James Frank Ballinger, ’64, 83, January 3, 2025, Baldwin City, Kansas. Survivors include spouse, Linda (Ford) Ballinger, ’65, daughter Heather Ballinger, ’89, sister Susan (Ballinger) Kretzinger, ’66, and brother-in-law Robert Ford, ’67.
David G. Brecheisen, ’59, Delta Tau Delta, 93, March 23, 2025, Canton, Illinois. Survivors include sister Pauline (Brecheisen) Darby, ’51.
Richard L. Canfield, ’51, Zeta Chi, 97, January 26, 2025, Iola, Kansas. Survivors include daughter Tami (Canfield) Robbins, ’75.
John E. Clippinger, ’72, 74, March 21, 2025, Baldwin City, Kansas. Survivors include spouse, Pranom Clippinger, ’98 SON.
Brenda M. (Love) Collins, ’78, Phi Mu, 68, December 23, 2024, Eureka, Missouri.
Paul Selim Coole, ’48, Delta Tau Delta, 98, December 21, 2024, Louisville, Kentucky.
Bob Courtney, ’57, Zeta Chi, 89, February 3, 2025, Baldwin City, Kansas. Survivors include daughter Debbie (Courtney) Boedeker, ’84, granddaughter Courtney E. (Boedeker) Birk, ’14,son Bruce Courtney, ’82, and sisters Vernell Courtney St. John, ’61,and Kathleen (Courtney) Thomas, ’61. After earning a master’s degree in mathematics from Louisiana State University and teaching high school for several years in Kansas, Courtney returned to his alma mater to teach mathematics and serve as chair of the department. While on faculty, he won numerous teaching awards, including the Distinguished Faculty Award in 1991.
Courtney also held several roles in the Department of Athletics: eligibility chairman for the NAIA District 10 and the university’s faculty athletic advisor. He was inducted into the Baker University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 to honor his accomplishments as a member of Baker’s track and basketball teams, his commitment to education, and his contributions to the Baldwin City community, where he was a member of the United Methodist Church, Jaycees, and Lion’s Club.
Terri E. (Kepple) Ellis, ’69, 78, March 15, 2025, Baldwin City, Kansas.
Mary (Stump) Foster, ’51, 94, March 14, 2025, Golden, Colorado.
Don C. Francis, ’54, Delta Tau Delta, 93, December 30, 2024, Olathe, Kansas.
Megan (Ward) Freking, ’87, Delta Delta Delta, 60, March 14, 2025, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include daughter Lauren E. (Freking) Swanson, ’17,and brother Tad Ward, ’88.
Richard “Dick” M. Guinty, ’65, 80, May 27, 2024, Topeka, Kansas. Survivors include sister Joanne K. (Guinty) Altieri, ’10 MLA.
Richard P. Hahn, ’62, 83, January 11, 2025, Maysville, Missouri.
Joan (Butell) Hambrick, ’50, Delta Delta Delta,95, January 13, 2025, Nichols Hills, Oklahoma.
Kay (McGill) Henderson, former student, 83, December 24, 2024, Overland Park, Kansas.
Frances “Jeanie” Hervey, ’80 MLA, 83, January 21, 2025, Missions Hills, Kansas. Survivors include daughter Jill Hervey-Wigginton, ’16 MSSE.
Bill J. Hinthorn, ’96 MBA, October 24, 2024, Naples, Florida.
Sharon (Simmons) Hunter-Putsch, ’60, Delta Delta Delta, 86, October 7, 2024, Kansas City, Missouri.
Mary E. (Hallman) Hurrel, ’51, Phi Mu, 95, January 7, 2025, Pittsburg, Kansas.
J. Peter Johnson, ’59, Delta Tau Delta, 87, February 21, 2025, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Survivors include spouse, Margaret (Jones) Johnson, ’59.
Jacquelin “Jackie” L. (Denney) Knief, ’53, Delta Delta Delta, 92, June 21, 2024, Etowah, North Carolina.
William D. “Bill” Lunday, ’60, Sigma Phi Epsilon, 88, January 30, 2025, Lenexa, Kansas.
William “Randy” Miller, assistant research professor of biology (2005-25), former student, 80, February 7, 2025, Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Miller served as a leader in developing young scientists through his lifelong love of tardigrades, and he used the Baker University Wetlands as his home field research site. Miller hosted countless students in his research lab through a series of projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and others, while also spending time at the Wetlands providing public outreach at family visit days, school field trips, and other events.
His research engaged learners of all ages, using his study animal (the charismatic microscopic tardigrades—or water bears) as a vehicle to build wonder and excitement for science in Baker students and visitors to the Wetlands. Most recently, Miller and his colleagues at Baker and the Illinois Institute of Technology hosted an NSF-funded tardigrade research project with 12 Baker undergraduate students at the Wetlands’ Wakarusa Field Station from 2021-23.
While Miller published dozens of scientific papers in regional and international academic journals and conducted tardigrade research on every continent, his real passion was to teach young learners to become curious, to ask questions, and to engage with the world of science. Whether in his lab surrounded by slides, in the field among the mosses, or at a scientific meeting wearing his famous tardigrade tie, he was dedicated to the realm of science.
—Dr. Scott Kimball, ’99, associate professor of biology
Janet (Thompson) Morgan, ’53, Phi Mu, 93, February 3, 2025, Lakewood, Colorado.
Jeffrey R. Pieper, ’92 MSM, 60, March 5, 2025, Dayton, Ohio.
Lillian Marie (Ries) Reichart, ’87 MLA, January 3, 2025, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include spouse, Frank Reichart, ’87 MLA, son David Reichart, ’06 MAED, daughter Diane (Reichart) Morris, ’85, and granddaughter, Monica Morris, ’19.
Tonia Leah Salvini, ’79, Alpha Chi Omega, 67, March 8, 2025, Lawrence, Kansas.
Margaret Louise “Peg” (Mohler) Hofer-Kelly-Schroth, ’57, Delta Delta Delta, 89, December 31, 2024, Salina, Kansas.
Robert R. Shemwell, ’56, Kappa Sigma, 92, March 13, 2025, Kansas City, Missouri. Survivors include sister Susie (Shemwell) Foley, ’65.
Gary A. Smith, ’58, Sigma Phi Epsilon, 88, December 27, 2024, Paola, Kansas.
Marilyn K. (Fulton) Swisher, former student, 71, January 8, 2025, Clarkdale, Arizona.
Robert Mark “Bob” Tomlinson, ’87 MLA, 67, February 11, 2025, Leavenworth, Kansas.
Travis Edwin Viehweg, ’07, 41, January 12, 2025, Ozawkie, Kansas.
Thomas J. Wiese, ’90 MLA, 78, February 24, 2025, Overland Park, Kansas. Survivors include son Thomas S. Wiese, ’90, and daughter-in-law Kate (Weaver) Wiese, ’88.
