Pois, Robert August (04/24/1940–01/18/2004). Bob Pois had a stellar academic record as a history major at Grinnell College. He ranked first in the class of 1961 (Andrew W. Archibald Prize for Highest Scholarship), was elected to Phi Beta Kappa (Fall 1960) and was awarded his B.A. in history with Honors. He was a resident of North Younker Hall and was on the Student Council, 1959-60.

He continued his history studies as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in 1962 and 1965 respectively.

Bob then joined the history faculty of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he taught for the next 38 years with the exception of one year at UCLA in 1977-78. His specialty was modern German and European history. He received nearly every teaching award offered by Colorado, including its two most prestigious: Presidential Teaching Scholar and Distinguished Professor of History. According to one of his colleagues, Pois was known for “his droll, witty classroom style, his mastery of the telling anecdote, and his deep concern with the moral dimension of historical events.” One of his students said Pois’ classes “were symphonies that would take you from a moment of elation and wonder, to tears, to uproarious laughter, all in the same lecture.”

He published seven books and over 30 articles and essays on a wide variety of topics, including historiography, 20th-century Europe, World War I, Weimar Germany, German Expressionism, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. A related interest was “psychohistory,” the use of psychology to understand history. For example, he taught about the importance of disappointment as a human motivation. An example he used was Adolph Hitler’s disappointments: failure at school and as an artist, the death of his beloved mother and the loss of World War I and the lebensraum Germany had gained in that war. Students came to realize that such a person could grab onto some ideology or system as a source of comfort or rationalization for the bitterness engendered by these losses. This, of course, did not justify the things that Hitler did. (Gross, In Memoriam: Robert A. Pois, Am. Historical Ass’n Perspectives (Dec. 2004), http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2004/0412/0412mem2.cfm; Obituary, Robert August Pois, Silver & Gold (Jan. 29, 2004), https://www.cu.edu/sg/messages/3287.html; Paul Elovitz, Obituary: Robert Pois (1940-2004), Clio’s Psyche http://www.cliospsyche.org/obituaries_rp.html; Robert Pois, Using Disappointments in Teaching the Holocaust, Clio’s Psyche http://www.cliospsyche.org/articles_tih.html.)

Pois was born on April 24, 1940, in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Chicago. He died on January 18, 2004, of pneumonia. He was survived by his wife, Anne Marie Pois, three daughters and a brother.

 

Otto, Kathleen (Bailey) (01/18/1941–05/18/1998). Kathy Bailey from St. Louis, Missouri received her B.A. from Grinnell in June 1961 as an English-Journalism major. She was a member of the national women’s journalism society (Theta Sigma Phi) along with the College’s Union and Social Coordinating Committees. After her first year in James Hall, she was a resident of Loose Hall. After college, Kathy worked in

New York City and Chicago for several magazines. Then with publisher Harcourt, Brace and World she was instrumental in the publication of the book Children and Books.

Kathy was survived by her husband (Dr. William R. Otto) and their two daughters, Dr. Jane Otto and Ms. Mary Otto, both of St. Louis, Missouri.

 

Palmer, Charles (“Chuck”) Milner (February 3, 1939—November 7, 2021)

After graduating from East High School in Des Moines, Chuck came to Grinnell for an enriching four years and being awarded the B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology in June 1961.

He was an active resident in Rawson Hall and was elected its President by hall mates for our senior year, thus entitling him to membership that year on the Council of House Presidents (CofHP). He also was on the varsity track and football teams and the Hall’s intramural swimming team.

Soon after graduating from Grinnell, he and Karen Ann Heise, his high-school sweet-heart and fellow Grinnell classmate in 1957-58, started a life-long, loving marriage on September 3, 1961. Their first stops were back in Des Moines for his one-year at Drake University Law School and then in Chicago for two years at the University of Chicago as a graduate student in Social Service Administration, leading to a Master of Social Work degree in 1964.

Chuck and Karen returned to Des Moines in May 1964 after the birth of their first child, Diane Elizabeth, on May 27. Thus began Chuck’s 57 year career dedicated to the mental health and wellbeing of children and families in Iowa..

The capstones of that career were two gubernatorial appointments as Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), 1989-99 and 2011-17. In his first appointment he was well-known for the expansion of Medicaid health-care coverage and revamping Iowa’s welfare programs. In his second stint he oversaw the reorganization of Iowa‘s mental health services from a county-by-county hodgepodge into a statewide system coordinated by 14 regional authorities , the consolidation of state mental hospitals and transferring the administration of Iowa’s Medicaid health care program to private companies.

Upon his death, this public service was recognized by the current DHS Director, who stated, “Director Palmer was a great public servant, leader and friend. I’m grateful and thankful for his kind words of encouragement and partnership over the last two years. I was fortunate to have known him. He has a tremendous passion for those we serve and for supporting the team at DHS. His work and passion continued up to his passing. He will deeply be missed.” Similar words were uttered by former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who made those appointments: Palmer’s acceptance of the second appointment was “really far and above the call of duty. He really loved human services and serving people. He always was accessible to people and was thoughtful and caring.”

Between those two appointments, Chuck served for 11 years as President of Institute for Social and Economic Development, a statewide nonprofit provider of a variety of asset development services for low-income Iowans Before the first appointment, Palmer was engaged as Chief Psychiatric Social Worker for the Des Moines Child Guidance Center, Director of the Community Planning Division for United Way of Greater Des Moines and leading the Department’s division of mental health and developmental disabilities. Somehow he found time to serve as an adjunct professor at Drake and the University of Iowa and volunteer for various community organizations, including the American Red Cross and the National Association of Social Workers.

Chuck loved fishing at the family cabin near Nisswa, Minnesota and in Canada every summer with his cousin and friends. He also was a noted lover of reading books.

Chuck and Karen are the proud parents of Diane Elizabeth Sanders and Michael Richard Palmer (born March 6, 1968), all of whom survive Chuck along with Diane’s partner Mark Carpenter and daughter-in-law Chrissy Palmer and grandchildren Max Sanders and Sophie Palmer.

 

Patton, William Bradford (“Bill”) (February 12, 1939 –April 5, 2016)

Bill Patton from Mason City, Iowa became a beloved and valuable member of our class. Residing in South Younker Hall, Bill lettered in wrestling, track and cross-county and was a member of Honor G. Described by a coach as “small, tough and wiry,” Bill wrestled in the 130-pound category and was captain of the team his senior year when he received the John Teget Most Valuable Wrestler award. He received the B.A. degree in biology in June 1961. Bill treasured the small-college experience, saying he would have been lost as a student and athlete at a much larger school.

After graduating from Grinnell, he decided to abandon his plan to become a physician and instead entered the insurance business as an agent in his hometown. That was interrupted by three-and-a half-years of active duty (1962-1965) with the U.S. Navy as Communications Officer and Assistant Operations Officer in the Western Pacific. For this service Bill was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Bill then began a distinguished career in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1978, for example, he was in command of a Reserve telecommunications station in Greece and successfully developed a plan to integrate his reserve unit into an active-duty counterpart demonstrating that the “One Navy Total Force” concept worked. Bill retired as a Captain, USNR.

After his naval active duty, he returned to the insurance business, this time for several years in Des Moines with Aetna Life and Casualty as a senior claims representative. He then joined a Des Moines electrical products distributor, Stitzell Electric Supply Company, where he became a vice president, director and shareholder.

After his early retirement, Bill was able to “enjoy the other things in life—family, grandkids, sports activities, and travel.” His sports activities included being a timer for the Drake Relays for over 20 years and an avid University of Iowa (“Hawkeye”) sports fan. He also was an elder and active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church of West Des Moines as well as the Downtown Rotary Club. He said, “Grinnell provided me with an education, skills, and ability to continue to learn to accomplish the things that I have.”

Bill died April 5, 2016, at UnityPoint Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sally Montgomery Patton; sons Scott (Angie) and David (LeAnn); step-son Shawn (Brenda) Shearer; step-daughter Heidi Koch, 15 grandchildren and a former wife, Mary Lou Beach Patton Fitch. Duane W. Krohnke

 

Pitts, John (“Jack”) Bost, III (December 2, 1939—May 13, 2019)

From Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he played varsity football and tennis, Jack Pitts reprised those endeavors on the freshman football and tennis teams at the College, and in 1958 he was “Honorable Mention” for its All Star IM Football Team. This interest in sports inspired him to be an S&B sports columnist (“Animal House” and “The Sanity of Stones”). In addition, he was in the College’s cast for a production of “Camino Real” by Tennessee Williams. At the same time he was an active member of Cowles Hall.

Jack spent the 1959-60 academic year at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from Grinnell in June 1961 with a History major.

After Grinnell, circa 1961-62, he was a representative for Bunge Corp. on the floor of the New York Produce Exchange. Thereafter he lived in Phoenix, AZ; then In San Antonio, TX while attending Trinity University and earning a M.A. degree in history in 1968. After that he moved to California, where he lived for the rest of his life. Circa 1984 he was a floral designer and the owner of “Blossoms,” a flower shop in Santa Rosa, CA.

Jack is survived by a daughter (Ketama A. Pitts), three sons (Zachary F., Blake Edward and Logan Kardon Pitts) and three former wives (Zara C. Graham, Susan P. Kardon and Kathleen Doran).

Duane W. Krohnke

 

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Olsson, Lynne Dewey (Towner) (04/19/1939–08/3/2010). Lynne Towner of Palos Park, Illinois received a B.A. degree in Biology from Grinnell in 1961. She lived in Cleveland and Loose Halls.

She met Donald M. Olsson (Grinnell, 1960) at the College, and on September 2, 1961, they were married. While Don was in graduate school at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Lynne worked as a research assistant in a cytogenetics laboratory at the university. In 1965 they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she and her family lived the rest of her life. She was a member of the Middletown Methodist Church. Lynne had a passion for horses. At Grinnell, she was active in the campus horse club (Canter Club). In 1975 after moving to a farm near Louisville, she started breeding, raising, training and giving riding lessons on her quarter horses.

Lynne is survived by her husband Don and son Scott Towner Olsson. (Obituary, Lynne Dewey Towner Olsson, http://www.owenfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm.)

 

Nixon, David Andrew (December 10, 1936—June 11, 2018)

David Nixon from Chicago followed his brother Harvey (‘53) to Grinnell to join our class. He did so after a semester at his home-town Roosevelt University, thus enabling him to obtain his Grinnell B.A. degree in psychology in January 1961. He made the Dean’s List in June 1960.

He was a resident of Rawson Hall. As one of his hallmates recalls, “Dave studied hard when he studied; played hard when he played; laughed hard when he laughed; spoke hard when he spoke; and carried himself with great assurance. He stated his opinions strongly lest we doubted what he was asserting. He was strongly built and looked tough. We were glad he was in our hall for competitions, be they water fights or something more organized.” Another hallmate recalled that Dave had a phobia about flies landing on his food.

David participated in Grinnell’s football and wrestling teams. In later life he became a master body builder and then a columnist and editor of Muscle Training Illustrated, Ironman and other similar periodicals.

After college David attended Northwestern University School of Law, 1961-64, where he earned his J.D. degree. He then became an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in Peoria, Illinois, where in 1967 he earned a Sustained Superior Performance award and then moved to its Kansas City office. Later he became a Supervising Attorney at that office before retiring in 2002.

Shortly after moving to Kansas City David had a blind date and fell in love with Gloria Bea Goldberg, and they were married in April 1968. They had two daughters, Faith M. Nixon and Leah A. Nixon, all of whom survived him.

He was in good health until A-fib and colon cancer claimed him on June 11, 2018.

For our class’ 50^th reunion in 2011 David wrote the following beautiful poem, which now precedes the obituaries in the In Memoriam pages of our class website and which now honors him as well:

In Memoriam:

Celebration of the Lives of Our Departed 1961 Classmates

As we gather together to renew our friendships in this reunion,

we remember our departed classmates.

They remain with us, always dear in our thoughts, most vividly now. Time has not dimmed the light of their faces in our memory.

We remember each now, each a bright, vibrant, treasured friend; each with

a reserved fond place in our hearts today, in remembrance of yesterday. . . .

Duane W. Krohnke

 

NELSON, Don Arthur (August 19, 1939—November 26, 2017)

Don Nelson from Denver, Colorado was a resident of Cowles Hall, a member of the Glee Club, College Choir and Velvetones, a vocal quartet, and a volunteer at KGRW, the College radio station. He also was in the cast of a production of “Damn Yankees” as a member of the Washington Senators baseball team. A fellow classmate and psych major said Don was a good friend and a very positive, down-to-earth guy who loved psychology. This friend was amazed that Don earned extra money by driving a school bus through the rural countryside around Grinnell throughout the school year, never complaining about the treacherous winter roads. He loved the kids. He was well-liked and genuine. Don was graduated with our class in June 1961 with a B.A. degree in Psychology.

The next stop on his educational journey was the University of Texas, where he earned a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1965.

Don then joined the faculty of Purdue University as an Assistant Professor of Psychology through 1972, when he left to become the Director of Clinical Training in Psychology at Indiana State University and later became Chair of its Psychology Department. While there he also served as President of the Clinical Division of the Indiana Psychology Association and as a member of the Indiana Board of Psychology Examiners. In 1995 he was recruited by Chicago’s Roosevelt University to be the Director of Psychology Doctoral Studies.

For these many accomplishments, Don was included in the American Men and Women of Science in 1973 and 1978.

In 1965 Don married Mary Margaret Morrow, and they had three sons, and after their divorce Don married Dr. Cheryl A. Marshall in 1989, with whom he had another son.

Don is survived by Cheryl Marshall and sons Perry Cameron Nelson, Geoffrey Morton Nelson, Bradley Nelson and Riley Patrick Nelson.

Duane W. Krohnke

 

Mullins, Samuel Richard (01/25/1939–09/21/1969). Sam Mullins from the town of Grinnell was at the College for one semester (1957-58) where he was affiliated with Gates Hall. From 1959 to 1962 he was in the U.S. Army. In September 1962, Sam joined the staff of the Eldora, Iowa newspaper as a newsman, sports editor and photographer, eventually becoming its Editor and News Manager. In July 1968 he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that required hospitalization and a two-month recovery period.

Afterwards, Sam lived by this motto under the glass top of his news desk: “No matter what you do–do it right and be the best at it!”

On September 19, 1969, Sam suffered another cerebral hemorrhage while covering a high school football game for the newspaper, and he died the following Sunday. The newspaper stated Sam was an amiable man, a considerate co-worker, friend and devoted husband and father.

Sam was survived by his wife, Zelora Cassady Mullins, their two sons (Samuel R., Jr. and Stuart Van Mullins), his parents, three brothers and three sisters. (Rites Tuesday for Sam Mullins, 30, H-I News Editor, Eldora Herald-Ledger, p. 1, Sept. 23, 1969; A Tribute–Sam Mullins, Eldora Herald-Ledger, p.2, Sept. 23, 1969.)

 

Moore, Norma Lou (Showalter)

April 4, 1939—October 22, 2014

Enrolling at Grinnell College from Omaha, Nebraska, Norma Lou Showalter lived in Cleveland, James, Haines and Loose Halls, and was active in the Canter Club, the Iowa State Education Association and the Young Republicans. Norma majored in Sociology and Anthropology and took classes in elementary education; she obtained her B.A. with our class in June 1961. In her 1995 reunion comments, she said she was impressed by the College’s “freedom of expression, encouragement of independent study, the friendliness and warmth of small-town college, and good balance of social and academic areas.”

After returning to Omaha, she taught second and third grades, 1962-64, before starting a family of three boys and one girl. Later she said she loved taking care of grandchildren, reading, travel and collecting cat figurines.

Pre-deceased by her husband, Donald K. Moore, and a son, Mark David Moore, Norma is survived by two sons (Jeffrey Scott Moore and Steven James Moore) and a daughter (Sherri Ann Moore Clark), seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Norma is interred at Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha.

Nancy Welch Barnby