Obituaries

Carlene (Heidbrink ’46) Bartelt, assistant professor emerita of nursing, died June 14, 2007. Bartelt served as business manager of Immanuel Lutheran Church from 1963 to 1965 and as secretary of the Collegiate Chapter of the Valparaiso University Chapel from 1965 to 1968. She was a member of the inaugural class of the College of Nursing and graduated in 1972 with a B.S.N. degree. She joined the faculty of the Valpo’s College of Nursing in 1977 as a clinical assistant. During the 1979-1980 school year, she attended the University of Arizona and earned her master’s degree in gerontological nursing. She returned to Valparaiso University in 1980 as an assistant professor of nursing, remaining in that position until her retirement in 1992. In 1984 and in 1990, Bartelt received the O.P Kretzmann Research Award. She served on numerous university committees and also served a term as president of the local chapter of Sigma Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Bartelt was a charter member of the Valparaiso University College of Nursing’s National Council.

Simone Baepler, assistant professor emerita of foreign languages and literatures, died on June 17, 2007. Baepler was born in Paris, France. She received her first degree at the University of Bordeaux. In 1950-1951, she studied in the United States as a Fulbright scholar, then continued her studies at the University of Paris. In 1954, she married Richard Baepler, VU professor emeritus of theology and law. Simone Baepler continued her studies at the University of Chicago where she won several fellowships, including the William and Anna Weinberg Fellowship. From 1960 to 1995 she taught French and French literature at Valparaiso University. Her teaching skills were recognized with the Valparaiso University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996. Baepler traveled extensively, visiting nearly every continent and several many times over.

Thomas Droege, professor emeritus of theology, was ordained to ministry in the Lutheran church in 1956, and served as pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Oneida, N.Y., for four years. He was professor of theology at Valparaiso from 1964 until 1992. After his retirement, Droege directed the Project in Interfaith Health, a program of the Carter Center in Atlanta. He was the author of five books, the latest being “With Open Arms: Receiving Care with Grace and Gratitude,” which was recognized during National Library Week at Valparaiso. In 1986 he received the Valparaiso University Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Droege was the recipient of a Lilly Endowment Fellowship in 1981 and was three-time recipient of VU’s O.P. Kretzmann Research Award. Thomas Droege died on April 5, 2007.

Wilbur H. Hutchins ’83 (honorary), professor emeritus of administrative sciences, died June 4, 2007. He served Valparaiso University from 1948 until 1985 as a professor of business law and accounting and, for 28 years, was the business manager of The Cresset, Valpo’s literary journal. Hutchins was a member of the U.S. Navy during WWII and received combat honors for his service in the European and Pacific theaters. He was active in the Valparaiso community and at the university throughout his retirement. He served as president of the Porter County Council on Aging and was instrumental in obtaining the building that is the Community Service Center that bears his name. Hutchins also served on the Board of Directors of the Lake County Equal Opportunity Council. In 1991 Indiana Governor Evan Bayh honored Hutchins as “Older Hoosier of the Year,” and praised him for his outstanding volunteer service to the community. Hutchins was the last surviving member of the original faculty of Valpo’s College of Business.

Nancy (Groverman) Meyer ’77 J.D. of Valparaiso died on March 17, 2007. She served Valparaiso University as a journalism professor for 12 years and was a public relations consultant for Blachly, Tabor, Bozik and Hartman—Lawyers on the Square. Meyer was involved in the first capital campaign for Hilltop Neighborhood House, which helped to build the Hilltop Community Health Center. She also was founding editor of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce’s Valparaiso Magazine.

Forrest  L. “Bud” Vance, professor emeritus of psychology, died April 25, 2007, in St. Paul, Minn. Vance served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of psychol­ogy from 1981 until his retirement in 1992. He was a past director of the Psychology Section of the Indiana Academy of Social Sciences and was the author of numerous articles and chapters in books in his field.

Gerhard Vater, Valparaiso University associ­ate professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering, died Jan. 31, 2007. Vater earned his B.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1937 from the University of Wisconsin and his M.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1960 from Purdue University. He was appointed to the Valparaiso Univer­sity faculty in the fall of 1956 and taught electrical engineering until 1985 when he re­tired from full-time teaching. He then taught part time for the next year. Vater was 91.

Raymond Wilson, professor emeritus of business, died May 14, 2007, in Valentine, Neb. He joined the Valparaiso University faculty as professor of administrative sciences in the College of Business Administration in 1972 and chaired the administrative sciences department from 1975 until 1977. He retired in 1982. During his time at Valpo, he served as liaison between the university and the Valparaiso City Plan Commission. He had previously served the commission as a volunteer consultant and later served as a commission member. Before coming to Valpo he spent 31 years in government service in the defense, commerce, and civil aeronautics departments, the last 20 years with the CIA.