In Memoriam notices are accepted at all times but distributed in print and digital twice per year, in the fall and in the spring. To send word, email editor@gustavus.edu or submit here.
1943
Howard F. Johnson
1947
James Kenner, 8/11/2024
1949
Ardis Johnson Lund, 9/15/2024 | Levonne Larson Larson, 9/1/2024 | Norman A. Nelson, 9/2/2024
1950
Donna Seaberg Johnson, 8/5/2024 | Beverly Bolstad Scholl, 7/17/2024
1951
Bonnie Seaberg Bergman, 9/9/2024 | Raymond Lundquist, 8/8/2024 | Donald Osell, 7/25/2024
1952
Eugene Wenzel, 7/10/2024
1953
Mary Ann Mattson Hanson, 8/11/2024
1954
Marian Vorlicek Livers, 8/24/2024 | John Thomas Loft, 8/25/2024
1955
Wayne C. Allen, 7/28/2024 | Nancy Dusbabek Minks, 8/17/2024 | Shirley Lister Wolfe, 9/13/2024
1956
Reuben L. Carlson, 7/30/2024 | C. Harvey Davis, 7/21/2024 | Richard Erickson, 7/4/2024
1957
Rodger Lundblad, 7/30/2024 | Beverly Bloomquist Todaro, 7/27/2024
1958
Karen Holmen Hubbard, 8/12/2024
1959
Barbara Johnson Hagberg, 5/24/2024 | Dorothy Rylander Johnson, 9/28/2024 | Clifford W. Johnson, 9/5/2024 | Clyde Rensted, 9/28/2024
1960
Joanne Bjorkquist Nelson, 9/4/2024 | John Schroeppel, 10/4/2024 | C. Thomas Weston, 10/13/2024 | B. Glen Wilson, 9/13/2024
1961
Richard Lippert, 10/21/2024 | Kay Johnson Palmquist, 10/14/2024
1962
Joanne R. Stollenwerk, 10/4/2024 | Kendra Wolfe Yanta, 8/15/2024
1963
Constance Ponsor Fisk, 10/17/2024 | Brian R. Johnson, 8/18/2024 | John Monson, 7/24/2024 | Susan Moen Perry, 8/25/2024 | Marlys Schneider Swenson, 9/28/2024
1964
Richard Lindquist, 10/22/2024 | Nancy Johnsen Martin, 9/15/2024 | James E. Welte, 7/2/2024
1965
Dian Ring Norby-Vinion, 10/20/2024
1966
Jon Paul Carlson, 8/3/2024 | Virginia Carlson Hall, 9/17/2024 | Susan Skrukrud Haugland, 9/6/2024 | Darryl Kuka, 10/14/2024 | C. Michael Lindstrom, 7/23/2024
1967
Dan Seaberg, 9/24/2024
1968
Richard W. Holz, 8/16/2024 | Susan Sather Raia, 10/7/2024
1970
John E. Anderson, 10/6/2024
1971
Teresa Ulku Behrends-Singer, 9/20/2024
1972
Thomas Krieger, 8/30/2024 | Brant Lund, 4/28/2024
1973
Anne Johanson Ingold, 7/23/2024
1974
Mark L. Boone, 8/8/2024
1976
Christine Suemnick Anderson, 9/8/2024 | Dana White, 7/31/2024
1977
Joel R. Fridgen, 9/15/2024
1978
John E. Olmon, 7/9/2024
1980
Greg Molenaar, 7/25/2024
1981
Sandra Butler Ballard, 10/17/2024
1985
Jay A. Larson, 10/4/2024 | Leslie Lehnert, 9/20/2024
2003
Stephanie Rose Tuma, 9/19/2024
2009
Jeffrey Nichols, 10/11/2024
Owen
Lawrence “Larry” Owen, former faculty, 8/26/2024. He joined the faculty in 1963, launching a 33-year career. He was known for starting class with a hearty, “Welcome to the conversation!” delivered in his Texas drawl. Upon his retirement, colleagues launched the endowed Lawrence Owen Creative Writing Prize. After his wife, Kathleen, passed in 2009, he reconnected with Cheryl Downey ’66. They married, and he spent the rest of his days in California. He is survived by Cheryl, children Athena Kildegaard ’83, Ashley Nedeau-Owen ’83, Beatrice Owen ’84, and a stepdaughter.
Ian Hill, faculty, 12/28/2024. A popular Chemistry professor who shaped the experience of hundreds of majors and non-majors. He possessed the unique ability to make complex concepts accessible and engaging, fostering a love of learning in all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Corrie, and twin daughters.
Elaine Brostrom, 12/30/2024. She served Gustavus for 19 years in various positions, retiring in 1991 as director of Public Affairs. She is survived by her husband, Milt, emeritus Math professor, and two children.
Mike Ferragamo former faculty, 2/8/2025. For decades he taught in the Biology and Psychological Science departments. He also held the Rebecca and Thomas Bergman Family Endowed Professorship of Neuroscience. He could often be seen playing noon hockey during open ice. He is survived by his wife, Janine, and two daughters.
Bob Erdman ’56, former Gustavus basketball coach, 4/16/2024. A standout basketball player during his years as a student, he made a long career as a high school guidance counselor and basketball coach, the majority of which was at Alexander Ramsey in Roseville. From 1981–86 he took a sabbatical to coach the Gustavus basketball team, where he also founded the Gustie Basketball and Leadership Camp which continues to this day. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Judith Lund Erdman ’57, and is survived by their three daughters, Carla Erdman Young ’80, Amy Erdman Biewen ’82, and Elisabeth Erdman Braun ’86 and their families.
Axel Steuer, 13th President of Gustavus Adolphus College, 8/14/2024. He was President from 1991 through the 2001–02 academic year. During his tenure, Gustavus achieved broader recognition, and he left the College in a strengthened financial condition. He led the College through the 1998 tornado that devastated the campus. As many questioned whether the College could resume, Steuer boldly announced that Gustavus would reopen to complete the spring term and graduate seniors on time. Students returned three weeks later. The College recruited a record class that fall. He was awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star by His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the Greater Gustavus Award by the Gustavus Alumni Association, and was honored by the Templeton Foundation, one of only 50 college presidents nationwide, for his character-building efforts at Gustavus. Plus, his leadership produced an enduring mission statement and identified qualities particular to Gustavus. You know them as our five core values of Excellence, Community, Justice, Service, and Faith. He is survived by his wife, Loreli.