Loss of Another Class Member

Morrie Sites just sent me a note that Cathy Walter Gilbert passed away 2 weeks ago.  Our prayers are with her family as we mourn their loss.
Catherine C. Gilbert
,
Catherine C. Gilbert, 68, of South Whitley, died at 2:29 p.m. Monday, November 14, 2011 at Sycamore Village, Fort Wayne where she had been a resident for the past three years.
She was born February 4, 1943 in Wabash County, Indiana a daughter of Victor and Ruth (Tschantz) Walter. Her formative years were spent in North Manchester. She graduated from North Manchester High School in 1961.
On August 29, 1965, she was united in marriage to Donald D. Gilbert. They have always made their home in Whitley County moving to their farm in 1972.
She was employed by Whitko High School in the cafeteria for 17 years retiring in 2003.
Surviving include her husband, Donald; two sons, Todd ( Margaret) Gilbert, South Whitley and Troy (Morgan) Gilbert, Lafayette; a daughter Renee (Terry) Nicodemus, South Whitley; six grandchildren; two sisters, Kay Capistrona, California and Sharon (Charles) Martin, Fort Wayne and a brother, Donald (Mary) Walter, Ohio.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Kendall Walter.
The funeral service were held Thursday 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church of South Whitley with Rev. Robert Barton officiating. The burial was in the South Whitley Cemetery.
Memorial may be made to United Methodist Church of South Whitley.

MHS Class donates to Center for History

 As those of you who attended the 50th Reunion last month remember, we took up a collection to defray some additional costs. You all were so generous that we have an additional balance in our account. It was decided to donate $100.00 to the Center for History in North Manchester in honor of our class and all those we have lost over the past 50 years. Many of you visited the Center for History while you were back for the reunion and enjoyed the quality of the work they are doing with very little financial support. Hope you all agree that this is indeed a worthy cause for us to support.

Thomas Marshall Photos Part 3

 

Grade Four and Five - Miss Brane - 1953-54

First Row - Bobby Knapp, Sandy Sayers, Ann Kitson, Sharon Leedy, Max Hammonds, Beverly Conine, Sandra Coon, John Leatherman

Second Row - Alice Kindley, Marylou Holford, Audrey Ellen Hinkle, Keith Lytle, Larry Shively, Kent Smith, Diane Oswald, Jane Grossnickle, Phil Franz

Third Row - Pat Roberts, Chirstine Shilts, Inara Stulpins, Steve Stitt, Donald Kistler, James Ross, Jerry Flynn, Judy Vandermark, Nancy Bickle

Fourth Row - Karen Walker, Cheryl McFarland, Rhoda Kathleen domer, Velda Pudis, Heidi Hoffman

 

Grade Five and Six - Mr. Kenneth Burr - 1954-55

First Row - Sharon Leedy, Danny Gradstaff, Jerry Roth, Steve Shively, Beverly Conine, Sandy Sayers, Sandra Coon

Second Row - Mike Lenz, Max Hammonds, Nancy Bickle, Jane Grossnickle, Susan Snyder, John Leatherman

Third Row - Judy Vandermark, Christine Shilts, Alice Kindley, Pat Roberts, Cheryl McFarland, James Ross, John Leatherman

Fourth Row - Douglas Tallas, Jerry Flynn, Steve Stitt, Kent Smith, Rhoda Kathleen Domer, Inara Stulpins, Karen Walker, Velda Pudis, Linda Ford

More Thomas Marshall Pictures

Grade Three and Four -- Miss Lucille Wright -- 1951-52

First Row -- ??, Sandy Sayers, Mike ___, Keith Lytle, Janet Parker, John Leatherman, Max Hammonds, Renee Rigdon

Second Row - Sue Miller, Janet Allen, Alice Kindley, Judy Vandermark, Johnny Hayes, Evelyn Holderman, Jane Grossnickle

Third Row - Rhoda Kathleen Domer, Norma Rice, Pat Roberts, Larry Greer, Kent Smith, Divid Conine, Roy Cleveland

Fourth Row - Steve Stitt, Jerry Flynn, Nora Lindholm, Heidi Hoffman, Karen Walker, Inara Stulpins, ??

Grade Three and Four -- Miss Lucile Wright -- 1952-53

Front Row - Susan Yeatter, Becky Meyer, Steve Shively, time Reiman, Sandy Sayers, Ann Kitson, Judy Martin

Second Row - Jerry Roth, Audrey Ellen Hinkle, Beverly Hammonds, Phil Reiman, ??, John Leatherman, Tommy Greer

Third Row - Nancy Bickle, Susan Snyder, Phil Franz, Max Hammonds, Nancy Reed, Judy Vandermark, Marylou Holford, Sandra Coon

Fourth Row - Linda Ford, Inara Stulpins, Cheryl McFarland, Velda Pudis, Heidi Hoffman, James Ross, Kent Smith, Alice Kindley

Max’s photos of Thomas Marshall

These are the photos that were running on Max’s computer at our reunion.  Now, we have photo IDs for most all in the pictures.

Kindergarten - at NMHS auditorium

Start in the front with Alice Kindley - going counter clock

Alice Kindley, Sandy Sayers, Judy Vandermark, Max Hammonds, Willodean Sands, ??, Pat Roberts, Ronnie Baker??, ?? Maxine Creecy, ??, Mary Lou Landis, Larry Ihnen, ??, Fred Baker, ??, Judy Pruitt, Rhoda Kathleen Domer, ??, Roger Grossnickle, ??, ??, ??, Billy Sincroft, ??, ??, ??, ?? Jane Grossnickle, Keith Lytle, ??, ??, Robert Brubaker, Judy Vandermark, Terry West, ??, ??

 

Kindergarten - morning class - 1948-49

Front Row - Max Hammonds, ??, Nancy Beam, Judy Pruitt, Larry Ihnen, Diana McCullough, Maxine Creecy, Bobby Steele, Keith Lytle

Back Row - Carol Lambert, ??, Ann Urschel, Billy Sincroft, ??, Jane Grossnickle, ??, Judy Vandermark, Robert Brubaker, Terry West, Roger Grossnickle

 

 

First and Second Grade - Miss Edith Drescher - 1950-51

Sitting - Susan Snyder, Nancy Reed, Phil Reiman, Tim Reiman, ??, ??, Tommy Greer, Audrey Ellen Hinkle, ??, // Susan Yeatter, Becky Meyer, Phil Frantz, Ann Kitson

Standing - Sandy Sayers, Max Hammonds, Brian Book, Heidi Hoffman, Ann Urschel, Inara Stulpins, ??, Karen Walker, Kent Smith, Rhoda Kathleen Domer, Norma Rice, Jerry Flynn, Steve Stitt, John Hanna, Keith Lytle

Reunion Photo ID

Were you having challenges identifying everyone in our reunion photo that was published after our reunion?  The following is now your cheat sheet.  Please let me know if I have made a mistake and a correction will follow.


Identification of MHS Class of 1961 photo
Front Row: Left to Right
Carolyn Coon Crist, Jean Littlefield Keel, Marilyn Hardman Brinker, Joyce Hinman Simmons, Ann Urschel Hapner, Barbara Stoops Schannep
Second Row:
Frieda Nutter Good, Pat Roberts Reisterer, Eva Jean Robinson Black, Marilyn Sue Miller, Carol Sue Rooney, Carolyn Hippensteel Hoover, Hilda Haupert Wilcox, Janet Purdy King, Judy Vandermark Judjan, Nancy Beam Wible
Third Row:
Bill Sincroft, Art Daub, Marvin Allen, Jerry Flinn, Steve Briner, Kent Smith, Max Hammonds, Lois Kay Ulrey Jones, Kathy Quick Bashore, Mary Lou Landis Moseke, Karen Walker Wright, Rhoda Domer Miller, Inara Stulpins Leimanis, Brunette Bazzoni Mihail, Larry Ihnen,
Fourth Row:
Gary Montel, Ted Oldfather, Jim Krichbaum, Steve Ulrey, Fred Baker, Ron Baker, Tom Torpy, Fred Lucas, Joyce Beery Miles, Hugh Russell, Terry West

IN MEMORIUM

A number of you asked for a listing of all those classmates who had died, along with their date of death.  Thanks to Gary Montel, we have this listing.

                 

Janet Bollinger Crumley       Brian Book                      Bob Brubaker

         12.2.0.98                          6.29.98                                   3.09.03

           

        Roy Cleveland           Janet Hartsough Rosen   Rosalie Hunn Connor

   7.4.63                                12.24.82                              4.85

             

John Leatherman            Sandy Sayers Comerford    Christine Shilts Caird

         5.30.92                                4.29.95                               3.28.88

                               

                           Tom Tate                               Doug Vought

                   7.27.10                                      5.14.05

Esther Taylor Staley Hassing

Esther has been following us on the blog and enjoys seeing everyone.  She shares the following and a lovely photo:  After my husband of 45 years left……..

I met this wonderful man at a dance. I had always wanted a dancing partner.
So we are having a lot of fun dancing, boating, hiking and traveling.
He is a bus driver so he has his summers off which allows us to travel. I am permanently retired when I was laid off two years ago from being secretary at a United Methodist Church.

Esther and her new husband of one year Gene Hassing.

Our Itinerary for Med Cruising

Some of you indicated that you might want to follow our blog while we are vacationing in the Mediterranean next month.  If you would like to be added to our blog list, please send me an e-mail and you will then receive notification when we post.  I will not add your name unless you tell me you want to follow us.  If you have told me, I have added your name.  Our actual itinerary will be on our Med blog posting. 

Best Chocolate Cake Ever

In celebration of our 50th year, Hilda Haupert Wilcox brought two reunion cakes; one chocolate and one white cake.  I can’t speak for the white cake, but the chocolate cake was to die for.  Thanks, Hilda for helping us celebrate our 50 years.

MHS Class of 1961 Reunion a Smashing Success

We had 68 in attendance with 43 classmates present.  Over 75 % of us have e-mail, so we can stay connected.  A recent example of benefits of staying connected is Nancy Beam Wible’s open heart surgery and subsequent updates.  Many of you saw Nancy at the reunion and were stunned to hear that she was hospitalized so soon after.  However, with the internet group e-mail, we were able to alert many people in a short time. 

We are in the process of uploading all the photos we took at the reunion into a file that is easily accessible.  If you have some photos you took and would like to share, please send them and I will post on the blog.  Meanwhile, this is the group photo we had taken.  Will take time at a later date to identify all in the photo.

You should be able to capture this and print if you want a hard copy.  If you have difficulties with this, e-mail me and I will send you another file with the photo.

Pat and Karen Visit Nora

On their way from Warsaw and our 50th Reunion, back to Charlotte, NC, Karen Walker Wright and Pat Roberts Reisterer stopped by to see Nora Lindholm Swanbeck..  Several of you asked about Nora and as you can see, she is very much alive and well. These girls look as if they are up to no good!  ( What is new???)

MHS Class of 1961 First Grade

Pat Roberts Reisterer sent this photo in of the Central first and second grades. There was just one class here in this school for kids who lived close to the school.

 

Fred Lucas             Bill Sincroft

                       Judy Vandermark 

  

                                     Fred Baker

 

        

                          Mary Lou Landis

More Thomas Marshall photos

This is another elementary school photo from Thomas Marshall. Probably third or fourth grade for those in the MHS Class of 1961.  Rhoda said this was Christmas 1954.  That would make it 6th grade.  Rhoda has another photo, but somehow I lost it in the cropping edits. 

Top, from left to right:
Jerry F., Rhoda D., Karen W., Douglas T. or F., Steve S., Kent S., Inara S., Valda P., Linda D.
Judy V., Christine S, Alice k. , Pat R., Cheryl McF., James R.
Mieke L. ( not sure the spelling is correct), Max H., Nancy B. (doesn't look like the Nancy B. I know), Jane G., Susan S., Johnny L.
Sharon L., Danny G., Jerry R., Larry S., Beverly C., Sandy S. and Sandra C.

Thomas Marshall Elementary

Rhoda was inspired by the Chester Elementary photo to look for Thomas Marshall Elementary photos.  She found these:

Taken in 1949  FIRST GRADE for Class of 1961

These are those that Rhoda could identify:

This was taken in 1949. Our class was in 1st grade with 2nd graders, at least for this picture.

BAck row, 3rd in from L., Kent S., Back row, from Ms. Dresher is Ann U.

2nd row, from L., 2nd in is Mike Domer, then Sandy S. older sister, with Steve S. on far end.

1st row from R. is Jerry F., Rhoda D., Norma R., Karen W., and the rest I don't recognize.

Our Graduation Night

On the Manchester Center for History site, there is a narrative about my Dad’s apple orchard—BEERY’S ORCHARD.  Here is a paragraph from that story:
Producing apples is a pretty high risk business. Late spring freezes, long periods of rainy weather, plus all the diseases and insects that can attack the crop, are a constant worry during every growing season. Only twice in 45 years did I have a complete failure of the apple crop—in 1944 and 1961. In 1961, the trees bloomed and set on a full crop and had apples as big as your thumb. Then a hard freeze came on May 25 and wiped out every apple in the orchard. That was the latest a crop was damaged by a late freeze. Over the course of the years, we had varying degrees of loss from late spring freezes, from 10% to 60%. In years when the crop was less than normal, we would buy apples from Michigan and other orchards in the area. Cider was a big drawing card when selling direct from the orchard. We had to take our apples to a cider mill to get cider made. Over the years, we went to cider mills as far away as Rochester (24 miles), Athens (18 miles), Columbia City (25 miles), and Huntington (18 miles). In 1978, we bought our own cider press and saved a lot of man-hours from running to the mills. 
That night of May 25, 1961 was our graduation night.  I remember having a party at Ann Urschel’s house and how cold it was that night.  I never had any trouble remembering the apple freeze because I always knew it was our graduation night.

Chester Class of 1950-51

SECOND GRADE

for the Chester students who graduated in 1961.

First row: Carol Sue Metzger, Vicki Miller, Morris Sites, Jimmy Utter, unknown________ (hand over face) unknown red haired boy________, Ronnie Baker, Jimmy_______, Kenneth Kline.

Second row: Esther and Evelyn Taylor

Third Row: Deloris Sites, Ethel Cook, Judy______, Brunette Bazoni, Carolyn Coon, Janet Bollinger, Hilda Haupert, Becky Myers, Janet Sue Purdy, Janet Hartsough, Barbara Stoops, Cathy Walter.

Fourth row: Joyce Beery, Mrs. Leffel.

Chester Elementary 1949-50

Dee Sites Johnke just sent this photo of Miss Ruth Dillman’s first grade class.  This is the class where the Chester kids in the class of 1961 started together.  If others of you have first grade photos of Servia or Liberty Mills or any of the town elementary classes, please send and we will post. FIRST GRADE
Dee has started to identify these folks, but we have some gaps.  If you can assist, send me an e-mail with the names. 
First row: Deloris Sites, Jimmy_____ Becky Myers, Keith Lytle, Janet Hartsough, Sue Houser, Janet Bolllinger;
2nd row: Vicki Miller, Jimmy Utter, Hilda Haupert, Ronnie Baker, Barbara Stoops, Esther and Evelyn Taylor, Cathy Walter, Ethel Cook
Back Row: Eddie Kline, Janet Sue Purdy, Morris Sites, Kenneth Kline, Joyce Beery, _____ boy with red hair, Brunett Bazzoni, ______ girl, Carol Sue Metzger

Can’t Believe our Reunion is here

Hello to all.  Your committee is furiously putting the finishing touches on all the preparations for our reunion.  Nancy Beam Wible reports that we have 70 reservations with 43 of those being our classmates.  We are excited about such a grand turnout.  Nearly 40 (total) have indicated that they will attend the Main View at 6:00 on Friday night.  REMEMBER THAT THIS IS FUN FEST “CRUISE IN”, and Main Street will be blocked and parking a premium. Arrive early and plan to walk a ways.

Nancy also reported that the Manchester Historical Museum will be open until 9:00 PM on Friday evening, so you might want to arrive really early and take a look at what they have on display.  At one time, they had a Manchester High School display with all sorts of memorabilia. We aren’t sure if this is still out for viewing. ( The Museum is in the old Oppenheim’s Store on Main Street ).

Mini Reunion At Main View

Marvin Allen sent this photo that his wife took as a group of MHS 61 classmates met at the Main View this summer.  Thanks for sharing, Marvin.  This is just a preview of all the fun we will have next month at our full MHS 61 Reunion. If some of you thought you didn’t want to come to the reunion, hope you are rethinking and will join us. There is still time to send your money to Nancy Beam Wible. Deadline is July 20.  Don’t forget to let Nancy know if you will join us on Friday night at the Main View.  So far, there are over 20 coming on Friday night.

Back Row:  Hilda Haupert Wilcox, Barbara Stoops Schannep. Marvin Allen Front Row:  Jerry Flinn, Norv Bradley, Steve Briner

Greetings from the Wild North

Len Grupp has decided to share a tiny piece of his life for the past 50 years and has sent a photo.  He is a fishing and hunting guide in the wilds of our neighbor to the north.  This is a far piece from the years since he graduated from Purdue and went on to teach and become a school administrator.  He won’t see us at the reunion in August as this is prime fishing and hunting season. 

 What a catch.  No wonder he doesn’t want to leave to come to the reunion.

You Can't Relive All Your Glory Days

You can't relive all your glory days from high school, but you can revisit them.

Join us for our 50th Reunion. The place is the Ramada Plaza in Warsaw. The date is August 13, 2011. We will have social hour from 5:30-6:30 and dinner at 6:30 with program to follow. Please bring photos, memorabilia from your high days to share. Also consider a photo or an object that you can "Show and Tell" that illustrates something significant from your last 50 years. Watch your in box for an e-mail message with detailed information as well as an RSVP form to send in with your check.

Also, this same weekend is the FUNFEST in Manchester with a car cruise in on Friday night, August 11, 2011.  We are planning an informal  Dutch Treat evening meal at the Main View Inn at 6:00  This is a busy night in town, so plan ahead for time to arrive and find a parking spot.  We aren't taking food orders, but we do need to tell the owners at THE MAIN VIEW how many to expect, so if you want to attend, please indicate that on your RSVP form.  This may be a chance for people to attend who wanted to skip the Saturday night event or had conflicting schedules for Saturday.

Dee Sites Johnke shares her story

Dee graduated from Manchester College with a music degree.  She taught music in Indiana, Illinois and Montana.  She met her husband, Jim, while they were both teachers in Winifred, MT. He was a math teacher. She has also been a church choir director and church pianist for numerous churches over the years. She sang with the Magic City Singers in Billings, MT and has played clarinet with the Billings Community Band for years.

She and Jim live on the ranch/farm where he grew up in the center of Montana. The ranch is on the plains, east of the Rocky Mountains above a cliff called rim rocks. They have raised cattle, sheep and grain in addition to three talented children. David is a band director, following in his Mother’s footsteps, Linda  lives in Germany and works for the Manheim National Theater as a set designer and costume assistant. Tracy is mother to Leif, lives in Washington DC and works for Dow-Jones Market Watch Radio.  In retirement, Jim does remodeling and house painting—that’s when he isn’t involved with local and district level Lions Club activities.

Dee and Jim have traveled extensively in the US as well as traveled to Germany, where one daughter lives and to Washington DC where the other daughter lives.

Dee and Grandson, Leif

                         

Mick, Linda, Dee, Jim, David, Aaron, Leif, Tracy

Photos from our 25th Reunion

While I was searching for some old photos, I came across the ones from our 25th Reunion. If others of you have some from other reunions, please send them to me, either hard copy or digital.  What I have done with these is take a digital photo of the original, then the file is accessible for use on the web.  You could do the same with your camera and then send to me at joycemiles@aol.com.

Have no memory of what Nancy Beam Wible was doing, but Stan Beery was the target.

 This was after how many drinks???? Joyce Beery, Janet Purdy and Lois Ulrey

                               Ann Urschel Hapner, Esther Taylor Staley Hassing, Joyce Beery Miles

         Chris Beery (Stan’s wife), Carolyn Coon Crist and Judy Vandermark Judjahn

Steve Stitt Shares a Part of his Life

Finally was able to make a connection with Steve. He and his wife, Jill, live in Elkhart. While employed, Steve was in electromechanical research and development.  He is now retired.  Little known fact is that in the mid to late 60’s, he worked for a US Intelligence organization. He and Jill have traveled in USA, Canada, Great Britain, Asia, Middle East and Hispanola.   He and Jill won’t we attending the reunion as they have a family commitment in Michigan, bus he did send this photo.  Good old Steve still has that twinkle in his eyes and just spells trouble.  Thanks for sharing a piece of your life with us.

Gary Montel keeps Manchester College Alumni running at full speed.

Gary Montel has been working at Manchester College as an Alumni Administrator for over 20 years.  He graduated from Manchester with a degree in accounting and has worked previously in the health care field.  He and his wife Dee are spending weekends in Columbus, OH with son and daughter-in law and 3 month premature baby daughter.  She is thriving and almost weighs 2 #.  He promises that he will send some more photos one of these days.  Until he does, we will use this one from the Manchester College website.  Now we can see why Becky Meyers Naragon  once said Gary won the award for the most improved from our 1961 Class days. Oh, you have aged so well.  We could only wish that all of us were so fortunate! 

News from Lois Ulrey Jones

Lois and Fred returned from a vacation in Grand Cayman Islands which turned into a 2 week trip after Fred was diagnosed with blood clots in his leg.   They remind us that for long plane trips, get up and walk around or pay the consequences.  Lois shared these photos.

The child is Elena Diaz, my daughter Sarah's 3 year old daughter, taken during our 1 week  ocean vacation July 2010 at Bethany Beach. 

                              

                   Lois and Joyce at the all school reunion at MHS in June 2010  Lois and Fred at Fred’s 50th Class Reunion last summer.

More news from the frozen tundra

Hugh has updated us on his latest from the cold north of Ontario.  The temperatures must have finally been right as the sugaring looks to be in full swing. 

             Hugh and Carol on the left and their neighbors on the right.

  Gathering the sap.    Loading the sap to take to the sugar shack featured below. The long night’s boil to make that fabulous maple syrup.

Filtering the finished product. 

                 Now where are the pancakes!