Friday Night's Event
The group enjoyed renewing old friendshps, reminiscing of days long gone by. The evening was most enjoyable
for those who did not plan to attend on Saturday night and an excellent prelude for those planning to attend on Saturday night.
There was a table full of snacks which somewhat went begging - guess everyone was too busy visiting. There were
a few that attended the events that had never been to a reunion event before, which was very nice.
Saturday Night's Event
Following the picture taking session, everyone gathered back in the dining room decorated with black and orange balloons,
one of which inscribed with a Panther and United Township High School. Each guest was provided with a black coffee
mug embossed with a Panther, and the words "U.T.H.S. 50 Year Reunion, 1954-2004," which were donated by Judy and Bill
Carmichael.
Master of Ceremonies, Ardy Mc Intosh, introduced the class officers and the 3 teachers (Eleanor Allen, Joan (Siefken) Allee
and Chuck Allee) that were present. Following the introductions, Doris (Homan) Park gave a touching invocation wherein
she read the names of the class member who have passed away.
Following dinner, Ardy headed up the program of school memories; quizzed the group as to who were the artists that sang
songs popular the year of our graduation; related events and prices back in 1954. He announced the recent
lose of Mallie Williams, Band Director. Harry Bratton then spoke and told the crowd that he sent a letter
in behalf of the Class of 1954 to the wife of Ernie Kivisto when he passed away. He made note that Joe Vinzant
was inducted to the Iowa Hall of Fame for his accomplishments at tennis.
Following the program, the evening was topped off by Bill Bell playing and the group singing the school fight
song. Bill would have played more that evening, but the proper equipment was not available. (Bill,
you will have to come back next time and we will make sure you have professionalized equipment!)
Following the program, Joe Vinzant and Gerry (Lefevre) Harmon distributed 26 wonderful door prizes donated by class members
(listed at the end of these notes). Among the prizes were three $50.00 cash prizes. Many, many thanks
to the donors! This seems to be a very special feature of this and past reunions. Way to go, winners!
Other donations came from Diane (Dieterich) and Jim Woodworth who provided decorated cakes as dessert after dinner.
Hester (Munther) Haley donated the name badges for the events.
Deloris (Smet) DuPrey, Janice (Murphy) Neels and Maxine (Carlson) Barker compiled and displayed a beautiful memorial to
the 51 deceased class members. Publishing of the directory was the work of Janice (Knight) Adams and Bob Young.
Jessie (Gray) Boyd designed the directory cover, compiled the directory pages and ran mailing labels and name badges.
Also helping to make the events a success was Dorothy (Givenazzo) Mann - Registration, Diane (Dieterich) Woodworth, Rex Taylor,
Hester (Haley) Munther and Velma (Vogler) Gingerich. There were many jobs connected with bringing the reunion
together and committee members are always eager to pitch in to make the events successful. For this reunion,
the committee was blessed with four hard-working guys - Rex Taylor, Joe Vinzant, Bob Young and Judy's husband, Bill. Don't
know what we would have done without the guys to do the loading and unloading of supplies.
Among those attending the reunion, there were a total 30 people who came from Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia,
Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, with the remainder from the more local
states of Illinois and Iowa.
Both evenings were very special and memory-making events and it is believed that those in attendance will very much look
forward to the year of our 55th reunion. If you weren't among those at the 50th reunion, it is hoped that you
will give serious consideration to being among the crowd at the next reunion in 2009. If you have never attended a reunion
or haven't attended in many years, why not try it, you might like it.
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Door Prize Donors and Winners
2 - $50.00 (donated anonymously) won by Rod Sohrbeck and Sherry (Glanz) Brittenham. $50.00 donated by Delores
(Smet) DuPrey won by Peggy (Orlich) Pavletich. Isabel Bloom Sculpture from Janice (Knight) Adams won by Dave Copeland.
An "Old School" ball cap - Jessie (Gray) Boyd won by John Stoedter. A gold sun catcher - Jessie won by Virginia
(Giesenhagen) Wangelin. A little gold world globe - Jessie won by Jim Morrow.
Embroidered pillowcases & handmade jewelry - Jim Ellett won by Doris (Homan) Park. $20.00 - Gerry
(Lefevre) Harmon won by Janice (Knight) Adams. A candle - Kitty (Stafford) Howlett won by Bob Ickes. Four southwestern
cookbooks - Sally Leibovitz won by Marian (DeBusscher) Schneider. Bottle of Italian wine and wooden holder - Ardy
McIntosh won by Bob Armstrong. Basket of Mary Kay Cosmetics - Joyce (Roush) Miller won by Delores (Smet) DuPrey.
Yankee candle donated by Janice (Neels) Murphy (not sure of the winner). Isabel Bloom Sculpture - Doris (Homan) Park
won by Doris (DeBo) Straetker. Four piece stoneware set - Peggy (Orlich) Pavletich won by Janice Neels. Golf
chipper - Richard Rittenhouse won by Larry Nelson. Picture frame - Wayne & Shirley (Davenport) Scott won by
George VanThorre. Golf shoe Caddy - Doris (DeBo) Straetker won by Marvin Skoglund. Bottle of wine - Rex
Taylor won by Jim Ellett.
Candle - Kitty (Stafford) Howlett won by Wayne Scott. Golf balls - Anonymous won by Rex Taylor. Homemade leather
golf ball - Gary Moody won by Garry Steffe. Homemade wooden stand with clock - Larry McCarthy won by Kay (Slover) Nelson.
Bottle of wine - Dick Estes won by Maxine (Needham) Barker. Insulated mug - Dick Estes won by Kitty (Stafford) Howlett.
Again thank you very much to all that donated door prizes!
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Postscripts
On Monday, 7/19, Judy Carmichael and myself (Jessie) went to visit Marlene Anderson at Rosewood Health Center.
She has been in the nursing facility for approximately 20 years after suffering a severe stroke that left her unable to speak.
She is able to understand and loves too have people visit her. We wanted to take her some momentoes from the class
reunion (a balloon bouquet, directory, picture and class reunion coffee mug). She was so excited to see us, smiled
from ear to ear and wanted a hug from both of us. She was very interested in our naming all the people in the
picture. Before we left, she insisted that we each take a small stuff animal that she had on display on her nightstand.
Judy and I went away with such a good feeling for make her day just a little special.
If you read the information on the web site previously, you will remember that Mike and Patsy Passmore had to cancel out
on the reunion due to Mike having by-pass heart surgery. I am pleased to report that all went well with his surgery
and according to Patsy was only in ICU for an hour and was up walking around. She said that he was definitely looking
better and his coloring was returning to normal. Haven't talked to them since right after his surgery, but trust
he is well on the road to recovery.
Joan (Getty) Gallaugher was also scheduled to attend the reunion but was unable to attend as she ended up in the hospital
on Friday night and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Hopefully, she is recovering well also.
On 7/22, I received an e-mail from Paul Stone's wife which stated that Paul had total hip replacement on Monday, 7/19.
This morning when they got him up to walk, he had a heart attack. He is scheduled for by-pass (4) surgery on Friday.
She indicated that currently he seems to be real confused. Let's keep him in our thoughts and prayers and hope
that all goes well with his surgery and recuperation.
