News Paper Writeup
The Oelwein Community High School class of 1961 held its 50th class reunion July 22-24 at Edgewater Golf Course clubhouse. Forty-five classmates attended from one to three events through out the week-end.
Friday evening a casual supper was held in the lower level of the clubhouse with 58 classmates and guests attending.
Saturday events included touring the Oelwein Library, Hub City Brewery, High School/Williams Center and “Husky Walk of Pride”.
Saturday evening 74 classmates and guests attended the banquet’s re-creation of the 1961 senior prom, “Bali Hai”. The school colors of purple and gold were mixed with the tropical colors of pink, blue, red, yellow, orange and green for decorating in a tropical theme. Each guest was presented a lei, “Huskies” booklet and name tags with their graduation picture and including one for each guest. Programs for the evening were similar to the original, made of burlap and cardstock with a 50 on the cover in pearl cotton with the “0” being closed with purple and gold jewels. The “Huskies” booklet contained remembrances of classmates that are deceased, a class directory and “Senior Snaps” a short bio of each student from their senior year as they appeared each Saturday throughout the 1960-1961 school year in the Oelwein Daily Register.
Don Sullivan, class president was MC for the evening with the assistance of Susan Cahill-Jarvis, class secretary. Classmates that have passed away include Leonard Baker, Dianne Beier-Cusick, Larry Boutrous, Jan Carpenter-Bird, Marion Chaplin, Martin Davis, Olive Davis-Stackhouse, Judy Holtzman-Snively, John Houge, Merlin James, Barb Juhl-Jones, Robbie Leo, Ben Levin, Ron McLaury, Bob Pepin, Karen Peterman-Cole, Marvin Reisner, Joan Saathoff-Schult, Sharon Sattizahn-McGlaughlin, Hillary Steggall, Clem Taffola and Rollie Woolsey. They were remembered with a moment of silence. Excerpts from the Class History, Class Prophecy, Class Will and Testament were read for each classmate attending. High school memories and nicknames were also shared during the program. At the close of the program a drawing was held for a fishing rod and reel made and donated by Sam Fox. The rod is graphite, painted purple; the eyes are purple with gold shock rings. It is 7 foot long and the eyes are wrapped with purple and gold thread. There is a 7 inch thread wrapped butt decoration consisting of 48 individual purple and gold thread wrapped in a chevron pattern. The reel is gold colored and the butt is purple swirl acrylic with a ring of walnut and ivory colored plastic. The butt cap is ebony wood with a figure of a husky dog encapsulated in the end. It is labeled “OHS 50th” reunion 1961-2011 in front of the reel seat. It is entirely hand crafted and one of a kind. Winning the rod was Marsha Damge-Mason, Traer, IA.
Sunday morning a breakfast for 37 was held before farewells were said.
Classmates attending were: Susan Cahill-Jarvis, Princeton, IA., David Clark, Red Oak, IA., Mike Cole, Shell Knob, MO., Marsha Damge-Mason, Traer, IA., M. Harry Daniels, Gainsville, Fl., Gloria Daringer-Watson, Lexington, KY., Chuck and Luetta(Bradley) DeTimmerman, Oelwein, IA., Patricia Emerson-Berg, Accokeek, MD., Diane Follmer, St. Paul, MN., Gary Fox, Moreno Valley, CA., Sam Fox, Harpers Ferry, IA., Pat Frazer, San Diego, CA., Jim Gustin, Oelwein, IA., Wayne Kauten, Omaha, NE., Mary Keniston-Marting, Amarillo, TX., Roger and Lucille (Hughson) Kerns, Fairbank, IA., Jill King-Pleshek, Fairfield, OH., John Kleiman, Harpers Ferry, IA., Bill Klendworth, Oelwein, IA., Tammy Luther-Oltrogge, Manchester, IA., Gene Lutz, Altoona, IA., Nancy McBride-Struyk, Grand Rapids, MI., Crayton McCleery, New Haven, IN., Gordon Meisgeier, Papillion, NE., John Miculinich, Oelwein, IA., Bernis Molinsky-Pederson, Watertown, WI., Lynne Plaster-Workman, Oelwein, IA., Larry Reaves, Jacksonville, AR., Colleen Ryan-Pointer, Southlake, TX., Margie Smith-Butler, Wonewoc, WI., Cheryl Sorensen-Matthias, Manitowoc, WI., Dave Steffen, Ankey, IA., Clarice Steggall-Grantham, Harcourt, IA., Barb Storms-Simmons, Shawnee Mission, KA., Dale Strosahl, Marshall, MN., Don Sullivan, Coupeville , WA., Gene Tonn, Plantation, FL., Sandy Vanselow-Seedorff, Oelwein, IA., Ed Villwock, Villa Park, IL., Pat Walton-Hagg, Richland Center, WI., Sheryol Werner-Buchanan, Escondido, CA., Jay Wolfe, Cedar Rapids, IA. and Gary Wunder, Quasqueton, IA.
Committee members were Chuck and Luetta (Bradley) DeTimmerman, Roger & Lucille (Hughson) Kerns, Tammy Luther-Oltrogge, Lynne Plaster-Workman and Sandy Vanselow-Seedorff. Gene Tonn is the class webmaster and regularly keeps their website, www.ohs1961.us updated.
The next re-union will be held in 2016.
