
13 minute read
Class Notes
1950s
WILMA (MARTIN) ’50 AND LESTER
BLACKSHAW recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They have two daughters with families and one son, deceased. The Blackshaws are retired and live in Mexico, Mo.
JOAN (NETZEL) PHILIP ’54 is living at
Park Place of Elmhurst, an independent living retirement community. She has lived there since 2015.
WADE WATTS ’54 has been awarded the 2021 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime
Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s
Who. He served several years on the faculties of Washington University School of Dental Medicine and School of Medicine and practiced in Clayton and Frontenac,
Mo. for 52 years. He has been married to
DOROTHY (SKELTON) ’54 for 66 years.
VIRGINIA (VEST) MALONE ’55 celebrated her 90th birthday and her 64th wedding anniversary with her husband, John, on
Dec. 21, 2020 (they were married on her birthday). The Malones reside in Jefferson
City, Mo.
JACK ’57 AND MILDRED (CHAMPION) ’57 BARNES reside in Westminster
Shores, St. Petersburg, Fla. Mildred (Midge) has recently authored a book “When a PK (Preacher’s Kid) Kid Dies” available on
Amazon or Kindle.
GILBERT WOJTAL ’59 and his wife,
Mary, are still living in Green Valley, Ariz. enjoying the weather and participating in water volleyball.
1960s
PAUL D. ROWE ’61 is retired and in Jan. 2021 moved from Helena, Mont. to
Olathe, Kan.
BARBARA (SMITH) HUDDLESTON ’64 retired from college teaching (English and Journalism). She has downsized and moved to Springfield, Mo. She edits for e-published and hybrid authors and is trying her hand at writing historicals. She has wonderful memories of C-SC and would love to reconnect with old friends and classmates.
MICHAEL ’66 AND NANCY ANTON reside in Chesterton, Ind. and are the former owners of Anton Insurance Agency, a
Shepherd Insurance Partner in Chesterton.
STUART SCHELP ’69 has moved to
Dumaguete City in the Philipines with his wife, Loida
1970s
DOUGLAS “WHOPPER” VELLA ’74 recently retired from Federal Express. He sent the following note, “Let it be known that Doug “Whopper” Vella, class of ’74, has slipped quietly into retirement after a challenging career with the FedEx
Corporation. I spend most of my time in seclusion within the confines of my man-cave reading, listening, watching and corresponding. I have two fully grown offspring and one delightful granddaughter.” Doug and his wife, Nancy, live in Algonquin, Ill.
REBECCA J. (WOODWORTH) ’74 AND
R. MARK SMITH celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in March. Both are enjoying retirement after working at
Griggsville-Perry School District. They live in Pittsfield, Ill. and own a 160-acre farm close to Pittsfield.
DEWAYNE ’78 AND MAUREEN (KELLER) ’78 RUCKER have retired and moved to Kansas City, Mo.
DON SCHOMAKER ’78 was inducted into the Mater Dei Hall of Honor Class of 2020 in Breese, Ill. Don and his wife, SHERRI (BROWN) ’80 live in
Germantown, Ill. They have two grown children, Beth and Brad.
1980s
DR. ELIZABETH GOCKEL-BLESSING ’82 is the associate dean for student and academic affairs for St. Louis University Doisy College of Health Sciences and associate professor of medical laboratory science. Dr. Gockel-
Blessing lives in High Ridge, Mo. DR. AARON ZALIS ’84, former
Superintendent of Rolla Public Schools, was recently honored by the Missouri
Association of School Administrators (MASA) for his service to public education.
Zalis was one of eight former educators to receive the association’s Outstanding
Emeritus Educator Award.
RIC HINKAMPER ’85 is a NCAA Div. I, Big 10 Conference football official and officiated the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1, 2021.
VERNAL TURNER ’85 from Bourbonnais,
Ill. was inducted into the Illinois Basketball
Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Turner was recognized for his contributions to high school basketball as an official. He was also named the
Kankakee, Ill. Daily Journal’s Sports Citizen of the Year. Vernal is a security officer at
Kankakee Community College, and in the evening can be found in officiating roles at the high school, college and professional levels, including for the NBA as the courtside video replay administrator for
Chicago Bulls home games.
KELLIE (COX) CAPPS ’86 has moved to
Camdenton, Mo. with her husband, Rob and son, Clayton. Rob has retired and
Kellie is enjoying the role of a substitute teacher for the area school district.
DR. JUDY FAVOR ’87 was inducted into the Columbus State University Athletic
Hall of Fame in Sept. 2020. She held the best winning percentage in Columbus State softball history, coaching seven seasons from 1993 until 1999.
BRAD EATON ’89 was inducted into the
Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s
Hall of Fame class of 2021. Eaton, who lives in Quincy, Ill. with his wife, LORI (MOORMANN) ’90 and their three children, was honored for his outstanding basketball career at Southeastern High
School in Augusta, Ill.
CHARLES STRAIN ’89 participated in the
Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter
Park, Fla., where he won the Award of

JOEL ANDERSON ’77 retired from MiliporeSigma (formally Sigma Aldrich) after 42 years as a manufacturing chemist and scientist. Joel and his wife, Kathy, live in St. Louis, South County, Mo.


JOSEPH GEBHARDT ’83 has retired after 24 years with the Black Jack Fire Protection District. Joe and his wife, Sherril and children live in Wentzville, Mo. DOUGLAS M. RISCH ’77 is a principal partner in Risch Group LLC in Washington, Mo. Doug and his wife, Cindy Breth, live in Ballwin, Mo.

ELIJAH RICHARDSON ’18 founded Detroit-based nonprofit Whose House Our House (WHOH) on June 26, 2019. The organization has set out to create a gateway to higher education and pathways to successful careers for inner-city youth, a cause close to Richardson’s heart given his own upbringing and experiences that led him to CulverStockton College. TIM FRETWELL ’05 has been promoted to Lt. Colonel. Tim is the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Logistics) for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan where he lives with his wife and two children.

PAM MOSES ’87 was named Illinois Mother of the Year for 2021. Pam lives in Taylorville, Ill. and is mother to Brent and Tyler ’17.
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Merit. The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious outdoor art festivals. Charles and his family reside in Harrisburg, Mo.
1990s
JAMIE (GWALTNEY) THOMAS ’92 is an elementary educator for the Normandy
Schools Collaborative in St. Louis, Mo.
Jamie and her children, Sophia (age 16) and
Cooper (age 13) live in Eureka, Mo.
COACH CARRIE (CONNELL) MAHON ’93 recently led the girls’ basketball program at Plant City, Fla. to its first state title.
Mahon was named the state’s overall coach of the year by the Florida Dairy Farmers.
DR. PATRICK SHELTON ’94 was named superintendent of the Community Unit
School District #7 in Edwardsville, Ill.
2000s
BRENT HICKENBOTTOM ’00 recently self-published his first children’s book, The
Youngest Swine: A Three Little Pigs Story.
Brent lives with his family in St. Charles, Mo.
JENNY (NORD) THOMPSON ’00 graduated from the Missouri Leadership
Academy in March. She joined the
Department of Mental Health in Apr. 2020 and currently serves as Regional Office
Director for the Division of Developmental
Disabilities at the St. Louis Regional Office.
She resides with her family in Florissant, Mo.
MISTY (BROWN) CATE ’02 is a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual in
Quincy, Ill. Misty and her husband, George, and their family live in Quincy, Ill.
JESSE UHLMEYER ’03, Superintendent of the Canton R-V School District was among seven Missouri school superintendents recognized by the Missouri
Association of School Administrators (MASA) for outstanding performance as an emerging superintendent. Jesse lives in Canton, Mo. with his wife, LINDSAY (GAITHER) ’04 and children, Avery,
Chayse, Grady and Breckan. MELANIE (GOTSCHALL) REFUERZO ’07 is an occupational therapist for St. Anthony
Hospital in Gig Harbor, Wash. Melanie and her husband, Michael and two daughters,
Eriana and Alessa live in Gig Harbor.
GRAHAM JOHNSON ’08 is in his second season as pitching coach for the Corpus
Christi Hooks after leading the Hooks’ team to a Texas League-record 1,453 strikeouts and club-record .221 opponents’ batting average in his first season there.
2010s
BRIAN RICHARDSON JR. ’11 was named the new Director of Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion for the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 1, 2020.
LEVI BUCKMAN ’13 is a buyers assistant for
Niemann Foods, Inc. in Quincy, Ill. Levi resides in LaPrairie, Ill.
DR. ADRIAN SHOWALTER ’14 graduated with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Central Florida in 2020 and took a position as a biology instructor at Southern Arkansas University. Dr.
Showalter resides in Magnolia, Ark.
THERESA SIMMONS ’15 has been named
Manager of Finance and Administration for Lewis County REC. She has worked at the REC since 1989. Theresa resides in
Ewing, Mo. and has two grown sons, Matt and MICHAEL ’21.
KATELYN CLICKNER ’17 received the 2020 Murphy Tetley Award from the William Woods University Athletic Department.
EVAN LEAKE ’17 is part of the team at
WREX-TV in Rockford, Illinois, who recently received a Chicago/Midwest
Regional Emmy Award. The WREX-TV in Rockford, Illinois received this award for their ‘Lives on the Lines’ series, a comprehensive series that highlights the importance and awareness of Scott’s Law or the Move Over Law, which protects first responders while they are conducting traffic stops on the side of the road or highway. COURTNEY FEITH ’19 was recently honored by The Missouri Association of
Colleges as a 2021 Outstanding Beginning
Teachers. Courtney is an 8th grade math/ algebra teacher at Hannibal Middle School in Hannibal, Mo.
MIGUEL OBREGON ’19 is a teacher and coach at West Point High School in
Avondale, Ariz.
2020s
KELLEY HUFENDICK ’20 was recently honored by The Missouri Association of
Colleges as a 2021 Outstanding Beginning
Teachers. Kelley is a 3rd grade teacher at Iles
Elementary School in Quincy, Ill.
MASON VIRES ’20 signed as a point guard with the Malta Hibernians Basketball Club.
WEDDINGS
BECCA (WENDLE) ’08 AND AUSTIN
KAZDA were married Nov. 8, 2020 in Stone Bank, Wis. Becca and Austin reside in Wauwatosa, Wis.
DANIELLE (HAUER) ’11 AND CONNOR
LOWENSTEIN were married April 17, 2021 at the Aquila Barn in Moscow
Mills, Mo. Culver-Stockton alumni in the wedding party included KASEY (WITT) HALL ’02 (her sister), TERRI (WITT) DURBIN ’04 (her sister),
KATIE (FRETWELL) FARR ’10, and
DARA (KELLOCK) WARD ’11. The
Lowensteins live in Chesterfield, Mo.
BETH (BARTON) ’12 AND THOMAS
HUNTER were married June 1, 2019 in Pawleys Island, S.C. They live in
Belmont, N.C.
JEFF ’13 AND LAURYN (BURCH)
FARRAH were married Oct. 3, 2020 at
Quail Ridge Lodge in Wentzville, Mo.
C-SC alumni in the wedding party were
Jeremiah Williamson ’15, Christian Deeds ’15 and Alexander Frost ’15. Jeff and Lauryn live in Troy, Mo.
WILLIAM ’16 AND JENNIFER (HANNOLD) ’16 WILSON were married April 7, 2020. They will renew their vows on Aug. 14, 2021. The
Wilsons reside in Columbia, Mo.
SAMANTHA (POWERS) ’19 AND
ALEJANDRO CARDINALE ’21 were married June 5, 2021 in Kankakee, Ill.
Several members of the Culver-Stockton softball and baseball teams of 20182021 attended the wedding.
JORDAN ’19 AND RACHEL HAHN were married Aug. 8, 2020. Jordan is an RN at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Ill. They reside in Liberty, Ill.
PAXTON ’20 AND CHLOE (SIVESIND) ’21
BURKHART were married Mar. 21, 2021.
The Burkharts live in Surprise, Ariz.
MITCHELL ’17, MBA ’20 AND
MERCEDES (SPURGEON) ’19
BARTON were married July 28, 2019.
Miguel Obregon ’19 was the best man.
The Bartons reside in Nebo, Ill.
SHAUNI (LOGSDON) ’17 AND
ZACHARY ZAPOLNIK were married
May 4, 2019. They reside in Orange
Park, Fla.




LAURYN AND JEFF ’13 FARRAH CHLOE ’21 AND PAXTON ’20 BURKHART


AUSTIN AND BECCA ’08 KAZDA
DANIELLE ’11 AND CONNOR LOWENSTEIN THOMAS AND BETH ’12 HUNTER
JENNIFER ’16 AND WILLIAM ’16 WILSON


MITCHELL ’17, MBA ’20 AND MERCEDES ’19 BARTON ZACHARY AND SHAUNI ’17 ZAPOLNIK SAMANTHA ’19 AND ALEJANDRO CARDINALE ’21 JORDAN ’19 AND RACHEL HAHN


LEGACIES
JESSICA (JONES) ’04 AND RICH CAPPARELL are parents of a son, Augustus Jones Capparell, born Dec. 10, 2020. The Capparell family lives in Washington, D.C.
A son, Eliajah Mason, was born June 1, 2021 to VANESSA (MATHES) ’04 AND DEWAYNE MASON. He joins big brother, Zeke. The Mason family resides in Richland, Mo.
ADAM ’07 AND DANIELLE (ADAMS) ’10 GARNER are parents of a son, Landon Eugene Garner, born Mar. 26, 2021. He joins big sister, Kinsley. The Garners reside in Monticello, Mo.
JOSH ’10 AND CARLEY (THURSTON) ’09 ARNSMAN are parents of a son, Maverick Lee Arnsman, born Apr. 1, 2021. He joins siblings, Deacon and Brinley. The Arnsman family resides in Mendon, Ill.
DANIEL ’10 AND LEANNE HOURIHANCOX are parents of a son, Brody Daniel Cox, born Dec. 11, 2020. Brody and his parents live in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
STEVE AND KAT (KERNESS) ’10 SLOAN are parents of a daughter, Reagan Kim Sloan, born May 6, 2021. They reside in St. Louis, Mo.
BEAU ’11 AND EMILY BECRAFT are parents of a daughter, Olivia Kate Becraft, born Jan. 8, 2021. The Becrafts live in Quincy, Ill.
DONNY AND ANNA (GRGURICH) ’11 ROSHAN are parents of a son, River James Roshan, born May 18, 2021. He joins big brother, Remi. The Roshan family resides in Queen Creek, Ariz.
LANCE ’11 AND LAUREN ’13 TALLMAN-SMITH are parents of a son,
CAPPARELL
GARNER
COX MASON BECRAFT STILL

C. ARNSMAN
SLOAN ELLISON
ROBERTS BASTERT
HOEWING
Arthur Patrick Tallman-Smith, born April 12, 2021. He joins big brother, Theodore. The Smiths live in Kahoka, Mo.
NICK ’12, MBA ’18 AND ALLISON STILL are parents of a son, Kellan Nicholas Still, born Dec. 3, 2020. The Still family resides in St. Peters, Mo.
CALEB ’13 AND JENNIFER (CHAMBERLAIN) ’12 ARNSMAN are parents of a son, Knox Robert Arnsman, born Apr. 2, 2021. He joins big sister, Payton, age 2. The Arnsmans live in Quincy, Ill.
KYLE ’13 AND LORRIE (PETERS) ’14 ELLISON are parents of a son, Roy Carter Ellison, born Jan. 11, 2021. The Ellison family lives in Columbia, Mo.
CRAIG ’14 AND HILARY BASTERT of Mendon, Ill. are parents of a daughter, Chloe Danielle Bastert, born Mar. 23, 2021. She joins big sister, Lylah.
DAKOTA AND SUZANNE (ALLEN) ’14 WINDLAND are parents of a daughter, Kenzlie Sue Windland, born May 1, 2021. The Windland family lives in Frankford, Mo.
MAX ’15 AND KAYLA (CARLIN) ’15 ROBERTS are parents of a daughter, Presley Suezanne Roberts, born Mar. 23, 2021. She joins big brother, Granger. The Roberts family resides in Brookfield, Mo.
AUSTIN ’17 AND MORGAN (BRINGER) ’19 HOEWING are the parents of a son, Russell Michael Hoewing, born Feb. 3, 2021. The Hoewings live in Palmyra, Mo.