Alumni Updates
John Morgan (’63) (pictured right) was an actor in “And Welcome Home Again: A Soul Journey Out of Vietnam” a play put on by the Feast of Crispian at the Next Act Theatre, in August. All of the actors in the play were Vietnam/Vietnamera veterans from Dryhootch, a peer support place for veterans, and who have flown in an Honor Flight. Al King (’68) married Maggie on February 16, 2021 in Las Vegas.
Richard Passow (‘68) was awarded the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “Combined Federal Campaign Heroes Award,” for his agency, the Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD), which brought home four awards for various levels of giving. He also was selected to receive a DHS Management Directorate Award for Excellence for his work in planning a major relocation effort for CWMD staff.
Steve (’70) and Charlene (Tryggestad) Peske (’70) are enjoying retirement. Charlene was a manager for ADM chocolate until 2015. Steve was an engineer for German machine tool builder HERMLE and retired in 2019. The Peskes currently reside in Vernon, Wis.
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WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL || Fall 2021
Rev. John Gawrisch retired after 43 years in the ministry; 38 of those years were at Star of Bethlehem in New Berlin. He currently resides in Watertown, Wis., and looks forward to spending more time with his six kids (all graduates of WLHS) and 18 grandkids. Wisco alumni family include: Wendy (Gullickson) Gawrisch (’70), Laura (Gawrisch) Punzel (’95), Brandon Wigley (’96), Lisa (Gawrisch) Wigley (’96), Kelly (Gawrisch) Schauland (’97), Kimberly (Gawrisch) Weidner (’00), David Gawrisch (’01), Katie (Sikorski) Gawrisch (’01), Daniel Gawrisch (’03), Kaitlin (Parbs) Gawrisch (’09), Bria Wigley (’20), Kayla Wigley (’22), and Lauren Wigley (’25). Mark Prowatzke (’71) published “Yet, Will I Trust Him: Insights from a Brain Aneurysm.” The book is for sale on Amazon and Christianbook.com. Mark lives in Missouri with his wife Suzanne (Schwecke) (‘71).
Thomas Kneser (‘73), Sharon (Molkentin) Kneser (‘73), and daughter Bethany (Kneser) Behm (‘13) traveled to Mount Rushmore this summer, proudly sporting their Wisco alumni shirts. Sharon retired from WLHS as receptionist after 16 years, and Bethany teaches 4th and 5th grade at Trinity Lutheran School in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Jean Bell-Calvin (’75) retired from the UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing in July 2021 after 32-years of employment as a Clinical Assistant Professor. The focus of her work involved community nursing education, practice and partnerships. On June 17, 2021 she received a Commendation from the Common Council and a Proclamation from the Mayor’s Office of the City of Milwaukee.
