Fall 2025 Issue

Class Notes – Fall 2025

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November 13, 2025

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THE ’70s

Richard Plys ’72 retired from U.S. Steel. Plys and his wife Denise have resided in Crown Point, Indiana, for the last 42 years. They love babysitting their two granddaughters four days a week.

Lois Vanderkooi ’74, a retired psychologist and lawyer, published “Journey of Love: Poems, Stories, Practices.” The book guides readers in connecting, expressing and transforming through poetry, mindfulness practices and writing, and teaches how to love more fully. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Allen Reynen ’76 is excited for the upcoming 50-year class reunion and has created a Facebook page for the Central College Class of 1976. If you are a member of the class, be sure to get connected.

Lois Kuyper-Rushing ’77 received a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to travel to Valenciennes, France. While there she will transcribe and create a critical edition of never- before-published vocal music by twentieth-century French composer Eugène Bozza (1905-1991).

THE ’80s

Karen Furcht Fitzsimmons ’81 is an elementary art teacher for Des Moines Community Public Schools. She was caregiver for her mother, Beverly Den Hartog Furcht ’50, until her passing in April 2024.

Lance Newbold ’85 retired from Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, in January 2025 after 13 years as vice president of student affairs.

Kimberly Watts ’88 is an island manager with HMC Management. Watts manages Herron Island, a private island in Puget Sound.

Christopher Sackett ’89 is a member attorney at BrownWinick in Des Moines, Iowa. Sackett also serves on the board of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

Gary Shaver ’89 is founder/ president and CEO of Stealth Company.

THE ’90s

Angelica Garcia Jenson ’90 is assistant principal for Arlington Classics Academy Primary Campus, a public charter school (K-12), where she taught eighth-grade Spanish from 2015-2022. Before returning to education, Jenson worked as a linguist for the FBI. She is excited for her former student to attend Central beginning Fall 2025.

Jennifer McClintock Canelos ’92 was promoted to senior vice president, PR & marketing at South Story Bank & Trust in West Des Moines, Iowa. Canelos and her husband Paul reside in Van Meter, Iowa.

Jamie Bogaard ’94 is the lead pastor at Adventure Life Church in Altoona, Iowa.

Shannon Ehlers ’94 is an account manager at Valley Process Technologies.

John Mitchell ’95 is director of sales at MEM.

Craig Windt ’95 retired from Bay City Public Schools after 29 years of teaching. In celebration of his retirement, he spent two months in Lublin, Poland, studying Polish language and culture and will enjoy a European cruise with his husband this fall.

Jennifer Lukes McMahon ’97 enjoyed spending time with former Leu housemates, also known as the “Leu ladies,” and their spouses to celebrate their 50th birthdays.
Back row: Jen Colyer Shaw ’97, Blake Shaw ’97, Justin Purcell, Jen Herrema Purcell ’97, Jenny Lukes McMahon ’97, Jodi Svendsen Bosscher ’97, Mark Bosscher ’98, Cy McMahon ’99 and Willie Stone ’96.
Front row: Craig Showalter ’95, Amy Lester Showalter ’97, Maggie Brown Vander Wilt ’97, David Vander Wilt ’97, Stacey Sonnek Alberts ’97 and Scott Alberts ’96.

Kelly Hannan ’98 is chief executive officer for Ellipsis after serving as CEO of Iowa Primary Care Association.

THE ’00s

Mark Phillips ’00 started a new position as SVP treasury management sales and operations at GreenState Credit Union.

Glen Fuhrmeister ’03 is senior collegiate events specialist for the University of Iowa Tippie School of Business. He is also the founder and owner of Radford Floral Design, an event floral business.

Karma Quick-Panwala ’03 is the director of children and family advocacy at Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

Matthew Michalak ’05 is chief financial officer at The Cara Collective in Chicago, Illinois, where he resides.

Matthew Harre ’06 is a business solutions relationship manager at Central Bank.

Chelsey Keller Blum ’07 works as a software developer V at Genova Technologies.

Jordan Bloodsworth Beynon ’08 is vice president of strategy at Lessing-Flynn.

Drew Wilson ’08 is founder and CEO of MS Licensing Specialists.

THE ’10s

Jim Edgeton ’10 is an enterprise CPQ product owner at Pella Corp in Pella, Iowa.

Chantel Babcock Boyd ’11 celebrated five years of business since launching Boyd Creative Print Shop, a full-service custom design and print studio located in Dallas Center, Iowa, with her husband, Andrew. The couple resides in Johnston, Iowa.

Talbot Hook ’12 is a clinical assistant professor of gifted and creative education at University of Georgia.

Jazmyn West Baker ’13 is an IT portfolio manager at AssistRx.

Cameron Van Kooten Laughead ’13 is the associate director of alumni relations at Des Moines University.

Elizabeth Benson Corbett ’14 is senior director of investment accounting for the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.

Christoffer Lobberecht ’14 is an athletic trainer and occupational health specialist at MidAmerican Energy. Lobberecht resides in Norwalk, Iowa.

Jordan Youngman ’14 works as a support services specialist in the Department of Family and Community medicine at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Youngman and family live in Kalona, Iowa.

Ryan and Kirstie Overton Luehring ’16 married Nov. 16, 2024. The couple resides in Pleasant Hill, Iowa.

Gabi Wilson Doughan ’17 is a veterinarian and technical project specialist for Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames, Iowa, where she resides.

Scottie Yang ’18 is a coordinator specialist for Student Support Services at Iowa State University.

Tyler Bryant ’19 is activities director at Central Lee High School in Donnellson, Iowa. Bryant and family live in Montrose, Iowa.

Madison Krumm Keenan ’19 is the oncology unit nursing director at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Keenan resides in Norwalk, Iowa.

Josh Phillips ’19 is a program manager – IT business integration at Pella Corp in Pella, Iowa.

Marissa Wright-Post ’19 works as a special education teacher for West Central Community School District in Maynard, Iowa. She resides in Fayette, Iowa.

THE ’20s

Andres Cesin ’20 is a report writer for Valuetainment.

Avynne Trembly ’20 performed at Carnegie Hall with the Longmont Concert Band on Memorial Day weekend. In Fall 2025, she began a master’s program for sound and music computing at Queen Mary University in London, England.

John Horner ’21 accepted a position as chief of EMS at Cambridge Rescue Squad in Cambridge, Vermont, after serving four and a half years as an EMT and critical care paramedic for Pella Community Ambulance.

Camryn and Caden Mauck ’21 married June 1, 2024. The couple resides in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Zach Goering ’22 is an HR generalist at Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance.

Hannah Wright ’22 is a doctor of occupational therapy at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Wright resides in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Zoey Brockway ’23 is a staff auditor for the Iowa Auditor of State. Brockway resides in Des Moines, Iowa.

Bobby Gens ’23 is a replacement sales consultant for Pella Corp.

Tristan Loudin ’23 is an inside account representative at Promaxima in Houston, Texas.

Megan Muur ’23 is content specialist – video and digital communications at Central College.

Kaleb Brand ’24 is a regional sales associate with Musco Sports Lighting in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Summer Brand ’24 is a marketing coordinator at Many Hands, a nonprofit in Pella, Iowa.

Lily Bardwell ’25 is a grant coordinator for Willis Dady Homeless Services in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Emma Garrett Zwank ’25 works as a copywriter for The Maker AI.

ADVANCED DEGREES

Casey Quinn McMurray ’01 earned a doctorate in education policy and leadership studies from University of Iowa. McMurray also received a Master of Arts in education policy and leadership studies in December 2023.

Katy Lein Long ’04 received a Doctor of Education in organizational leadership with an emphasis in K-12 education from Grand Canyon University.

Talbot Hook ’12 earned a Doctor of Philosophy in educational psychology from University of Connecticut in 2025.

Gabi Wilson Doughan ’17 earned a Ph.D. in population sciences in animal health and a Master of Science in veterinary preventive medicine from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Megan Gustafson ’17 received a Master of Public Administration in nonprofit management from Drake University.

Jen Kern ’19 earned a Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology from Wheaton College.

Hannah Wright ’22 completed a doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University.

NEW ARRIVALS

Mitch Lowe and Christina Weber ’99, son Guy Wade, April 10, 2025.

Drew ’06 and Jenae Jenison Sikkink ’11, son Eli Jeffrey, July 16, 2024.

Scott and McKenna Cornish Beck ’07, son Deacon Meyer, Oct. 10, 2023.

Matt and Sarah Benedict Gaalaas ’08, daughter Adison Anne, March 3, 2025.

Grant and Dannielle Lindsey Herink ’09, daughter Avery Lynn, April 17, 2025.

Robert ’12 and Morgan Gray Kreiser ’13, daughter Margaret Rose, March 19, 2025.

Zach and Kimmy Van Zee Marsh ’12, son Bowen Grey, May 14, 2025.

Carr and Emma Putnam Fearrington ’13, daughter Eloise Brooke, June 13, 2025.

Jordan ’14 and Anne Dillon Youngman ’14, son Jensen, Jan. 22, 2025.

Allie and Jordan Bohr ’15, daughter Elsie Jo, Jan. 18, 2025.

Tim ’15 and Lauren James Kahl ’16, son Alden Dean, March 28, 2025.

Carter ’17 and Nicole Benson Trager ’17, son Benson Matthew, March 13, 2025.

Michael and Elyse Lubbers Otten ’18, daughter Avery Ruth, April 14, 2025.

Matt Talerico and Heidi Vanderholm ’18, daughter Lydia Mae, June 23, 2025.

Haley and Tyler Bryant ’19, daughters Elsie Drew and Emmalyn Christine, Jan. 23, 2025.

Lucas ’20 and Hannah Reussner Phillips ’19, daughter Josephine Jayne, June 27, 2025.

Nathan and Marissa Wright-Post ’19, daughter Charlotte Ann, April 10, 2025.

IN MEMORIAM

A. Glenn Meerdink ’49, Toledo, Ohio, May 28, 2025.

Lucille Meyer Stravers ’49, Pella, Iowa, March 19, 2025.

Betty Koehler Noordsy ’52, Queensbury, New York, March 6, 2025.

Orville Dunkin ’53, Pella, Iowa, Feb. 20, 2025.

Arvin Wester ’53, Lynden, Washington, April 13, 2025.

Vera Koenen Osland ’54, Aplington, Iowa, July 2, 2025.

Carroll Vis ’54, Eldridge, Iowa, Dec. 3, 2024.

George Heitz ’55, Walden, New York, April 29, 2025.

Roland Ubbink Euwema ’56, St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands, Feb. 12, 2025.

Mel Sharon ’58, Marshall, Missouri, Feb. 2, 2025.

Colleen De Wall Dikkers ’59, Freeport, Illinois, May 23, 2025.

Arvin Bandstra ’61, Pella, Iowa, June 1, 2025.

Sandra Klein Heerema ’62, Pella, Iowa, April 30, 2025.

Gary Kasten ’63, Northfield, Minnesota, March 14, 2025.

Warren Slebos ’66, Kansas City, Missouri, April 29, 2025.

Arlyn Grussing ’67, Bloomington, Minnesota, March 8, 2025.

Paul Ruter ’67, New Paltz, New York, June 25, 2025.

Frederick Eugene Jung ’68, Oak Harbor, Washington, Jan. 19, 2025.

William “Bill” Randolph ’68, Jerico, Iowa, Dec. 11, 2024.

Don Shetterly ’68, Chandler, Arizona, Dec. 4, 2024.

Lynn Brumley ’69, Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 14, 2025.

Saundra “Sandi” Ecker Shaefer ’69, Pella, Iowa, Oct. 18, 2024.

Marlene Ruter Ford ’70, Polo, Illinois, Feb. 17, 2024.

Linda Fisher-McTaggart ’73, Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2025.

Kristine Furlong ’75, Ankeny, Iowa, May 16, 2025.

Loren Vander Hart ’75, Washington, Iowa, May 15, 2025.

Grace Chawner Bowles ’76, Greensboro, North Carolina, May 4, 2025.

Benita Henry Lowe ’89, Ottumwa, Iowa, June 20, 2025.

Timothy Simmons ’89, Des Moines, Iowa, May 29, 2025.

Bradley “Brad” Dutler ’97, Lantana, Texas, June 11, 2025.

Tracy Kolder Scheib ’97, Roswell, Georgia, July 19, 2023.

J. Morris Johnson, former professor, Monmouth, Oregon, March 18, 2025.