1940s
Abigail (Clayton) Voight ’40 (Mayer, MN) passed away March 4, 2014, at the age of 93. After graduating from Rushford High School and Winona Teachers College (Winona State University), Voight taught school in Oak Ridge, Malen and Eitzen, MN. She enjoyed sewing, cooking and flower gardening.
Lorraine (McNary) Johnson ’45 (La Crosse, WI) passed away June 13, 2014, at the age of 89. After earning her elementary teaching diploma and bachelor’s degree from Winona State Teachers College (Winona State University), she completed her master’s degree in elementary education at the University of Wyoming. Johnson taught at elementary schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Indiana and Iowa, and moved to La Crosse in 1974.
1950s
Donald Mallinger ’52 (West St. Paul, MN) passed away May 10, 2014, at the age of 83. After graduating from WSU, he taught in the St. Paul, MN school district for 33 years and served as a West St. Paul city councilman. Mallinger served five years in the Navy during the Korean War and was an active alumnus of Winona State University.
Anita (Stang) Mettille ’53 (Winona) passed away June 11, 2014, at the age of 84. After graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from WSU, she taught in area schools. She was a life-long learner and instilled a love of reading and learning in all of her children and grandchildren. She met her husband, Charles (Chuck) Mettille ’50, while attending Winona State.
Richard “Dick” Anderson ’59 (Kenyon, MN) died February 19, 2013, at the age of 81. Anderson served in the Navy for four years before attending WSU where he completed his teaching degree. He was an elementary school teacher for 33 years and also coached elementary basketball, junior high football and varsity golf. He volunteered his time to the Boy Scouts, Kenyon VFW and Kenyon Sportsman’s Club, and served as president of the Kenyon Country Club. Anderson loved to golf and his hobbies included horses, sports, hunting and fishing.
1960s
John Stow ’62 (Sparta, WI) died June 4, 2014, at the age of 73. Stow earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WSU, and began his 35-year teaching career at Sparta Senior High School. Stow was proud to have taught students in math, science, computer programming and physics until his retirement. He was a member of Western Air Flying Club in Sparta and also enjoyed his model train collection, traveling and old cars.
Ervin Bublitz ’66 (Winona) passed away July 23, 2014, at the age of 79. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in economics from Saint Mary’s College (Saint Mary’s University), Ervin graduated with a master’s degree in sociology from WSU. He went on to earn his doctorate in sociology from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. In 1970, Bublitz returned to WSU to teach sociology and later serve as department chairman. He also served as the coordinator of the Criminal Justice Program, the Law Enforcement Program and law enforcement internships. He loved his work as an educator and is remembered by his students as being eloquent and cantankerous. Bublitz was a generous WSU benefactor, providing hundreds of scholarships to students in sociology, social work and criminal justice studies. His love of art and the American West led him to donate his collections of Southwest Native American pottery, Frederic Remington bronze sculptures and Navajo rugs to WSU. His art contributions on campus number at least 200 pieces. After he retired in 2010, Bublitz divided his time between his home in Winona and his homes in Colorado and New Mexico. Bublitz spent many thoughtful, peaceful and happy hours on the Mississippi River with his beloved golden retrievers and was an avid duck hunter. He kept bees and was proud of his backyard garden. He loved his family and was a dedicated uncle to his nephews and nieces.
Tyrone Erickson ’67 (Zumbro Falls, MN) passed away May 25, 2014, at the age of 76. After graduating high school, Erickson enlisted in the Army Reserves and served until 1963. He worked at IBM for a short time and then took leave to pursue his higher education. While attending Rochester Junior College (Rochester Community and Technical College), he developed a physical education program for St. John’s Catholic School and discovered his passion for teaching. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary school counseling from WSU, Erickson taught at Bamber Valley Elementary School for 32 years until his retirement in 1999.
1970s
Gary Knouft ’70 (Winona) passed away April 30, 2014, at the age of 69. After graduating from WSU, Knouft worked for 33 years as a rural letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service in Winona and was proud to receive the One Million Mile Award for his service.
Marion (Tweeten) Anderson ’70 (La Crosse, WI) passed away Jan. 19, 2014, at the age of 90. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, and her master’s degree from WSU. Anderson taught business education classes for five years in Minnesota and 28 years at Central High School and Western Technical Institute in La Crosse, WI until her retirement in 1985. Anderson served as a deacon of her church and was a member of the Wisconsin Retired Teachers Association.
Thomas Gibson ’72 (Winona) passed away July 8, 2014, at the age of 67. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from Saint Mary’s College (Saint Mary’s University), Gibson received his master’s degree in educational psychology from WSU. Gibson was a boys’ counselor at Catholic Charities and taught for six years at Cathedral Junior High School in Winona, a job he often said was his favorite. After working in manufacturing for several years, Gibson purchased Whetstone Machine in Winona in 1983 and developed it into a successful family business over the next 31 years. He was a member of his church and the Winona Country Club and spent several years as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Winona Housing & Redevelopment Authority.
Robert Ryan ’74 (Minneapolis, MN) died April 25, 2014, at the age of 89. Before graduating from WSU, Ryan served in the Marines during World War II, and afterwards began his career at the University of Minnesota’s KUOM Radio. He later served 23 years with KSTP radio and television in the Twin Cities before moving to Rochester, MN. After graduating from WSU, Ryan joined the Minnesota News Network and had a commentary program, “Bob Ryan’s Passport,” on KNXR Radio in Rochester. Ryan was one of the Midwest’s most widely recognized and respected broadcasters, and was inducted into the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2001. He served in many civic roles throughout his life, and covered the loss of freedoms in Soviet bloc countries, including Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania, and revolutions in Central and South America.
Betty (Lowrance) Darby ’76 (Winona) died June 17, 2014, at the age of 86. After earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota, Darby worked as a public health nurse in Faribault, MN and later as a nurse in Winona County, where she also taught nursing to students at the Winona Vocational/Technical College (Minnesota State College Southeast Technical). She went on to obtain her master’s degree in educational psychology from WSU where she began teaching nursing. Darby later earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and continued as a nursing professor at WSU for 25 years, leaving a lasting legacy through her thousands of students.
1980s
Patrick “Patches” Towle ’83 (Watertown, SD) passed away April 27, 2014, at the age of 53. After earning his bachelor’s degree from WSU, Towle moved to Watertown to relocate Twin Town Box, now known as Watertown Box Corporation. He loved spending time with his friends, golfing, playing racquetball, basketball, tennis and boating. He always enjoyed being the life of the gathering with music, games and a smile.
1990s
Christine (Gray) Rinn ’93 (Minnesota City, MN) passed away April 27, 2014, at the age of 47. Rinn was an animal lover who liked to volunteer with the Humane Society. In her younger years, she enjoyed her horse, Red, and her cats were the center of her life. She will be remembered as someone who was always willing to help anyone in need.
2000s
Nicholas Oswald ’04 (Winona) passed away June 12, 2014, at the age of 33. Before attending WSU, Oswald graduated from Badger High School in Lake Geneva, WI, where he was involved in orchestra, cross country and was a member of an improv team performing in London and Scotland. While attending WSU, Oswald participated in the “Shakespeare in the Park” production and the Wenonah Players Improv. After graduating with degrees in communications and business administration, Oswald earned his master’s degree in criminology. He worked as a corrections officer at Red Wing Correctional Facility, and later as a Sentencing to Serve crew leader in Shakopee and Carver Counties, MN, and as a probation officer for the Department of Correction. He was an active member of his church, and will be long remembered for his sarcastic humor and quick wit.
Shawn Afryl (Skokie, IL) passed away July 21, 2014, at the age of 22. Afryl graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was working on a second degree while also joining the football team at Winona State University. His plan was to some day teach high school history and coach.
