Class Notes

Just turned 93 and am in reasonably good health living in a retirement community in Wolfeboro New Hampshire.

In 2014 I started working with a couple of other ISU alumni, (Thomas Sawyer TCA 1983, Keven Siegert TCA 1984) on a series of documentaries about rural, generational Irish pubs, run by families for 90 to 155 years. Since we started the project, a couple of us have retired and we have leaned into the project a little more, and are now working on our sixth show. These shows, A Proper Pint (https://www.aproperpintfilm.com/), are part of the In Flight Entertainment system on Aer Lingus flights, so they will be available to ISU travelers as they converge on Dublin, and other parts of Ireland, in August, and most likely into September for some. Currently playing are “Ma Murphy’s Bar” in Bantry, and Sharkey’s Bar in Annagry. In September, McDonnell’s Bar and Undertakers” will begin showing.

ISU Everywhere. Pat Dillon , Ag Studies, 97 with his current ISU enrolled kids, Kat Dillon , Finance and International business 2026, Sean Dillon, Marketing, Fall 2024, and Kellian Dillon, Biochem 2027 Tallinn, Estonia

Elizabeth Strom (Heaton) AFM, was elected president of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers at the organization's annual meeting held in Champaign, IL. Strom is a Vice President with Murray Wise and Associates, located here. She graduated from Black Hawk College East Campus in 2014. She joined the ISPFMRA in 2916 and received her Accredited Farm Manager designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers in 2018. The Toulon, IL native received an associates degree from Black Hawk College in Kewanee in 2014 and a bachelors in agricultural business from Iowa State University in 2016. Prior to being elected president, Strom served as vice president and president elect of the Society. The Illinois Chapter is the largest of the 28 around the United States with 262 members and 32 'Friends of the Chapter.'

Elected President of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses.

A new vehicle deserves new ISU plates. I chose to honor my major.

My co-author and I have just published the subject non-fiction paperback "To Be The Best By Any Measure" which became available on Amazon and all major bookseller sites on March 7. Virtually all of our early readers agree that this book should be a must-read for all managers, business students, and those aspiring to be future leaders. And who is Pat Magee? That is the name which appeared on my original birth certificate. When only 3 days old, during the early months of World War Two, I was adopted by the Ramsey family and given my current name. However, it wasn't until nearly 80 years later that the Iowa legislature finally passed a law opening up adoption records. Only then was I able to obtain a copy of that original birth certificate and identify my actual biological parents.

I am 86 years old continuing a part time career in dietetics. I have retired four times but continue to return to the profession. I have consulted in nursing homes, managed a food service in a hospital, consulted in hospitals and currently consulting in a hospital and dialysis unit. Not sure I am ready to retire yet. It is inspiring to assist better eating habits for the patients and staff.

Rosemary Wiese Wilson(1974) and Steven J Wilson(1978), Ames IA, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 12, 2022.

Deland Myers (’81 food technology, ’84), a life member of the ISU Alumni Association and his wife, Eveadean Morrison Myers, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Aug. 7, 2022!

Eveadean Morrison Myers (‘81 elementary education), a life member of the ISU Alumni Association, and her husband, Deland Myers, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on Aug. 7, 2022!

Alan (Al) Krysan (‘87 agricultural business) and his wife, Terri Krysan (‘87 home economics education), both life members of the ISU Alumni Association, established the Alan E. Krysan and Terri M. Krysan Design Closet Endowment, which supports ISU College of Design students by funding supplies and materials required for their design classes. Al and Terri value giving back because others did before them, providing them both with the opportunity to attend college. They have also established an endowed scholarship in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in honor of Terri’s grandparents, Ted and Hazle DeBerg. With the Krysans’ support, the college will be able to provide free design kits to about half the student population that needs them. Al is currently an area executive director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is a past member and past chair of the Iowa State University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Terri works as a strategic accounts manager with WestRock Company, a leading global paperboard and packaging company. She’s an accomplished competitive quilter as well. To read more about the Krysans’ endowment, read the full story at design.iastate.edu/news. Shad Brook (‘06 industrial engineering) has been hired as The Procopio Companies director of operational excellence. In this role, Brook will apply manufacturing principles to Procopio’s construction operations to standardize processes and procedures, ensuring value creation and efficiency are top of mind for continuous improvement.

Richard Kaitany (‘83 plant pathology, ‘89 MS plant pathology), Iowa State cross country All-American, and his wife Andrea have spent over 14 years constructing Sibolei Girls’ Preparatory Academy in Iten, Kenya. Kaitany, a Kenya native, values the education he received from Iowa State, and hopes that the academy will bring enriching and prosperous opportunities to girls in Iten. Read Kaitany’s full story, “Richard Kaitany Gives Back in His Return to Kenya” on runnersworld.com.

Nicholas Nagawiecki ('19 architecture) is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020.

Terri Krysan** (‘87 home economics education) and her husband, Alan (Al) Krysan** (‘87 agricultural business), established the Alan E. Krysan and Terri M. Krysan Design Closet Endowment, which supports ISU College of Design students by funding supplies and materials required for their design classes. Al and Terri value giving back because others did before them, providing them both with the opportunity to attend college. They have also established an endowed scholarship in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in honor of Terri’s grandparents, Ted and Hazle DeBerg. With the Krysans’ support, the college will be able to provide free design kits to about half the student population that needs them. Terri works as a strategic accounts manager with WestRock Company, a leading global paperboard and packaging company. She’s an accomplished competitive quilter as well. To read more about the Krysans’ endowment, read the full story at design.iastate.edu/news.

Kent Rice (‘78 agricultural engineering) is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rice will work with the Community Economic Development sector in the Dominican Republic.

Jami Simon (‘81 theatre & dance) plays Sideways Jane in the film “Riding the D with Dr. Seeds." To watch the film, download the PlexTV app. Simon was also featured in the film “The Man Behind the Camera” which received two prizes at the 2021 Sunscreen West Film Festival.

Peter Kasper (‘12 integrated studio arts) designed and created a cherry wood panel for the Ivy College of Business to recognize their corporate partners. Kasper is the owner of Phoenix Cabinetry in Des Moines.

“Catching My Breath,” an exhibition Cameron Gray (MFA ’20 integrated studio arts), was chosen to be on display at the Octagon Center for the Arts Community Gallery in Ames.

Artist, activist and Iowa State University College of Design alumnus Theaster Gates (BS '96 community & regional planning /MA '05 interdisciplinary graduate studies /Hon. Doctorate '17 humane letters) will co-chair the Prada Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council with the aim of closing the inclusion gap in the fashion industry and elevating voices of color within the company and the fashion industry at large.

Carrie Clark ('01 biology, DVM '05 veterinary medicine), veterinary medical officer with the Office of Policy and Program Development of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Omaha, Nebraska, was recently featured in the USDA publication The Beacon for her years of service. She has worked with the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service for nine years.

Adam Obrecht (L)('98 ag bus) has been elected to the Urbandale (Iowa) City Council. He is the owner of AO Wealth Advisory and former president of the Urbandale School Board and ran for the council on a public safety platform.

For more than 40 years, Linda (Murray) Emmerson (A)('59 gen sci) has been creating art by cutting paper. An exhibition of her scherenschmitte was on display at the Unitarian Church in Ames in Summer 2018. Much of her work features scenes from the Iowa State campus.

Dave Wedemeyer recently achieved a cycling milestone by completing a century ride (100 miles) in every state. On August 27, 2019, Dave completed the Mt. Washington Century in New Hampshire, marking his 50th state. In total Dave has ridden over 120 century rides in his lifetime, and has also ridden RAGBRAI 29 times.