Claudine Arnsdorf, of the Village of Lake Hallie, WI, passed away on December 11, 2020 at her home. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from the St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1937 and then worked at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin before joining the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in July of 1941. She was stationed at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan before transferring to Fort Brady in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and then transferring to Harmon General Hospital in Longview, Texas where patients were brought in from the Pacific theater. She was discharged in January 1946 at the rank of Captain and began working as a nurse at U.S. Rubber Co. (Uniroyal) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Darrin Briggs ’97, of Jerome, passed away Monday, December 14, 2020. Darrin graduated from Reading High School in 1993. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation Law Enforcement from Lake Superior State University and was employed as a police officer for the City of Tecumseh.
Pamela (Kelley) Collins ’81, of Harlem, GA, passed away on January 25, 2021. Pam attended Lake Superior State University in Michigan and obtained degrees in electrical engineering and computer engineering technology at a time when few women were able to break into those fields. She utilized those degrees to work as an electrical engineer for Bechtel Corporation, Vogtle Power Plant and at Savannah River Site, becoming a Lead Electrical Design Engineer.
Verne Coutant ’67, of Sault Ste. Marie, passed away on December 4, 2020. Verne attended Michigan Tech – Sault Branch, and later earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Michigan University.
Corrine (Ouellette) Darou, of San Tan Valley, AZ passed away January 13th 2021. After graduating from Loretto Catholic High School in Sault Ste Marie, Corri went on to start her food service career at LSSU where she was employed for 16 years before completing her final 16 years with the Michigan Dept of Corrections retiring in 2004.
Janet (O’Brien) Di Foggi ’74, of Jackson, passed away on November 21, 2020. She attended Sault schools, attained an associate’s degree from LSSC. She worked as Site Supervisor for Early Headstart at Community Action from 2000 – 2017.
Dennis Dodge ’76, of Fennville, passed away on December 23, 2020. Educated at Evart High School and Lake Superior State University, Dennis received a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and an associate degree in Computer Engineering Technology in 1976. The Dennis M. Dodge Engineering Scholarship has been established at Lake Superior State University. Contributions may be directed to: LSSU Foundation, www.lssu.edu/give, with this scholarship name in the field indicated.
Michael Ellis ’03, of Sault Ste. Marie, passed away on December 14. He graduated from Lake Superior State University with a bachelor’s in history and master’s in learning disabilities from Northern Michigan University. Mike spent the last 18 years teaching for Sault Area Schools where he spent much of his time guiding students with learning disabilities enrolled in the district’s special education programs, and teaching social studies at the high school level.
Vance Elzinga ’79, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI passed away on January 15, 2021. He graduated from Lake Superior State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Joseph Heindlmeyer ’94, of Holland, passed away on February 10, 2021. He graduated Lake Superior State University and Grand Valley State Police Academy, where he received the Outstanding Performance Award.
Robert Klukaczewski ’73-’75, of Pleasant Ridge, passed away in April, 2020. Robert was a student in Natural Resources Technology and was a career Police Officer with the City of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan.
Bill McLeod ’77, of Sault Ste. Marie, passed away on January 22, 2021. He attended Lake Superior State College, and graduated from the Police Academy.
Reverend Paul Nomellini, of Kingsford, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2020. In 1978, he was assigned as Chaplain to Lake Superior State College, Sault Ste. Marie, and as Assistant Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Sault Ste. Marie. In 1980, he served as Administrator of Nativity Parish, Sault Ste. Marie.
Ronald Pattison ’58, of Sault Ste. Marie, passed away on February 12, 2021. He graduated from Sault High School and worked in management at Edison Sault Electric for many years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the Nancy Miller and Russel Pattison Nursing Scholarship at Lake Superior State University.
Dale Prentice ’13, of Gaylord, passed away on December 26, 2020. After retiring from the Army, Dale worked in the Electronics field, then attended Lake Superior State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking in 2013. His second career in Information Technology followed, with retirement in 2017.
Kenneth Rastall, Ph.D. ’84, of Proctor, WV, passed away on December 29, 2020. He was a 1980 graduate of Hamilton High School before attending Lake Superior State University to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in mathematics from where he graduated in 1984. He further pursued a master’s degree at Central Michigan University and earned a secondary teaching certification in biology and mathematics, from where he graduated in 1987. For his Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences and Entomology, Ken attended West Virginia University from where he graduated in 1999.
Richard Rife ’73, of Marquette, passed away on December 4, 2020. He went back to college after the Army, and graduated in 1973 from Lake Superior State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
Ronda (Pease) Shigwadja ’03, of St. Louis, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2021. She attended Lake Superior State University where she received her bachelors degree in Nursing.
Charles Smith, of Warren, passed away on December 18, 2020. He served in the Army for two years during the Korean conflict and graduated from Michigan Technological University. He worked as an engineer on various construction projects in the Upper Peninsula including the International Bridge that connects Sault Ste. Marie, USA to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.
Adam Stephens ’06-’07, of Sault Ste. Marie, passed away on January 17, 2021. He started school at McKinley Grade School and later graduated from Sault Area High School in 2006. Adam attended LSSU for a period of time after that.
Arbutus (Ball) Whitworth ’56, of Brimley, passed away on November 14, 2020. he attended Michigan College of Mining and Technology (LSSU), University of Michigan, and attended the Mayo Clinic graduate program to complete her studies.
David Whyte ’84, of Sugar Island, passed away on on December 2, 2020. After graduating from Lake Superior State University late in life, David enjoyed his career as an Attorney, graduating from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1985 and was a member of the Michigan Bar Association. He especially enjoyed the work he did with the Sault Tribe youth via Tribal Court.