I enjoyed the 65TH

Will retire for second time after 50 years as a Commercial Real Estate owner (SLUM-LORD)

 No more classic cars

Best item to have in life "ELEVATOR"

Still Being in KC I get to Salisbury House as much possible.

PS See you all @ THE 70TH

Bob Porters wife, Karen, has written a book about her life called “From the River to the Sea”, by Karen Jones Porter. It tells about her early life, but after she marries Bob, you will see where life has taken them. Bob, besides being a doctor had had a river rafting company called Middle Fork Rapid Transit. It is in Twin Falls, ID. His youngest son is now running the company and Bob helps out when he can. If you know anyone interested in river rafting please have them check out the website at idahoraftadventure.com.

Unfortunately, John and I will not be able to attend—we will be in the Midwest earlier in September, and the timing won’t work for the reunion. Do have a wonderful time—we will be thinking of all of you.

I was married to Dr. Robert Thurness for 55 years and lost him on 10-13-2018. Life has been a challenge but I have survived. I have three children, Brent MD, Sioux Falls, SD, Amy Thurness Yaggie, Cumming, GA, and Lisa Thurness Sanders, Chicago, IL. I have 10 grandchildren who are the delight of my life. Also, one great grandson born 7/29/2023.

Bob and I lived on 20 acres for 44 years, but after his death and the derecho hit us hard, I ended up selling and built a new home in a community. I keep very busy, work out 2 times a week, involved in quilt guild programs, P.E.O., church and book club. I have a great group of friends. I spent my last years of work in mental health (I am a registered nurse). I went back to school and got an advanced degree in gerontology. I guess to prepare for today. It was great to attend the reunion, just felt bad I didn’t get a chance to visit with all.

After high school I went to college and over the course of about 12 years, off and on, during that time, I received two B.S. Degrees one in Mathematics and one in Mechanical Engineering and two Master’s Degrees one in Environmental Engineering and one in Planning.

Along the way in 1964 I married my dream girl, Annette LeCocq. A lady I fell madly in love with while we were in Junior High, but was too shy to ever ask her out. Somehow in my freshman year of college she called me and asked for a date. From then on, she was stuck with me. We got married in 1964 after she graduated from college as a Speech Pathologist. She worked in that field for 50 years and loved every minute of it. We were married for almost 57 wonderful years. We never had a fight or disagreement. Every day with Annette was magical. Sadly she passed away on April 8, 2021.

We had one Daughter, Deanna, who married Matt Laubacker. They had one son, Joshua. Josh is now a freshman at Florida State University, studying Mechanical Engineering. We live in Pensacola, Florida, and are a very close family.

I worked all my life as an environmental engineer, I worked as a director in the Iowa DEP, a consulting engineer, and I managed two major landfills, The Des Moines Metro and the one here in Escambia County, Florida. I still work as a consulting engineer; however, I now only work on landfills, sand mines, and gun Ranges.

I also spent twenty-one years in the U.S. Army Reserve, working as an engineer. My assignments were unbelievable, always exciting and fun. I enlisted as a enlisted Private and retired as a Major. I got one of those few direct commissions. I went directly from a private to a 1st Lieutenant.

I have had three hobbies in my life: sailing, shooting, and gun collecting. I had to quit sailing about ten years ago as I did not have the balance I once had. I still enjoy shooting and gun collecting. We now have 460 firearms, mostly antiques.

This is Sheila (Zornes) Bell. The last person in our class to receive a diploma in June 1959 because of my maiden name. I married the 'man of my dreams' Jim Bell the December after our graduation and we will be celebrating our 65th Anniversary on December 20th this year. We were blessed with three children, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Jim served in the Air Force for 21 years and we made 13 moves during that time. We were stationed in Tucson, Arizona during the Cuban Crisis. Survived 20' of snow in Newfoundland, Canada. Had lunch with the Queen of England at RAF Cranwell College in 1975. Experienced 'high tech' back in the day when Jim worked on the development of the SR71. At Griffiss, AFB in New York, became lifelong friends with some of the other Squadron Commanders and their families that became our travelling buddies after retirement.

My employment started with working both at the Des Moines Public Library and on the mobile unit. After moving to St. Louis, for Jim to finish college, I worked with the Comptroller's Dept. at the Mercantile Trust Company.

With the arrival of our first child, being a homemaker and mom became the priority. Volunteering as the Family Services Coordinator at Chanute AFB. Helping service members and their families with information on resources, household supplies, and emergency assistance. Once our children were in High School, I returned to paid employment, working in retail at Brandeis, Younkers, and Christopher Banks in Omaha.

When our youngest child had our two grandchildren that lived in Omaha, and my mother-in-law was diagnosed with dementia, I became a full-time caregiver. Returning to volunteer service and wanting to provide safe, weekly care, including to a gentleman that had been diagnosed with M.S. At 65 years old, I received my Nursing Assistant Certificate. I'm also on my 33rd year of delivering Meals on Wheels.

During COVID, to keep my sanity and celebrate my 80th birthday, I wrote and shared my autobiography, entitled, 'A Charmed Life' to detail our adventures over the years.

In January of 2017, I retired from a general Pediatric practice as senior partner to 10 doctors, 3 nurse practitioners, 12 nurses and 2 offices. I had joined a practice in 1971 with 2 older pediatricians in a growing suburb, Sandy Springs, and a new hospital, Northside hospital. Newborn deliveries were increasing from 400/year to 1200/year. Local hospitals weren’t able to accept our sick newborns and premature babies. Therefore, I set up the hospital’s neonatology unit. After several years of increasing number of newborn babies, Northside Hospital hired a Neonatologist, which grew to 10 full time neonatologists and 20,000 deliveries in one year. I was also a clinical instructor to the Pediatric Residents at Emory (Grady Hospital) for several years.

When a new Children’s Hospital opened near us, it grew and grew rapidly. With the influx of many physicians and pediatricians, I convinced the CEO and Medical Staff of the hospital to start a “nurse advice telephone line” where parents could call a certain phone number and reach a pediatric nurse practitioner after hours concerning their child’s illness. Using protocols we set up, the hospital took it city wide and eventually this program set a precedent for many children’s hospitals nationally.

Since my retirement, I take senior classes on a variety of subjects and Sue and I have traveled extensively till Covid. I belong to the North Atlanta Men’s Club with multiple activities, social community services, and tours. We are blessed with four children and seven grandchildren, and enjoy many of Atlanta’s sports and cultural events.

We have watched Atlanta grow from 1,000,000 people in the early 70’s, to 6.5 million at last count. We love the city and the climate and don’t miss the snow, but heaven help the Traffic!

I retired from the Iowa Department of Transportation in 2010 where I worked as a civil engineer, designing and building interstates and primary highways in Iowa. Since retiring, I have spent time traveling and spending time with my grandkids. I have two boys and one girl all of whom live nearby and I have eight grandchildren and one great granddaughter, and another one on the way.

I’m on our Library Foundation board in Norwalk and we are gearing up to have a fund drive to build a new library soon. I’m also in a women’s club, an investment club and two book clubs. 

I love to travel and I’ve taken several river boat cruises in Europe. I was supposed to go to Israel last year with a friend when war broke out, so I have not been anywhere recently. I’m also involved in my church here in Norwalk and serve on its parish council among other things.

I’ve been blessed with relatively good health except for a bout with breast cancer 20 years ago and several joint replacements.

Sorry we are not able to come to the reunion. We continue to live in St Charles, Michigan which is South West of Saginaw. We are in good health and would love to hear from old friends. Click the button to message me and get in touch.

I Volunteered for USAF after receiving a draft notice a week after graduating from Iowa State. Appointed to Officer Candidate School and commissioned as Second Lieutenant and transferred to Chanute AFB in Illinois for additional training to serve in aircraft maintenance. Married Kathy Carstens (University of Nebraska) in 1964 and we were assigned to Duluth AFB.

After four winters there, we had two children, and then of course, I was given orders to Vietnam. Kathy and the kids moved to Beatrice, Nebraska to wait out my tour, and I went to Phan Rang, RVN, and managed Field Maintenance for three squadrons for C123 B & K cargo planes tasked with serving all of the Army landing zones that had a landing strip.

Returning from RVN, we moved to Dayton, OH, where Kathy was a teacher in the local high School and I served in the Air Forced Logistics Command and went to night school at Wright State University. When I earned my MBA, we left the Air Force and moved back to Des Moines (Urbandale) in 1971. Our family grew to three with the adoption of a baby girl from Korea.

I started working at (then) Iowa Power and Light, and served in several positions with Iowa Power until the company was purchased by Warren Buffet and became Mid American Energy, at which time I resigned, became self-employed and volunteered for several Des Moines area non profits by serving on their boards. Kathy worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block for many years during that time.

Kathy has enjoyed her passion for quilting and I returned to my interest in geology and paleontology. Kathy has earned ribbon recognition at the State Fair and other judged events with her quilting and I enjoyed working at an important fossil dig site near Grand Junction Colorado for many years under the guidance of the Carnegie Museum.

My late husband Ron Sutphin (TRHS 58) passed early in January 2020 after 63 years of friendship and 57 years of marriage. I'm no longer painting anything that moves. I still spend 3 summer months in Northern MN. and the rest in my house of 50+ years in Windsor Heights. I'm now in a loving relationship with Hank (Henry) Luetjen (TRHS 58) who was a classmate of my late husband. There is still a good life in your 80s!

I wish more of you could be here at the reunion to share stories and laughs of our years together at Roosevelt.

I graduated from Drake in 1962 as an art education major. I taught the next year in Monroe, Wisconsin. I married Lt. Todd Bolen in 1963 and we were located at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. After the Air Force we moved to Wheaton, Illinois. I served on the board of Wheaton Woman’s Club and later as monitor for the Wheaton League of Woman’s Voters of the District 200 School Board. I also was a very devoted hocky Mom.

In 1999, we began wintering in Pelican Bay of Naples, Florida and in a couple of years became Floridians. I was elected President of the Sanctuary, where we lived and served for two years. I studied hard and became a naturalist for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. For nearly 20 years I served as an electric Boat Captain, Naturalist and Co-Coordinator of the “Good Fortune”, did the public walks at Clam Pass and the Nature Walks for Pelican Bay. I also served on the board of the Mangrove Action Committee of Pelican Bay. I “retired” during the Covid Era after nearly twenty years of service.

Our three boys have done well and the two oldest are getting ready to retire. The youngest has variety of businesses such as part of the Hinterland Music Festival in Iowa…the family owns the land. We have three grandsons and three granddaughters. Last summer we experienced two weddings. All are doing well. I am now in search of something to do. I have traveled the world over the years, covering all 50 states, 65 countries and the 7 continents. I particularly liked the wildlife. My favorite was the Tiger walking a couple feet away from me riding in a small jeep for about 75 feet. I could have certainly reached out and scratched its head but then I wouldn't be here now. Africa was my absolute favorite destination. My doctor says no more.

Though we are Florida residents, we spend the hurricane season in Wheaton, Illinois. So we luckily we are not in Florida now. Married 61 years.

Hi classmates, I am no longer a caretaker as my lady is going to an assisted living at 97. I still live in same senior home. Play rummykub 3 nites a week & bingo 1. Attend some functions at the senior center & eat out couple times a week. Grandson in 2nd year college, Denver. I see daughter & son-in-law every week or 2. Talk to daughter daily. Other daughter still in Sante Fe. Don’t see her much. Just saw brother in Colorado. Hope to see some long time friends in the South over the winter. Walk daily, yoga on Sunday & weights 3 times a week. Looking forward to reunion. To see a picture of my grandson and I, go to the 'What We've Been Up to' page on the website.

Hi Fellow Classmates of one of the Greatest Classes Ever: The Class of 1959; I'm still living in the State of Delaware in a town names Lewes. It is known for its location to the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It is also called the "First Town in the First State" historically. We relocated within the limits of Lewes a year and a half ago. We needed much less space and are now enjoying a smaller venue. It's a nice community to live in but like so many other places it is growing by leaps and bounds. I keep active by walking, yoga and participating in community organizations that serve those less fortunate. I belong to a Book Club of 8 friends who have been reading and reviewing books for about 18 years. There's nothing like a good book! We are presently on our way to adopting another dog after loosing our dear Lily in July. The reunion was just awesome. We missed those of you who couldn't make it.

The committee was the BEST and have been for years now. We are all blessed because of their incredible work. After the reunion I was fortunate to fly to Wisconsin to visit my family there. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and a healthy and wonderful year. The very best of wishes to you and yours. Betty Strayer (Elizabeth Grove)

In January 2019, I was bereft when Sandy Schroeder Dustin Wood passed away. Her sister-in-law, Pat Mills Dustin was as bereft when her husband died in 2018. In 2005 Sandy had introduced Pat and me after we won tickets to the Iowa/Northern Iowa football game. At least annually from then on, Pat, Dick, Sandy and I met after my medical appointment at the University of Iowa Hospitals. I was moving to a Milwaukee retirement home to live 4 blocks from my daughter's home. Pat came to visit me while she was going to a class reunion at Noah's and my daughter was packing me up. Pat stored my first laden car in her Oaknoll Retirement Residence garage. We dined at the luxurious Iowa River Landing Restaurant, enjoyed a movie and toured Oaknoll. The next 3 trips I emptied the car in Milwaukee, stayed in motel and Pat and I dined at the Iowa River Landing going home. Pat invited me to a masked hors d'oeuvres dinner. Pat accepted my proposal. Covid hit and my belongings were trapped in Milwaukee for 2 months but my house sold overnight. We married in 2020. For the past year Pat has lovingly been in the dementia unit.

PLEASE POST YOUR STORY TO THE CLASSMATE BOOK AND COME TO THE REUNION! Thank you Sue, Edgar, Mardelle and Sue for your usual efforts!