WESTERNCONNECT - Western Technical College

WESTERNCONNECT
A publication for alumni of Western Technical College
August 2011 Volume 7, Number 1
A La Crosse
Legend
by Leslie Hill-Clatworthy
Dale Rudy recalls his days at the La Crosse
Vocational School
To talk with Dale Rudy is to get a history lesson about La Crosse.
This living legend, has tales to tell about La Crosse, about his
family, and about the La Crosse Vocational School.
Dale Rudy is “Rudy” of the instantly-recognizable Rudy’s
Drive-In restaurant. What perhaps isn’t as well known is his
personal history.
His dad, William Rudy, started the family in the restaurant
business when he purchased his first A&W Root Beer Stand in
Chippewa Falls in 1933. In 1937, he bought an existing root beer
stand on 4th and Vine Streets in La Crosse. Several purchases and
moves later, and the family was well established in the business.
The current location at 10th and La Crosse Streets was built in
1965 to Rudy’s specifications, including electronic ordering, which
his dad thought foolish. “Dad eventually admitted I was right,” he
says with a smile.
In 1944, Rudy was drafted into the Navy. After a year’s training
as a radio operator in San Diego, Calif., he was assigned to the
USS San Francisco. The ship was on its way to China to join
the war effort when the word was given that
Truman has ordered the bombs dropped
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The
rest of his time in the Navy was
spent on occupational duties in
Philadelphia, Penn. When he
was discharged in June 1946,
he came back to La Crosse.
The next day, he was working
for his dad.
And that’s how it was. In the
summer, he worked for his dad,
plus he delivered papers, and
milk (for Dolly Madison). During
the winter months, he took
commercial classes at the La Crosse
Vocational School
under the GI Bill. Not that it was easy
convincing his father that it was the right thing to do. “My dad
had an eighth grade education,” says Rudy. “He thought college
was for loafers.” But Rudy knew it was something that would
benefit him. In the winter of 1947-48, he took accounting, typing,
mimeographing, and English classes. “I kept my fingers limber
with typing,” he laughs.
There was also time to play basketball and baseball. If he’d had his
choice, he’d have been a major league pitcher, but, he says, “the
odds weren’t good!” So he worked and went to college.
That work ethic has carried him through his life. In 1979, he was
named Wisconsin Restauranteur of the Year, a first for a fast-food
restaurant. He was also named to the Governor’s Council on
Tourism, where he traveled the state. He’s also a past Oktoberfest
parade marshal. Now, his son Gary owns the restaurant and Rudy
is enjoying his retirement. He and his wife, Beverly, just recently
celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They live in Florida,
where he is able to golf, one of his favorite pastimes. In fact, he
played in the Foundation’s Golf Tournament in June, and his team
won!
Through it all, he has “always had a heart for vocational
education.” When he was a child, his neighbor Alph Sorenson ran
the college’s print shop and Rudy had a high regard for him.
“So many prominent people of La Crosse took commercial
courses,” he recalls. And that includes one Dale Rudy.
1912
La Crosse Continuation School opens on October 28.
1916
John Coleman becomes director.
1
1920
First recorded graduate apprentices in baking and machining

Hello
Western
alumni!
In anticipation of Western’s
centennial year, I recently learned
that Gateway Technical College
in Racine was not only the first
vocational school in Wisconsin,
but in the United States—and Western was soon to follow!
In 1912, the La Crosse Continuation and Adult Schools started
in two rooms at the old Longfellow school at 6th and Vine
Streets. According to a brochure, free evening school was offered
“to assist ambitious persons to a higher plane of efficiency and
so enable them to command higher wages.” (from Our School, by
Bert Hoch)
Such a humble beginning, preceding a rich history of
educational progress, preparing a skilled workforce, enriching
lives and the communities in which our alumni live. We can be
confident that Western will continue to respond to the needs of
business and industry, ensuring a bright future for the Western
Technical College district.
As alumni, you can be proud of our past and hopeful for our
future, proud of what Western has meant to your life. Please
join us in celebrating our centennial milestone throughout the
coming year as we say, “happy birthday, Western!”
Best wishes,
Alumni Relations Coordinator
P.S. Check out the timeline at the bottom of each page.
Do you have a favorite memory
about a class, teacher, club activity,
or dorm experience to share?
In honor of our 100th year of education, Western
is collecting alumni memories and photos which
may be shared through our website. Just email the
Alumni Office at alumni@westerntc.edu
with the subject “Memory.”
WesternConnect is published twice a year for alumni of Western Technical College.
Western Technical College President: Lee Rasch, Ed.D.
Writer/Editor: Leslie Hill-Clatworthy
Alumni Coordinator: Sally Emerson
Photography: Bruce Defries Studio Group
Graphic Designer: Sharon Burchardt ’93
Centennial Calendar
Monday, September 12, 2011
Grand Opening of Union Market and Kumm Center
11:30 a.m. • La Crosse Campus
Friday, September 16, 2011
Rock the Block
La Crosse Campus, Cleary courtyard
Free for alumni and students, all others $1
Families are welcome!
Bands, inflatables, caricaturist, giveaways, food for purchase
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Alumni 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for men and women
11 a.m. • La Crosse Campus
Sign up your team by emailing: alumni@westerntc.edu
Campus Tours
Noon – 2 p.m. • meet at Lunda Center
GED, HSED, Adult High School Reunion
2 – 4 p.m. • Lunda Center
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
College-Wide Open House
4 – 9 p.m. • at all Western regional locations
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Ribbon Cutting and Open House
Sparta Public Safety Training Center
December 2011
Holiday Luncheon
Watch westerntc.edu for details
February – Career & Technical Education Month
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Get That Job
5:30 – 7 p.m. • Lunda Center
April 17, 2012
Scholarship Reception
5 – 7:30 p.m. • Lunda Center
Friday, May 11, 2012
Commencement & Distinguished Alumni Award Presentation
7 p.m. • La Crosse Center
Summer, 2012
Community Celebration and Time Capsule Opening
Watch westerntc.edu for details
1937
1939
Name changes to La Crosse Vocational and Adult School Coleman auditorium built for “movies, concerts, lectures, and other educational and entertaining features.”
2

College News
Distinguished
Alumni Award
Joel Guberud
This year’s recipient is a 1976
graduate of Western’s Welding
program and a 1986 graduate of
the Supervisory Management
program. He began his career as
a welder and was promoted to
production supervisor at Chart
Energy & Chemicals.
He worked his way up the
ladder over the next 23 years,
first as the manager of manufacturing and then as the
vice president of manufacturing. He also completed a
bachelor’s degree at Viterbo University. Today, he oversees
all aspects of the La Crosse operation and manufacturing
responsibilities for plants in Louisiana and China. He also
served on Western’s Supervisory Management Advisory
Committee for several years and established a $50,000
scholarship, sponsored by Chart, for welding program
students. Joel was honored at commencement in May.
Mary
Green
What was your role at Western?
I taught in the Business Division for 30 and 1/2 years.
I started at Western Wisconsin Technical Institute
in August 1973, teaching in the Secretarial Science
Department, and retired January 2, 2004, from the Office
Technology Department at Western Technical College.
During those years, I had the opportunity to serve on
numerous committees, both for Western and for Local 3605.
Student Ambassador
Award
Mao Kong
Each year Western selects one of
its outstanding students as student
ambassador to serve as an official
spokesperson for Western and the
Wisconsin Technical College System. This year’s recipient
is a second-year Nursing-Associate Degree student. She has
overcome many obstacles to get where she is today. As a young
child, she grew up in a refugee camp in Thailand, not knowing
when her next meal would be. Currently, she copes with Graves
Disease, which causes her pain and fatigue. And, as a wife and
parent, she understands the struggles of many technical college
students who balance a busy home life, work, and school.
In addition to her Western honor, Mao was also recently
rewarded with the national Newman Civic Fellows award,
which honors inspiring college student leaders who have
demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges
facing their communities. She is one of 135 students in 30
states, and one of only three students in Wisconsin to receive
this award.
In this feature, we’ll track down a retiree and get an update on his/her life after Western.
How have you been involved at
Western since your retirement?
My involvement with Western since retirement has been
for the Foundation Office evaluating student scholarship
applications.
What have you been doing since
retirement?
Since retirement, my husband Bill and I have traveled,
finding that we particularly enjoy traveling by rail.
Where are you living now?
We’ve lived in the same home for the past 30 years and, at
this time, have no plans to live elsewhere. We’ve seen some
beautiful places in the U.S., but for us, this area still tops
them all.
What did you like best about Western?
I enjoyed most of my years at Western, particularly working
with my co-workers in the Business Division and others
throughout the College. Also, it was my privilege to work
with so many wonderful students throughout the years.
1940 1945
The Vocational School operated on a 24-hour schedule to train workers for war production plants. Girls in the Vocational School Sewing Class made garments for the Russian War Relief Project.
3

College News
Public Safety Programs
Move to Sparta
A remodeling and construction at
Western’s Sparta Public Safety Training
Center brings the
Criminal Justice,
Emergency Medical
Technician, and Fire
Protection programs
to the facility.
The project added
approximately
9,000 square feet of classroom and
administrative office space to the
existing building. The complex offers
seven classrooms, a 32-station computer
lab, and a 100-seat seminar room with
supporting kitchen. The remodeled facility
also features a criminal investigation lab
and practical skills room for emergency
medical services and health programs.
In addition to classrooms, there are
simulation and exercise areas, indoor and
outdoor shooting ranges, driving track,
water rescue pond, and other props.
A ribbon-cutting and open house is
planned for October 18, 2011. The public
is invited.
Black River
Falls Opens
New Facility
Students and
staff at Western
Technical College
in Black River
Falls have settled
into a new
downtown location, at 24 Fillmore St.
The first phase of interior construction
was completed in January 2011, allowing
spring semester classes to be held in
the new location. Exterior site work is
underway this summer. The second phase
to create additional distance learning
classrooms and an area dedicated to the
nursing program will begin in spring
2012.
A grand opening and ribbon cutting event
will be held when the second phase is
completed in fall 2012.
Parent Child Center Closes
After more than 30 years of care, Western’s
Parent Child Center will close in August.
Current economic challenges at both the state
and national level caused Western to examine
all of the programs and services offered. The
difficult decision was made to close the center.
Childcare will continue to be offered to
students, staff and community members on
the La Crosse Campus through the YWCA,
who will lease the existing facility at 419
North Ninth Street.
Career Services Provides
Advice for All Stages
Career Services offers assistance to students
from the beginning of their educational
experience, throughout their time at Western,
and as alumni. They offer career assessments
and helpful advice on
navigating career-related
information available in
print and on the web.
TechConnect is also
a service available for
alumni. TechConnect
is an electronic employment information
system for both students and graduates of
Western and other Wisconsin technical
colleges. The service is free, but registration is
required. Learn more about Career Services at
westerntc.edu/careerservices.
Meebo Comes to Western
Meebo is an online chat service the
Counseling Center and Wellness Center
offer to current and potential students.
Meebo is helpful for students wanting
a quick answer to a counselor question
and can’t wait for an appointment or can’t
make it to an appointment because of
employment, transportation, or childcare
issues. Communication is not open to public
view, and if desired, allows a student to remain
anonymous.
Meebo counselors are available on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. until noon to
answer your questions. Go to westerntc.edu/
counseling and click on Counselor Chat.
The Wellness Center utilizes Meebo for those
who have questions about their programs or
services. Visit westerntc.edu/wellness to learn
more.
First in the Nation
In 1911, Wisconsin was the first state in
the nation to create a system to provide
high-quality occupational training
opportunities. The “continuation
schools,” or technical colleges, as we
know them
today, were
to match
real-world
education
with the
needs of a
constantly
changing
economy.
This core
mission hasn’t
changed.
Despite the
fact that we
no longer
offer programs in millinery, baking or
horseshoeing, we are still leading the
way by offering relevant education in
critical occupations we all rely upon.
As technology expands and employers
increasingly adapt to compete, our
graduates fill contemporary jobs in areas
like firefighting, robotics, radiography,
welding, nursing, auto technicians, and
clinical technology. These are careers
that you are part of every day.
The key to our students’ employability
is the technical college tradition
of responsiveness. Our employerpartnerships
are as critical today as
they were in the early 1900s. Business
and industry representatives serve on
college advisory committees, evaluating
existing programs and developing new
ones. Requiring instructors to have
both teaching and industry experience
ensures our curriculum and teaching
methods provide practical, hands-on
learning experiences. The jobs may have
changed, but our nationally recognized
model for preparing students for them is
very much the same.
What will the next 100 years bring?
New technologies, changing workplace
needs, and a continuing partnership
between employers and the technical
colleges to ensure Wisconsin’s future
economic success. That is something to
celebrate!
1946 1950
Hixon House becomes home for out of town girls enrolled in the college of commerce. Graduation was held May 24 at the American Legion Club Rooms, 215 So. 6th Street.
4

Western Alumni News
Be a Mentor,
Join the
Network
Western
Alumni
Western alumni
are invited to
join our alumni Career Mentor
LinkedIn
network
group. Just
go to www.linkedin.com and
search for Western Technical
College Alumni. Once you are
approved as a member of the
group, be among the first to join
the subgroup Western Technical
College Alumni Career Mentor
Network. Check out the group
rules for expectations of mentors
and mentees.
We are asking alumni to get on
board now and we will then work
with students to join and take
advantage of our alumni expertise.
This will be a great opportunity
for alumni to directly help
Western students and to promote
their own profession.
Each year, Western Alumni
Association board members
welcome new Western students
during all of the orientations.
Pictured are alumni manager, Sally
Emerson and board member,
Cinda Vingers ’77, ’88.
New for you!
“Get That Job” A Hit
Making a Good First Impression, Top Tough
Interview Questions, and Marketing Your
Past Experiences were just some of the topics
covered at this year’s “Get That Job” event. The
Western Alumni Association and Career Services
Office co-sponsored this event in February
to assist over 200 alumni and students, with a
focus on developing a professional image in the
job search.
Panelists included representatives from Mayo Clinic Health System, Kwik Trip, and
Degen-Berglund, plus round table discussions led by Western alumni and faculty.
Mark your calendars for next year’s event on Tuesday, February 7.
1959 1963
Teaching staff numbered 30; enrollment was 850. Director John Coleman retires on January 31 after 47 years of service.
5
Welcome to our new Western Alumni Association
president, Tina Flick. Tina graduated from
both the Health Unit Clerk program in 1989 and
the supervisory management program in 2004.
She is currently a clinical manager for Gundersen
Lutheran and lives with her husband, Brett, and
two children in Holmen.
Thank you to Debbie LeJeune ’97, ’07 for her
past year of service!
“I would like to get in touch with my old roommate,” or “How can I contact my class for
a reunion?” or “Did I pay my phonathon pledge yet?” are all common conversations with
the alumni office. Now, we have a convenient solution for these issues—a secure online
community for Western alumni.
Just visit westerntc.edu/alumni, click on Online Community and register. Now you
will have access to an alumni directory in addition to viewing your giving
history, updating your profile, making a gift, registering for
events, or setting email preferences.
Currently, the directory is not visible to others, so that
you have time to register, update your profile, and hide any
information you do not want others to see. Plans are for the
directory to be visible to other alumni after October 1.
Contact the Alumni Office if you have any questions, and enjoy
the convenience of the Western online community.

Western Alumni News
Casual Conversation Leads
to Life-Changing Trip for
Nursing Grad
Travel has been at the top of
Melissa Grabot’s, ’08 Associate
Degree Nursing, list for as long
as she can remember. She’d even
considered being a traveling
nurse. Then a conversation
with a friend’s mom sent her
on her path. Her friend’s mom
had gone to Guatemala before
with a group called Hearts in
Motion. “She was planning
another trip,” says Melissa, “and
the next thing I knew, I was
going to Guatemala.”
While in Guatemala last summer, she provided meals to
people who live on a garbage dump. She also worked in a
local hospital, where conditions were like none Melissa
had seen before. “Sterility and pain meds were not well
maintained,” she says. Hearts in Motion had scheduled
surgeries, mostly abdominal or gynecological. When
Adam Bennett and Hugh Sperbeck, both grads from the Diesel & Heavy
Equipment program, were recently recognized for their knowledge and skills.
They, along with teammate Bill Pedretti, won Harley Davidson motorcycles. In a
competition, sponsored by Mack Truck, 244 teams of diesel service personnel from
around the country entered with online testing; after several rounds of competition,
the championship was held in April in North Carolina, where the threesome won.
They are employed by the La Crosse Truck Center.
Left to right: Bill Pedretti, Adam Bennett ’02, Hugh Sperbeck ’96
patients came out of surgery, Melissa monitored them with a
partly-working telemetry monitor and a blood pressure cuff.
“The post-surgical assessment was…are they breathing? Are
they bleeding? OK, send them out.”
The rest of the week, she worked in clinics in the
surrounding villages. There she saw people with
conditions like pain, rashes, coughs, wounds, loss
of appetite, sadness, vision and hearing loss, and
malnourishment. “Many people had such simple
requests,” she says. “We gave out a lot of vitamins
and over-the-counter medicines and antibiotics.”
There was also a dental clinic where they varnished
kids’ teeth and gave out toothbrushes and
toothpaste.
Next year, she plans to visit Tanzania with a group
called Simple Hope. They will be
providing food to children and
families, building an orphanage,
and giving immunizations. “I love
seeing the different cultures and the
simplicity yet complexity of life,” she
says. “It’s so different but so much the
same as our lives.”
Read Melissa’s entire interview at
westerntc.edu/alumni
Foundation
News
Peggy Langreck, Foundation
manager, is moving on to a new position
within the
college,
beginning
in August.
Peggy will
be teaching
in the
Accounting
program,
bringing her
25 years of
Foundation
experience to
the classroom. We know her students will
gain a lot from her wisdom and experience.
Congratulations Peggy, and thank you for
your dedicated work in the Foundation!
1964 1965
More than 80 persons received certificates and diplomas in the school’s first formal graduation held in the Coleman auditorium. Name changes to Coleman Technical Institute.
6

Classnotes
1939
Alice Roberts, College of Commerce, celebrated 66
years of marriage on January 20 with husband Virgil and
turned 91 years old in May.
1945
Jane Palen, Machine Shop, has been retired from the
Post Office for 10 years.
1948
Dale Rudy, College of Commerce, celebrated turning
85 on June 19 and his 60th wedding anniversary February
24.
1950
Patrick Zielke, Welding, has been retired for 14 years.
Avanelle (Reed) Major, College of Commerce, has
seven grandchildren.
1956
Don Wavra, Commercial Art, has been retired for 12
years.
1966
Martin Stenslien, Accounting, opened Southridge Inn
in 2005 in Coon Valley.
Harland Thorson, Mechanical Design, has retired from
Trane Company after 44 years.
1968
David Molledahl, Machine Shop Tool & Die, is
happily retired and working part-time at the Providence
Academy.
Ynonne (Anny) Stevenson, Commercial Art, ’89
Graphic Design, retired from Lutheran Social Services.
1969
Garth Shanklin, Marketing, was awarded College
Teacher of the Year for the state of Wyoming.
1969
Linda (Tanke) Smolek, Clerk Typist, celebrated 35
years of marriage with husband Jim on January 31.
1971
Jeff Lowe, Agri-Business Science, celebrated the
graduation of his son from Western this spring.
1972
Diane (Erpenbach) Lind, Medical Asst, has a 1 year
old granddaughter.
Phillip Stuart, Operating Room Asst, is the CEO of
Tomah Memorial Hospital.
David Polodna, Electronic Serv, retired on April 1 from
Winding River Library System after 22 years.
Patricia Zilk, Electroencephalograph Asst, attended
Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids to become a chef and
taught culinary classes at the college until she retired.
Douglas Smith, Mechanical Drafting, took a trip
to Panama to help build a school room for Y-WAM
International, a Christian School Group.
Susan Moran, Practical Nursing, retired from Vernon
Memorial Healthcare as a nurse in November 2010.
Doug LaFleur, Accounting, has 5 children, 13
grandchildren, and is expecting 1 great-grandchild in
September.
Jay Aylsworth, Accounting, has been retired for three
years.
Ruth Ann (Raymer-Triebs) Stanek, Practical
Nursing, worked nights as a nurse for 25 years at
Gundersen Lutheran and 10 years as a nurse at Trane.
For 12 years, she wintered six months in Arizona
working for nursing agencies. She currently is an LPN
for Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and subs for the Sparta
School District. Her husband passed away in 2005 and
she married Joseph in 2007, a mechanic who owns his
own business. They live in Cashton.
Kelvin Jacobson, Auto Mechanics, worked at Texaco/
Eklov Mobil for 32 years, Eklov Auto Center for 3 years,
and Heartland Country Co-op Auto Center for 3 years. He
also celebrated 38 years of marriage to Gail on June 22, 2011.
They have one daughter, Tonya.
1973
Lynn LaFlash, Welding, retired from Toro last spring.
Richard Paulson, Automotive Tech, has been the
transportation supervisor at Westby Schools for 34 years.
Veronica Prokop, Interior Design, has been an interior
designer for International Furniture of La Crosse since 1992
after working as an interior designer for Ross Furniture for
almost 20 years.
James Olson, Electronics, has been retired for over 5 years
and works with woodworking tables, shelves, and dining
room sets.
Jimmy Schroeder, Auto Mechanics, bought a lumberyard
in December 2010.
Mary Springer, Health Unit Coord, ’73 Ward Clerk, is
planning to graduate from Viterbo University in 2011 with a
bachelor’s degree in social work.
Donna Myer, Secretarial Science-Medical, retired from
Gundersen Lutheran in November 2010.
Mary Ragner, Medical Asst, was a first-time grandmother
in January 2009.
Greg Lowe, Feed, Seed & Farm Supply, has two children.
Peter Moe, Wood Tech, is enjoying being a grandpa.
Anita (Wilhelm) Sanders, Marketing/Fashion Marketing,
is enjoying being retired and traveling around the USA.
1974
James Peterson, Agriculture, owns 120 acres of land,
continuing to raise crops and animals.
Roger Tollefson, Diesel & Heavy Equip Tech, has four
children and 10 grandchildren. He has owned Tollefson
Repair for 12 years.
Philip Yehle, Electronics, retired from Trane as a principle
electronic tech on February 24.
Eva Stetzer, Child Care & Development, has two greatgrandchildren.
Ivan Short, Agriculture, will be celebrating 50 years of
marriage on December 29, 2011.
Phyllis Trim, Medical Asst, is a certified medical assistant
at Marshfield Clinic-Weston Center. She has a son serving
as an officer and pilot in the Navy and a daughter attending
UW-Marathon County in the medical field.
1975
James Schultz, Wood Tech, has three grandchildren,
Tucker, Lindsey and Tyler.
Dianne (Foust) Oertel, Interior Design, has been doing
massage therapy for 10 years as Dianne’s Healing Hands.
Peter Saverynski, Machine Tool Operation, has been at
Thern Incorporated for 35 years.
Jeanette Niedercorn, Practical Nursing, husband, Henry,
passed away four years ago. This year she has traveled to
Europe and Alaska.
Jane (Holmlund) Weber, Nursing , will be married 36
years on September 27, 2011.
Linda Stetzer, Secretarial Science, is running a bed and
breakfast on Park Street in Nevis, MN.
Ronald Sauer, Mechanical Drafting, ’76 Mechanical
Design, recently took paragliding lessons at Cloud 9 in Salt
Lake City, Utah.
Michael Markley, Chemicals & Fertilizers, is the chief
radio operator at the Highway Patrol in Springfield, MO.
Jon Houge, Bio-Medical Electronics, is an instructor in the
Western Technical College Bio-Medical Electronics program.
Roger Wangen, Auto Body, worked at Delta Motors in La
Crosse then started his own shop for tractors, trucks, and
machinery, and now is a dairy and organic crop producer in
Cashton.
1976
Pamela (Tollefson) Semb, Nursing-Technical, was
blessed with her first grandchild in June.
Michele Robertson, Clerk Typist, and husband,
Terry, became grandparents July 11, 2010.
Clayton Bordner, Marketing, is retired from Ft.
McCoy. He has three stepdaughters, one stepson, and
three grandchildren. He and his wife, LaVonne, live in
Holmen. His hobby is classic cars. He owns a ’67 Chevy
Chevelle SS and attends local car shows.
Charlene (Walters) Goodman, Nursing-Technical,
has worked at Midelfort Clinic for 25 years in the
Women’s Health Department. Mayo Clinic recognized
her with the Mae Berry Award for outstanding
customer service. She has also taught classes in the
health field at Chippewa Valley Technical College for
35 years. In addition, she has taught first aid for the
State of Wisconsin Department of Mine & Safety.
Jacquelyn Fuchsel, Practical Nursing, ’86 Nursing,
has worked in geriatrics since 1976, first as LPN then
RN. She was the MDS Coordinator for 15 years and
is now a staff nurse at Golden Living. She and her
husband, John, live in La Crescent, MN.
1977
Rodney Olson, Welding, took a class for robotic
welding in Cleveland, OH.
Jerry Schulze, Machine Tool Operation, went to
Alabama in January to participate in motorcross
racing; he was the 2009 state champion of Minnesota
motorcross.
Mark Straub, Commercial Art, went to Tennessee
with a houseboat and vacationed on a lake.
Bradley Ersepke, Diesel & Heavy Equip, has been
married to Jaqueline, a model from Brazil, for 10 years.
They have children Brandon, 9, and Julianna, 7. He
is an Air Force retiree and continues to work at a high
tech Silicon Valley company. They enjoyed vacations in
Europe in 2008 and Brazil in 2004 and 2009.
1978
Loren Yunk, Accounting, is self employed as a
certified public accountant and has been teaching
accounting and auditing classes for fun at the University
of Phoenix for 10 years.
Terry Werner, Refrigeration Serv, now has five
grandbabies, three girls and two boys.
Gary Schuller, Visual Communications Tech, ’80
Electronics, celebrated his 32nd anniversary in June.
Daniel Trussoni, Accounting, has been in production
at BIC APP for 10 years.
Patricia (McKinley) Manzella, Commercial Art,
’83 Nursing-Technical, will be celebrating 30 years of
marriage on October 10, 2011.
1979
Larry Neustel, Commercial Art, celebrated marriage
of both daughters and his first grandson in the past year.
Thomas St Clair, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech,
has a daughter, Katie 17.
Lois Martinmaki, Ward Clerk, has greatgrandchildren
ages 3 and 5.
1980
Gregory Updike, Mechanical Design Tech, will be
celebrating the marriage of his daughter Brooke on
September 3.
Ginnie Oliver, Mechanical Design Tech, has been
retired four years as an engineering specialist from the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Patrick Lawrence, Wood Tech, celebrated the birth
of a grandchild in April 2010.
Sharrie Lemke, Dental Asst, has two children, Matt,
23, and Katie, 20.
Cindy (Doering) Lager, Foods-Institutional, has five
children and the youngest graduated from high school
this year.
1968 1970 1970
Name changes to Western Wisconsin Technical Institute. Former YMCA building on 7th & Main Streets was occupied by 58 male students. Roy E Kumm Health Sciences building is dedicated.
7

Classnotes cont.
1981
Kimberly (DeWitt) Pongratz, Radiography, has
been self-employed as a daycare provider for 16 years.
Neldene Rommes, Nursing, celebrated 30 years of
marriage on May 2, 2011 with Paul Rommes.
George Mack, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech, owner
of Service Plus Heating and has had three children.
Michael Sevallius, Accounting, is planning on retiring
at the end of the year.
Michael Schedivy, Welding, celebrated becoming a
grandfather this year.
Julie (Hanson) Lueck, Dental Asst, and husband,
Robert, have a new grandson, Ethan, by their daughter,
Amber.
Richard Stickler, Environmental Health and Safety
Tech, is the owner of Midwest Environmental Company,
Inc.
Richard Yunk, Police Science, retired in 2004 after
32 years of law enforcement service, 29 years as a
criminal investigator for the Monroe County Sheriff ’s
Department in Sparta.
1982
Ellen (Breuer) Lusk, Data Processing Machine
Operations, has been regional sales manager for 20 years
at Main Street Ingredients.
Todd Munyon, Electrical Power Engineering Tech,
was promoted to Director of Customer Satisfaction
Quality for North America at Square D Company.
Ronald Pietrek, Welding, has been a part of project
management at Ted Mannstedt and Sons Steel for six
years.
Jeffrey Thompson, Electronic Serv, has owned Jtech,
Inc. for two years.
Mary Price, Central Service Tech, has been a night
warehouse worker at McKessor for six years.
Lori Roberge, Operating Room Asst, is celebrating
30th wedding anniversary August 2011.
Patricia (DeNoyer) Wall, Nursing-Technical, retired
in March 2011.
Scott Tweedale, Refrigeration Serv, has been the
division manager at Robinson Heating & Cooling for
14 years.
Sandra (Anderson) Runningen, Health Unit Coord,
is very proud to have six grandchildren in her life.
1983
Peter Marco, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech, has
been married for 29 years.
Steven Pintz, Mechanical Design Tech, has been
working for the Town of Campbell for 23 years.
Vicki (Oldenberg) Knudsen, Radiography, received
her bachelor’s degree in April through St. Mary’s
University in Minneapolis.
Dianne (Radcliffe) Olson, Nursing, completed a
bachelor of science in nursing degree at Ohio University.
She has four daughters.
Gennean (Strupp) Vetrano, Commercial Art, has
been focusing on the right design solutions for over
eight years.
James Sennes, Electronic Serv, has been employed
with Tri-State Business Machines for over 25 years.
Theresa Sharp, Medical Secretary, is on the board of
directors at Clearwater Farms.
Kurt Pfuhl, Electronics, was honored with a trip to
Puerto Rico and recognized as one of the top five people
in the investment category at Primerica.
Mehrdad Ardalan, Environmental Health and Safety,
worked for a few years after graduation, completed
a B.S. degree in industrial engineering and master’s
degree at Saint Cloud State University (MN), and
continued doctorate education at the University of
Northern Iowa and Ohio State University. He began
working as an industrial engineer primarily in the areas
of manufacturing, quality, reliability, design & system
engineering at large corporations. He continued his
education by taking night classes while working full time
and acquired an MBA (Master of Business Admin),
MIM (Master of International Management), and MMS
(Master of Manufacturing System) at the University of Saint
Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. He obtained a Six Sigma Black
Belt certification and ISO auditor certification. Today, he is
a principal quality engineer for Raytheon and lives in Irvine,
California.
Krissa (Sanden) Hilger, Data Processing, is the employee
benefits and HR manager for the Diocese of Winona and
lives in Plainview, Minnesota.
1984
Karen (Rochelt) Long, Early Childhood Education, was
promoted to manager at Organic Valley Family of Farms
Evelyn Sullivan, Nursing-Technical, retired June 2005
from Great Lake Health Care System, Tomah VA and was
diagnosed with cancer.
Lynn Tschumper, CIS Microcomputer Spec, Supervisory
Mgmt, has been a self-employed vegetable organic farmer
for 12 years.
Brenda (Unnasch) Miller, Office Asst, has been working
at Gundersen Lutheran since 1984.
Betty (Mroch) Staab, Practical Nursing, completed a
bachelor of science in nursing degree in 1996. She retired
Sergeant First Class from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2003.
1985
Kay Ramsbottom, Nursing-Technical, mourns the loss of
her son, Kevin, who passed away May 27, 2010.
David Simpson, Wood Tech, has three children.
Beverly Nofsinger, Radiography, celebrated her 80th
birthday in April.
Edward Pfeffer, Electronic Serv, ’87 Electromechanical
Tech, has been the regional manager at Interstate Battery
Powercare for seven years.
Paul Schams, Industrial Engineering Tech, retired from
Dairyland Power Cooperative on April 14.
Patricia Young, Medical Record Tech, has been working
at Monroe Clinic for 25 years; works in quality management
after working as an analyst for 10 years.
Evelyn Layland, CIS Microcomputer Tech, ’87
Accounting, celebrated her 80th birthday January 19, 2011.
Mike Seebruck, Wood Tech, has a son, Michael.
Kathy (Shwabenbauer) Nichols, Data Processing
Machine Operations, has a grandson, Jordy 2.
Mark Lamberson, Welding, has one son and one daughter.
Kevin Schmitz, Foods-Institutional, ’81 Welding, is
married to Kristine and has two sons, Sam and Jake.
1986
Mary Marshall, Police Science, continued schooling at
UW-La Crosse for a degree in social work. “Western was
a great way to get my feet wet. It really opened the door to
education and helped me realize it wasn’t all that scary.”
Loren Schleusener, Auto Body, has been attending
training for new technology in the automotive field.
Ilidio Sacramento, Electronic Serv, has two children,
Jenny, 25, and Jared, 24, who is married to Diana.
Carol Russell, Nursing, retired June 1, 2011.
William Lutterman, Radiography, celebrated 25th
anniversary on May 31, 2011 by going on a Caribbean cruise.
Wade Welper, Police Science, is the director of supervision
and quality assurance at Chileda Institute.
Mary Novak, Graphic Design, took a two week trip to
Scotland to visit relatives.
Mark Murphy, Marketing, took a trip to the 2011
Superbowl.
Lynn (Luxford) Walters, Health Unit Coord, has been
a health unit coordinator for Mayo Clinic Health System -
Franciscan Healthcare in Sparta for 25 years.
Gayle Nielsen, Electromechanical Tech, received a
bachelor’s degree in digital communication and is working on
a PhD in clinical hypnotherapy.
Robert Lawrence, Police Science, was promoted to police
captain for the La Crosse Police Department.
Matthew Hegge, Commercial Art, is a systems
administrator at Sat Creative, Inc. He is an Apple Certified
Support Professional for MAC operating system 10.6.
Kevin Farley, Bio-Medical Electronics, is a bio-medical
electronics technician at St. Vincent Hospital. He and his
wife, Vicki, live in Green Bay.
1972 1973
WWTI awarded accreditation by the North Central Association. WWTI secures lease from Vernon County and begins offering classes in Viroqua.
8
1987
Mary (Wells) Leis, Early Childhood Education, has
been working in childcare for 24 years.
David Tollefsrud, Wood Tech, will be married for 20
years in October.
Blake Young, Diesel & Heavy Equip Tech, has been
working at FABCO Caterpiller for 10 years, three years
as a service manager.
Robin Wilson, Mechanical Design Tech, graduated
from Viterbo University with a BAA in management of
information systems in December 2010.
Craig Dunnum, Marketing-Retail, Marketing, worked
in the building products industry from 1988-2010 for
three large manufacturers and distributors and has now
started his own sales and marketing agency, Dunn-Hill
Marketing LLC. They direct market a line of animal feeds
through Prince Corporation to organizations that sell for
fundraisers. They are establishing a consumer marketing
channel for smaller producers to introduce products
into a marketplace through fundraisers. They also own
and manage Dunn-Hill farms which is a certified
organic family farm and direct market beef and crops
to consumers and other organic producers. In addition,
they market and specify wood building products to code
officials and builders for large manufacturers. He and his
wife, Victoria, who also works with the business, live in
Westby. They can be reached at Dunn-Hill@mwt.net
Ken Tran, Bio-Medical Electronics, continued his
education at Wentworth Institute of Technology,
completing a B.S.E.E. degree in 1992, then an M.S.E.E
degree at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in
1999. Today he is sr. engineering manager - power for
MKS Instruments and lives in Massachusetts.
1988
Thomas Neary, Auto Body, is enjoying retirement.
Karla (Barclay) Young, Printing & Publishing, has
been self-employed at Sew Kountry for 12 years.
Jason Slavicek, Refrigeration Serv, received a degree
from Viterbo and hopes to come back to teach at
Western.
Angela Moen, Food Production Spec/Institutional
Foods, daughter, Megan Hovre, will be attending
Western this fall in occupational therapy.
Laura (Olson) , Health Information Technology, and
Michael Pfaff were married October 23, 2010 and live in
Bangor. Laura is a coding specialist at Franciscan Skemp
Healthcare.
1989
Michael Peeso, Nursing, has a granddaughter, Lily 1.
Thomas Lynch, Machine Tooling Tech, welcomed first
grandchild in March.
Thomas Malson, Bio-Medical Electronics, is a
manufacturer’s rep at BioQuest Medical.
Edward Pretasky, Wood Tech, has been self-employed
for 20 years with Ed’s Plastering and Drywall.
Michael Dewitt, Wood Tech, is retired and lives in
Sandalwood, FL.
1990
James Page, Police Science Tech, is a police officer for
the City of Onalaska. He received the Medal of Honor
award in 2010 for his involvement in a shooting earlier
that year.
Keith Schaefer, Welding, owns his own business, Blue
Sky Investing, LLC.
Kellie (Summerfeld) Lehouillier, Early Childhood
Education, is a foster parent for a 1 year old.
Mike Wagoner, Marketing, was deployed from Iraq in
2006.
Aline (Stilwell) Trussoni, Medical Record Tech, has
been working at the Madison air traffic control tower for
13 years and has been a supervisor there for two years.
Pamela Overby, Nursing-Technical, took a trip to
Canada last September.
Patty (Peterson) Netwal, Paralegal, celebrated her
19th wedding anniversary on July 7.
Debra (Limberg) Lash, Marketing-Retail, owner
of The Wedding Tree, recently opened the Upstairs
Couture at her downtown La Crosse location. Visit www.
theweddingtree.com to read more about her business.

Classnotes cont.
1991
Dee Ann (Collins) Lenser, Interior Design, has one
granddaughter born November 14, 2010.
Pamela Peters, Accounting, welcomed a new
grandchild, Solomon Dexter, April 2010.
Stacey Weber, Food Service Mgmt, has been an
instructor for four years at Pragmatic Marketing, Inc.
Dawn Young, Electroneurodiagnostic Tech, has
been the sleep disorder clinic supervisor for 20 years at
Trinity Regional Medical Center.
Anthony Waalen, Business Admin, is married with
two children, Mariah, 8, and Seth, 5.
Tammy (Hicks) Stevenson, Medical Asst, ’99
Nursing , has been an RN at Mayo Clinic Health
System - Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse for 11
years.
Diane Niedfeldt-Thompson, Dental Asst, has been
at Colvin Dental as a dental assistant for 20 years.
Patrice Stotesbert, Health Unit Clerk, daughter,
Ashley Stotesbery, graduated from the Visual
Communications program at Western this spring.
Angie (Sherin) Sporleder, Human Resource-
Business Admin, and husband Paul have been married
for 14 years; they have two children.
Dawn Lueck, Medical Record Tech, adopted a baby
boy named Gavyn.
1992
Todd Witzke, Accounting, has been a branch
controller at Vermeer Sales & Service for 10 years.
Deena (Diederich) Vinger, Printing & Publishing,
has owned her own business, Inkwell Printer, for 11
years.
Clara ( Johnson) Nofsinger, Machine Tool
Operation, has been retired from St. Joseph’s Hospital
of Hillsboro since September 2010.
David Dahl, Machine Tool Operation, has worked
for Dairyland Power Cooperative for 31 years, five
years as maintenance foreman.
Kara (Saunders) Harvey, Interior Design, is a tile
designer and salesperson for Leeway Ceramic Tile. She
and her husband, Jack, live in Creve Coeur, IL.
1993
Wade Stevenson, CIS Programmer/Analyst, CIS
Network Spec, has worked at Charter Communications
as a service technician for 7 years.
John ( Janusz) Pokorny, Wood Tech, received a
degree in structural engineering tech from Milwaukee
Area Technical College and founded a general
contracting business in 1998, JS Pokorny Co., Inc. He
and his wife, Kathleen, were married in 1999, they
have two sons, 9 and 4, and live in Kenosha.
Kristy Olson, Radiography, ’83 Dental Asst,
holds registered technologist radiology and
mammography certification and has been employed
as a mammographer at the University of Missouri-
Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia, MO for 11
years. She and her husband, Danny, along with their
youngest child, Sami, live in Ashland, MO.
1994
Michelle (Lunde) Pasch, Early Childhood
Education, owns photography business called Picture
This.
Curt Geier, Accounting, has worked at the Westby
Co-op Creamery for 17 years and is the office manager.
1995
Felicia (Papenfuss) Olson, Medical Admin Spec, is
married to Scott and has two children named Malorie
and Aubree.
Daniel Pokorney, Diesel & Heavy Equip Tech, was
married January 11, 2010 and welcomed a baby on
May 14, 2010.
Ronald Moilien, Welding, ’82 Farm Operations,
wife, Crystal, passed away June 14, 2008.
Patricia (Seymour) Shaw, Nursing, received a
bachelor’s degree from Viterbo University.
Tricia (Munson) Wavra, Community Developmental
Disabilities Assoc, has children Jack, 9, and Kate, 6.
Jane Stroede, Physical Therapist Assist, is the new instructor/
ACCE in the startup PTA program at Madison Area Technical
College in Madison; the first class began January 2011. In 2004,
Jane was appointed to the Governor’s State of Wisconsin PT
Examining Board as the first PTA appointed to the board,
served as secretary, vice chair, and chair and is currently
reappointed through 2013. She most recently served as the
WPTEB delegate to the Federation of State Board’s annual
meeting October 2010. She was a nominee for the 2007 APTA
National Outstanding PTA Award.
1996
Michael Osley, Machinery Mechanic, has been cancer free
for over a year and will be celebrating his 29th anniversary with
wife, Mary.
Nhia Vue, Welding, is married and has nine children.
Jeremy Stees, CIS Programmer/Analyst, welcomed son,
Julian Stees, on June 21, 2010.
Renae Teale, CIS Microcomputer Spec, is an adjunct teacher
at Western in the business education department.
Curt Schneider, Mechanical Design, went on to graduate
from UW-Stout in 2000 with an engineering degree. He
recently accepted the position of vice president with Chartwell
Group – Investment and Real Estate Brokerage, including
duties as a commercial real estate auctioneer. He lives in Dover,
Ohio.
1997
Curtis Sahlstrom, Farm, Business & Production Mgmt, has
two children, Olivia, 6, and Sarah, 4.
Lynne (Birkeness) Trainor, CIS Programmer/Analyst, ’98
CIS Microcomputer Spec, is seeking her BA in accounting at
Kaplan University.
1998
Stacy (La Fleur) Picha, Electroneurodiagnostic Tech, ’01
Nursing , is the patient care supervisor of surgery as a registered
nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare.
Michelle (Pohlman) Oitzman, Commercial Art, celebrated
her 11th wedding anniversary on June 10, 2011.
Heather ( Johnson) Morales, Police Science Tech,
celebrated the birth of Elizabeth Helen Corcoran on December
16, 2010.
Shawna (Ellis/Mills) Gasik, Paralegal, and her husband
Brian, welcomed another son, Grant, June 2010. Shawna is a
paralegal and assistant corporate secretary for Viant and lives
in Oswego, IL.
Michelle (Pohlman) Oitzman, Graphic Design, is a
graphic artist with Spring Grove Herald. She and her husband
Keith, live in Caledonia, MN.
Tina (Noonan) Hudson, Accounting, senior financial
analyst with the U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare
and Recreation Command, recently celebrated five years
of government service. In December 2010, she received a
bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in finance from
Strayer University. During that time, she was elected into the
D.C. Gamma Chapter of the Alpha Chi National College
Honor Scholarship Society. She currently resides in San
Antonio, TX with her husband of 12 years and their four year
old son.
1999
Kimberly (Lieberman) Negus, Occupational Therapy Asst,
is the owner of Western Wisconsin Music in Medicine, LLC,
treating patients with music therapy, OT, PT, and speech
therapy.
Nancy Salmon, Admin Asst/Information Processing, was
promoted from secretary at the Wisconsin Secure Program
Facility in Boscobel, WI, to offender records in June 2010.
Ross Meacham, Police Science Tech, married Jennifer on
September 24, 2010.
Tonia (Primmer) Wangen, Dental Asst, is married to
Anthony Wangen and together they have a son, Bronson, 1.
Michelle Seichter, Nursing, is a 2009 graduate of Viterbo
University.
Amy Tryggestad, Paralegal, has been the deputy for the
Vernon County Court for one year.
Jill Wurm, Medical Asst, ’01 Physical Therapist Asst, and her
husband, Joel, have daughters, 13 and 2.
Ryan Philpot, Respiratory Care Practitioner, began a
management position for respiratory therapy at Emmanuel St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato, MN, in November 2010.
Mary (Schurhammer) Porter, Nursing, is a psychiatric
registered nurse with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. She
lives in Rochester, MN and has two sons, Lucas, 20, and
Joshua, 18.
Terry Shreve, Accounting, is an employment coordinator
for Workforce Connections and lives in Tomah.
2000
Rena (Sexton) Lemieux, Criminal Justice-Law
Enforcement, was married on January 1, 2010.
Gina Pearse, Nursing, has been a nurse educator at UW-
Madison since fall 2010.
Lori (Brunner) Hetue, Nursing, recently graduated
from the Viterbo University BSN degree completion
program .
Rena (LeMieux/Sexton) George, Criminal Justice-
Law Enforcement, is working on a bachelor’s degree
in liberal studies at Eastern Oregon University, is an
associate teacher at Mid Columbia Children’s Council and
lives in Parkdale, OR.
2001
Caryn (Schmidt) Ott, Nursing, is going back to school
for a bachelor’s degree through the University of Phoenix.
Jonathan Powell, Wood Tech, has been a superintendent
for Wieser Brothers General Contractor for 10 years.
Charles Lukwitz, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech,
bought a hobby farm.
Dana (Dewitt) Mulholland, Supervisory Mgmt, was
promoted to director of quality assurance at United Health
Group.
Pamela Ritchie, Supervisory Mgmt, has been the
executive director at The Opportunity Center for 2-1/2
years.
Edward Trussoni, Tech Studies-Journeyworker, has
been working as a maintenance manager for 14 years at
Dairyland Power Cooperative.
Marlene (Thompson) Shultis, Admin Asst, retired
from the New Lisbon Correctional Institution after seven
years.
Agnela Stendahl, Medical Asst, is married to Brock;
they have a daughter born in 2009.
Kristi ( Johnson) Ormond, Interior Design, is a
Tastefully Simple representative.
Bernard Meinertz, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech,
has four grandchildren.
Dale Thesing, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech, ’06
Supervisory Mgmt, has been the manager of Trane’s parts
store since June 2010.
Robert Lepsch, Air Cond, Heat, & Refrig Tech, retired
from the La Crosse Brewery on April 30, 2011 after 31
years.
Angela Lafleur, Dental Asst, ’07 Nursing, has two
children, Avary, 3, and newborn Elise.
2002
Michelle Lievano, Health Unit Coord, graduated from
Northeast Iowa Community College in May 2011 as an
automotive technologist.
Joann (Glomstad) Trussoni, Central Service Tech,
’05 Surgical technologist, has been working at Gundersen
Lutheran as an intake coordinator for 10 years.
Jeanie (Kast) Schmitz, Accounting, has one son,
Deagon 3.
Judith (Kotnour) Peterson, Marketing, has worked at
JC Penney’s as a custom window decorator for 10 years in
November 2011; received a BS in marketing from
UW-La Crosse in 2004.
Patricia (Shuda) Sanders, Culinary Mgmt, traveled
with her family to the Canadian border this past June.
Sara (Meyers) Weeks, Accounting, celebrated the birth
of son, Emerick, on February 18, 2011.
Kari (Novotny) Njos, Dental Asst, earned a bachelor
of science in nursing degree from Clarke College in
Dubuque, IA in 2009. She is an RN at Mayo Clinic
in Rochester, MN. She and her husband, Kurt, were
married August 2008 and live in Chatfield, MN.
Sara Blaak, Nursing, recently obtained a master
of science in nursing degree with a specialization in
healthcare education. She and her husband, John, have
two sons.
1976 1979
District Board renews lease for Viroqua and Arcadia Career Centers, and in Sparta and Mauston. Tomah Career Planning Center and Independence Outreach Center buildings are completed.
9

Classnotes cont. Shane Trussoni, Fire Protection Tech, is working as a
2003
Jennifer Leisso, Admin Asst, works as a credit approval
analyst for Kwik Trip, Inc. and was married in June.
Catherine Purdy, Community Developmental
Disabilities Assoc, is currently attending UW-Stout to
receive her bachelor’s degree in vocational rehab.
Amanda (Nofsinger) Taylor, Dental Asst, celebrated
her sixth wedding anniversary May 22, 2011.
Kenneth Meissiner, Criminal Justice-Law
Enforcement, has been working as a medical trainer at
Fort McCoy for 5 years.
Betty Sherry, Central Service Technician/Nursing Asst,
and husband, Archie, became grandparents for the first
time in 2010.
Diana Leystra, Interior Design, Elec & Computer
Eng Tech, graduated in May from the computer
engineering technology program at Western.
Kyle Teynor, Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement, was
promoted to sergeant at the Prairie du Chien Police
Department in August 2010.
Douglas Row, Farm, Business & Production Mgmt,
has been a farmer for 15 years.
Julie Siebecker, Admin Asst, has two daughters, ages
3 and 7, and a son, Bailey Michael, born June 8, 2010.
The family went to Disneyland in California in April.
Karie Rench, Nursing Asst, ’05 Respiratory Care
Practitioner, has been a registered respiratory therapist
supervisor for five years at Lakeland Regional Medical
Center.
Eugene Rhodes, Nursing Asst, ’07 Medical Asst, is at
Western studying for a supervisory management degree
and will graduate in 2012.
Deric Bilgrien, Air Cond, Heat & Refrig, is a service
mechanic for Johnson Controls, Inc. and lives in
Chippewa Falls.
Tamara Weinberger, Paralegal, and her husband have
owned Pickerman’s Soup & Sandwich in La Crosse for
five years. She has three children.
2004
Patricia Beirer, Nursing, works as MDS coordinator
and CPI instructor at Trempealeau Health Care; believes
she learned more at Western than 4 years somewhere else.
Suhad (Barbari) Lagatolla, Dental Asst, has two
children, Joey, 4, and Sabrina, 2. She does volunteer
dental work a couple of times a year.
Stephanie Lamb, Accounting, welcomed son, Payton,
November 29, 2010.
Karen (Mann) Vanorman, Physical Therapist Asst,
was married to Jay Vanorman a year ago.
Carolyn Mack, Central Service Tech, is the owner of
Lynns’s Candies.
Amanda Trussoni, Supervisory Mgmt, has been
working as a loan officer for three years at Associated
Bank.
Carol (Blado) Veldey, Physical Therapist Asst, is now a
grandmother of five.
Krista Skaff, Admin Asst, is in her third year of
remission from cancer.
Rachel (Hubbard) Rouvel, Interior Design,
celebrated the birth of daughter Gretta in May.
Chad Trushenski, Marketing, has been in customer
service for Sprint for 5 years and has a girl, Alayna, 3,
and a boy, Landon, 1.
Kenneth Mulholland, Human Resource-Business
Admin, has a daughter, Annabelle, 4.
Peter Herold, Diesel & Heavy Equip, ’01 Automotive
Tech, and his wife, Jessica, have been married since 2006
and have two children. Peter is attending the Ford School
in Chicago, Il to become a Ford diesel master tech.
2005
Sara (Fiebelkorn) Leick, Nursing, welcomed her
second child August 23, 2010.
Jolene (Feuerhake) Tanke, CIS User Support &
Training, serves as a member of an advisory board at
Western on behalf of Gundersen Lutheran.
Jonathan Lauer, Bio-Medical Electronics, owns a farm
with over 100 animals.
Choua (Xiong) Vang, Medical Asst, graduated from
UW-La Crosse in May with a degree in sociology.
Pamela (Rud) Lanners, Nursing Asst-Certificate, ’07
Nursing , has been a RN at the Mile Bluff Medical Clinic
for four years.
Kathy (Siddons) Pieterick, Nursing , has been a RN at
Hillview Health Care Center for six years.
Robin Manke, Radiography, ’10 Supervisory Mgmt, has
two sons and one daughter.
David Mischel, Nursing Asst, ’07 Practical Nursing, ’08
Nursing , is starting graduate school for psychology nurse
practitioner.
Tony Nelson, Technical Communications, has a new
position at Spectrum Industries as a marketing specialist.
Kyle Linberg, Machine Tooling Tech, has been working
as a machinist at Fastenal for 8 years.
Amy (Werner) Morse, Practical Nursing, gave birth to
a baby girl November 5, 2010.
Amanda Lewis, Dental Asst, has been working at
Gundersen Lutheran as a patient liaison for over five years.
Bethany (Larson) Poellinger, Business Admin-
HR, graduated from Viterbo University with a BS in
organizational management in 2007 and a MBA in May
2011.
Michael Bestul, Diesel & Heavy Equip, is a diesel tech
with Lawrence Nationalease and lives in Nekoosa.
2006
Kimberly (Peterson) Slock, Early Childhood
Education, married Justin Slock on October 16, 2010.
William Monson, Graphic Design, bought Body Work
Health Spa and Salon and married Heidi in June.
Heather Siroin, Marketing, is now a small business
owner of American Family Insurance.
Leah (Sendelbach) Bushman, Practical Nursing, ’07
Nursing , married Lee Bushman on September 11, 2010.
Christina Molzahn, Accounting, celebrated the birth of
Hailey on November 22, 2010.
Jeron Moe, Graphic Design, is the owner of EC Stage
Art and had a second child in April.
Ann (Mischka) Mitoraj, Paramedic Tech, is back at
Western in the nursing program.
John Neubauer, Supervisory Mgmt, has a grandson
named Hudson.
Roger Turner, IT-Programmer/Analyst, is a computer
technician working out of his home.
Danielle Wight, Admin Asst, has a son Daegan who
was born December 1, 2006.
2007
Nathanael Potaracke, Early Childhood Education, has
been a server/bartender for the past three years.
Jennifer Zimmermann, Electroneurodiagnostic Tech,
was promoted to supervisor of sleep services at Aurora
Clinic.
Sonja Preuss, Practical Nursing, ’08 Nursing, has been a
RN for three years at Hess Memorial Hospital.
Andrew Lee, Marketing, celebrated the birth of his first
child, Brooklyn, on April 18, 2010.
Dianne Volden, Accounting, has been married to her
husband, Dan, for 38 years and has six grandsons.
Christopher Welnetz, Marketing, celebrated the birth
of her third child in April joining a brother, 2, and sister,
5.
Peggy Wellington, Practical Nursing, has been
employed as a LPN at Bethal Home for three years.
Mike Brown, Electrical Engineering Tech, went on
to graduate in 2009 from the Milwaukee School of
Engineering in electrical engineering. He is the project
development engineer at Ameresco Federal Solutions and
lives in Knoxville, TN.
Alicia (Wright) , Radiography, was married on October
9, 2010 to Nathaniel Blumberg.
2008
Branigan Olson, Early Childhood Education, bought
her first house in the city of Viroqua in 2010.
firefighter for the La Crosse Fire Department.
Crystal Meyer, Medical Asst, is engaged to Cory
Wiebke and will be married June 16, 2012.
Stephanie Westerman, Office Support Spec, ’09
Admin Asst, married Andrew in July.
Kimberly Libbey, Practical Nursing, has been working
as a LPN at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan
Healthcare of Tomah for one year.
Bradley Miller, IT-Network Spec, has been working
as a network technician for three years at Mayo Clinic
Health System-Franciscan Healthcare.
Antonette Travline, Community Developmental
Disabilities Assoc, celebrated her birthday with a trip to
Alaska to visit her parents.
Angela Horge, Disability Support Spec, graduated
May 2010 from Upper Iowa University with a degree in
human services with social work certification. She was
hired in January as a social worker at Bethany St. Joseph
Care Center. She and her husband, Michael, are new
home owners in Onalaska.
2009
Troy Moten, Culinary Mgmt, was married to Chelsea
Bright on June 18.
Amy Pedretti, Therapeutic Massage, was newly hired
at Achieve Physical Therapy in December 2010.
Cassandra Stephenson, Dental Asst, was married
August 14, 2010.
Paul Smith, Electromechanical Tech, married Andria
Garbers on July 9, 2010.
Christopher Pundzak, Individualized Technical
Studies, is currently attending MATC.
Nicholas Manka, Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement,
is the Monroe County Sheriff District Deputy.
2009
Adam Schindler, Welding, and Jessalyn welcomed a
son in June 2010.
Jennifer Ready, Marketing, has been the continuous
systems improvement facilitator since October 2010 at
Winona Health.
Alex Quinones, IT-Computer Support Spec, son,
Michael, will be attending Western in the fall for Food
Prep.
Crystal Steiber, Admin Asst, ’09 Office Support Spec,
welcomed daughter, Sheianne, on February 6.
Kathryn (Kelly) Snodgrass, Occupational Therapy
Asst, and husband Joshua, welcomed daughter
Charlotte on January 23, 2011.
Luther Jamie, Accounting, just got a job and was
recently engaged.
Kyle Lange, Elec Systems Install & Maint, has a new
job at the La Crosse Brewery.
Jennifer Yang-Xiong, Graphic Design, and her
husband Tong, celebrated the birth of their child in
May 2011.
Pattie Libbey, Office Support Spec, is working as a
data coder at Crossmark.
Sheena McCracken, Marketing, is working at Cropp
Cooperative Organic Valley as a field support associate.
2010
Amber Zabel, Nursing Asst, is working as a CNA at
Hillview and says she likes working with older people
and loves listening to their stories.
Dana Moe, Marketing, ’09 Graphic Design, is
an internet sales consultant with Ballweg Family of
Dealerships and lives in Cazenovia.
Jennifer Elrod, Medical Coding Spec, is a medical
biller with the Cvikota Company, Inc. and lives in La
Crosse.
Brenda Weyenberg, Graphic Design, is a direct
support professional with The Mentor Network and
lives in Boyd.
2011
Stephanie Drake, Physical Therapist Asst, is a
PTA with Forest City Physical Therapy and lives in
Roscoe, IL.
1985
A pom pom squad was organized.
1987
WWTI celebrates its 75th anniversary
10
1987
Name changes to Western Wisconsin Technical College

September 17, 2011
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Lunda Center
319 7th St N, La Crosse
Kerelyn R. McMullen 1/15/2010
1981 Nursing - Technical
David Guetschow 3/19/2010
2006 Graphic Design, Marketing
Virgil Hanson 4/19/2010
1974 Agriculture
Gene L. Kasmiski 4/30/2010
1974 Diesel & Heavy Eqt Tech
George W. Stanienda 6/14/2010
1984 Diesel & Heavy Eqt Tech,
’82 Automotive Servicing Mechanic
Roger D. Huber 6/27/2010
1974
Stephen H. VanTol 7/5/2010
1971 Wood Tech
We want
to hear from
you!
Are you a graduate or former staff member of the GED, HSED,
Adult High School or GOAL program at Western?
Join us for an afternoon of fun and celebration with tours, displays, refreshments, teachers,
and friends! Contact your classmates and make sure they plan to attend, too. Whether
reminiscing with friends or sharing what you have been up to, you won’t want to miss it!
• Welcome - Dr. Lee Rasch, Western Technical College president
• Where We Have Been - Keith Valiquette, retired dean
• Where We Are Going - Chad Dull, current dean
• Stories From Our Grads
In memoriam These names were current when Connect went to press and not previously listed.
Alumni Western Staff
Jeffery Skarda 7/8/2010
1988 Electronic Servicing
Eric P. Thompson 8/6/2010
1990 Retail Management,
Marketing - Retailing
Daniel L. Peshak 9/17/2010
1982 Mechanical Design Tech
Sandra M. Seibel 10/3/2010
1978 Practical Nursing
Rita M. Schedivy 10/14/2010
1987 CIS Microcomputer Technician
Gordon J. Sayner 1/1/2011
1947 Commercial Courses
Teri L. Hansen 1/8/2011
1978 Nursing - Technical
Register online at westerntc.edu/reunion or call 608.785.9487.
Lorilei M. Eoriatti 1/30/2011
2005 CIS Network Specialist
Daniel J. Garves 2/14/2011
1985 Marketing
Harry A. Nichols 2/15/2011
1990 Printing & Publishing
Corrine R. Wozniak 2/15/2011
1967 LPN
Lyle G. Quall 2/25/2011
1972 Electronic Servicing
Pamela A. Nasseth 3/6/2011
1981 Central Service Technician
Tell us what you’ve been doing since graduation and we’ll print it in an upcoming edition of Connect.
New job, baby, marriage, or honor?
Keep us up to date! Alumni Office, 400 Seventh Street North, La Crosse, WI 54601
email: alumni@westerntc.edu or call: 608.789.6083
Name _______________________________________________________ Former Name _____________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________
City___________________________________________________________ State__________ Zip ____________________
Home Phone_____________________________ Email ________________________________________________________
Employer_________________________________ Job Title _____________________________________________________
Spouse___________________________________________________________ Spouse is a Western Alum
James M. Stacey 7/29/2010
Valerie Burman 12/24/2010
Laverne Pertzsch 2/4/2011
Anita G. Smith 2/14/2011
Barbara J. Walter 4/1/2011
Linda C. Bornitz 4/25/2011
Patricia L. Rochelt 4/29/2011
Judith Sorenson 5/14/2011
Additional information for college publication: _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
1994
Tomah and Black River Falls connected to interactive television system.
2006
Name changes to Western Technical College.
11
2012
Western turns 100!

400 Seventh Street North
PO Box 908
La Crosse, WI 54602-0908
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Remember When...
Do you have a photo to share from the past?
NONPROFIT
ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LA CROSSE, WI
PERMIT NO. 373
In celebration of Western’s 100th year of
education, we want to share this 1958 photo
from the archives of wood working students
repairing toys to distribute at Christmas.
Left to right: Francis Greeno, John Elmer,
Richard Steel, Martin Rybold, Joseph Eckert
If you know anything more about this
photo, please contact the Alumni Office at
608.789.6083.
Send to: Alumni Office, 400 Seventh Street N, La Crosse, WI 54601
email: alumni@westerntc.edu phone: 608.789.6083 4
website: westerntc.edu/alumni
11-F-0094