The pantheon of Perry notables gained its 26th and 27th figures Thursday night when two new bas reliefs were unveiled on the Soumas Court Wall of Witnesses in the likenesses of Eleanore “Ellie” Wojan and Alan Hall.
Both Ellie and Alan were lifelong teachers in Perry who influenced many lives by their actions and words, beginning with the lives of their own children, Randall Wojan of Tolono, Illinois, and Stephanie Hall Hansen of Bouton, who both returned for Thursday’s unveiling.
Among the many fond memories shared at the event, Stephanie Hansen repeated the advice her father always gave to young singers: Don’t swallow your chewing gum. It doesn’t digest.”
Randy Wojan noted that his 96-year-old mother, who attended Thursday’s event, has outlived Queen Elizabeth II of England, her contemporary.
Eleanore Parrish married Carl E. Wojan in Platteville, Wisconsin, in 1951, and the family moved to Perry in 1959. Carl was a civil engineer for 25 years on the Milwaukee Railroad. He passed away in 1990.
At 96, Ellie still beams with the caring and can-do spirit that make her a Perry notable. She taught school at St. Patrick Catholic School and then in the Perry public schools and was a teacher consultant in special education for Area XI.
Sue Leslie and Diane Jones, both former teachers in the Perry school system, shared memories of Ellie in their professional days.
Ellie was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Perry, teaching confirmation classes and summer bible school, and she served as the Christian Global Concerns coordinator and was very active in the King’s Circle.
Alan Hall and Betty Lue Garland Hall also moved to Perry in 1959 and apart from a one-year stint in his native Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967, he lived in Perry until passing away in 2016.
Alan was an active member of the Perry community for close to 60 years as a teacher of vocal music in the Perry schools for 35 years, a choir director for a community group and the Methodist church.
He also sang and played the organ for many weddings and funerals and continued to play the organ for church services while residing at the Rowley Masonic Home.
Alan started the Rotary Appreciation dinner, was a founding member of Perry Fine Arts and the Society of Retired Educators and sang in a men’s choir and a barbershop quartet, which latter was humorously recalled by Chuck Schott, Alan’s fellow barbershop songster.
Perry was his home, and he was proud of this town. Many people fondly remember Alan’s love of music in all forms and his passing that love along to them.
Stephanie Hansen had her children and grandchildren at her side Thursday, still sharing the memories for future years.
