102-year-old alum still going strong: Rachael Woodhouse Kester
- Aug. 22, 2019
I thought you might enjoy hearing about one of UW’s very senior alums. Rachael Woodhouse Kester was born and grew up in Prairie du Chien, WI. She graduated from UW in 1937 majoring in French. Rachael is 102 years old and lives in a senior independent living community in Boulder, Colorado. She is still very active and doing well both physically and mentally. She recently had an “art” exhibit here displaying her spinning, weaving, knitting and sewing skills in the many projects she created over the years. More recently, she has taken up painting and still shows great talent. As you can see in the attached photo, she is still knitting.
She enjoyed reading the latest issue of ” On Wisconsin” about the many UW female alumni from years past -many who were her contemporaries. Go Rachael. Go Badgers!
More Alumni Notes
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Life feels especially full this year – continuing to work as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, partnering with clients helping them achieve their goals. Proudly looking forward to my son’s graduation from the Air Force Academy and upcoming fl...
Joseph Landon Coleman, of Superior, Colorado, passed away on February 4, 2026, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 59. Joe was born April 1, 1966, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Walter and Ann Coleman. His childh...
Henry “Al” Engler ’61 passed away peacefully at home in Chapel Hill, NC, on January 30, 2026, surrounded by family. He will be remembered for his q...
Having gotten back into fishing in 1992, I (William Schultz ’73) caught and released my first smallmouth bass in May of 1994. Having kept a log during my time as a Badger swimmer and Hall of Fame racquetball career, I keep one for my fishing. So, ...
Samantha Rude ’18, MS’20 recently completed her PhD in plant pathology at the University of Minnesota. Sam has relocated to Sacramento, CA, to become a research scientist at California Seed and Plant Labs, where she specializes in the development ...
Kenneth M. Kapp MS’64, PhD’67, a former UW–Milwaukee mathematics professor and researcher, has been writing for a number of years. His essays have ...
After six years of hosting the Lead Balloon podcast about the adventures of professional storytellers, Wisconsin-based creator Dusty Weis ’07 has b...
Matthew Conley ’14 is now a senior associate and new part owner at Apex Engineers. A member of the firm’s Denver team since 2016, Conley is a go-to...
After working in international development for more than 25 years, Kristen P. Patterson MS’04 founded Sacred Journey Death Doula in late 2025. Based in Arlington, Virginia, Sacred Journey centers connection, compassion, reverence, and joy for indi...
For David Fein ’89, the formation of his law firm represents more than a professional milestone — it reflects a lifetime shaped by place, perspecti...
Life feels especially full this year – continuing to work as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, partnering with clients helping them achieve their goals. Proudly looking forward to my son’s graduation from the Air Force Academy and upcoming fl...
Joseph Landon Coleman, of Superior, Colorado, passed away on February 4, 2026, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 59. Joe was born April 1, 1966, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Walter and Ann Coleman. His childh...
Henry “Al” Engler ’61 passed away peacefully at home in Chapel Hill, NC, on January 30, 2026, surrounded by family. He will be remembered for his q...
Having gotten back into fishing in 1992, I (William Schultz ’73) caught and released my first smallmouth bass in May of 1994. Having kept a log during my time as a Badger swimmer and Hall of Fame racquetball career, I keep one for my fishing. So, ...
Samantha Rude ’18, MS’20 recently completed her PhD in plant pathology at the University of Minnesota. Sam has relocated to Sacramento, CA, to become a research scientist at California Seed and Plant Labs, where she specializes in the development ...
Kenneth M. Kapp MS’64, PhD’67, a former UW–Milwaukee mathematics professor and researcher, has been writing for a number of years. His essays have ...
After six years of hosting the Lead Balloon podcast about the adventures of professional storytellers, Wisconsin-based creator Dusty Weis ’07 has b...
Matthew Conley ’14 is now a senior associate and new part owner at Apex Engineers. A member of the firm’s Denver team since 2016, Conley is a go-to...
After working in international development for more than 25 years, Kristen P. Patterson MS’04 founded Sacred Journey Death Doula in late 2025. Based in Arlington, Virginia, Sacred Journey centers connection, compassion, reverence, and joy for indi...
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