Memorials
Introduction
This section is dedicated to all the deceased classmates and offers some information about each person in what the Memorial Committee has called a "snippet." The Commitee uses various sources to compile a snippet. Some information has come directly from friends, family, classmates, partners, and spouses. Other sources include Ancestry.com, Twin Cities and other local newspaper obituaries, many online resources including the SLP Class of '69 Facebook page. The committee wishes to thank Alan Perlman for managing and maintaining that Facebook page, which announces whenever we've lost a classmate.
As of September 2024, 128 classmates have passed away, representing about 16.5% of the class.
Disclaimer: Every attempt has been made to verify or link multiple data sets to confirm that the data for each classmate is correct. However, if anything found to be incorrect, we apologize. Or feel free to contact Lesley Blicker with changes needed at: lablick@comcast.net.
WANT TO VIEW JUST A LIST OF THE NAMES OF THE DECEASED CLASSMATES?
Then please visit the In Memorium page.
It's our privilege to serve as the Class of '69 Memorial Committee:
- Caryn Goldberg, Chair
- Harvey Zuckman
- Lesley Blicker
The Memorials begin at the bottom of this page. They contain the most information found or learned about each classmate. However, you can view an abbreviated version of the memorials by clicking on the PDF file below. You can even download it or print it out for later viewing.
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Don't See Your Loved One's Memorial?
Please do NOT create a new memorial. Instead, please email whatever you would like it to say to: Lesley Blicker at lablick@comcast.net. Two to three paragraphs is ideal, but it can be longer, if desired. Please include the link to your loved one's obituary. And if you wish to include a recent photo of your loved one, then send just one photo. We wish we could post more, but the software won't allow it. We do have all classmates' senior yearbook photos, so no need to send that.
Have Additional Info to Add?
Use the Tribute Function. Find the person and then add a tribute using the red text box link below the person's memorial.
Using the Sort Function
Memorials will appear in alphabetical order by last name at time of graduation. However, you can search any name in the search bar below, or sort by any of the options listed in the pull down menu.
Richard (Rick) Hogan
1951-03-08 1989-03-16
Rick passed away sadly in 1989 at the age of 38, of Huntington's disease.
He was an energetic and fearless friend. He played football and worked as a busboy at the Foo Chu Restaurant on Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park.
Ranae Johnson (Huber)
1951-08-30 2001-06-01
Ranae (Huber) Johnson died at age 49 in Naperville, IL.
A friend submitted the following about Ranae: She loved God, her husband and family, and the children in her social work job. She and her husband adopted two of these children, putting their love into action.
Full obituary: https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/ranae-a-johnson-naperville-il/
Greg Hules
1950-06-03 2012-01-18
Greg passed away in 2012 at the age of 61 after a long battle with Alpha -1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency.
He loved competitive sports especially hockey, football and golf. He enjoyed a good debate, often taking an opposing viewpoint just to liven up the discussion.
Greg lived his life with passion and brought that passion to everything he touched. He provided crucial leadership to the Alpha One Foundation in its creation and as they grew. He set the example for Alpha's everywhere for the importance in taking part in research and helping each other. Greg had the worst this disease can dish out. But not for one moment did he ever feel defeated, broken or without hope...
Bill Hunkins
1951-02-18 2023-07-23
Bill passed away in 2023 at the age of 72 from lung cancer.
Bill Hunkins passed away peacefully at home in Charleston, South Carolina. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Lisa Costa, and her son, Peter (wife, Caitlin, and two step-grandchildren). He is also survived by his previous wife, Christine Dwight Hunkins, and their three children and four grandchildren.
After graduating from the U of M College of Liberal Arts, Bill moved to St. Paul and raised his three kids. Later on in life, he married Lisa and moved to Vadnais Heights, then retired to Hayward, WI, on the "Big Chip" Chippewa Flowage, and spent the last three years of his life in Charleston, SC.
Darrel Hunter
1951-04-16 1994-09-28
Darrel passed away on in 1994 at the age of 43.
No other information was found.
Karen Collins (Ilstrup)
1951-01-11 2016-10-16
Karen passed away suddenly in 2016 at age 65 of a heart attack.
Karen was a beautiful, smart, intelligent, compassionate, kind woman, and loyal friend who loved her family. She lived in Uptown and then resided in Wayzata for 32 years. Karen attended Macalester College, Florida State University, and the University of Minnesota where she earned her law degree.
She died suddenly while visiting family in Texas. She is now reunited with her parents, John and Audrey, and her beloved brother, John Jr. “Butch,” who was killed in Vietnam during our junior year of high school.
Karen's Aunt Bev wrote: I will remember Karen as a happy child growing up in our...
Neil Isbin
1951-11-24 1996-08-09
Neil passed away in 1996 at the age of 44 from complications of AIDS.
Neil was intelligent and always willing to help others with math and science in school. He graduated with an electrical engineering degree and worked for Sperry Flight Systems in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A longtime activist, he led the fight for the passage of Senate Bill 91 ensuring gay and lesbian rights in New Mexico. His leadership and advocacy is greatly missed.
Very interesting information about Neil and his life including an obituary, other of Neil's archival papers. (Texas Obituary Project: https://www.texasobituaryproject.org/080996isbin.html)
David Bruce Johnson
1951-04-07 2023-03-11
David passed away in 2023 at the age of 71.
David loved to share stories of growing up in St Louis Park, MN: from playing w kids on his block up through graduating SLP in 1969.
Studying geography at the University of Minnesota led to his fascination with the complex tastes of wine and his co-founding of the Wine Company in 1985. David purchased one of the first Macintosh computers and independently played with programming projects early on. In 2001, he landed a business analyst job with AurionPro (Tek Streams, Oracle) and later moved to England to lead European operations for 4yrs.
In retirement David & Milly moved to Arizona where he became an...
Eugene (Gene) Johnson
1951-02-24 2007-05-10
Gene died in 2007 at the age of 56. from Alzheimer's disease.
Gene was a Vietnam Navy veteran and a 27-year employee of the Metro Waste Control Commission. He retired in 2001 after learning of the heartbreaking news that he had Alzheimer’s disease. Gene loved cruising in his boat, traveling the world, and driving his pickup truck. He was a kind and caring soul who was loved by children, animals, and all who had met him.
Steven Johnson
1951-11-08 2008-10-12
Steven Johnson of Minneapolis, died in 2008 at age 56 as a result in an auto accident.
Steve worked as a machinist for many years and was a manager at JR Williams. His real joy came from the outdoors. He loved scuba diving, was a master diver, and even dived a shipwreck on Lake Superior once. He was an avid fisherman and would boast about the huge Walleyes and Northerns he caught. He was most at home in the Boundary Waters with his canoe and his nephew Troy. Steve also enjoyed playing with his grandkids and BBQing with Michael. Steve was a tough man, who fought and beat cancer twice.
Steve will be dearly missed by his entire family. He was married to Judth, an...
Jacquelyn Smith (Jones)
1951-01-09Jacqueline passed away in May of 2018 at the age of 67 (reported by a friend).
View Memorial and Tributes
Joy Droberg (Josephson)
1951-10-28 2014-06-11
Joy died in 2014 at the age of 62.
Joy became a registered nurse and worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Minneapolis. She married her husband, Larry, around 1977. They had a son, Danny, who has two daughters. A classmate recalls Joy being very bubbly and always having a big smile on her face. She was a great friend who was there for you, no matter what. They always ended their visits with a hug and an “I love you.” Joy's husband Larry preceded her in death.
Full obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/woodlands/name/joy-droberg-obituary?id=18513593
Jeffrey (Jeff) Just
1951-05-10 2018-04-01
Jeff passed away in 2018 at the age of 66.
Jeffry entered the US Air Force in 1970, where he served for four years with a one year tour in Thailand. Following his Honorable Discharge, Jeff moved to the Atwater area. He attended Willmar Vo-Tech where he studied Agri-business.
Jeff worked at GTA feeds, Mel's Sports Shop, Burlington Northern Railroad and Lake Country Resources. On September 25, 1976, Jeff was united in marriage to Linda Nordstrom at First Covenant Church in Willmar. Their family was finally complete after adopting their son Adam, on April 1, 1983.
They lived by Sperry Lake in rural Atwater, where Jeff enjoyed spending time outdoors...
Connie Kampsula
1951-05-27 2024-07-11
Connie died unexpectedly in 2024 at the age of 73.
The following was submitted by a group of Connie's classmate friends.
On Wednesday. 6/19/24, a group of classmates were able to visit with Connie at our bi-monthly lunch at Brookveiw Park after her husband's Celebration of Life which occurred the previous weekend. Little did we know that it would be the last time we would see her, as she died suddenly on July 11th at her home in Tucson.
Connie was an artist and an art teacher who also loved gardening and sharing her knowledge and passion with others. She went to Japan on a Fulbright Scholarship and was planning a trip to Finland where her ancestr...
Jean Skoro (Karlson)
1951-06-07 2016-11-26
Jean passed away in 2016 at the age of 65, at home surrounded by family.
She was a beacon of compassion, patience, and humor to her family, friends, and students.
Jean attended Colorado State University. She went on to earn a Master's degree in elementary education and enjoyed a 20-year career in the Mound Westonka school system.
Full obituary: https://tinyurl.com/bdeknttx
Cindy Zylstra (Kasma)
1951-02-13 2009-12-21
Cindy died in 2009 at the age of 58.
A classmate recalls that she and Cindy were going to join the military service, but Cindy got married. Cindy was like a sister to the classmate.
Linda Beth Katz
1951-07-12 1972-10-28
Linda was tragically murdered in 1972 in her south Minneapolis apartment, at the age of 21.
Linda was very sweet and ran a little more on the wild side than one might surmise. She
was murdered after seeing a movie at the U of M. She enjoyed life, music, was artistic, and loved her parents and her nephew. Linda had been working at a nursing home. Friends described as a trusting person" who "wouldn't believe anyone in the world would harm her. She was found in 'her third-floor room in South Minneapolis.
(Note: during the Memorial Committee's research, they found that her case was listed as inactive pending further leads; i.e., never solved.) Source: http...
John Keen
1951-09-24 2024-03-20
John passed away in 2024 at the age of 72.
John is survived by partner, Marilyn Dick, and mother, Corrine. After attending the University of Minnesota, John taught guitar for 55 years, and also owned Glen Lake Music. He played with many bands and many genres, including polka, modern and jazz. John’s many hobbies included having a pilot’s license, sky diving, scuba diving, and most of all, sailing with his friends.
Friends and classmate comments:
>We were in many high school bands together. He grew into an amazing jazz guitarist. Really sorry to hear this. Rest Johnny…❤️
>He was a kind, generous, and extremely gifted man who will be...
Gregory Kelsey
1951-10-23 1991-06-19
Sadly, Greg Kelsey died in 1991 of cardiac arrest while jogging near his St. Paul Grand Ave. apartment at age 39.
He was an avid softball player and regular jogger, and had no known medical problems or heart issues. A passerby found him collapsed on Summit Ave. and called the fire department, however, efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
After high school, Greg went to Macalester College where he pursued his artistic gifts, becoming a premier artist of our generation. His art is found in numerous collections worldwide, including the Minnesota Historical Society, where his portrait is hung. As in both his paintings and drawings, Greg was passionate in all t...
Jeffrey Klein
1951-08-15 2002-11-26
Jeff died in 2002 at age 51 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form of cardiac arrest.
Jeffrey Klein, of Seattle, WA, formerly Minneapolis, died at age 51. He is survived by his son, Aaron Klein, Seattle, WA; sister, Idy (Dr. Allan) Garvis; fiancee, Wendy Whetsell; and many loving friends and relatives.
Comments from classmates and friends:
>A classmate wrote: Jeff had such an amazing smile and a big heart to go with it. He loved taking photos, music, all sports, sports trivia, and his son, Aaron. Jeff was one of the six original RumDums. He was great friends with Tommy, Gary, Garber, David, and all the rest of the wild and crazy Jewish boys. Ma...