This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on Sunday at the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville.  Herbert and Elizabeth Christina (David) Runkel Karen dedicated her life to the arts and education serving as a professor at Miami-Dade College for twenty-four years Her passion for theatre not only influenced countless students but also enriched the cultural landscape of the community.  She was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton where she participated in the Episcopal Church Women’s Club and the parish's Novel Theology reading group she regularly volunteered for Trinity's Noon Lunch program and even found time to volunteer at the local public library spending countless hours immersed in her books Karen was an enthusiastic gardener and her love for travel took her across Europe and Derek and Dylan Martin; her great-granddaughters A memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 AM on Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton with the Reverends William “A.J.” Heine and Cara Ellen Modisett officiating A catered fellowship lunch will be provided and will follow the service at McCracken Hall The family suggests that those who wish to make memorial contributions consider donating to National Public Radio's WMRA - Harrisonburg (983 Reservoir Street Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Habitat for Humanity (PO Box 3188 the Trinity Noon Lunch Program (PO Box 208 Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Robert Joseph Runkel “Pap,” Uncle and Brother passed away on October 29 Robert “Bobby” was born on July 18 to Sophia Dobies and Thomas Runkel in Weirton He graduated from Weir High School and then went on to serve his Country in the Korean War Robert then made a career at Weirton Steel until his retirement sing and dance to the “Oldies” and his family and friends recently celebrated his 85th birthday which he talked about often Robert was predeceased by his wife of 24 years Kayla Runkel and his brother Ronald Runkel Loretta Keen and Dorothy Bever whom he deeply missed Left to cherish his memory with so much love and admiration are his children many nieces and nephews as well as his grandchildren who were the light of his life: Amanda Runkel as well as three great-grandchildren: Rosie he will be cremated at Arner Funeral Home in Chester and no visitation or services will be held The family would like to thank the Peachtree Inn (Kim Stipec especially) for their caring and support of their father while he lived there “In the hearts of those who loved you Today's breaking news and more in your inbox Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Ohio | https://www.heraldstaronline.com | 401 Herald Square Anne Runkel and her team of scientists and engineers are dedicated to developing science-based biological solutions for agriculture in plant biology at the University of California contributing to the field of plant cell and molecular biology She has a long history of conducting research in the field of plant and microbial biology Q: How would you describe your leadership style A: I provide clear direction and the big picture it’s important to have space to be creative and solve problems on their own That’s usually where you find the best solution A: You start with a great idea but what really what ends up differentiating it into something that makes it to market or solves a real problem is working with different people and collaborating The execution brings the solution to success Q: What strategies do you employ to help bring your team together A: People become close as a team when they work on something hard together so it helps to find opportunities for them to have ownership and solve things together That’s where I made some of the best connections with my team members You find the areas where you’re strong and where others can fill the gaps Q: What are two of your favorite business tools A: My team is from Spain to Florida to North Carolina and then we partner with the global Mosaic business The ability to speak to one another on video chat is important But then the other tools I really like are organizing systems that don’t require you necessarily to always have a conversation You can go and check the status of a project or update it so that everyone in the business or group that’s working on something is contributing to it Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received “Never say yes — but.” You have to be open-minded to opportunities that might not initially seem exciting or might seem problematic in some way It’s important to pause and think about it first The other piece of advice I’ve gotten is to be ruthless with your time management you’re going to have many different directions and opportunities to do lots of things You need to focus that time or none of it gets finished Q: What advice would you give to someone just getting started in an ag career A: One of the things that was very impactful for me was to be out in the field wherever you’ll meet people who are actually in the space and spend time in the field the biggest breakthroughs are going to be where you’re really solving a problem a grower has or retailer has and it’s very difficult to see that if you’re not there Your Next Read — Leaders in Ag: Rena Striegel Shares Her Thoughts on Leading With Intention Cattle Futures Post Another Round of New Contract Highs Rocket Industrial’s $25,000 gift to UWSP at Wausau will help qualifying students with a $1,000 scholarship towards earning their degree Students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau will have additional scholarship opportunities thanks to gifts from a local business and the UW Wausau Campus Foundation offered in three different increments based on grade point average will be awarded through a $25,000 gift from Rocket Industrial in Wausau and $100,000 from the UW Wausau Campus Foundation’s John Runkel endowment It is the first time this fund will be used for general first-year student recruitment The Runkel Merit Award will allow students with a GPA of 3.6 and higher to qualify for a $3,000 scholarship and those with a 3.0 to 3.59 GPA to qualify for $2,000 The Rocket Industrial gift will fund $1,000 for those with a 2.5 to 2.99 GPA “Our team at Rocket Industrial is deeply passionate about increasing enrollment at Wausau’s four-year UW-Stevens Point campus We believe this contribution may play a small role in helping achieve that goal,” said Ryan Gallagher “We hope this will entice other businesses to pony up “I’m grateful for the contributions of the Rocket Industrial and the Runkel fund as they recognize the need for student support and financial assistance at our Wausau campus,” said Chancellor Thomas Gibson “These scholarships will make it easier for area students to achieve their educational goals and conveniently earn degrees close to home.” bachelor’s and master’s degrees through in-person including a multidisciplinary degree that allows students to customize their bachelor’s degree according to their interests and career goals Learn more at www.uwsp.edu/wausau Link to original story: https://www.uwsp.edu/news/uwsp-at-wausau-scholarships-2024/ Share how you or someone you know is contributing to the inspiring work at our public university campuses throughout Wisconsin Share Your Story universityrelations@wisconsin.edu © 2025 Board of Regents - University of Wisconsin System Adrienne Held is the Executive Agronomy Editor for Successful Farming and Agriculture.com Prior to joining the team at Successful Farming in August of 2023 she worked for Purdue Extension as an agricultural and natural resources educator and as an agronomic information specialist and technical editor for Bayer Crop Sciences 2024 at 6:26 am PDTThe next two weeks will bring important milestones for competing groups racing to build new music venues on the city’s inner eastside local promoter Monqui Presents and its partner in trying to develop a 4,250-seat concert hall will appear in front of the city of Portland’s Design Commission to discuss their plans for replacing the shuttered Nordstrom at Lloyd Center Monqui has hired some serious firepower: Former City Commissioner Erik Sten and erstwhile mayoral candidate Marshall Runkel are lobbying for the project the world’s largest live entertainment company will appear in front of the Portland City Council a proposed 3,500-seat venue north of the Hawthorne Bridge in the Central Eastside Industrial District will try to convince the council that a hearings officer erred Aug 14 when he granted Beam Development and Colas Construction Group a conditional use permit for the venue Beam and Colas are thrilled by what this development will mean for the Central Eastside and our city,” Beam principal Jonathan Malsin tells WW “A venue of this size will energize the neighborhood by creating hundreds of jobs bringing more entertainment to the city and increasing foot traffic for neighboring restaurants and businesses As WW has reported for the better part of a year critics led by the trade group MusicPortland really dislike Live Nation and its Portland project (“They Live,” Sept In testimony before the hearings officer last month the group said the proposed Live Nation venue would be unsafe because of its proximity to a busy Union Pacific railroad track and a poor choice of sites because it lacks parking and transit access Live Nation is also the target of a pending antitrust lawsuit the U.S Department of Justice filed against the company and its subsidiary joined by 29 states as disparate as Oregon and Texas and fans through the loss of competition,” the lawsuit says Portland is the only major concert market in the United States where Live Nation doesn’t currently operate a venue which promotes concerts at McMenamins Edgefield says the concert hall he and AEG want to build at Lloyd Center would be superior in every way to the Live Nation project discussed the dueling projects with WW in a conversation that has been edited for clarity and brevity WW: Is this town big enough for two venues—the venue that you propose and the Live Nation venue We’ll bid a hundred thousand dollars or whatever and Live Nation will bid a hundred and a quarter They will overpay to get market share versus profit share In the grocery business or the car business So why is music different from other businesses Quinn: We’ve got these expensive buildings we’re building and we have to fill them There’s only a finite amount of content that we’re both going for and then that’ll just be translated to the customer in increased ticket price or the food and beverage prices inside the venue I think in Bend it’s $21 for a cocktail and $18 for a beer what kind of city subsidy are you looking for Erik Sten: It’s giving control of a public asset that’s right in the middle of the city but that’s not the biggest deal in the world The big deal is that they took a controversial use that many citizens wouldn’t want and gave them their land with no process Live Nation’s got a long track record of fighting dirty to put out competitors the city doesn’t pick one winner and put ‘em on city land If there’s one thing that’s been proven since the day I was in college until today it’s that Prosper Portland is not good at picking winners and losers They’re reasonably good at doing infrastructure things that actually build up neighborhoods but when they weigh into marketplaces and pick a winner We wouldn’t deny that Live Nation has a terrible track record He’s given millions of dollars to Republican candidates they do a lot of culturally subversive stuff Their companies are pretty entrepreneurial They are sensitive to ticketing and gouging and fees Marshall Runkel: It’s a weird world where we’re picking between billionaires Are you getting sued by the Department of Justice for your anti-competitive behavior Let’s pick the one that’s not being sued for destroying local music scenes If we’re attacking Live Nation for being anti-competitive aren’t you guys being anti-competitive by trying to kill its project before it even starts Sten: It depends on your view of monopolies So the idea that Mike Quinn trying to keep Live Nation out is equivalent to Live Nation trying to muscle in and put him out of business just doesn’t hold up It’s like saying the Mafia and the police both have a gun What objections have you made to the city hearings officer Quinn: This site is just so wack because of the train I don’t know if you’re familiar with that area down there but sometimes there’s a 20-minute-to-an-hour wait when the train stops The customer will get held up going to and leaving the venue because the railroad doesn’t publish their train schedules Runkel: What wasn’t analyzed was the way the interactions with the train traffic would actually work down there There was no analysis of the impacts on pedestrians Two-thirds of the parking that the project identified as their parking area is on the east side of the train track So that’s going to require people to cross the train tracks on their way to the concert and maybe on their way back to their car after the concert Sten: It is not a very good land use decision The condition that’s particularly important is the one about public benefit That’s the area that we’re gonna try and stress quite a bit with the council Nobody’s shown the public benefit necessary to get a conditional use like this in this deal Let’s say that I’m a regular Portlander who doesn’t often go to live music Sten: I think you care that the city is sticking its nose into this when it shouldn’t be I think you care that the city is teaming up with a group [Live Nation] that’s being sued by the United States attorney general and the state of Oregon And its practices are primarily putting small promoters out of business so they can monopolize So even if you’re really happy and you love Ticketmaster the city should not be bringing them to Portland without you signing off I think you should be mad that you didn’t get a say in it The reason why the Oregon Department of Transportation owned these blocks [before selling them to the city] is it was going to be where the Mount Hood Freeway connected with Interstate 5 It’s an identity-of-the-city kind of question Because I think just framing it up as one giant corporation versus another giant corporation is not the correct way to look at it What Mike represents is a whole ecosystem of local promoters and ticketing companies and poster makers Often cities are more defined by what they say no to than what they say yes to with the Mount Hood Freeway land now being the site of the question: Do we give up on being the last place to stand up to Live Nation Clarification: This story originally said Live Nation doesn’t currently operate in Portland the company promotes shows here but doesn’t control a venue Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today. Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today. in expanding their brand reach and creating innovative campaigns through AI and AR YKONE is taking a step further thanks to Ykonic Talents by representing digital artists Amelie is a leading Physidigital Artist renowned for her expertise in Augmented Reality Her work exemplifies the cutting edge of augmented reality and digital art merging technology with creativity to deliver unique and engaging experiences for prominent brands Can you share your journey and what inspired you to become a Physidigital Artist specializing in augmented reality and 3D Animation I was introduced to augmented reality during my design studies and wrote my bachelor thesis on animated augmented reality in the museum context I researched how augmented reality could add excitement to the museum experience and its educational mission Then I realized: augmented reality has great potential to surprise users and engage them in an innovative way – not only in education How do you approach blending technology and creativity in your projects and what challenges do you face in this process Once I have a clear understanding of the target group I develop creative ideas that can be brought to life using AR and 3D technologies first before checking technical possibilities I ensure that both the user experience and visual quality are optimized as both are factors that can limit the success of an augmented reality experience high visual quality and innovation are the most important for blending creation and technology This is usually the biggest challenge: combining innovation and feasibility You are working with many different industries for which I create animations for music videos and creative augmented reality ideas Music has always been a great source of inspiration for me and combining my visual art with aural art is a great enrichment for me Everything that is part of my personal lifestyle; music are industries that I like to work creatively in because I can identify with them Could you tell us about your most memorable project and what made it stand out for you I was one of four artists to create an exterior design for Lexus’ new SUV model I combined my physical art with an augmented reality animation that visualized how my artwork would look on the car The design was then realized this year on a one-off Augmented reality was the perfect technology in this project to bridge the gap between the creative art industry and the technical automotive industry You are also collaborating with artists like Cevin Parker Could you explain the process and what you enjoy about this kind of artistic collaboration the collaboration was always characterized by a close exchange and input from both sides to develop a creative idea that both could identify with What I appreciate about collaborative projects is that a new artistic style can develop from two individual points of view and that I can always learn something from projects with other artists: Be it the understanding of art the sources of inspiration or the approach to projects; especially from the joint projects with Cevin Parker I can learn a lot from his experience These projects underscore her ability to blend technology and creativity making her a valuable addition to Ykonic Talents Anne Höweler anneh@ykone.com First Name: Last Name: Company: Professional Email: WINTERSVILLE — A trio of creative students at Indian Creek High School will have their spine-chilling mini sagas featured in an upcoming publication Members of the school’s creative writing club took part in the Young Writers contest this fall Teacher Aaron Morrida said seniors Addison Runkel Wil Hurlock and Brilee Tirpek were selected for inclusion in a collection of works “Young Writers sponsors a publication called ‘Fright Club,’ and they have a contest,” Morrida explained noting the stories may be selected for publication “They had to write a 100-word scary story,” he continued “Three of our students were chosen for publication I am proud of them and know they are very excited.” The contest was open to writers between the ages of 11 and 18 Students were challenged to write a scary story complete with a thrilling twist or a hauntingly-funny tale The top three winners of the contest received a prize Students were presented with a certificate for their achievement and are excited to see their ideas among the stories in the collection said her tale “Think Before You Cheat,” centers on a relationship gone “dead wrong.” “I have a lot of characters and it’s a story where one character murders his cheating girlfriend,” she said Runkel added she enjoys writing in her free time and is working on another piece she hopes to publish “I like writing because I can enjoy my own made-up world,” she said daughter of Josh and Beth Hurlock of Bloomingdale said her story “Hang in There,” follows a young girl trying to turn her life around but includes a dark twist “We had a limit of 100 words,” she explained “There had to be a dark twist or scary vibe We submitted them in October and learned they would be published around Halloween.” “My story is scary but my grandpa Val Valentine Writing is a breakaway from reality,” she said Tirpek’s work is entitled “13 Flyers,” which follows a character who loses an eye while in prison Daughter of Jake Tirpek and Tara Patton of Wintersville she said she was excited about the prospect of being published “It’s the best thing that’s happened to me,” she said adding she loves any chance she has to write STEUBENVILLE — The personal journey of Rebekah Cohen Morris along with the impactful work she performs in her .. STEUBENVILLE — Those involved with the Dean Martin Association exclaimed they are proud to present “an .. Written by  John R. Vile Samuel Chase who at the time headed the Maryland Court of Appeals wrote in Runkel v Winemiller (1799) that the courts could intervene in what was an ecclesiastical dispute regarding a minister removed from his position Though the First Amendment protected against "establishment of religion" it did not play a role in the state case as it was not yet being applied to state laws.(Image of Chase via Wikimedia Commons Although the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited Congress from passing laws “respecting the establishment of religion,” Massachusetts did not disestablish its state church until 1833 and states continued some preferentialism for Christianity in general well through the end of the nineteenth century One frequently cited case is that of Runkel vs. Winemiller, 4 H The case centered on a request for a writ of mandamus by the Reverend William Runkel to regain his position as minister of the German or High Dutch Reformed Christian Church in Frederick Maryland after the congregation had sought to replace him with another pastor in a manner that he argued had denied him due process Samuel Chase at the time the case came to court was heading the Maryland Court of Appeals and would soon be appointed by President George Washington to the U.S authored the decision for a unanimous court granting this mandamus after indicating that he had first unsuccessfully sought to get the parties to resolve the issue among themselves Chase’s statements indicate the manner in which civil authorities might justify intervention into such ecclesiastical disputes Although his words suggest that he likely believed that the common law supported Christianity in general his ruling applied specifically within Maryland where Article XXXIII of the state continued to permit the collection of a general assessment for clergymen (which tax seems to have been blocked in the legislature) through 1810 (Breidenbach 2019 the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty The principles of the Christian religion cannot be diffused and teachers and ministers to explain the scriptures to the people and to enforce an observance of the precepts of religion by their preaching and living are equally entitled to the protection of the law and to the employment of their religious and temporal rights who has been wrongfully dispossessed of his pulpit is entitled to the writ of mandamus to be restored to his function and the temporal rights with which it is endowed (p John Vile is a professor of political science and dean of the Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University. He is co-editor of the Encyclopedia of the First Amendment Send Feedback on this article Explore The First Amendment Encyclopedia Nearly 1,700 articles on First Amendments topics The Free Speech Center operates with your generosity! Please donate now! nonprofit public policy center dedicated to building understanding of the five freedoms of the First Amendment through education Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news This post was supposed to be a book review and I’ve used Wildflowers of Iowa Woodlands and Wildflowers of the Tall Grass Prairie countless times Co-authors Larry Stone and Jon Stravers both knew Runkel and interviewed many of his friends and former colleagues while researching their biography I learned a lot about how the famous conservationist grew to love the outdoors and became passionate about native plants and natural landscapes The book also struck a chord with me as I’ve been coping with the most physically challenging year of my life Sylvan Runkel explored the wooded Mississippi River bluffs near his family’s home in Moline and spent ten summers with grandmother Becky Jane who lived a frontier lifestyle in a literal log cabin in Illinois Becky Jane taught Sylvan and his sister about many woodland and wetland plants Sylvan got a forestry degree from Iowa State University but struggled to find a steady job in that field during the Great Depression His big career break came after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created a Civilian Conservation Corps Sylvan’s favorite forestry professor was put in charge of CCC work on private land conservation in Iowa with a focus on reducing erosion to avoid a Dust Bowl scenario on our farms Sylvan worked on tree-planting and forest management projects then moved to the newly-formed Soil Conservation Service in 1935 he wrote newspaper columns and traveled the state educating landowners about erosion control His life changed course during World War II when Sylvan enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a 35-year-old with young children learning to fly gliders and serving as an instructor for other glider pilots Then he received combat training and was sent to England in the spring of 1944 Sylvan was part of a D-Day wave of gliders on a mission to land behind enemy lines in France killing the pilot and at least two other crew members Sylvan suffered several broken bones in his leg as well as a broken elbow and broken teeth He lay on the field helplessly as a German bullet smashed his kneecap hours later It took days to get back to a military hospital in England then months before he was well enough to return to the U.S Sylvan spent the better part of the next three years in military hospitals undergoing a dozen operations and repeated courses of treatment for a bone infection forcing him to walk with a limp for the rest of his life As I continued to read about Sylvan’s work with the Soil Conservation Service and other passions in life (Scouting relaxing at a primitive cabin in the Boundary Waters) I found myself returning to the chapter about his wartime service and recovery How did this man with a permanent disability stay in a physically demanding job let alone lead children and adults on nature hikes and backpacking trips in his spare time When an SCS coworker once asked him why he limped Sylvan replied wryly that he was thankful he was limping—it was either be limping or be dead “I guess I would be classified as a sidehill gouger,” he later joked but the other way is pretty tough.” Sylvan somehow kept his positive outlook despite his long hospitalization and painful injuries Sylvan’s first wife died in the late 1940s after a long bout with undulant fever He was a single father to three children for years then remarried and had three more children during the 1950s He regularly took his kids hunting or on nature walks Sylvan hiked to the top of Mount Baldy in New Mexico (12,441 feet elevation) three times with groups of Boy Scouts Sylvan regularly hiked around Des Moines to get in shape in his training,” [Scouting friend Bill] Darby said “He walked a 5-mile stretch…a regular route You’d see him every morning out there.” I’m dumbfounded just typing out those words I severely fractured my ankle in the most boring way possible: slipping on the ice while walking my dog The injury was nothing like what Sylvan Runkel went through I went from walking three to five miles a day to not being able to walk for the rest of the winter and most of the spring The pain (worse than anything I had experienced) gradually subsided over the next several months but one of my broken bones healed at a slightly wrong angle and will eventually require more surgery I will be walking with a limp for many more months I can’t convey how disruptive this injury has been It obliterated my ability to cover the Iowa legislature’s 2022 session in the usual way I was unable to pull together many of the stories I would normally write during an election year Aside from the many hours spent at doctor’s appointments and physical therapy I’m so much slower at everything now Even though I can walk the dog again without assistance—for a few miles some days—it’s uncomfortable which has affected my productivity as a writer I have found it hard to stay in a positive mindset especially since learning that even in the best-case scenario following future surgery I will never be able to do some activities I used to enjoy my injury mostly put me off wildflower spotting on trails and prairies like I’ve done regularly for the last twelve years This book by Stone and Stravers forced me to face facts Dealing with a much worse injury for decades Sylvan Runkel kept going out there with his walking stick leading groups through the fields or the woods or the Loess Hills or more rugged terrain out West He wasn’t focused on not being able to jump trains or climb trees and mountains I’ve been feeling apprehensive about having to navigate snow and ice this winter and was too worried about balance issues to get back on a bicycle this summer Sylvan regularly flew small planes after almost losing his life in a crash he kept up a busy travel schedule with conservation and education work and served on many state or nonprofit boards He helped preserve many natural areas and raised public awareness about the unique Loess Hills landscape Sylvan liked to find a trail where he could shout out the names of his favorite plants: “RATTLESNAKE” fern in the woods or “RATTLESNAKE” master on the prairie or “WAHOO” tree along a fencerow He would approach the plant while talking quietly then grin with delight when his outburst startled his companions Sylvan sometimes brought home edible plants and roots He and his wife Bernie once served friends a dinner including “wild leek soup and cattail shoots.” Another biologist recalled his colleague demanding to stop the car when he saw cattails blooming near the side of the road “The two men got out and gathered a bag of cattail pollen for Sylvan to add to his next morning’s pancake batter.” I’m so glad I was able to meet Larry Stone in Okoboji and buy a copy of his book Learning more about Sylvan Runkel inspired a Thanksgiving Day resolution: I will be grateful for the mobility I have and I will get outdoors more often during 2023 Maybe the brace I’ve been fitted for will help me walk more confidently on uneven ground Top image: Photo of dried native plant arrangement provided by Mike Delaney using plants and seeds from his restored prairie in Dallas County The tall plant in the middle is big bluestem The tall plants on either side of that are Indian grass The light brown near the center of the bouquet is Missouri goldenrod The darker seed heads near the right are stiff goldenrod The large pods on the left are common milkweed The small darker berries near the lower left are coralberry I recently read Kim Stanley Robinson’s He talked about how walking sticks have kept him active and upright in the Sierra through his 60s and (hopefully) through his 70s May you have many ambles in your future shouting the names of old botanical friends Steve Peterson  Sun 27 Nov 10:17 AM …and I’m so sorry about what happened to your ankle I’m sure other readers are also hoping hard that the long-term results of your injury will turn out to be at the very mildest end of the range of possibilities And may you and your walking stick travel far and happily PrairieFan  Thu 8 Dec 5:24 PM You must be logged in to post a comment Donate using a credit card Donate using Venmo Donate using Patreon Donate using Paypal Readers can support independent journalism and help cover reporting costs Bleeding Heartland discourages donations from Iowa elected officials Bleeding Heartland is a community blog about Iowa politics: campaigns and elections Join our community help keep our leaders honest and hold them accountable General: info@bleedingheartland.com Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Grace Runkel joined FOX Carolina as a multi-media journalist on October 7 Grace graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a B.A “I started my career as an MMJ at WHBF in Rock Island which is part of the Quad Cities market,” Grace said “I started in September 2017 and left September 2019 I spent the entire two years reporting for the 9 and 10 o’clock news so reporting on the morning show is something totally new for me.” My favorite movie is: I’m not sure if I have a favorite but I’m always ready to have a Harry Potter marathon My favorite kind of music is: I’ll listen to just about anything from musical soundtracks and classic rock I’m always open to good brunch recommendations Hidden talents: I was a competitive Irish dancer for 10 years which meant I spent weeknights in practice and weekends travelling to competitions Also continued dancing in college in Loyola’s Irish Dance club Most memorable story: I spent about 100 days covering historic flooding on the Mississippi River this spring The river had a record-breaking crest in the Quad Cities and there was a breach in the flood wall I was one of the first reporters at the scene of the breach and led our continuous live coverage What sticks out even more are all the stories we covered after the fact about people trying to recover after flooding damaged their homes and businesses PHOTOS BY JENNA FRISBY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER the Queens of West Unity Pageant is back up and running This year’s theme was ‘Rock Around the Clock’ This year’s newly crowned queens are pictured above (left to right): Junior Miss West Unity Scarlett Runkel VIEW 271 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM After three years of waiting the Queens of West Unity Pageant is back up and running thanks to directors Leslie Campbell and Megan Bible for orchestrating the event and ensuring it could come together for all the contestants With a turnout of well over 100 individuals the pageant would definitely be considered a huge success This year there were fourteen girls who competed for a crown in their perspective divisions The program started with a welcoming act performed by all the contestants and reigning queens The act was followed by summer wear and formal wear the final walk for reigning queens and finally awards This year’s contestants and their sponsors for Little Miss West Unity were: Lucille Bible – Slicker Farms Brielle Gubbins – Little Lights Daycare and Preschool Cecelia Rodriguez – Miguel’s Trucking Oaklee Sheets-Meyers – L&S Hay and Straw Addison Siegel – R and N Freezer Beef and Gracie Whitman – Millcreek Coffee and Cones Contestants and their sponsors for Junior Miss West Unity were: Bailee Bernath – MW Solutions Kourtney Miller – Partner in Crime Catering and Scarlett Runkel – Action Hair Designers the only contestant and her sponsor for Teen Miss West Unity was Naya Rodriguez – Jacoby’s Smokehouse Awards that were given out were for: People’s Choice – Brielle Gubbins Little Miss Photogenic – Logan Layman Highest 50/50 Ticket Seller Scarlett Runkel for the Teen Miss West Unity since there was only one contestant she won the following prizes: Teen Miss Photogenic All the contestants gave it their all and from summer wear to speeches to everything between it gave joy to people to be able to see the girls all enjoying something together Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Mark Runkel ‘99 is the senior executive vice president and chief credit officer of U.S He has spent nearly 20 years at the company also serving as the senior vice president and credit risk group manager of U.S Bancorp’s Retail and Payment Services Division He brings a unique combination of analytical and accounting skills to his role He and his wife are also very involved in the community supporting the Special Olympics and many civic-minded organizations Q: Can you share a little about your family growing up My mom was a teacher and my dad was an accountant spending time outdoors hunting and fishing and playing sports were priorities for me A: One of my friends had an older brother who played basketball at Augustana and we used to go along to watch his games Those trips were really my introduction to Augustana my parents wanted me to go to a smaller liberal arts school with a great academic reputation and one rooted in faith Augustana had an Aviation Administration Program and the aviation program was an added bonus Q: How did your Augustana education impact you A: The quality of the education and the broad perspective in business really resonated with me It helped provide me with business skills to navigate new situations with an open mind helped solidify how I should act and behave on a daily basis This also clarified what a good cultural fit would look like in my career.  For my senior Capstone Project we were challenged to explore and consider other perspectives Two friends and I attended an African American church in town but what was memorable was the hospitality we received from the congregation The feeling they provided us was unbelievable That experience was transformational to me how do I/we consider those with different perspectives and how do we create an inclusive environment to make them feel comfortable to share those views and perspectives Q: How did you decide to narrow your focus to accounting and finance A: I wanted to study accounting because I knew it would be a good skill set that could provide opportunities to learn and grow It is foundational to so many aspects of business I enjoyed studying statistical and analytical methods in finance as well and found they work well with accounting to make better business decisions In my first job after graduating from Augustana I conducted analytics research around credit performance on a credit card portfolio for a retail store This combined both the statistical analysis and accounting aspects I'm a firm believer that you need to find what your passion is A: The company I was with was acquired by another organization My grandfather was very influential in my life He owned a small community bank in Wisconsin and I was able to see the value it provided He shared the importance of a strong financial system in creating jobs and opportunities in a community.   I chose U.S Bank because I felt it would provide the best opportunity to learn and grow while allowing me to remain in the Twin Cities Throughout my nearly 20 years with the company I have had the opportunity to work in several different areas — currently serving as the chief credit officer every year or two I took on a different job with new responsibilities and it aligned with my core values of giving back to the community What's rewarding to me is I get that opportunity every single day to see how we provide loans for businesses and consumers to help them realize their full potential and their dreams Q: How has the pandemic impacted your work A: Although it has been challenging for us all some of our greatest work has happened in the past year I have been able to see my team rally around building new programs and helping those who have seen their hours reduced or  positions eliminated I have seen programs that have allowed our customers to remain in their homes and keep their cars Providing payment relief to bridge some of the most uncertain times has been rewarding Those moments when you're actually helping a client or an employee see their full potential are the moments that push us forward I also get to see larger organizations put together a plan and strategy for growth and we  provide the capital to make that vision succeed Their growth provides jobs and services within the community Q: What advice do you have for building a successful career A: My parents always taught us to never be afraid of failure I asked my manager for new challenges and opportunities While new opportunities required hard work you need to challenge yourself and put yourself out there Every role allows you to build skills necessary for the next opportunity.  The pandemic has shown more work can be done remotely and that technology will play an ever increasing role Having technical skills is going to be even more important as we move into the future Banks have shrunk the footprint of branches but have expanded investments in mobile technology Every industry will continue to expand their technical components and it’s vital to have an understanding of the newest technology and a willingness to learn.  Augustana University is committed to providing equal access to and participation in employment opportunities Augustana complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Rehabilitation Act and other applicable laws providing for nondiscrimination against all individuals AU will provide reasonable accommodations for known disabilities to the extent required by law Thanks for visiting 2023 at 12:01 pm PDTAs the 2024 race for Portland’s next mayor creeps closer the names of rumored hopefuls are swirling around political circles According to two sources familiar with Portland politics and onetime Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese are each considering running for mayor next year Runkel served as chief of staff to City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly and before that served as a longtime adviser to City Commissioner Erik Sten Runkel was also one of the chief architects of the 2018 ballot measure that created the Portland Clean Energy Fund Following Eudaly’s ousting from office in 2020 Runkel went to work as a solar energy consultant He now works at the prominent political consulting firm Strategies 360 Runkel says he hasn’t made a decision yet about running “My kid is going to be senior at Grant this year and I’m not screwing that up,” Runkel says “I’ll be interested in what’s happening in May or June That’s the truth.” Runkel has never before run for office but has led a number of successful campaigns The other person said to be considering a run is former Sherif Reese He tells WW that he’s “in the process of discerning how best to help during these challenging times and it may be running for an elected position there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the mayor and City Council roles and responsibilities that will be determined soon by citizen-led committees Reese was chief of the Portland Police Bureau from 2010 to 2015 a position in which he worked closely with Mayors Sam Adams and Charlie Hales Reese and Runkel would be joining a sparse race so far though the field of candidates is likely to grow in the coming months City Commissioner Mingus Mapps recently announced his campaign for mayor and it’s rumored that City Commissioner Carmen Rubio and incumbent Mayor Ted Wheeler are strongly considering runs Whoever wins the 2024 mayoral race will oversee a form of government that the city has never seen before thanks to a ballot measure approved by 58% of Portland voters last fall that is set to radically reshape how the city functions A professional city administrator appointed by the mayor will run city bureaus The mayor will not have veto powers over the 12-member City Council but will have a tie-breaking vote The next mayor will also oversee a city reeling from the trifecta of homelessness and mental illness—a dauntingly difficult task Dick graduated from Waukesha South High School worked for Portec (Butler Bin) as computer programmer and office manager his good friend Eddie Peters (JC) taught him to drive an 18-wheeler Later he worked for Unisource then for Dayton Freight He was in his element when he drove the big trucks After his retirement he moved cars between car dealerships He is dearly missed by his wife of 52 years He is also survived by several sisters-in-law Colleen Runkel (Grainger) preceded him in death He enjoyed talking to people and made friends everywhere he went He was always willing to pitch in when someone needed help When Dick wanted to do something he didn’t know how to do he would figure out a way to get it done going to car races and shows and watching tv car auctions A private memorial will be held in May at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha The family asks that any memorials be made to Prohealth AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc ProHealth AngelsGrace Hospice facility was so nice The wonderful staff were very kind and gave such good care for Dick and his family For Waukesha Obituary Pricing and Guidelines For Washington and Ozaukee Obituary Pricing and Guidelines For Waukesha obituaries earlier than 2020 For Washington and Ozaukee obituaries earlier than 2020 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: There were multiple moments while listening to Hal Runkel where I could easily have shouted Hal!" but instead scribbled furiously in my notebook a marriage and family therapist based in Atlanta visited the Business Insider office for a video interview in May 2017.  He'd made appearances on TV and radio before so it's no surprise he was easy to follow — but more than that it was obvious he'd thought deeply about every relationship issue I brought up both in the context of his own quarter-century-long marriage and in the context of relationships more generally I've been thinking about a few novel insights Runkel shared: conflicts between romantic partners get out of hand when one person says something that cuts deep and the other person responds with something equally hurtful Runkel said there's one word that can stop an argument like this in its tracks: "Ouch." As in: "Ouch I don't know if you were meaning to hurt me; I don't know if that's what you were going for; but that's what you did." "ouch" is a word that doesn't get used nearly enough in marriage That's because displaying vulnerability — while key to a successful relationship — can also be incredibly difficult once you let your partner know they've wounded you the two of you will be able to take a step back and talk about what's really bothering you I asked Runkel about an issue too many modern couples face —how to encourage one partner to pick up the slack around the house — and he responded immediately: 'How can I get someone to do more of this?' we've started off on the wrong foot," he said literally trying to manipulate this other person to do what we actually need them to do No adult wants to be told to do the dishes — and anyway what you really desire is for your partner to want to do the dishes So Runkel shared specific language you can use instead (note the display of vulnerability again): "It hurts me when it seems like I do more than you do and I don't know if this is some unspoken arrangement but I'm not going to do more than my share anymore "When was the last time you actually respected a needy person and should always be making the choice to stay with the person in that you should each be able to function independently what you should be saying (at least to yourself) is: "I could live without you Robert Runkel earned his PhD in civil engineering with a concentration in environmental engineering in 1993 Runkel conducted studies of acid mine drainage streams in the Colorado Mineral Belt Geological Survey (USGS) and with his thesis advisor he developed a stream water quality transport model that he made available through the USGS The model has been very widely used by hydrologists geochemists and ecologists to quantify the transport of  chemical constituents in surface waters Runkel is now a leading hydrologist at the USGS and is well-regarded as a leading expert on acid rock drainage issues in Colorado Runkel has published numerous journal articles and data reports based on his research and has served as an associate editor for Water Resources Research a prominent journal in the field of hydrology Runkel has worked with graduate students in the Environmental Engineering Program in their studies of acid mine drainage These interactions include helping to design and carry out field studies Contributions to the Environmental Engineering Program over the past year: The topic of acid mine drainage is particularly interesting to graduate students in the Environmental Engineering Program because it is a prominent water quality issue in Colorado Runkel worked closely with a doctoral student as she was analyzing the results of two experiments that were conducted 15 years apart in the same stream Runkel’s insight and patience were critical to Petach’s progress in completing the analysis Runkel also helped a previous master’s student write a paper based on his thesis which addressed acid mine drainage inflows into a major tributary for Dillon Reservoir Runkel worked with another alumna on developing a journal article from her thesis research These efforts by Runkel helped strengthen the students’ research reputations and supported research that will help to address major water quality problems in Colorado Runkel has worked with students in the EVEN program to help them advance their research on contaminant transport in streams and rivers This collaboration is reflected in the numerous journal articles led by EVEN students on which Runkel is a co-author Runkel is an excellent role model for students exemplifying the approach of conducting impactful research at a high level of excellence                     Phone: 303-492-5071 Email: cueng@colorado.edu University of Colorado Boulder Privacy • Legal & Trademarks • Campus Map University of Colorado Boulder Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Travel photographer Michael Runkel has visited every country on Earth and shows no signs of slowing down. The German native chats with photographer Trey Bohn about going to outer space and why long-term travel with kids doesn’t suck How long did it take to visit every country It took 29 years. I finished in Saudi Arabia in 2018. I have been traveling for a total of 31 years, but traveling to every country was never my goal. I am not a stamps-and-stats traveler. I am more interested in having original experiences in the places I visit, but according to Nomad Mania there are a total of 1,281 regions on the planet and many more planned over the next 18 months it’s possible that I might be the most-traveled person alive The obvious question I’m sure you get a lot: what first inspired you to travel I started reading Karl May when I was in primary school at the age of 9 or 10 He is mostly known for his novels about Apache Chief Winnetou and the American West but I was really drawn to his tales of Kara Ben Nemsi and his exploits during Hajj through the Middle East and we often traveled together when school was out My grandmother spent a lot of time in Africa and Asia How hard was it to get on that first flight and where did you go My first trip abroad was actually overland by bus from Germany to Syria in 1988 It’s been said that more people have traveled to outer space than have visited the United Nations’ 193 recognized countries (at the time of this writing there are currently 200 verified persons that have visited every country on Earth; 500 have been to outer space) If Richard Branson called you tomorrow and said you have 15 minutes to pack your bag for a Virgin Galactic flight I would love to see the world from outer space – so long as he is paying There has been a recent spike in travelers that have been to every country There are about 10 to 20 people that pop up every year that attempt to do it Many of them seem to me to be more inspired by a personal goal They are not really traveling meaningfully and now on our Asian leg of the trip into five countries I had to break off from them for six weeks by myself for photo work and they will visit her mother there towards the end of the trip while I continue on to India We have been to some extremely remote locations together Our tour operator tells us that they will be the youngest visitors the islands have ever had It’s important to choose the right times of the year to visit each destination Right now we are in Thailand during the dry season you have to visit at a time when there are fewer mosquitoes It’s also just as important to not be overly cautious or you will miss out on a lot of experiences Our oldest does not have to start primary school for two years so we are taking this opportunity to travel with them now Is mainland China part of your Asia itinerary Do you have concerns about the coronavirus outbreak there We had an extensive trip through China planned We just learned that the government has shut down all access to the tourist sites throughout the country Many other travelers I know have also had to cancel their visits Right now we are going to head back to Myanmar for an extended period We are not sure when we might be able to plan another trip there and she has seen things a lot of people could only dream of seeing I have probably met more Germans on my travels than any other nationality Is there something about the German culture that makes them want to explore the world more than others I guess that is because we have a good social system Most Germans have 30 days of holiday every year; we have paid parental leave for up to three years and are eligible to receive up to $2,000 per month Our universal health care is another important factor that contributes to making extensive travel possible Germany has a very culturally diverse population and so your friends and neighbors are from all over the world That provides opportunities to visit people you know in their native country The Swedes and the Dutch also travel a lot tell us about your thinking in choosing another destination I would rather go to places that are interesting especially to photograph UNESCO World Heritage Sites I have been to 700 of them and I have 400 left to visit I’m actually going to do a [photography] book about it later this year I do love remote places due to fewer crowds but it is usually the beauty of a destination that compels me to visit Crawling over unexploded ordnance in a field in Cambodia or being stared down by an armed militia in Mogadishu immediately come to mind But the most life-changing experience was a nighttime earthquake on Christmas Day in Bam The two of us managed to save another 10 people from the rubble The official death toll from the government was egregiously undercounted One for sure is Myanmar. We were just there, and my third visit. Extremely friendly people. Everyone is so nice, and it is so culturally interesting. Southern Myanmar is completely untouched by tourists. The Mergui Archipelago is a paradise and only opened to tourists four years ago A country that didn’t meet your expectations Cameroon is rough traveling – especially in the interior – and the police A country that turned your expectations on its head I usually research a country thoroughly before visiting and so I generally know what to expect when I arrive Mainly photography. I try to take as many photos as possible. You have to be a little more prepared and sleep a little bit less. I have a secondary income teaching photography when I am home. I also sell prints on my website Your process for documenting your travels through photography I have a big professional database of 2.5 million photographs. I also have agents that distribute my photos worldwide; and I am represented by Robert Harding who manages some of the world’s leading travel photographers I am the only dedicated travel photographer who has been to every country on Earth so I have a unique set of photographs to offer Much of my documentation is also client work through direct requests What makes a good travel photograph and what camera do you use It’s hard to say what makes a good travel photograph but I would personally say that every good travel photograph is a good one when you like it One thing for sure that makes an impact is great light It’s also why I like to travel in good weather the travel photo market is saturated with amazing photos making it very difficult to create photos that stand out camera technology is so much better than years ago and people can take stunning photos with their smartphones What is one conventional myth that people who want to travel extensively need to know the world is a far better place than the media might make it seem The world is safe if you take precautions and use common sense everywhere you go and I always felt safe and never threatened It’s not true that a problem area is representative of an entire country We have all read about the terrible violence regarding the Rohingya people that is isolated in the outer northwest of the Rakhine State Focus specifically on where there are problems and simply avoid those areas there are some areas of South and Central America to consider Just use common sense as you would anywhere I have never been robbed once on my travels (knocks on wood) I’m sure it’s impossible to choose a favorite country Which country would you always return to if you had to pick with its bizarre endemic plants and strange landscapes Back to Myanmar. After that, when my wife and kids head to San Diego, I will go on to India and Bangladesh, then up to far eastern Russia to travel the Road of Bones Become a PetaPixel Member and access our content ad-free Home / News / Environmental News Drought likely making white oaks more vulnerable to oak wilt COLO — More than a decade into a mysterious epidemic killing off white oak trees Iowa foresters hope a new test kit will help them quickly screen trees in the field for a fraction of the cost of laboratory tests a Minnesota startup developed a kit that amplifies the DNA of a fungus spreading among oaks weakened by drought The Iowa Department of Natural Resources hopes to use information gathered from these kits to isolate infected trees and protect others “A lot of people are concerned about this white oak decline,” said Tivon Feeley Forest Health Program leader for the Iowa DNR Foresters want to know whether they should replant white oaks or choose other species (But) this test gives us a lot of tools we can start using.” foresters across the Midwest started noticing centuries-old white oak trees dying off in just one season and didn’t know why a fungal disease spread by insects or through the root systems of infected trees but most foresters hadn’t seen it be so fast or so deadly “With this oak decline, we have two to three dead trees almost every other acre,” Amana Society Forester Tim Krauss said in October 2022. “We have to harvest the dead trees because we only have a year until they are no good We can make our budget by just cutting dead trees When 200-year-old and 300-year-old giants are felled increased sunlight on the forest floor causes an explosion of invasive species and less-desirable trees Climate change has played a role in the rapid decline of white oaks with drought making the trees more vulnerable to disease or pests The U.S. Forest Service and the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers planned a pilot project with a new test kit to quickly determine if a tree has oak wilt but efforts to develop the kits at the University of Toronto fell through in 2023 Abdennour Abbas, a professor of nanotechnology at the University of Minnesota, stepped up in 2023 with PureBioX, a St. Paul, Minn., startup that develops rapid tests for use in health care “The regular test is a cell culture and it takes a very long time,” said Anil Meher a PureBioX analytical chemist who last week visited Iowa for a trial of the oak wilt test kits at Hickory Grove Park near Colo When plant diagnostic laboratories test trees for oak wilt the results can take two weeks to two months and cost $70 to $300 PureBioX’s test kits take one hour and cost about $17 each “It’s quite simple so you can do it in the field setting,” Meher said walked out into a stand of trees at Hickory Grove to look for white oaks with signs of oak wilt And when a branch of an infected tree is removed If the tests of leaves are effective in determining infection future tests won’t require branches or trunk cores Mullen marked the locations of the trees in a tablet and gave each a unique ID Mapping the infected trees is an early step to determine how oak wilt might be spreading Meher and Feeley put each sample into a tube with chemicals that break down the tree matter Meher extracted the DNA and put it into a tiny vial which is heated on a portable pad to amplify the DNA If foresters find isolated trees with oak wilt they could spray herbicide on those trees in hopes of halting the transmission through underground root systems The team plans to test trees in the Amana Society’s 7,000-acre timber, in Marshall County, in the Loess Hills in Western Iowa and in the Des Moines area. They also are putting out insect traps in forests with oak wilt to see what kinds of bugs might be carrying the fungus. Results of these studies will go into the 2024 Forest Health report. Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com The Gazette has been informing Iowans with in-depth local news coverage and insightful analysis for over 140 years independent journalism with a subscription today © 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved Job title: Outdoor education program director Job description: I am responsible for the Outdoor Education department at the Greater Des Moines area Y Camp located just north of Boone Background: I was born here in Des Moines and attended Saydel High School just north of Des Moines I attended Iowa State University where I majored in interpersonal communications I worked at Rocky Mountain High Adventure base (located in Poncha Springs I worked at the State Forest Nursery located in Ames After that I worked at Story County Conservation for almost a year then went into interning for the Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District Why I do what I do: I am very passionate about the outdoors and preserving it to the best of our ability I have the opportunity to help others passionate about nature and teach them things they might not get the chance to learn in a different environment What I do to get away from work: I really enjoy camping boating and playing music with my brother (Nic Runkel) and sister (Mary Runkel) in our modern bluegrass band we call The Runkel’s As well as the occasional TV show binge of course How I gave back to the community: I give back to the community by volunteering time at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and with Save Our Avian Resources The most important lesson I’ve learned on the job: The most important thing I’ve learned on the job is just having a good attitude but no one wants to work with someone with a crappy attitude Words to live by: Getting people and children more acquainted with what’s out here will make people concerned about what is happening here If we get acquainted with natural communities One thing I would change about the Des Moines Area: I would like to change the amount of natural areas we have in Des Moines It would be beneficial to incorporate more urban conservation practices and would make our city more valuable What I would do if I could do something else: If I wasn’t so invested in Iowa’s conservation I would probably be a stand in for Ryan Reynolds — or something like that Contact: 515-432-7558; mark.runkel@dmymca.org With Deepest Sympathy in the loss of your family member We have been out of time and were unable to attend Ray's service but want you to know you have my deepest sympathy He was a good egg and I enjoyed knowing him especially our work together for criminal justice through Micah Corp May you find comfort in the hope of the resurrection and the many good memories you have To the family of Rev Rinkel my Prayers and Sympathy are with you at this sad time I first met Ramon at our Sons of Norway meeting He was a very delightful person to talk too May he now rest in Peace with our Father in Heaven especially while Ken served on the council of Trinity Lutheran Church Our friendship with Ray and Carla go back to 1968 We were invited to join a book club initiated by Ray and Carla The men proceeded to so dominate the conversation that the women couldn't get a word in We laughed many times at the egg on our faces as to how not to be good listeners Ray and Earl Eidbo and myself making lefsa There were the many years at Good Shepherd and the Pastor's group at Lutheran Hospital I think of the times we stood together on church and social issues We are so appreciative of his friendship and leadership in clinical pastoral care in the state of Iowa like coming to the fiftieth wedding anniversary in the Minnesota Arrow Head country Ray and Mary Jane stopped to visit us when Ray was exploring his father's time in northern Wisconsin we have missed since leaving Iowa and now we miss you all the more Thank you for being our friend and companion on our life journey We cannot be present at the funeral because of family commitments Runkel and family in my life since I was 11 years old I spent a many happy hour at the Runkel home and was always in awe of the spiritualism there and how a large family can be so Runkel at my old job at Lutheran Service in Iowa as it was always a joy when I saw him there I will never forget his willingness to officiate the renewing of my wedding vows for our 25th Wedding Anniversary He will be greatly missed and was very loved by all My heart goes out to family and friends and know that the Lord is smiling down on all and that healing energy is coming your way I remember doing the 14 mile hike with him when we were Boy Scouts He was a superb athlete when we were in Ames High School and it was so nice to see him a few months ago at our AHS 65th Reunion for the class of 1950 and my brother in law John Hart last year as John was in the process of dying And he led us in the burial service for John He was much loved and respected for a life of outstanding service We are all indebted to him for the high standards he upheld for chaplains and others in specialized ministry I have many fond memories of him and his family when he served Trinity Lutheran Church in Durand Ray has a very historical place at Broadlawns Medical Center He started and instituted the Chaplaincy program here Without Ray Runkel I don't believe that there would have ever been a chaplain at Broadlawns My first go around as chaplain here at Broadlawns Ray was one of the persons who interviewed me and then as I worked really was a mentor to me There were many an evening in the fall spent at his house making fresh apple cider and talking "shop" Everyone wants to make a diference in this world and Ray Runkel did We will always remember when he performed our marriage ceremony in 2011 - at one point he said 'Can I get an Amen'.. We extend our Christian sympathy to each of you Kim remembers Ray's welcome and support throughout her years of service at LSS Myron remembers Ray's faithful visits to Nevada and Aunt Iva Nygaard Ray's deep faith in God and compassion for others was a gift to many generations Mark and I send our deepest sympathy and many prayers Carla and my dad having a great time catching up in Heaven © 2025 Hamilton's Funeral and After Life Services Stevenson passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family on Saturday daughter of the late Alvin and Esther (Draeger) Pilgrim Carol worked at Runkel Abstract & Title Company She moved back to the area in 1995 after living in Colorado and Michigan Carol was generous with her time and volunteered in many capacities She had many roles within the Trinity Lutheran Church community and spent years as hairdresser and manicurist for friends and family very social and so often the light in the room She was happy and made others happy with a positive energy that was contagious She was mischievous with an adventurous spirit and those of her not-so-young and still-a-little-wild usually together; playing cards at cousin Mike's "We House" on Friday nights the color purple; and the beaches of Redington Beach and nearly annually on family "pilgrimages" to all parts of Europe with cousins Diana and Donna Survivors include Carol's two brothers and their families: Marvin and Mary Jane Pilgrim their two daughters Rebecca (Michael) Tylinski and children Sofia and Frederick; and Katrina (Dean) Thurs and daughter Ruby their three children Ryan (Melissa) Pilgrim and children Madisyn Aliyah and Treyton; Carrie (Evan) Haehlke and children Hunter Alyvia and Ayva; and Nicole (Jeffrey) Schneider and children Mayven and Brayson Carol is further survived by many close cousins and friends including special friends Zach and Katrina Holdorf and their children Jack Avery and Mackenzie; and special traveling companion she was preceded in death by her husband Richard Stevenson and great-nephew Leo John Thurs The family is grateful for the quality of Carol's care and the kindness of the in-home nurse and therapists and the doctors and nurses of the oncology departments at UW Wisconsin Cancer Center and Aspirus of Wausau Zach Holdorf will officiate.  Burial will be in the Edgar Cemetery.  Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com Meet the recipients started her Loyola journalism career with a story about the University‘s Quidditch team “I was so proud of that little story,“ she says “It reassured me that broadcast journalism was what I wanted to do.“ Journalism matters to Grace Runkel—and she wants it to matter to others too who is editor-in-chief of the Loyola Phoenix has volunteered at Senn High School’s journalism program since she was a freshman “It’s been amazing to watch the students become more interested in journalism and more invested in their work,” says Runkel who has worked at TV stations in Chicago and Louisville she talks about her first story as a Rambler the importance of getting involved on campus and how she hopes to inspire people through her work What’s your favorite Loyola memory?It was 1 a.m on a Thursday during one of the first weeks of my freshman year The video was shaky and the edits weren’t clean It reassured me that broadcast journalism was what I wanted to do Talk a little about a professor or mentor who inspired you.I’ve had many mentors during my time at Loyola but one who really influenced me was Esther Castillejo She was editor-in-chief of the Loyola Phoenix during my sophomore year—the first year I was news editor She encouraged me whenever I doubted myself and reminded me that the only voice I need to listen to when making decisions is my own Tell us about your volunteer work and/or involvement in student organizations and what it means to you.I’ve been volunteering at Senn High School’s journalism program with Loyola’s Society of Professional Journalists since my freshman year It’s been amazing to watch the students become more interested in journalism and more invested in their work Some of them have even come to Loyola to study journalism I’m also the editor-in-chief of the Phoenix and a proud member of Loyola University Chicago Irish Dancers Any advice you would give students about how to get the most out of their time at Loyola?Get involved early It can be intimidating to go a club meeting all by yourself Your extracurriculars are where you find your passions what do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?Whether I’m in a small market I hope I’m reporting stories about the good and the bad—showing people there’s hope in the world and inspiring them to change things for the better On Friday, November 4, 2016, Loyola University Chicago celebrated the inauguration of Jo Ann Rooney, JD, LLM, EdD, as the University’s 24th president. The theme for Dr. Rooney’s inauguration was “Building a More Just, Humane, and Sustainable World.” Photo Gallery Michael Runkel celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday in Niagara Falls Runkel and the former Marlene Rybka were united in married on July 13 at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Weirton with the Rev He is the son of the late Mike and Aurelia Runkel He retired from the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local No She is the daughter of the late John and Irene Rybka She is retired from Hancock School Employees Federal Credit Union in Weirton They have three daughters: Lisa Boron of Lugoff NEW MANCHESTER –– William and Lois Robb celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at home with family Dec