’Donnell ’69, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, June 5, 2024.

William “Bill” Thomas ’70, Mishawaka, Indiana, Dec. 26, 2023.

Norma Jean Aggen Boeck ’71, Morrison, Illinois, May 28, 2024.

Sonja Shetterly Discher ’71, Des Moines, Iowa, March 21, 2024.

Gary Seaholm ’72, Adel, Iowa, March 23, 2024.

Stephen “Steve” Maassen ’73, Godfrey, Illinois, and Venice, Florida, Feb. 27, 2024.

Stephen Rodgers ’75, Marshalltown, Iowa, Dec. 7, 2023.

Michelene “Micci’ Woodcock Burling ’77, Monument, Colorado, March 19, 2024.

Nancy Perkins ’77, West Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 8, 2023.

Martin Sojka ’81, Cañon City, Colorado, Dec. 13, 2023.

Mark Coast ’82, Claremont, California, April 28, 2024.

Sandra Peters Klyn ’85, Oskaloosa, Iowa, March 14, 2024.

Jesse Hilsabeck ’06, Polk City, Iowa, March 16, 2024.

Martin Maurer ’07, Pella, Iowa, March 14, 2024.

Lori Ruby Steffensmeier ’09, Fort Madison, Iowa, May 18, 2024.

Teresa Finken, former assistant professor of education, Iowa City, Iowa, April 12, 2024.

Myrtle “Mert” Evers Tysseling, retired Central post office employee, Pella, Iowa, March 9, 2024.

Comments

Terry Cooney

4:50 pm on November 15, 2024

This memoriam list informed me for the first time that a good friend of mine from my days a Central, Mark Coast has passed. I join in the celebration of life for this good friend and good man. God Bless you Mark.
Vicki Gallagher

6:55 pm on December 3, 2024

Just to let you know that Jill ( Campbell) Connolly passed away November 25. She graduated in 1979