Category: 1961

Elizabeth Lincoln came to Grinnell College from McAllen, Texas.  She lived in Mears Hall, which had recently been renovated to again be women’s residence hall for freshmen.

Elizabeth left Grinnell,  transferring to Iowa State at the end of her freshman year.  There she earned an AB in General Sciences; her scholastic aptitude earned her membership in Phi Beta Kappa.  After graduation, Elizabeth returned to Texas, and at Baptist Hospital Harlingen School of Medical Technology, she earned an MT degree (ASCP).  Subsequently, she worked in that field for some years, then later became a computer programer/ analyst for One First National Bank of Omaha, Nebraska.

Married three times, Elizabeth had two daughters, Deborah Sue Hess, and Kathleen Annette Hess, born in 1963 and 1965.  Throughout her life, Elizabeth was affiliated with the Methodist Church.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/themonitor/name/elizabeth-miller-obituary?id=32281749

Judith Smrzley came to Grinnell College from Broadview, Illinois, joining the freshman class of 1957.  She was assigned to the newly-renovated all-freshman women’s hall at the head of the Quad, Mears.  During her single year at Grinnell, Judy participated in Orchesis, a dance group, and Y.W.C.A.

After leaving Grinnell, Judy found a job with Allied Van Lines in Broadview, Il. She married Robert M. Ovelman, with whom she had her first daughter.  Judy subsequently found a better  job with Capital Airlines, an airline then serving the eastern, southern and midwestern sections of the U.S.  That company merged with United Airlines in 1961.  At Capital, Judy became the secretary of the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Sales.

In 1969, Judy remarried George Polk, who predeceased her.  She is survived by her two daughters, Tracey Wren and Jennifer Eagen, and four grandchildren.  A lifelong Presbyterian, Judy was honored by her family and friends at a Presbyterian service in Chicago, Illinois.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/judith-polk-lake-forest-il-2/ 

Sheila Elizabeth Brown, a native of New Castle, Delaware, entered Grinnell with the freshman class in the fall of 1957.  She was placed in the recently-renovated Mears Hall, an all-freshman dorm.

At the end of her freshman year, Sheila transferred to the University of Delaware in her home state.  Sheila graduated in 1961, earning  a B.S. in Education.  She took her first job at Wilmington Manor School, part of the Newcastle (Delaware) Special School District.

In 1962, Sheila married Anthony J. Coccia, and the couple moved to Wayne, Pennsylvania.  Sheila taught kindergarten in the Avondale School district, at Central Nursery School, for 34 years. After retirement from teaching, Sheila enjoyed volunteering at Face To Face charity in Germantown Philadelphia.  The Coccias had four children, Christopher, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Vincent.

A devoted wife and mother, Sheila always loved spending time with her family, including her grandchildren, traveling and working outside in her garden.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mainlinemedianews/name/sheila-coccia-obituary?id=6945594 

Alyce Ann (Lallman) Jessop       July 19, 1939—May 16, 2025

Alyce Ann Lallman from Omaha, Nebraska joined the Grinnell Class of 1961 in the Fall of 1958 while living in Haines Hall. Her prior year she was a student at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri.

She then transferred again in 1959, this time to Baltimore’s John Hopkins University, where in 1963 she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and then taught Practical Nursing for three years.

Alyce Ann returned to Omaha to attend its University of Nebraska Medical Center and obtain a master’s degree in nursing in 1971 followed by teaching Practical Nursing for three years.

This return to Omaha also led her to meeting and falling in love with Dr. Norman Jessop, a Clinical Psychologist with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, then on assignment to its Omaha clinic. They were married in Omaha on May 24, 1975.

This marriage then led to their moving to other locations of Veteran Affairs clinics in Lexington, KY; Waco, TX; and Wichita, KS. While living in Kentucky, Alyce Ann taught at the Kentucky School of Nursing, becoming a Tenured Associate Professor until her retirement in 2004. In Waco, Texas she worked for the Veterans Administration and was the Associate Chief for Nursing Service Education.

While living in Kansas, Alyce Ann and Norman became active members of Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka.

Norman died on September 5, 2011 and Alyce Ann on May 16, 2025. They were survived by three of his children and their spouses, nine grandchildren (and three spouses), 10 great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law and several cousins.

Katherine “Kathie” Howell Weingart ’61, Nov. 27, 2024, Walla Walla, Washington.

Kathie was a sociology major and president of James Hall at Grinnell. After graduation, she taught elementary school for several years in Minnesota. She then served as assistant dean of women at Northwestern University, where she met her husband-to-be, James Walter Weingart. After Walt was offered a teaching job at Whitman College, the couple moved to Walla Walla, and Kathie was hired by Walla Walla Community College to teach psychology, which she did for 17 years. Kathie relished hosting dinner parties for friends and family. She loved the arts, was a devoted gardener, and was the proud owner of a succession of loveable canines. She was engaged in many community activities. Kathie and Walt supported several civic and academic institutions. Most recently, Kathie funded the establishment of the Katherine Howell Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion at Renfrow Hall. The pavilion and a scholarship fund in her name will serve as a lasting legacy at Grinnell. Kathie was preceded in death by her husband. Survivors include her brother, Stephen H. Howell ’63.

Whitcombe, Charles Carrick “Chuck”          (July 13, 1939—July 29, 2021)

Chuck Whitcombe of  Marshalltown, Iowa was a Grinnell student for his freshman year and resided in Dibble Hall. Then he transferred to Iowa State University for three years (1959-1962) to study engineering and obtain the B.S. degree in economics.

In 1985 he married Karen K.Minner  and they had two children, Erik C. Whitcombe in 1996 and Tamara L. Whitcombe (McFadden) in 1968 in Columbus, Ohio. Subsequently this marriage ended in divorce.

After college Chuck started work with Lennox Heating and Air Conditioning  in his hometown of Marshalltown, then in Columbus, Ohio and finally in Stuttgart, AR, where he coordinated the construction of its manufacturing facility and later managed its operation. For his retirement he moved to Cabot, Arkansas.

Chuck was very handy at building or fixing almost anything. He built his own boat as a boy and built the majority of the house for his family in Stuttgart.

Chuck loved the water and associated sports. He and his two kids spent many days in the water sailing, skiing, tubing, and jet skiing.

Chuck will be missed by his children Erik Charles Whitcombe (Maria) of Jacksonville, FL and Tammy Lyn McFadden (Chris) of Austin, AR; grandchildren Cassandra Marie Whitcombe, Jacob Andrew Whitcombe and Megan Layne Blanton Douglas (Dakota); great-grandson Rhodes Jameson Douglas; sisters Martha Shelley Taylor (Robert), and Mary Sue Smalling; six nieces and nephews, and special friend Debbie Huffman of Cabot, AR.

 

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Obituary: Charles Carrick “Chuck” Whitcombe of Cabot, Arkansas (Aug. 3, 2021), https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/?s=Whitcombe.

 

Manley, David Baker           (September 4, 1939—April 10, 2024)

David Manley from Leawood, Kansas was a student for four years at Grinnell, graduating with a B.S. degree in mathematics in 1961 and the Linn Smith Prize in mathematics and statistics (1960). He was a resident of Smith Hall while he was a member of the College wrestling team and winner of second place in the conference meet in 1960 and a resulting membership of Honor G.  He also was a member of the Math Club.

David then attended the University of Arizona for the study of mathematics. Before earning a degree, however, he went to a Naval officer candidate school and joined the U.S. Navy, serving as communications officer aboard a destroyer in the Pacific during peacetime and then at the Naval Weapons Office in Washington, D.C. He retired from the Navy in 1965 and became a member of the Naval Reserve until 1970 when he was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant.

 

Next was the University of Kansas with a NDEA title IV fellowship that resulted in his earning chemical engineering degrees of M.S. in 1968 and PhD in 1970. His research concerned the experimental measurement and correlation of physical properties of petrochemicals.

After these graduate studies, David took an assistant professor position at the University of Missouri in Rolla, MO and remained there for thirty years, retiring in 2000 as professor emeritus. While there, he developed a research program in applied thermodynamics, did extensive consulting with the chemical processing industries, executed many grants and contracts and published many papers and obtained many patents.

After retiring from academia, David continued to consult and license his patented technology for several years while living on a tree farm outside Rolla and studying mysticism and consciousness and spending time at a house he owned in Santé Fe, New Mexico.

In 1965 while at KU, David married Virginia, and they had three children (Susan, Allison and Matt)  and 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. This marriage, however, ended in divorce. David subsequently married Pam, but that also ended in divorce.

In his spare time David enjoyed backpacking, woodworking and being an arborist.

Duane Krohnke (author)

Canniffe, John Michael (February 24, 1939—March 29, 2025)

John Michael Canniffe from Marbehead, Massachusetts attended Grinnell for two years, 1957-59, where he was a resident of Clark Hall. Afterwards he transferred to Boston College.

He was born on February 24, 1939 in Marblehead and was class president of its public high school in 1957. After graduating from Boston College, he returned to Marblehead where in 1963 he married his hometown sweetheart, Alicia Harkins, and where they raised their five children and ran their businesses, Canniffe’s Mens Wear and Stowaway Sweets.

Michael was a past president of the town’s Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of directors of the Marblehead Savings Bank, and was a longtime Registrar of Voters for the town. He and Alicia were longtime parishioners of the town’s Our Lady Star of the Sea church.

Michael enjoyed life and gathering with family and friends, especially in Marblehead. He had a gift for always finding something to celebrate and was an eternal optimist. Throughout the years, you could frequently hear him whistling in his backyard as he tended to his garden, particularly to the roses and rhododendron. He was grateful and happiest when his family was together. Saying goodbye was never easy. Baptisms, birthdays, weddings, or just out to lunch, Mike was always looking forward to the next celebration.

One of his friends said, “I have never met a more generous and caring person. As I share this time of remembering a dear friend with you. I too will find comfort in knowing such a great life will continue to thrive in the heavens above. That each of us, especially Mike’s family, will always feel his presence in our hearts. God Bless.”

Another friend said Mike “was so kind to me. When I was very young, he knew we had nothing, he allowed a young kid to have a credit account at his store so I could buy gifts for my family, I will never forget the kindness.”

A married couple had “Many fond memories over the years of Canniffe’s Men’s Store, the place to buy special monogrammed items, Stowaway Sweets with Chamber of Commerce fun times like a Champagne tasting with delicious chocolates in between to clear the palate, fundraising Fashion Show, meeting at the 99 Restaurant where the two often took [their granddaughter] to dinner or enjoying a donut and coffee after Sunday mass. These are some of the memories that we have of Mike & Alicia that we will cherish and not forget. The family has truly lost 2 special people.”

Obituary, J. Michael Canniffe, Dignity Memorial, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/marblehead-ma/j-canniffe-12312190 (contains a recent photograph of Michael)

Barwise, Mary Joyce  (September 27, 1939—December 6, 2016)

Mary Jo Barwise from St.Paul, Minnesota was a Grinnell student for two years, 1957-58 and 1958-59, residening in Main Hall for her freshman year and Loose Hall her sophomore year.

Her first year she was a member of Tassels (the women’s honorary group) while her second year she was on the reporting staff of the Scarlet and Black student newspaper.

Mary Jo transferred to the University of Minnesota where she obtaine her B.A. in 1961 in its School of Journalism and in 1965 the  M.A. degree in the same subject from the University of Wisconsin and was “all but dissertation” from obtaining a PhD in that subject from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism. She also studied divinity in 1968 at McGill University in Montreal.

She then was one of the first women reporters at the Winona Daily News and taught at John Marshall High School in Rochester, MN, Bir Zeit University in Jordan (1966-67), and for 30 years at Metropolitan Community College in Minneapolis, where she was also advisor for the acclaimed student newspaper.

Mary Jo was a champion of the under-dog and was always concerned about justice for all, supporting immigrants, international students, the visually handicapped and rescue dogs, encouraging them with her energy, time, resources and belief in them.

She will be fondly remembered for her loyalty, creativity, compassion, deep interest in others, delightful sense of humor and fiery authenticity.

Obituary, Mary Joyce BARWISE, Twin Cities Pioneer Press (Dec. 11, 2016), https://www.twincities.com/obituaries/mary-joyce-barwise-st-paul-mn/

Duane W. Krohnke

Alice Grimes Daeschner (June 28, 1939 – March 17, 2023)

Alice Grimes attended Grinnell College for two years and resided her freshman year in Mears Hall and her sophomore year in Read Hall.

She transferred to the University of Washington and graduated from there in 1963. In Seattle she met and married William Daeschner, and they had two children: Michael Daeschner, who died in 2011, and Deborah Daeschner Barewicz, who lives in Vermont. Alice’s father died in World War II, and her mother was a college professor.

Alice moved often, since her husband served in the Navy as a career officer. Various locations where they lived were the Philippines, California, Japan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. She enjoyed doing needle crafts, and much of what she made were donated as a part of Nelly’s Needlers, a group supporting Woodlawn Plantation in Virginia.

In 2019, Alice moved to Jerico, Vermont to live with her daughter Debbie, husband Michael Barewicz, and their three children: Meaghan, Choe, and Ryan.

Alice was buried next to her husband in Arlington National Cemetery on July 12, 2024. She is survived by her daughter and family in Vermont, as well as a younger brother in Seattle.

Alice’s daughter wrote: “My mom was generous and did an amazing job of raising my brother and myself. It was not easy being a military family, but she was wonderful at keeping us all centered and well-adjusted. She and my dad focused on education for my brother and me, and we are/were better people for that focus. Mostly, I think she would like to be remembered as a fantastic grandma, since she had very special relationships with my kids”.