UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY ALUMNI
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Alumni are making an impact in their communities every single day. Please share those stories with us at lopers@unkalumni.org. of Kearney, whose parents owned Baumgartner’s Variety Store. When Al returned to Kearney from college in Lincoln to go into business with his father, he and Pearl became engaged. As the United State entered World War II, like many young couples across the country, they married in 1941 before Al entered the military. The war and marriage brought an end to her college education.
LOPER ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Pearl (Wollen) Baumgartner A recommendation from her high school superintendent brought Pearl (Wollen) Baumgartner to Nebraska State Teachers College in the fall of 1939. It was a recommendation that turned into a lifetime of involvement. Baumgartner, who celebrated her 100th birthday in January, would become the first person in her family to attend college when she won a scholarship to any teacher’s college in the state. She settled into Case Hall that fall and set her sights on obtaining a teaching certificate in home economics. She was delighted when approached by the women of Juanita Sorority, considered the top sorority on campus. Recruitment, or rush as it was referred to then, was different. “It was much more casual then. There were no structured parties,” said Baumgartner. “I was amazed they rushed me. I arrived on campus with wool skirts and cashmere sweater sets during a heat wave. I was a mess.” She thoroughly enjoyed her college life, especially getting to know many new people and attending social events. Those connections led her to meet her future husband, Al Baumgartner,
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Baumgartner worked in the Industrial Arts Department at Kearney State College in the mid1960’s, then went to work full time in the family retail business until its closure in 1983. Greek life and Kearney State College played important roles in the lives of the Baumgartner children as well. Susan (Baumgartner) Sutherland ’64 attended KSC and became a member of Chi Omega at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. James Baumgartner MBA ‘89, now deceased, attended KSC and was one of the founding members of Phi Delta Theta. Debra Baumgartner ‘76 was a Chi Omega at KSC. The Juanita Sorority changed its name to Delta Pi Beta in 1944, then colonized as Chi Omega in 1962. Baumgartner became an initiated member of Chi Omega alongside her youngest daughter in 1973. She stayed active in Chi Omega for nearly 30 years, holding several advisory positions and serving on the House Corporation until the local chapter closed. “I really enjoyed working with the girls over the years. It could be frustrating at times, but we always had laughter and friendship,” Baumgartner said. “I really think it played a big part in keeping me young at heart.” Baumgartner received well wishes for her 100th birthday from Chi Omega alumni across the country. “I was so surprised and touched that they remembered me,” she said. “I would tell anyone to stay involved. You don’t know how many people you might influence.”
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