Blog

Sharing their success with future Muskies

Oct. 1, 2026

The 164-year history of Lakeland University is filled with the stories of couples finding themselves, finding one another and generously making it possible for future students to repeat history.

Dennis and Jeanie (Kurka) Reimer ’74 ’77, who created the Dennis and Jeanie Kurka Reimer Scholarship, have Lakeland roots dating back nearly five decades and a growing legacy of helping their fellow Muskies.

Dennis, a native of Bailey’s Harbor, Wis., graduated from tiny Gibraltar High School knowing he wanted a career in business. There were two schools on his college search list – UW-Madison and Lakeland, the latter with a well-known business program created by Prof. J. Garland Schilcutt. A combination of civil unrest in Madison at that time and a full scholarship from Lakeland led to him becoming a Muskie. He was a first-generation college student and remains the only one of his siblings with a 4 year college degree.

Jeanie’s introduction to Lakeland came on a visit with her pastor, The Rev. Don Stannard ’58 ’60. An Appleton, Wis., native, she was just 17 years old when she graduated from East High School and Lakeland’s smaller campus and friendly atmosphere was appealing compared to the larger state schools and campuses that felt overwhelming.

They blossomed during their time as Muskies.

Dennis, who graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration, joined the Psi Alpha Kappa business fraternity and became president, was editor of the Spectrum, sang in the choir and was night manager under Richard Pruehs in the campus center.

Jeanie graduated with a bachelor’s in sociology with minors in psychology and business administration and was extensively involved. She was a cheerleader, played volleyball, was a member of the student admissions team, was student secretary for Prof. Schilcutt for three years and was a member of the Homecoming and May Day courts. She won the 1977 Clarence H. Koehler Award, the university's top award for undergraduate students.

Their Lakeland years proved formative in many ways and paved the way for their future professional success and personal growth.

“When I first went to college, I didn’t really know what I was going to be involved in, but when you’re on a small campus, the people around you help you get involved,” Jeanie said. “You couldn’t help but become part of the community and find ways to make a difference.”

After graduating from Lakeland, she went on to earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW) and build a more than 30-year career in human services and social justice. She worked as a therapist and as a local community and statewide leader in sexual assault nonprofit organizations. That commitment to service continues today through her international work in the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary in Tallinn, Estonia and as an In Mission Together Partnership Coordinator, supporting church partnerships throughout the three countries.

“Prof. Schilcutt and Dr. (Keith) Striggow were two professors who helped me build my confidence and instilled a lot of leadership in me,” she said. “Those two, in particular, believed in me at a time when I needed that.”

Dennis came to Lakeland with little confidence in himself. He found the Lakeland environment to be the perfect setting to discover who he was. “It’s the caring, nurturing environment from staff and faculty along with the strong sense of family that develops within the student body at a smaller school environment like Lakeland,” he said. “We knew everybody on campus and travel with many of them today.”

Dennis said his Lakeland experience was essential to his finding himself and eventually discovering his leadership potential. That led to a 40-year career in the paper industry, earning his MBA and eventually owning Midwest Specialty Products in Winneconne, Wis. He continues to put his leadership skills to work today, serving on the board of directors of The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake and as president of the board of directors of NewVoices, a choral group in Northeast Wisconsin.

Dennis and Jeanie met in October of 1973 when he was a senior and she was a freshman. During a walk to the campus center, one of his frat brothers asked if he’d seen the two “good looking freshman girls” who were new to campus. When they arrived at the Muskie Inn, he pointed out Jeanie to Dennis. “I knew right away I was going to marry her,” Dennis said.

Their first date came in the spring and, after Dennis graduated, their relationship grew that summer. They married on July 10, 1976, during her junior year and held their reception at Lakeland.

After marrying, their close connection to Lakeland drifted for several years as they raised a family and pursued their careers. Several years later, they were invited to reconnect with the college by joining Prof. Schilcutt on a cruise as part of Lakeland’s 150th anniversary celebration.

They’ve taken advantage of alumni programs and events which brought that Lakeland family back into their lives and, in turn, they’ve taken leadership roles and created new opportunities for other alums.

The Reimers’ motivation to give to Lakeland centers on four key principles:

• Dennis and Jeanie both attended Lakeland on scholarships. They believe this is their time to support students, just like others did for them. “It’s an appreciation of what we got back in those days that created this foundation of who we are today,” Dennis said. “These students are experiencing the same things we did, the family environment and the support they’re getting.”
• Lakeland’s commitment to growth, innovation and change. “This is a university that refuses to remain stagnant, embracing change and adapting with the times,” Jeanie said. “Lakeland inspired us to believe that change is not only possible, it is essential.”
• To provide today’s students with the opportunity to develop lifelong skills, to strengthen their values and to find their voice. “Lakeland helped both of us grow into who we were meant to be, not only as students, but as future leaders in our careers and in our community,” Jeanie said. “We want today’s Lakeland students to have that same chance – to find their voice, to be inspired by what they learn and to discover their own unique path forward, just as we did.”
• Their belief in the transformative power of education. “By contributing to the scholarship fund, we become a part of something greater than ourselves,” Jeanie said. “Every gift we give is a chance to open doors for someone who may have believed their dreams were out of reach and to ensure that the same opportunities that shaped our own journeys are available to those who follow in our footsteps.”

Since it was first awarded in the 2022-23 academic year, the Dennis and Jeanie Kurka Reimer Scholarship has been awarded to 13 Lakeland students, with many more to come. The Reimers met some of their students earlier this year at the scholarship donor luncheon.

“It was incredible to hear about their dreams for the future and what they were gaining at Lakeland, especially through Co-Op,” Jeanie said. “This is really the gem of what Lakeland is … the innovation and the creativity. To hear their stories, it makes us want to continue to give because of their potential and future.”

Honor your Lakeland story and continue our legacy with a gift supporting our Lakeland students. Connect with our Advancement team at Advancement@lakeland.edu or give online at https://lakeland.edu/alumni-and-giving/give.