Sigma Kappa - University of Kansas

h h h Sigma star Alumnae Update In Memoriam Virginia L. Smith '41 passed away on June 20, 2013. Her good friend, Nancy Mahany, mentioned that Virginia often talked about Sigma Kappa and was a loyal supporter. Virginia was a resident of Lenexa, Kan. Alumnae News 1930s _________________________________________________ Dorothy Bublitz Opfer '37 has been retired for 35 years and lives in Kansas City, Mo. She still remembers her happy years at the old chapter house on Edgevale Rd. Her daughter, Mary Lou Maroef '61, is also a happy member of Sigma Kappa and has retired from Intel in California. 1940s _________________________________________________ Lorea Norrie Blair '45 and her husband, John, have lived at the Apostalic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kan., since August 2012. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in November. "We are both getting older, but we can still remember the song 'I'm going to marry a boy from ol' KU and change his blood from red to blue.' And I did!" Betty Sack '45 loves to travel and has recently visited the Holy Land and took a cruise in the Baltic Sea, which included stops in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Germany, and Russia. Betty lives in Wichita, Kan. Eileen Deutschman Wilcox '46 remains involved with her art, a commission within her church, and recently celebrated her 86th birthday. She still treasures her days and friendships that she enjoyed while at KU. Eileen lives in Independence, Mo. E‑mail: eileen_ wilcox@swbell.net Jamie Estlack McElwain '49 was forced into retirement when a F5 tornado struck Greensburg, Kan., on May 4, 2007, and destroyed her drugstore. The fountain has been restored and is operating in the Kiowa Commons Building which houses the county library, historical museum, and media center. It is a nostalgic spot for those seeking a familiar reminder of pre-tornado Greensburg. "If you get a chance to come through Greensburg, stop by for a refreshing treat." 1950s _________________________________________________ Shirley Reams Kelly '50 stays active in the complex where she lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. The residents were evacuated during the Waldo Canyon wildfire, but the fire, thankfully, did not reach her home. E-mail: skelly4114@comcast.net Page 4 Joann Johns Janzen '59 works as a part time English composition instructor at Butler Community College. She also enjoys docent responsibilities at the Wichita Art Museum. Joann lives in Wichita, Kan. E-mail: jzreader@gmail.com Sandra Scott '59 visited Israel last year. She enjoys spending time with family in Colorado, quilting, conducting genealogy research, and Bible study. Sandy lives in Fallbrook, Calif. E‑mail: scott760760@ hotmail.com 1960s _________________________________________________ Joan Willey Kastner '61 and her husband, William, celebrated their 50th anniversary on July 19. They live in Wichita, Kan. For the past 15 years, Joan has gathered with a group for a mini-Sigma Kappa reunion. The group tours various cities and enjoys sightseeing and shopping. E-mail: jkastner63@gmail.com Joan Howard '63 volunteers at the Littleton Historic Museum in the reading room and at the Lakewood Historical Center and Lakewood Cultural Center as an usher. She still enjoys her Sigma Kappa Noontimers and the Rocky Mountain Sigma Kappa alumnae. Joan especially enjoys her PEO groups, which are active in historical tours and lectures. For the past two years, she has been battling lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She lives in Lakewood, Colo. E‑mail: joanlhoward@q.com Cathleen Coleman Bayer '67 and her husband, Erik, have been traveling north of Manitoba, Canada, to Seal River to walk with the polar bears. They took a two-and-a-half month trip through Canada and Alaska by RV, traveled to Patagonia and Argentina in South America, and then went south to Antarctica to walk with the penguins. They traveled to Dubai and Seoul to visit their son for several months, enjoying the national parks and skiing. They have also traveled to Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Japan, and China. They plan on visiting Greece this fall. Cathleen and Erik live in Barrington, Ill. E‑mail: cathy. bayer@gmail.com Kay Kauffman Gilbert '67 resides in Pendleton, Colo., with her husband, Harold. She is still enjoying retirement, traveling, volunteering, and freelancing on violin and viola. She would love to see some of her sisters from the '60s. E-mail: kgilbert48@bellsouth.net Janelle Brandt Osborne '67 and her husband, Bruce, decided to leave the cold winters of Chicago and move to Florida. Their son lives in Chicago and their daughter lives on Long Island, N.Y., with her husband and two daughters. Janelle mentions that golf and tennis attire are necessities in Florida. However, they have kept some winter clothes for visits to both northern areas and for Bears games when they are in Chicago. She attended the 100th reunion and enjoyed seeing her pledge class sisters and the house improvements. E-mail: janelleosbo@gmail.com

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