In Memoriam

By Peggy Bolstetter | Spring 2016

Michael Hilger (BBA ACCT ’82) passed away Jan. 19, 2016, following a heart transplant. Hilger was a CPA and director of tax with Anschutz Corporation. He was president of the Colorado Association of Tax Executives and a three-year president of the Denver Notre Dame Club. Hilger was honored as an outstanding alumnus, receiving the ND Denver Club Award of the Year in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, sons Andrew and Stephen, his parents and sister.


 

Thomas John Kershisnik (BS Commerce ’56) passed away on Oct. 10, 2015, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Kershisnik was a lifelong resident of Rock Springs, Wyo. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict and served from 1948-1952. Kershisnik was partner/owner of Excelsior Motors and also broker/owner of ERA The Homefinders in Rock Springs. He was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community, the Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, B.P.O. Elks Lodge and the American Legion Archie Hay Post #24.

Kershisnik is survived by his wife, Mary Jo, four sons, four daughters, 23 grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.


 

John W. Broderick (BS Commerce ’56) passed away Oct. 4, 2015, in Flossmoor, Ill. Broderick was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the proprietor of Broderick Teaming Company, an Illinois trucking company. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, children and grandchildren.


William Weiman (BS Commerce ’56) passed away March 29, 2015, in Davenport, Iowa. During his time at Notre Dame, Weiman was a starting member of the Fighting Irish men’s basketball team. He served his country as a U.S. Marine from 1956 to 1960 and was stationed in Honolulu. Weiman is survived by his wife, Barbara, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his sister, sister-in-law, brother-in-law and several nieces and nephews.


 

David J. Wentling (BS Commerce ’56) passed away on June 18, 2015, in Spring City, Pa. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Wentling served as vice president of 7-Up Bottling Company of Reading, Lancaster, Pottsville and Bethlehem, Pa. Following retirement, he orchestrated the startup of several business ventures in Reading as well as owning and managing several real estate ventures in Reading and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Wentling was active within the Reading Lions Club and was instrumental in the development of Crestwood Swimming Pool, Exeter Little League and Keystone Blood Bank. Wentling is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his children and eight grandchildren, siblings, sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, son, and a brother.


 

Arthur J. Perry (BS Commerce ’56) passed away May 22, 2015, in South Bend. He was a well-respected man of the community with more than 50 years of service as an attorney. Perry held positions with several local organizations including the St. Joseph County Public Library, the Knights of Columbus and Chet Waggoner Little League, coaching softball and baseball for more than 30 years for both Chet Waggoner and Corpus Christi School. He had a passionate affinity for Old Time Radio programs, country music, the Sunday comics, the stock market, classic television, American history, and almost every kind of food known to man. It can easily be said that Art Perry was a foodie before being a foodie was even a thing. Perry is survived by his wife, Theresa, children and grandchildren.


Charles Ward Lane (BS Commerce ’56) passed away Aug. 8, 2015, in Oklahoma City. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, Lane enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was also captain of the golf team. Following his military service, Lane was employed as a human relations manager with an Oklahoma oil company. A transfer to Stavanger, Norway, provided the opportunity for the Lane family to travel extensively and create wonderful memories. He will be remembered for his amazing wit and intelligence, easy-going nature, strong work ethic, and devotion to his wife and family. Lane is survived by his wife, Joanne, two daughters and grandchildren, his sister, and several cousins and relatives.


 

Daniel J. Morgan (BS Commerce ’46) passed away Sept. 17, 2015, in Fort Wayne, Ind. Morgan enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman Second Class while a student at Notre Dame. He was commissioned in 1946 and served on four different ships and several shore stations. In 1962, he and his family sailed across the Pacific to Formosa where he was head of the Taiwanese MAGG Surface Force Advisory Team. Returning to the U.S., he served as head of the California Naval Science Department. Morgan retired as the surface ASW officer on an admiral’s staff in San Francisco in 1967. In 1989, he retired from Magnovox/Phillips, Fort Wayne, where he held several managerial positions in human resources. He was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Retired Officers Association, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the VFW and NAUS. Surviving are his wife, Nancy, his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.


Frank Paxton (BS Commerce ’48) passed away Nov. 30, 2015, in Paducah, Ky. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he joined the family newspaper, The Paducah Sun-Democrat, where he became publisher. He served on the board of directors of the family’s newspaper group, which is now known as Paxton Media Group LLC. It includes The Paducah Sun and television station WPSD. He served on the board of Lourdes Hospital, was past president of Paducah Rotary Club, Paducah-McCracken County Community Chest, Paducah Chamber of Commerce, Greater Paducah Industrial Development Association, and Riverside Hospital Board. He was a Kentucky Colonel and Duke of Paducah.

In 1974, Paxton was appointed by Gov. Wendell Ford to serve on the Board of Regents at Murray State University. In 1984, Gov. John Y. Brown named him to serve on the Commonwealth of Kentucky Judicial Nominating Committee. In 1985, he was presented with an Exceptional Community Service Award from the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce for his many years of dedication and commitment to improving the quality of life in Paducah and McCracken County.

Paxton is survived by his wife, Joyce, children, granddaughter and great-grandchildren, a sister and sister-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.


Edward Nicholas Denn (BS Commerce ’56, JD ’58) passed away Sept. 15, 2015. Following his service to his country in the U.S. Army, Denn enrolled at the University of Notre Dame on the GI Bill. While in law school, Denn was on staff of the Notre Dame Law Review, then called Notre Dame Lawyer. He practiced law in the Twin Cities for several decades until his retirement. Denn is survived by his children and grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews.