Presenting the
CLASS of '61
Grateful to Be 80!
60 years since graduation! Back in the day we were "sump’n" else: accountants; activists; actors; administrators;
adventurists; airline workers; appraisers; archaeologists; artisans; artists; attorneys; bankers; beauticians; carpenters;
cowboys; chiropractors; clerks; college administrators; conservationists; consultants; counselors; dentists; developers;
diplomats; doctors, educators; elders; firefighters; handymen; health care professionals; homemakers; horse breeders; horticulturists; hunters; journalists; jewelers; managers; manufacturers; mechanics; military; parents; physicists; pilots;
poets; police; politicians; preachers; publicists; public servants; ranchers; realtors; researchers; sales associates; technicians; therapists; urologists; volunteers; and writers. For a bunch of 70 somethings, we think we're still pretty easy on the eyes.
J-P
CLICK TO ENLARGE
L-R: Ray Arco, Treasurer, and Steve Langley, Chair welcome classmates to the 58th Reunion.
After living in the UK and Latin America, Bruce and Genevieve summer in Martha's Vineyard and “snowbird” in Key Largo. Bruce got his BA and MBA from DePauw and Indiana Universities. He met Genevieve, his Swiss wife of 47 years, while on a Peace Corps stint in Columbia. After 26 years, in 2001, he retired from the Merck. Their married son and daughter live in CO.
Al and Cindy Barnes Johnson (WHS Class of '60) have been married 48 years. For the past 11 years, he and Cindy (retired Unitarian Universalist minister) have lived in Bailey's Harbor, Door County, WI. Al retired from Kimberly-Clark after 28 years. Their 3 children and 4 grandchildren are scattered across the country in Sheboygan, WI; Austin, TX; and Durango, CO, where the Johnsons own a second home.
Alice, of Rosston, AR, is shown with her late husband, Donald, whom she joined on his over the road truck rides.
Doug, who now lives in Issaquah, WA, says, "Since retiring from my Seattle architectural practice in 2008, I've enjoyed gardening and writing a biography of a female Soviet espionage officer. Life is good. I share fond memories of HS and also mourn our departed classmates. Be well, fellow Warriors - keep on dancing!"
Please see the Silent Warriors page of this website.
See Silent Warriors.
See Silent Warriors page.
Willie resides in Moreno Valley, CA. He writes, “Remember our hopes and dreams as we graduated over 55 years ago? Dreams: I hope you achieved yours! I served in the US Air Force, living in England, Scotland, Germany, France, and Turkey. I graduated from SIU at Carbondale. I retired from California’s Employment Development Department. My hobbies are reading, gardening, and traveling. Life has been good. "Go West!" See Silent Warriors
See Silent Warriors.
See Silent Warriors.
James KASPUTIS & Grace SPATARO Kasputis, WHS ’61 graduates, married each other and reside in Rockford.
Please see listings on the Silent Warriors page of this website.
Shown on a recent trip to Norway. Richard, and I are retired and living in Rochester, MN. Since our children and grandchildren are in Des Moines, IA; Madison, WI; and Chicago, we chose Rochester for easy access to them. We summer in Northern WI and winter in South FL. We travel, play golf, and visit family and friends.
Please see listings on the Silent Warriors page of this website.
See Silent Warriors.
Here they are on the occasion of Dick's 77th birthday and their 46th wedding anniversary. They send us greetings from "nawth Gawga" (known as north Georgia to the rest of us."
Upon receiving a Class Directory Terry wrote, "After 50 years, 33 of them working for Omaha Public Schools, it's nice to recall many familiar names. This is a backyard picture of me and Shirley, my wife of 51 years. We reared 3 terrific sons and are enjoying 5 wonderful grandchildren. All of us call Omaha home."
Celebrating at the West HS Class of 1961 50th Reunion. See Silent Warriors page on this website.
Sue has lived in IA since the early 70’s. She’s pictured with the 2 children and spouses who live in IA; her other son and his family live in Southern CA. She retired about 2 years ago, having always worked with kids – as a teacher in the early years - and 36 years as director of a large childcare center in Ames.Treasurer of Board of Raising Readers in Story Country.
Kathy, retired artist, still enjoys the Cape Coral, FL sun. She's adjusting to the passing of both husband, John, and poodle, Eddie. She values her high school friends and looks forward to the 2019 Reunion.
Please see listings on the Silent Warriors page of this website.
Naida is shown conversing enthusiastically at our 50th Anniversary Reunion. See Silent Warriors page of this website.
Skip retired from the family's Rockford manufacturing firm and relocated to colorful Colorado. Skip and wife, Susan, reside in Colorado Springs where he now indulges his inner artist. He creates large pieces like the one behind them. One of his works hangs in the Colorado capitol.
Tony earned his J.D. from the University of AZ Law School in 1974. He's been an attorney for over 25 years and is also an Accounting Professor at Rock Valley College, Real Estate Broker, and author of Blame It on the System, a guidebook for folks who understand politicians will only change when citizens push them.
Lynnette and Harold live in Rockton. Married over 50 years, Lynnette retired after 25 years working in affordable housing programs. She now works in marketing for an ecological consulting firm. She says, “I love traveling, reading, birdwatching, learning Italian, and enjoying our four sons and three grandchildren.”
Steve recently retired and lives in Rockford. He has been a longtime Reunion Volunteer and will chair the 2019 Event.
See Silent Warriors page.
See Silent Warriors page.
Like so many, Ed chose to use the skills and wisdom of his golden years to serve the less fortunate. After 38 years in progressively responsible engineering and management jobs, he retired from Woodward, Inc. and now volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. Over the past 15 years, he's managed and assisted with construction of over of 62 homes. For his volunteer service to Habitat Ed was awarded the 2011 Governor's Volunteer Service Award. He's also a Master Gardener, certified by U. of IL.
Gary lives in north central Arkansas in a log cabin on a lake for 6 months and on South Padre Island, Texas, for the rest of the year. From the deck of his log cabin he wishes "the best" to his fellow Warriors."
Vincent is surrounded by family.
See Silent Warriors.
Jana and Chris, both in the WHS Class of ’61, took this picture to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary. They now live in Eau Claire, WI. Chris, who has a PhD in Plant Ecology from the University of WI, spent 21 years as an officer in the USAF. He also retired as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research at UW, Eau Claire. More on Jana under SCHMIDT.
See Silent Warriors page.
Chuck lives in Crawfordville, FL. For many years he ran a home repair firm in Vail, CO. An English major at Trinity College in CN, it was only a few years ago that his poetic muse emerged. Encouraged by the pastor of St. Mary's Church, he wrote "The Bells of Saint Mary's and Other Ventures in Verse" which he published to raise money for the Church. Under the nom de plume, Tio Carlos, Chuck has written hundreds of poems and a children's book, My Fish Tris.
Please see listings on the Silent Warriors page of this website.
Please see Silent Warriors page.
In 2004, Mac, a U.S. Army Veteran, retired from the construction business in Oakland, CA. He currently hunts, fishes, and tends his rural property in Pickens, MS where he is also active in his local church.
Janet now lives in Roscoe. She says just tell them, "I am doing good."
Former Chair of the Reunion Volunteers, the late Judy Lundeen led the Reunion team to a highly successful 50th Reunion. We are grateful to Judy and "Burk" for their dedication and support over the years. See the Silent Warriors page of this website.
See Silent Warriors page.
See Silent Warriors page.
Jeff, who lives in Winnetka, holds forth at the 50th Reunion.
I married my high school sweetheart. We reared 3 children and now have 5 grands and 2 great-grands. Through the magic of FaceTime we chat with them almost daily. Mary and I enjoy FAMILY and beach destination vacations. We checked NYC off our bucket list when we proudly watched our great-granddaughter sing at Carnegie Hall! I retired after 28 years with Rockford Fire Department and now volunteer at St. Anthony Hospital.
In this conversation with a Loves Park official, Gene is expressing his concerns about City plans to widen Riverside Boulevard onto the parking lot of his business, Marshall’s Bikes and Collectibles at 246 E. Riverside Boulevard. See Silent Warriors page of this website.
Paul and Miki, wife of 50 years, pose with their grandaughter on the occasion of her confirmation. They are now snowbirds who reside in Palm Harbor, FL.
Myrna and Jim take pride in the achievements of their grands who live 6 blocks away. They wish us the blessings of health,
Bob loves his “retirement gig” working pit teams at the Indy 500. He's shown with Alex Lloyd, driver of the Boy Scouts car. Before retiring,he co-piloted the last 747 flight of late Captain Pete Cecchinelli, also WHS ‘61. Wow! Two airline Captains from the same high school class piloting the same plane. Bob married Laurie November 12, 2017.