Class Notes

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Dr. Robert Cropp ’63 is receiving the prestigious Babcock Award from the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. Cropp is a former faculty member at UW-Platteville. He served as professor of agricultural economics and dean of the College of Agriculture. The award recognizes the contributions of those in education or affiliate organizations partnering with cheesemakers in the pursuit of dairy industry innovation and excellence.

Wendell Sisson ’66 received the 2021–22 Hometown Hero Award from the Wisconsin State Assembly on Sept. 30. Sisson was recognized for his role in establishing the Milton Area Veterans Memorial.

Frank Friar ’69 and ’70 received the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s 2021 James A. Graham award for his outstanding service to agricultural producers in Wisconsin. Myron Martin ’70 is retired and writes that he is enjoying traveling when it’s safe, hunting, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and spending time at the farm to relax. He and his wife, Lois, celebrated their 53rd anniversary on Dec. 30. They have two grandsons who have persuaded him to do some golfing.

Susan (Miller) Hellert ’71, Emeritus in the UW-Platteville History Department, wrote her second book The Langworthys of Dubuque: The Key City’s First Family. It was published on Nov. 15. Hellert writes, “The Langworthys were founders of Dubuque and a fascinating family with a history that encompassed Iowa, the Midwest, and the nation.”

Dean Kallenbach ’79 retired after 35 years at Wisconsin Public Radio as the senior regional manager. Kallenbach was named the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus at UW-Eau Claire-Barron County, where he earned his Associate of Arts before transferring to UW-Platteville. Kallenbach and his wife Sandy are keeping bees and chickens at their home in Eau Claire.

Ty Aurand ’81 has retired after 20 years in maintenance at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, Illinois. Aurand is now living in Madison, Alabama, and enjoying his five grandchildren. Floyd Sutton ’83 is a Key Account Manager at Zinpro Corporation in Freeport, Illinois.

Joe Swanson ’83 is in his 38th year with Regal Ware Inc. He is the Senior Vice President of Operations. Swanson writes, “I greatly enjoy my work and the people I work with. Blessed with the opportunity to spend my career here. Thanks UW-Platteville for a solid education to get this journey started!”

Mark Dalsing ’84 retired as chief of police from the Dubuque (Iowa) Police Department on Sept. 25, 2021, 32 years to the date after he was sworn in with the department. He served at all ranks and in all divisions. He was appointed chief of police in February 2010. Since retirement, Dalsing has transitioned into a new career. He was named the Affordable Housing Director for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, where he will oversee affordable housing opportunities in the 30-county service area.

Lori (Evenstad) Allendorf ’85

retired after 36 years of teaching. Allendorf taught in Seneca, Wisconsin; Big Rock, Illinois; and Hickory, North Carolina before returning to her hometown of Darlington, Wisconsin, to teach second grade the last 22 years at Darlington Community School District.

Jill (Harasha) Wadlund ’86 retired from Berkley Life Sciences LLC.

Steve Gehrmann ’91 recently self-published a new book entitled THE HAPPY ZONE. Gehrmann writes, “THE HAPPY ZONE is a combination of expert opinions, real life stories, anecdotes, and quotes from ordinary people.” The book is available online at Amazon and specialty stores.

Brian Weavel ’92 is a local community and small business advocate who contributed to the newly released small business guidebook written by Deluxe Corporations President and CEO Barry C. McCarthy, titled Small Business Revolution: How Owners and Entrepreneurs Can Succeed. Weavel owned Anna’s Pizza & Pasta in Winnebago, Illinois, for 24 years.

Tristan Lambert ’98 is a Professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Lambert’s graduate advisor, David MacMillan, won the 2021 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Lambert writes, “I was his first graduate student back in 1998 when he started his career at UC-Berkeley. I played a small role in the genesis of the idea for which he won the prize (organocatalysis), and so he mentioned me in his Nobel lecture.”