Six named Athens Distinguished Alumni

By Kevin O’Brien

Three sisters who have all dedicated their lives to education. A couple that met in high school and started one of the area’s most wellrespected dairy farms. A talented geophysicist who literally creates groundbreaking technology. These men and women made up the 2024 class of Athens Distinguished Alumni, who were honored at a ceremony on Sunday.

Sponsored by the Athens Booster Club, the event featured vocal performances by Athens High School students John Zunker and Cambrea Sarasin, accompanied by choir director Adam Trebold. Family, friends and community member gathered in the high school commons to honor the newly named Distinguished Alumni.

Starting off the ceremony was an awards presentation to the Marchel sisters: Kathy (Marchel)Heier,classof1970;CarolMarchel, class of 1971; and Mary Ann Marchel, class of 1977. Daughters of longtime Athens superintendent Leore “Pete” Marchel and special education teacher Doris Marchel, the three

See ATHENS ALUMNI/ page 2 Athens Alumni

Continued from page 1

sisters followed in their parents’ footsteps by pursuing careers in education after graduating from Athens.

Kathy Heier earned a music education degree from UW-Stevens Point in 1974 and started her career as a music teacher at Slinger Elementary in southeast Wisconsin, where she had to push her piano and other materials from class to class in order to reach her students. She married Gary Heier, and they raised three sons, Mike, Steve and Adam.

In addition to her career in education, Kathy also served as the church cantor and children’s choir director at St. Anne’s Church in Wausau for many years. She and her husband now live in Plover, near their children and three grandchildren.

Mary Ann Marchel said one of Kathy’s greatest gifts is her “deep kindness,” calling her “the rock” of their family.

“She has the ability to stay calm in the face of a storm, which she proved to us in the events surrounding our parents’ sudden passing,” she said. “She has a deep commitment to her faith and to her family.”

Carol Marchel, who participated in the ceremony via video link, received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UW-Stevens Point and went on to earn a master’s degree in school psychology from UW-LaCrosse. After graduating, she worked as a school psychologist in southwestern Wisconsin before moving to Forest Lake, Minn. She and her husband, Jim Young, lived for a time in South Carolina, where she continued her career as a school psychologist.

“But that wasn’t enough for her,” Mary Ann said. “She was motivated to pursue research and theory in educational psychology.”

Carol completed a doctoral program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and served as a tenured faculty member at Appalachian State University in North North Carolina and in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She earned multiple research and teaching awards and “touched the lives of many students,” Mary Ann said.

Now living in Roseville, Minn., Carol works on social justice and climate change issues as a member of the League of Women Voters and is also a poet and an artist. Mary Ann noted that her sister drew one of the earlier versions of the Athens Bluejay, wearing a pair of boxing gloves, which previously hung on the wall of the high school gym.

“Most of all, Carol makes me laugh and sees the importance of having fun while simultaneously contributing to the good of those around here,” Mary Ann said.

Mary Ann Marchel directly followed their mother by pursuing a career in special education, earning a PhD in her field at the University of Minnesota. She worked at UWOshkosh and the U of M in Duluth before returning to school to earn a master’s degree in clinical social work, allowing her to train social workers who work with families who have children with special needs. She and her husband, Mark Hoff, have two children, Kiefer and Mya.

“All of her life, she has been motivated to work with kids, and she especially loves babies,” Carol said. “She is also an activist in her community and she has also undertaken an unusual hobby: she does winter swimming in Lake Superior. So, she’s quite a character.”

The Muellers

Tom and Lorene (Bohl) Mueller were introduced by Lorene’s sister, Tracie (Bohl) Westfall, who read from her nomination letter to the Distinguished Alumni board. Tom and Lorene married soon after graduating in 1981 and 1982, respectively, and were partners in the founding of Miltrim Farms in 1988, helping to grow the fourth-generation farm into a “thriving, modern dairy farm operation.”

“They provide jobs that allow people to live in the Athens community,” Westfall said. “Tom and Lorene take pride in their farm and community and take care to advance their operations in a way that is environmentally friendly and sustainable.”

A few years ago, they opened the Milk Haus learning center at the farm, allowing people to see directly into their robotic milking operation, while offering interactive educational activities and providing a meeting space.

Starting in 2015, the Muellers began providing financial and legal support for what eventually became Athenian Living, an assisted living facility with 30 apartments for senior citizens.

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the couple regularly purchased meals from local restaurants for their workers and others. They also organized a tractor parade for residents at Athenian Living, who were able to come out of their apartments and view the farm equipment up close.

“It was a treat that brought smiles to everyone during a time of extreme isolation for many,” Westfall said.

The Muellers were also instrumental in forming the Progress Athens Foundation, a local non-profit organization that raised nearly $500,000 to purchase the former U.S. Bank office in downtown Athens and transform it into a new municipal center that opened in December. The couple is also working with S.C. Swiderski to build new apartments in the village.

Westfall said the Muellers’ story “just goes to show you that you can stay local and be successful.”

Keith Sjostrom

A class of 1980 graduate, Keith Sjostrom attended UW-Superior and earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics before completing a master’s program in geophysical engineering at Montana Tech. His areas of study include the investigation of bore holes and electrical measurement, according to his father, Jerry Sjostrom, who was a teacher and driver’s ed instructor in Athens.

Keith worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Miss. for 10 years before taking a job at the Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa, which makes boring equipment and other agricultural machinery. The technology he works on includes groundpenetrating radar, drill heads and portable directional drilling systems.

During his career, Keith has published 20 technical reports and nine professional papers, holds four patents and has presented at 20 conferences all over the country. He is a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma national physics honors society and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. He and his wife, Mary Ann, live in Des Moines, Iowa.

When accepting his award, Keith said he felt honored to be recognized for his accomplishments, even though he established his career elsewhere.

“I make it back once a year to come visit... and I have my Athens pride, but I never thought of myself as a distinguished alumni,” he said.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI - The 2024 Athens Distinguished Alumni were, from left to right, Keith Sjostrom; sisters Mary Ann Marchel, Kathy (Marchel) Heier, and Carol Marchel (appearing via video); and Tom and Lorene (Bohl) Mueller. They were recognized at a ceremony at Athens High School this past Sunday.

STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN O’BRIEN