House, Oscar Carl, Jr. (July 6, 1939—March 7, 2024)

Carl House from Naperville, Illinois joined most of our classmates for our freshmen year at Grinnell in August 1957 and graduated from the College with his B.A. degree in psychology on June 4, 1961. At the College he resided the first three years in Gates Hall and then the new East Norris Hall his senior year.

Carl was a member of the College’s Religious Activities Committee, Uncle Sam’s Club and the Wrestling Team. In his senior year he served as a freshman advisor while in the College’s production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth he had the role of Ross, a Scottish nobleman.

Afterwords he was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from October 1962 through April 1963. He then worked in advertising with Procter & Gamble before attending

Harvard University Business School, 1967-69, obtaining a M.B.A in finance and real estate.

Thereafter Carl engaged in a career of economic development and financial planning. He worked with the Rouse Company to plan the new city of Columbia, Maryland and with the MacArthur Foundation in the development of North Palm Beach County (Florida) as well as consulting around the world with the U.S. Agency for International Development. He also helped to foster various nonprofits in Palm Beach County, including NOAH Development Corporation and South Florida Family Promise.

Carl was an enthusiastic master swimmer, participating in their competitions throughout the world and volunteering for the U.S. Master Swimming organization.

He and his first wife, Elana Susan House, had two sons (Jonathan, who died in 1996, and Jeffrey), and after divorce, Carl married Nancy Stroud.

Carl was a member of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, Florida, which hosted his memorial service.

Carl is survived by wife Nancy, son Jeffrey, brother Robert and sister-in-law Shiela House.

Duane W. Krohnke (Author)

 

Hutchins, Ronald Earl (December 15, 1937—December 18, 2013)

Ron Hutchins from Westmont, Illinois attended Grinnell from September 1957 through January 1959.

One of his freshman-year roommates, Walt Giersbach, recalls that before college Ron had worked as a carnival roustabout and that in their room at Smith, Ron lifted weights. Walt worked for Ron’s landscaping firm in Westmont the summer of 1960, when Ron introduced Walt to the Easy Street bar on the Near North Side of Chicago and the music of June Christie and other jazz greats. Ron also helped Walt learn how to ride a motorcycle and buy a 1947 Indian Warrior cycle.

Afterwards Ron attended the Michigan State University, from which he obtained a B.S. degree in Economics in 1963 and a M.B.A. in 1964. In 1977 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Missouri.

Ron taught business and finance at Bradley University (three years) and Eastern Michigan University (29 years). Before teaching, he worked in the financial departments for General Foods Corporation, Allstate Insurance Company and Security Mutual Casualty Company.

After retiring from Eastern Michigan University in 2003, he and his wife moved to Leesburg, Florida. There he was a member of the Unity Church and an avid contract-bridge player and motorcyclist.

Ron, age 76, died in Leesburg and is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joan Karen SeBriny Hutchins, three children (Laurel Ellen Hutchins Rousch, Debra Rae Hutchins Ladd and Bruce Allan Hutchins), son-in-law (Kenneth Ladd), a sister (Marilyn Hutchins Sheehy) and eight grandchildren.

Duane W. Krohnke

 

Paul Douglas Hokenstad, April 6, 1939–November 15, 2011

Paul Hokenstad from Griswold, Iowa (population under 2,000) spent two years at the College (1957-59). He was a resident of Clark Hall. In his sophomore year he was in the cast of the play “Cave Dwellers” and a member of the Grinnell Players. I knew his brother John (Class of 1958) our freshman year when we both lived in Gates Hall.

Paul loved baseball and was a middle infielder on the College team. I got to know Paul through our time together on this team and always liked him. He was soft-spoken, friendly and witty. When I talked with him on

the telephone in December 2010, I was amazed at his pitch-by-pitch recall of one of our Grinnell baseball games that had long escaped my memory.

Paul also loved football even though he was small (5′-10″ and 135 lbs.). In his senior year of high school he

was the starting quarterback and was No. 1 in Iowa for most passing yards and touchdowns. This success encouraged him to join the Grinnell football squad as a quarterback both years. A 1958 program described him as “Small but fearless. A fine passer and an intelligent signal caller.” In one game that year the regular quarterback or tailback, John Copeland, was forced to leave the game, and Coach “Pete” Peterson put Paul in the game to take over running the team on the field. Despite jitters, he was able to keep the offense going, but a hard tackle broke his collar bone and ended his season.

After leaving the College after his sophomore year, Paul worked in the family International Harvester dealership in Griswold for a short period of time. In late 1959 he moved to northern California where he worked as a computer operator for Lockheed Corporation and where he got married and became the father of three children. In 1973 Paul moved back to Griswold with his son Pete and worked at the family IH dealership.

During his years on the West Coast Paul developed an interest in archaeology and anthropology. In 1975 he moved to Laramie, Wyoming to pursue that interest as a major at the University of Wyoming, where he graduated at age 40 with a bachelor’s degree. Afterwards he worked for the Wyoming Office of the State Archaeologist in Laramie.

Throughout his life Paul liked to hike and climb mountains. These avocations found a great home in Wyoming.

When I talked with Paul in December 2010 I discovered he was battling prostate cancer and had moved from his home in Laramie to return to Griswold so he could live with his children in the family home and obtain medical treatment in nearby Omaha. I conveyed my best wishes for his successful medical treatment and my hope that he could attend our forthcoming class reunion and visit me in the Twin Cities to go to a Twins baseball game in its beautiful new ballpark. Paul wanted to come to the reunion and see a Twins game. Unfortunately his prostate cancer metastasized into bone cancer, and he was unable to do either one. He died on November 15, 2011 of the disease.

He is survived by his children, Neil Hokenstad, of Sonoma, California, Pete Hokenstad, of Griswold, Iowa, and Anne Hokenstad and her partner, Bart Wright, of Denver; his former wife, Sky Williams, of Gilroy, California; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Marge Hokenstad, of Greenbrae, California; his niece, Christin Hokenstad, of San Francisco; and many loved friends and extended family.

(Paul Hokenstad Obituary, Laramie Boomerang (Dec. 7, 2011).)

 

Richard Lee Harlan, July 7, 1939–November 15, 2011

Dick Harlan from Denver, Colorado spent his freshman year at Grinnell. He was a resident of North Younker Hall and a member of the College Band and of Uncle Sam’s Club. His parents, Edna Grosenbaugh Harlan and Homer S. Harlan, were both Grinnell alums (1926).

Later Dick received his B.A. degree in geology from the University of Colorado (1961), a M.S. degree in forestry and a Ph.D. in hydrogeology from Michigan State University in 1964 and 1967 respectively.

Following graduate school, Dick was employed by the Canadian Department of Forestry and Rural Development and resided in Calgary, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario for 15 years. He then returned to Denver and was employed by James & Moore as Chief Hydrogeologist for 11 years and taught at the School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. In 1990 he established his own engineering firm, Harlan & Associates, with offices in Littleton and Lakewood, Colorado.

Richard had many friends all over the United States and Canada. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying sailing, biking, skiing, and camping, as well as racquetball. He was a fantastic photographer, woodworker, and he loved jazz.

Richard leaves his children, Michael Burt and Kathryn June Harlan, two grandchildren, his brother, Dr. John R. Harlan (Carrie) of Page, Arizona along with one niece, four nephews and six great nieces and nephews also in Arizona. Dick’s former wife, Sandra Lou Burt Harlan, is also believed to be a survivor.

 

Hendrey, William Brazier (May 14, 1939—May 22, 2017)

Bill Hendrey from New Trier High School in Wilmette, Illinois, was at Grinnell for the first two years of his undergraduate career. As a resident of Rawson Hall, he won a freshman numeral and an Honor G for swimming distance freestyle. In1962, he obtained a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts with a major in chemistry and biology from Indiana University.

After serving seix months in the U.S. Army National Guard, he embarked on a career in data processing as a systems analyst and programmer and later was involved in sales for various corporations, Including Abbott Laboratoreis, AMOCO Chemicals, International Harvester and Mercury Motor Express.

Bill is survived by his daughters, Margaret and Cheryl Ann, granddaughter Marissa and brothers Robert, David and Tom.

Duane W. Krohnke

 

Richard A. Hoiekvam (June 2, 1939—July 23, 2019)

Dick Hoiekvam, who was born in Des Moines, IA, joined our class in the fall of 1958 after a year at Kansas State University. He lived in Langan Hall his three years at the College and was awarded his B.A. in Economics in June 1961.

Although a sophomore in 1958-59, he was a member of the freshmen basketball and baseball teams. The next year, however, he was on the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams and lettered in at least football and, therefore, was a member of Men’s Honor G for those with such letters. His senior year he played forward in intramural basketball and was named an IM All-Star.

After Grinnell, he obtained an additional degree in accounting and served in the U.S. Amy during the Vietnam War.

He became a CPA in 1965 and joined the Deloite accounting firm in Omaha, later becoming an auditing partner and eventually partner in charge of the Omaha office. He also was actively involved in professional organizations. One was the

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, whose Task Force on Regulation of Alternative Practice Structures he chaired in 1999. In 2002 Dick was awarded a Distinguished Service to the Profession Award by the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants.

In 1965 Dick married Sharon G. O’Neal and they had three children, Peter, Erik, and Misty. In 1995 Dick and Sharon were divorced.

Dick was survived by sons Peter and Erik Hoiekvam, daughter-in-law Amee Hoiekvam, grandsons Harrison and Henry Hoiekvam, sister Judy Fredrigill, and former wife Sharon Hoiekvam.

Duane W. Krohnke

 

Hansen, Stafford Owen

June 1, 1939—November 25, 2014

Stafford Hansen of Minneapolis Minnesota spent his freshman year at Grinnell. He lived in Cowles Hall and was on the lighting crew for the December 1957 production of “Ahmal and the Night Visitors.” Later he obtained his B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota.

After working in Minneapolis he moved to Farmington, Minnesota where he purchased a Red Owl grocery store and then to Spring Valley, Minnesota, where he bought another Red Owl store. After selling these stores, Stafford worked in real estate, insurance, the lumber business, and as the dairy manager for another grocery store.

He was involved in the community as an elected member of the Spring Valley School Board and the Filmore County Board of Commissioners. Stafford also was an active member of the local Catholic Church, Kiwanis Club, garden club, community theater and chamber of commerce. Stafford loved bicycling, skiing, walking, working in the garden and playing bridge.

While working at a Minneapolis Red Owl grocery store, he met and fell in love with Loretta Kay Landy, and they were married on September 16, 1961. She and their five children survive him along with 18 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two sisters and one brother.

Stafford died in hospice care after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Duane W. Krohnke

 

Halvorsen, Karen Rae (09/24/1939–08/20/1989).

Karen was an active and successful undergraduate at Grinnell. Graduating in 1961 with a B.A. in history, she established an excellent academic record: she was a member of the freshmen women’s honorary society (Tassels, 1958-59), the senior women’s honorary society (Mortar Board, 1960-61) and Phi Beta Kappa (1961). In her senior year she received the Alumni Association Senior Award and the Ladies Education Society’s Citizenship Award. Karen held leadership positions in student government: residence hall governance (Read Hall Baffleboard, 1958-59), president of the women’s governing body (A.W. S. Board, 1960-61) and ex officio member of the overall student government body (Student Council, 1960-61). She was active in the YWCA and the local drama group (Grinnell Players) and was a member of Women’s Honor G that recognized scholastic ability and participation in intramural sports and other extracurricular activities.

After obtaining a MAT degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1963, family responsibilities encouraged her to remain in California. She taught in several California high schools through early 1981 with a hiatus of several years in the administration of the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California.

From 1981 through 1984 she was in the administration of the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle. In 1984 she moved into administration at Stanford University, first with its Department of Dermatology and then with the Office of the Provost, where she worked until her death in 1989. Her titles did not always indicate the important roles she played at Stanford. At her memorial service Karen was eulogized as someone who made a huge difference not only in what she accomplished but also for her humanity and skill in bringing out the best in her staff.

Karen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 24, 1939. She developed a rare form of cancer in 1988, but she remained optimistic and did not share her condition with many of her friends and colleagues. Karen died of cancer at Stanford University Hospital on August 20, 1989. (Provost’s Office staffer Karen Halvorsen dies, Stanford Univ. Campus Report (Sept. 30, 1989).)

 

Hamamoto, Susan Tokiko (December 8, 1939—July 24, 2018)

Susan Tokiko Hamamoto followed her sister (Amy Hamamoto Faulconer,’59) to Grinnell, arriving just as the college re-opened the renovated Mears as a freshman residence hall. As a relatively small group (28 freshmen plus 4 upperclassmen as president and baffleboard), those who were denizens of Mears Hall considered themselves special. Susie herself returned to Mears as president during her senior year, and in such capacity also served on the AWS governing board of women’s hall presidents.

The class of ’64 Mears girls loved Susie. Jill Welch comments, “Susie was the perfect freshman mentor: gentle, kind, fun-loving, welcoming. I don’t think she had a mean bone in her body.” Anne Hart Cleghorn adds that Susie’s “door was always open. She made my first year of college feel very comfortable. And, she was so darn cute!!”

Though born on Kauai, Susie considered herself a native of the Big Island. She attended schools in Hilo, Hawaii, and graduated from Hilo High in 1957. She stayed in touch with friends there, and returned often to visit family and to attend reunions.

At Grinnell, Susie was a member of the Iowa State Education Association and the math club. She made the most of her summers away from Grinnell, studying one year at the University of Hawaii, and working another in a lab at the University of Colorado. She graduated from Grinnell with a major in Biology. Diploma in hand, Susie moved on to Brown University where in 1963 she earned her M.S. in Biology.

Having a true pioneer wanderlust, Susie then headed to Germany to teach for a year at the Frankfurt International School. Taking advantage of her location, she traveled extensively in Europe.

Returning to the United States, Susie worked in various research capacities, first in Hawaii, later in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hawaii, she served as a research associate in electron microscopy. Later, she worked for the Department of Pathology at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco, and finally at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in a biochemistry lab at the University of California, Berkeley.

Susie was a kind and loving soul who made friends wherever she went. She loved to cook and to enjoy a glass of wine with friends. She loved the out-of-doors and hence her garden. An avid runner and hiker, Susie finished the Honolulu marathon and climbed Kilimanjaro, did yoga at Machu Pichu and paddled San Francisco Bay in her sea kayak. She was an active member of the Oakland Buddhist Temple and the Orinda Hiking Club. She is mourned by an extended family, including her remaining sister and family, the family of her older sister, and an extended family both on the mainland (as they say in Hawaii) and in the 50^th state.

Nancy Welch Barnby (herself a Mears girl in 1957-58)

 

Groteluschen, Jon Kingdon (September 26, 1939—June 2, 2021)

Jon Groteluschen, born and raised in Manning, Iowa, was a four-year member of our class with a B.A. in Physical Education in 1961. After his first year in South Younker Hall, he spent his other three years in Clark Hall. He was a gifted athlete in basketball and golf, lettering in both sports and serving as co-captain of the golf team and as a member of Honor G (the men’s honorary athletic club). At the end of his senior year on the basketball team, Coach John Pfitsch said Jon “was the most improved player on the squad and played the most consistently good ball of any of the Pioneers.”

Immediately after Grinnell he taught mathematics and coached basketball for two years in the junior high school of DeWitt, Iowa.

He then was recruited by his Grinnell classmate and friend, Jim Lowry, to replace him for the next two years as a Peace Corps Outward Bound Field Training Officer at Camp Radley in Puerto Rico.

Most importantly for Jon, at that camp he met and fell in love with Mary Ellen (“Marelle”) Stoltzfus, a Peace Corps trainee headed for Turkey. Eight months later Jon followed her to that country to serve during the summer as the Corps’ Assistant Project Director and to study history and humanities at Robert College in Istanbul. On September 4, 1964, Jon and Marelle were married in that famous city in its historic Dutch Chapel, which since 1857 has been used by the Union Church of Istanbul, an interdenominational, international, protestant, evangelical church.

Jon then returned with Marelle to Grinnell to serve as a College Admissions Counselor, 1965-66, after which he attended the University of Kentucky to serve as a Projects Director for its Center for Developmental Change and as a Research Administrator while earning a M.A. in Psychology and Counseling in January 1970.

Next Jon embarked on a successful career in higher education administration as Director of Alumni Relations at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1970-72, followed by serving as Director of Endowment Development for Carroll College (now Carroll University)(Waukesha, WI) and then its Vice President for Business & Finance and its Vice President for Administration, 1972-82.

Jon then went to Alma College in Alma, MI as its Vice President for Finance and Management Services, where he served until his retirement in 1997.

Four years later Jon and Marelle moved to Aiken, S.C. for its more hospitable weather and year-round golfing. Following his prior practice of service on community groups, Jon in Aiken was an active member of the South Aiken Presbyterian Church and the Houndslake Country Club, where he indulged his love for golf. He also enjoyed tennis, racquetball, downhill skiing and chess as well as being active in community theatre. In the summers he and Marelle and their two daughters loved to spend their time swimming, boating, water-skiing, fishing and hiking at their cabin on Lake Lauzon, Ontario, Canada.

Jon is survived by Marelle, their daughters Andrea Northwood (Rev. Dr. Paula Northwood, daughter-in-law) and Inga Schmitzer, sisters Janis Buckles and Pamela Bansbach (Louis Phillip III), grandchildren Greta, Ryan and Owen Schmitzer, step- grandchild (Kris Grant), step-great-grandchildren (Aurora and Azure Grant).

At Jon’s memorial service at his family’s church in Aiken, his daughter-in-law, Rev. Dr. Paula Northwood, delivered a moving homily based on these familiar words of Ecclesiastes:”To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die . . . for God has made everything beautiful in its time….”

• Hence, “Today is the day to appreciate Jon’s unique expression of beauty in God’s time.”
• “Jon was Marelle’s soul mate and companion through the life they created together. And they were blessed with a beautiful and fruitful life…. Jon lived this sense of justice with its concern for others. Not a sense of fairness but of God’s justice which is concerned with making things right. To love kindness. [Jon] exhibited this love and compassion.”
• “The question now is ‘Why did Jon live?’ You carry the answer to that question within you – in your memories – in all you learned from knowing him and relating to him. Your challenge now, is to transform all that he has been to you into that living memorial – passing on the goodness and keeping the memories alive….”
• “We will continue to celebrate his life through our relationships, our acts of loving service, our memories, and our dreams.”

We his Grinnell classmates pray that we too will celebrate Jon’s life in the same manner.

Duane W. Krohnke