Friends We Will Miss

Katherine Ann Albrough (Eagle) ’89, Brimley, passed away July 15, 2024. Katherine worked at LSSU first as an accountant, then as an adjunct professor. She also served on the Brimley Education Foundation Board.

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Michael Anglebrandt ’71, Lansing, passed away June 7, 2024. Michael earned a Bachelor’s degree from LSSU, then went on to work as an Environmental Quality Analyst for the Michigan DNR.

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James Austin ’77, Brooklyn, passed away July 16th, 2024. James earned an Associate’s degree from LSSU and worked as a land surveyor for over 30 years.

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Phyllis Boorsma (Miller) ’79, Bakersfield, CA, passed away April 19, 2024. Phyllis earned an education degree from LSSU, then know as Lake Superior State College, the pursued her dream teaching in a 25 year tenure as an elementary school teacher.

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Herbert ‘Will’ Brenner, Grand Rapids, passed away March 7, 2024. Will was an adjunct instructor professor at LSSU for 3 years, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley, and Aquinas College, and a teacher at East Grand Rapids High School for 32 years.

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Pearl Mae Brownlee, Sault Ste. Marie, passed away April 28, 2024. Pearl studied at LSSU to become a licensed practical nurse and became an active member of the War Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for a number of years.

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Victoria ‘Vicki’ Campbell ’81, Irwin, PA, passed away May 26, 2024. Vicki studied social sciences and early childhood education at LSSU and served as Vice-President of the Student Senate.

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Donald Carley ’80, Pensacola, FL, passed away June 20, 2024. Donald graduated from LSSU with a Construction Management degree, worked as a photographer for the Sault Evening News, carrier for USPS, driver and guard for Loomis Armored Services, and served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, from which he retired as a Master Sergeant.

Wesley Cieslak passed away January 31, 2024. Wesley earned a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from LSSU and a computer-aided design degree from CAD Institute in Phoenix, AZ.

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Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Conboy, Sault Ste. Marie, passed away May 30, 2024. Ronnie was an avid fan of Laker Hockey and longtime member of the Catholic Newman Center at LSSU.

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Albert ‘Bert’ Crockett ’67, Cedarville, passed away June 30, 2024. Bert graduated from LSSU with an Associate’s in electrical engineering  technology when the school was known as the Sault Branch of the Michigan Technical College. Bert went on to work for Consumer’s Energy and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

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James ‘Jim’ Curran Jr, East Lansing, passed away March 16, 2024. Jim was appointed to the LSSU Board of Trustees and served as Chairman from 2015-2017.

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Donna Fiebelkorn passed away August 2, 2024. Donna earned a Bachelor’s in Education from MSU, then her Master’s and PhD in Education from the University of Vermont. She volunteered in several countries with the Peace Corps, then went on to become a dean at Baker College, followed by LSSU, from which she retired as Dean of the College  Education and Liberal Arts after 14 years at the university. After her retirement from LSSU, Donna continued working with the EUPISD and Michigan Department of Education.

Irma ‘Elaine’ Gady (Wommer), Sault Ste. Marie, passed away June 12, 2024. Elaine studied to become a licensed practical nurse at LSSU, then served in the elderly care unit at War Memorial Hospital for 35 years.

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Shirley Gleason, Sault Ste. Marie, passed away July 27, 2024. She worked at LSSU as a personnel secretary from 1972-1987.  She was married to (the late) Professor Emeritus, Dr. Gale Gleason.

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Derek Hutchinson ’93, Collingwood, ON, Canada, passed away March 27, 2024. Derek studied for two Master’s degrees at the University of Western Ontario, LSSU, and Queen’s University. He then went on to work in management consulting and finance, including at the Royal Bank of Canada.

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Dennis ‘Denny’ Jason ’89, Boyne City, passed away March 4, 2024. Denny graduated from MSU, then pursued an MBA at LSSU. He served his neighbors as Director of the Boyne City Department of Public Works until his retirement in 2006, and as a member of the East Jordan Rotary Club.

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Carolyn Rae Johnson ’89, Cibolo, TX, passed away June 16, 2024. Carolyn graduated from LSSU with an Associate of Art in Office Administration and was an avid volunteer in her community after working as an activities coordinator for Springdale Nursing Home in South Carolina.

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Jeff Kristola ’86, Rogers City, passed away July 8, 2024.  Jeff attended LSSU and was a proud member of both the men’s tennis team and Delta Sigma Phi. He was the owner of the Hide Away Tavern.

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Angelic ‘Angie’ Krol ’86, Pickford, passed away July 24, 2024. She attended LSSU when it was known as Lake Superior State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science.

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Douglas Lehigh ’85, Barbeau, passed away July 8, 2024. Douglas served in the U.S. Navy for four years before attending LSSU to further his education, then worked as a machinist at Wohlert Special Products.

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Dr. John Lukenda ’58, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada, passed away June 3, 2024. John attended LSSU when it was known as the Sault Branch of Michigan Tech and went on to practice dentistry until his retirement in 2001. John was a brother to Dr. Lou Lukenda, and uncle to LSSU Trustee, Tim Lukenda.

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Michael Malleis ’10, Petoskey, passed away March 5, 2024. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science from LSSU, then went on to earn a Masters of Science in Information Systems from Dakota State University. He taught IT classes at a local Petoskey college for over ten years.

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Murph McCasey, Sault Ste. Marie, passed away May 17, 2024. Murph attended LSSU when it was known as the Sault Branch of Michigan Tech, then completed the NECA-IBEW Apprenticeship Program. Murph worked first for his father’s electrical company, then dedicated 33 years to Swan Electric Company.

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Charles ‘Chuck’ McKervey ’70, Cheboygan, passed away May 9, 2024. Chuck attended LSSU for 2 years before serving in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant for three years. After his discharge, he dedicated 41 years to the Post Office until his retirement in 2017.

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Eric Milton, Warner Robins, GA, passed away January 28, 2024. Eric served for four years in the U.S. Navy before studying at LSSU.

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David Monroe ’75, La Crescent, MN, passed away May 29, 2024. David served as a helicopter crew chief in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before earning degrees from LSSU and Michigan Tech. He went on to work for Clark Construction in Lansing until his retirement.

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Daniel ‘Dan’ Mugavero, Rockford, IL, passed away January 21, 2024. Dan taught as an associate professor at LSSU from 1976-2002 and was the Chairman of the LSSU Department of Business.

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John Mullen, Sault Ste. Marie, passed away May 27, 2024. John was a maritime worker for over ten years before joining the maintenance department at LSSU for four years. He was also a member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

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Bernard ‘Ben’ Nanni ’70, Bruce Mines, ON, Canada, passed away June 19, 2024. Ben earned a Bachelor of Arts at LSSU, then went on to work at the City Hall in Sault Ste. Marie in the by-law office, urban renewal, and building management departments.

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Jessica Olson passed away March 8, 2024. Growing up in the Sault Ste. Marie area, Jessica was and avid fan who would often go to Laker Hockey games with her family.

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James ‘Jim’ Schopp ’70, Sault Ste Marie, passed away July 21, 2024. After his discharge from the U.S. Army, Jim studied drafting at LSSU when it was known as Lake Superior State College. He then dedicated 35 years to Edison Sault Electric Company as a draftsman.

Edward James ‘Ward’ Staffield passed away May 6, 2024. Ward attended LSSU in the school’s early years and served 6.5 years in the Michigan National Guard 1437th Engineers, Float Bridge, then another several years in the Air Force as a historian while studying for his master’s degree. After his discharge from the military, he served in the Ingham County Circuit Court . the Jackson County Court, and the Newaygo Country Court before retiring in 2010.

Ann Sebastian Thompson, Goetzville, passed away May 26, 2024. Ann attended LSSU in the early 2000s.

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Amber Vassar (Dotson) – Wabanog Kwe ’06, Sault Ste. Marie, passed away April 16, 2024. Amber earned her GED from LSSU, then went on to continue her studies at Bay Mills Community College. She was heavily involved with her indigenous heritage.

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Barbara Westover (McPhee), St. Ignace, passed away June 5, 2024. Barbara attended LSSU for several years and went on to be hired as a secretary in the Water Department of the City of St. Ignace.

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Kyle Wicklund ’81, Hampton, VA, passed away May 2, 2024. Kyle attended LSSU after high school, then moved to Virginia, where he worked as a hardware technician.

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