LOPER TRIBUTE

FOREVER A LOPER

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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.

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, 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.

Baumgartner worked in the Industrial Arts Department at Kearney State College in the mid- 1960’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.”

1962

Bob Jennings of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, retired in 2003. Bob enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing and e-bicycling. Gib Quadhamer of Loveland, Colorado, was inducted into the Loveland Hall of Fame class of 2017 as a golf and basketball coach. He led the boy’s hoops team to the 1986 state title, the only such championship in school history.

1963

Vernon Brown MS ’70 of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, has retired and is enjoying his two great grandchildren.

1964

Ken Aldridge of Mansfield, Texas, published his 10th crime novel, “The Romance Now Con Game.” Aldridge served 24 years as a special agent with the FBI.

1966

Bonnie and Ralph Roland of Johnson Lake celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Sept. 10.

1967

Ron Williams of Denver has been named 2022 Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show. This prestigious annual award recognizes those who embody Western pioneers’ spirit and determination and perpetuate their agricultural heritage and ideals.

1970

Jerry Mays of McGregor, Iowa, worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Albania in 2019 and 2020.

1971

David and Nancy (Frey) Brown of Beaver City celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 16. Brad Kernick of Kearney received UNK’s Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award, the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s highest honor. Established in 2003, the annual award is presented to honorees in appreciation of their community service and support of UNK, higher education and the Kearney area.

1972

Susan (Spracklen) Knights MSE ’74 of Boise, Idaho, retired after teaching college mathematics for 46 years in California, Wyoming, Oregon and Idaho.

1973

Curtis Beyer of Cathedral City, California, is retired.

1974

Daryl and Gena (Irish) Rodgers MSE of Kearney celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary Nov. 21.

1975

Paul Younes of Kearney is the Kearney Sertoma Club's 2020 Service to Mankind award recipient.

1976

Sharon Pelc MAE of Kearney is celebrating 42 years of service to UNK.

1980

Carl Streeter of Ord has been a teacher and coach at Ord High School since 1980. Carl is married to Donna, and together they have four children, two of whom are UNK graduates, and eight grandchildren.

1982

Doug Holtmeier MBA ’89 of Kearney is a wealth management advisor with Farm Bureau Financial Services.

1982

Denny Placzek of Kearney retired from the Kearney YMCA with 26 years of service.

1983

Steve Steinbrink of Omaha retired from the U.S. Department of the Treasury – Office of the Comptroller of the Currency with 35 years of service.

1984

Bonnie (Hershberger) Coffman of Kearney retired from UNK.

1985

Jeff Kirkpatrick of Lincoln recently finished six years as Lincoln City Attorney. In September, he became legal counsel with the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, the self-insurance pool for Nebraska counties. Katie (Shada) Ramsey MSE ’92 of Minden retired from Grand Island Public Schools with 35 years of service.

1986

Alex Willford of Grand Island has retired as director of the Central Nebraska Veterans' Home.

1988

Sheila Gawrych of Kearney is the public health center office assistant at UNK. James Hollenbeck MSE of Jeffersonville, Indiana, is the secondary education chair at Indiana University Southeast and is a 2015 Fulbright Research Chair to Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada. Patrick Korell of Torrington, Wyoming, is a district court judge in Wyoming’s Eighth Judicial District.

1989

Fred Lowery of Grand Island teaches special education classes at Grand Island Senior High School. He works with students in the Engineering & Technology Academy and teaches Transition, Transition Tech and NonPaid Jobs classes. Chris (Christensen) Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri, is a quality assurance analyst at UMB Bank.

1990

Doug Koebernick of Lincoln was recently appointed to a second five-year term as the inspector general of corrections by the Nebraska Legislature (provides legislative oversight over the Department of Correctional Services and the Division of Parole Supervision). Doug's wife, Carry (Mason) ’91, is a fourth grade teacher at Kooser Elementary School in Lincoln. Their daughter, Madison, is majoring in elementary education at UNK.