Welcome to the 35th Reunion of the Griswold Community High School Class of 1971!  The committee has not met yet, but I decided to put the information up and start the ball rolling!  If you'd like to help plan the next party, please e-mail me!

The following information was gathered from your responses to the 30th Reunion Committee's mailing.  I'll be contacting folks to update our records and as responses come in, I'll put in the updates in blue.  People are listed in alphabetical order by their last name, women being listed by their maiden names.  A list of those who did not respond to our mailing follows the responses.  Click HERE for a printable version of the 30th Reunion bios.  This is a Word 97 document.

Click HERE to view your classmates at the 30th Reunion.
We salute those classmates who have passed before us: Kenny Myers, Sherry Jones, Kathy High, Kathi Grennell Milligan, Sandy Nielson Brasher and Rynn Shafer.

Debbie (Alff) Meyer and her husband, Craig, live in Lewis and have been married for 29 years.  They are godparents to a little boy named Dylan who will be 2 months old at the time of the reunion.  Debbie has been the secretary at the Lewis United Congregational-Methodist Church for 12 1/2 years.  Craig works for the Cass County secondary roads department.  Debbie says her fondest memory is basketball in our sophomore and junior years, but her most vivid memory is riding backwards all the way to school!

Kelly Baier says he is still practicing law and there is "not much new going on with us.  Kate is 14 now and will be a freshman next year.  Sam is 12 and will be in 7th grade.  They are playing softball and baseball most of the summer so that takes up most of our leisure time.  Shel is on the school board and does a bunch of volunteer work."

Beth (Bates) Slagle and her husband Dan will celebrate their 28th anniversary with us on July 7!  Beth is a media specialist and Dan is a farmer.  Their daughter Kayla is 22 and married to Derek Spence.  Their son Jared is 20.

Manzel Berlin lives in Colorado.  He's writing a book and he and his fiancee, Lindee, are trying to find time to organize their wedding.  Manzel writes "My 3 daughters are college age (Mandy just finished, Anna is half finished and Christy just starting).  Lindee's 3 kids are early elementary so they demand a great deal of our time.  Blessings to all friends from Griswold!"

Email Manzel at ManzelBerlin@yahoo.com

Linda (Billings) Pierson has been married to classmate Mike for 26 years.  They have one daughter Erin, 21, who will graduate from Iowa State in December with a BS in Psychology (any job offers for her will be appreciated!).  Mike is Maintenance Supervisor at Oakland Manor Care Facility where he has been since 1995.  He is a volunteer fireman and an EMT on Oakland Fire & Rescue Squad.  Linda is employed by Acceptance Insurance Company in Council Bluffs as Agency Service Manager.

Linda writes "My memory is actually from Jr. High when Beth Bates had a huge slumber party at the old house next to her parents new home.  We had the entire run of this old house and I remember Linda Bates wanting to sleep and of course we were not allowing that!  She took her blanket and pillow into the bathroom and fell asleep in the tub, so we turned the water on her....needless to say, she was not happy!"

Barb (Bishop) Hirsch and her husband, Bill had their 25th wedding anniversary March 27, 2001.  They have two sons.  Barb writes "Jason Hirsch, 22 yrs old, lives at home and works for Nelson Industries in Mineral Point.  They make large equipment mufflers.  Nathan Hirsch, 16 yrs old, will be a junior at Mineral Point High this fall and works part-time at the new steak house in town.  I am working at Lands' End the catalog company.  I job share in 2 departments - customer sales and internet.  Lands' End also does the state tourism and some days I work in that area.  My husband Bill sold his milk hauling business 4 years ago to have more time with the family.  We now have time to do some camping, 4-wheeling and snowmobiling.  Bill now drives a front discharge cement truck for a local company, Ivey construction."

Kathy Boucher works for a lawyer in Las Vegas.  She enjoys bowling in a league, playing cribbage online and working out at a gym.  She says her house is ruled by two dogs and a cat.  Kathy's husband Mike passed away a year ago after 15 years of marriage.

Ed Champlin lives in Atlantic with his wife, Leann.

Bruce Coughlin married Glenda Liddell 19 years ago.  Bruce farms and drives a school bus.  Glenda is a salesperson for Red Oak Greenhouse.

Beverly K. (Cousins) Munden is a Substitute Teacher for Orange County Schools in Florida.  She and her husband, Michael have been married for 23 years.  He works in I.S. (Information Services) for Walt Disney World.  They have three children, Marie and Heather, 20 and David, 12.  In addition to her teaching and managing her family, Bev is a full time college student and hopes to graduate in the spring.  Way to go, Beverly!

Beverly writes: "I do remember how much fun my friends and I had going to district meetings for FHA.  We sang songs on the bus to and from the meetings which was a lot of fun.  We also sang songs at the meetings.  I enjoyed being a part of that group."

Kathy Curtis Waggoner works at the Atlantic News Telegraph.  She has one husband, Ted.  Their kids are Andrea & Al Smith who have a daughter Tiana, 2 and 1/2, and Justin Waggoner who has a son Justin, Jr. 6 and a daughter Michaley, 1 year.  Kathy's hobbies are gardening, camping and reading.

Kelly Curtis married classmate Diane Rabe.  They have a son Jared, 28, and a daughter Lindy, 21.  Kelly is a GTE Systems Switching Technician.  See Diane below to find out what she does!

Kelly writes "The chickens in the lockers is one of my favorites too.  I wish I could remember who put them there."

Kenny Evans and his wife Charlotte have been married for 26 years.  Kenny drives a truck for Horizon Distribution and Charlotte is an LPN at Cass County Memorial Hospital.  Their kids are Leah Schmidt, almost 25, Ryan Evans, 23, and Katie Kelly, 22.  They have two grandchildren, Clara May Schmidt who is almost two and Evan Ryan Kelly who is 8 months old.  Charlotte gets to babysit Evan on her days off.

Kenny's most vivid high school memory is when the choir boys fell off the risers at a music program. 

Peggy (Forsyth) Fleming has been married to Bruce for 25 years.  They have three children.  Katie, 23, and Megan, 20, are students at Des Moines Area Community College and Robert, 18,will graduate from Roosevelt High School this year and recently became an Eagle Scout. 

Peggy works in the marketing department of a local bank specializing in customer and employee communications, special events and West Bank's intranet.  She still designs and makes soft sculpture, especially teddy bears for the collector market in her spare time.  Bruce is a project lead working with the data warehouse at Allied Insurance.

About memories from GCHS, Peggy writes "Since I am putting together everyone's information, I am reminded of many of our most outstanding moments!  Most unforgettable (besides the chickens) was a slumber party at the Noble Center parsonage when, while running rampant through the night, we found Kathy Boucher lying face up across Highway 71 just over the crest of a hill.  No intoxicating agents had been consumed, but I wonder what Mrs. Jones put in those brownies??  I also fondly recall marching indignantly into Mr. Eshelman's office and demanding that we have a GIRLS' golf team!"

Kathy (Frazier) Luedke and husband, Spencer Luedke, have been married 25 years.  They have one child, Dillon W. Luedke, 21.  Kathy is a Manager, Pioneer Services (Loan institution for military personnel worldwide).  Spencer is a manager in a finance business. Kathy said to have fun and she was sorry she would not be there.

Kristi (Grennell) Bequette has been married to Michael Bequette for 28 years.  Their son Jason is 28.  Kristi is a social worker and Michael is an environmental engineer.  If you would like to see pictures of Kristi and her family, go to http://bequette1.tripod.com/family/ .

Joy (Hansen) Weaver looks after many of our relatives and acquaintences as Administrator of the Griswold Care Center.  She married Dan Weaver 30 years ago and they had four children.  See Dan below for more info.

Karen (Hofmeister) Wilcoxon married fellow GCHS graduate Chuck Wilcoxon. Karen writes "Chuck and I have been married 25 years and live south of Atlantic.  We have 3 daughters-Anna, 22 a recent graduate of the University of Iowa, Kara, 19 just completed her first year at the University of Iowa, and Bethany, 14 will be a freshman at Atlantic High School in the fall.  Chuck is employed at Dana Glacier Vandervell in Atlantic and I work at a preschool in Atlantic."

Beverly (Holldorf) Curtis has been married to fellow Griswoldian, Jim Curtis for 29 years.  They have one child, Evan, who is 12 years old.  Bev works in the Risk Management Department of Deere & Company.  Jim works for the Iowa Department of Transportation.  Bev writes that her most vivid memory from GCHS is "Kenny Evans literally picking me up and carrying me out of the gym while working on prom decorations."

Donna (Hollesen) Connell and her husband Mike have been married for 20 years.  They have two daughters, Katie, 19 and Megan, 17.  Donna is an orthodontic assistant and Mike is a sales executive for KGOR radio.

Nancy (Hollesen) Coughlin is an LPN at Creighton Pediatrics Clinic in Omaha.  Her children are Courtney, Jordan, and Alexandra.

Kim Hoogeveen and Lu (Wheeler) have been married 25 years.  They have two children, Brett (19) and Blake (16).  Kim is a Licensed Psychologist and President & CEO, Quality Living, Inc.  Lu is a Homebound Teacher.  Kim writes "Sorry I will not be able to attend.  Have a great time and please pass along my regards to all."

Richard Houser has been married to fellow Griswold grad Carolyn Orstad for 28 years.  Their children are Aaron, 26, a loan officer in Elkhorn, NE; Ryan, 23, a mechanic at Lindeman Tractor in Atlantic, and Cole, 16, a student.  Aaron is married and has one child, Russell.  Ryan is engaged.

Richard is a letter carrier for the USPS and Carolyn is an LPN at Stanton Care Center, Stanton, Iowa.  Richard's most vivid memory is a Playboy centerfold on Mr. Douglas's podium.  Surely you didn't put that there, did you Richard???

Bill Hunt is still farming near Elliott.  He and his wife, Colleen, have been married for 20 years.  They have two daughters, Sarah, 21 and Emily, 18.  Colleen works for the Department of Education.

Jerry Jamison rocks on in Elliott with his wife, Lisa.  He has a day job in Red Oak.  Their address is: Box 155, Elliott, IA 51532.

Dennis Jipsen farms near Lewis.  He's been married to his wife Marilyn for 28 years.  Their daughter Dawn, 26, is married to Matt Freund and they have 2 daughters.  Son Kevin, 25, is married to Amber Kirchoff and they have a little boy.  Kim, 23, is married to Ronnie Vaughn.  While Dennis is in the field - and probably when he is not - Marilyn babysits their wonderful grandchildren.

Barb (Johnson) Bakhit and her husband of 29 years, Abe, own and operate a convenience store in Omaha and will be starting construction on another one in the next several months.  Their children are Al, 27, Abe, 26, Stasia, 18 and Jabby, 14.  Barb says "My two older boys are through college.  One works for Mutual of Omaha and the other one works for us.  Stasia just finished her freshman year in college.  She goes to school in Ohio and is on the women's hockey team.  Jabby will be a freshman in the fall at Central High School.  He plays select hockey and baseball so we spend a lot of weekends travelling."

About her memories of GCHS Barb writes "I remember moving from the old high school to the new one and getting out of classes for a day.  I also remember the bomb threat.  I got in trouble for leaving the school grounds to wash my hand after a bird pooped on it."

Donna Jones writes "I am still teaching nursing for Southwest Missouri State University - West Plains.  In the last four years, SMSU-WP has entered the 21st Century both figuratively and literally.  I not only have a computer of my own now, but it is a new Gateway with more memory than I could have hoped to use a few years ago.  I have discovered Power Point and pictures and give me another year and I may figure out how to use up all that memory.

Home is a new place, too.  I moved into a new house last April.  Of course, one must remember that I live in the Ozarks, so therefore, my new house is not finished and probably won't be until sometime after I retire.  It is, however, the nicest place I've ever lived.  The house has lots of wood and windows, is well out in the country/woods on the back of 40 acres with little chance that the views will substantially change in the next 20 years.  I share the house with my partner, 4 dogs, and 5 cats.  I am presently in the process of landscaping in red clay and rocks.  It is a challenge to say the least.

As for my memory of high school - probably my most vivid memory is of cutting music class to hang out on the stage one day and getting in trouble (something foreign to me at the time).  The counsellor and the teachers wouldn't believe I'd really done it.  It was my first lesson in not always following the rules.  Probably should have gotten in more trouble in those days."

Steve Jurshak and his wife, Deb, have been married for 24 years.  They have two daughters, Elizabeth, 20 and Mona, 16.  Steve is a design engineer.  He's looking forward to seeing all of us. 

Donna (Kirchhoff) Cook is a teller at Nishna Valley Credit Union in Atlantic.  She's been married to Rodney Cook for 29 years.  Rodney is an electrician.  They have three sons, Michael, 26, Brian, 25 and Jason, 21.  Donna writes "I think some of my most memorable days from school were at the numerous slumber parties.  Those were most definitely the good old days!"

Dennis Kunze has worked for the Iowa DOT for 30 years where he is now District 6 Land Surveyor.  He's been married to Kelly, who attended our last reunion, for 3 1/2 years.  They have a 14 month old son, James Dennis.

Dennis writes: "I remember the chickens too.(so does Jipsen, it was his locker they were in!)  The faces and times all are quite vivid and I think of them often.  As I sat here trying to think of something in particular I remembered winning the Griswold Invitational Wrestling tournament in 1971.  I was flying high.  I took a hand painted tiger face from the wall of the gym that night as a souvenir.  It had been painted by the cheerleaders.  I remember catching hell because it was a lot of work to make and was to be used all season.  Well, I still have that tiger painting.  Thanks guys, it lasted more than ONE season."

Dorothy (Kunze) Maas and her husband Denny Maas will have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on July 2, 2001.  Their children are Denelle, 29, Clint, 26, and Curt, 19.  They also have a 10 month old grandchild, Brooke. Dorothy is a Sr Branch Office Admistrator with Edward Jones Investments.  Denny is a Plant Manager with NCI Building Systems.

Dorothy writes "I had trouble thinking of my most vivid memory of GCHS. I guess my fondest memories are of the great times I spent with my friends either at school events, teen dances or slumber parties."

Steve Lamb and his wife Becky Perdue (Class of 72) have been married 28 years.  Their children are Clarissa, 21, and Jeana, 14.   Steve is Sales Manager at Diesel Power Equipment Company.  Becky is marketing coordinator at Becker Conviser CPA Review.

Linda (Lansman) Hartigan has been married to Robert Hartigan for 20 years.  They have three children.  Doug, 26, lives in Omaha.  Erin, 18, will be attending Brigham Young University in Provo Utah.  Brendan, 15, attends Bellevue West High School.  Linda is a Teleresearch Associate for infoUSA in Papillion, Nebraska.  Her husband is a Senior Aerospace Intelligence Systems Analyst.  For the last 20 years, Linda has had Multiple Sclerosis.  She is doing very well thanks to alternative medicine & nutrition.

Janet "Jan" (Peebles) Albert is a Corporate Benefits Manager at Parker Hannifin Corporation.  Her husband of 16 years, Larry, is VP Controller for the same company.  Jan's children are Shawnda Sungren, 25 and Shad Sungren, 22.  She remembers good times and good friends.

Mike Pierson says it seems like only yesterday that he was wed to classmate Linda Billings.  Find his information listed with Linda's above.

Diane (Rabe) Curtis is still married to classmate Kelly Curtis.  Diane is a veterinary assistant at Boyer Veterinary Services in Schleswig, Iowa. See the listing for Kelly above for more info.

Janet (Schuler) Porter is living in Las Vegas.  We can only speculate about what she is doing there.

Peggy (Silk) Casey worked 17 years in the Oakland/Riverside School District and will start her second year in the Griswold MS/HS building this fall.  She does the Library/Windows Lab and teaches English and a technology class.  Her son, Matthew, 21, is a senior at Graceland University pursuing a Business degree with management/accounting.  He plans to go on to law school.  Son, Mark, 20, is an IWCC sophomore in the CAD program who plans to graduate next year and go to work.  Daughter Melinda, 18, is a University of South Dakota freshman studying for a degree in Finance.

Mary Lou (Spray) Allison did not respond, but we found out she has been battling the floods down in Texas, so NO WONDER!  She is still married to Gil and when we hear from her, we should have a new e-mail address to pass along.  Her address is 6427 W. Creek Drive, Brookside Village, Texas 77582.  That explains the flooding...

Jerry Stirek won't be attending the reunion, but he sent us his greetings.  Jerry is single and he is a contractor for IBM in Boulder, Colorado. 

Billie (Walkinshaw) Wilson married fellow Griswoldian Norbert "Ray" Wilson.  They farm west of Griswold.  Their children are Seth, 21, Sydney, 15, and Allyssa, 12.

Dan Weaver married that cheerleader, Joy Hansen 30 years ago.  They have four grown children - Cody, 29, Jessica, 27, Abby, 23 and Kelsey, 20.  Dan employs himself as a carpenter.  Joy is the Administrator at the Griswold Care Center.

Sue Weston didn't realize she was lost - we just couldn't find her!  A little detective work uncovered her whereabouts.  She's been married to Don Walztoni for 22 years and they have a daughter, Kari, who is 14.  Sue is a new construction estimator and marketing broker for a home building company in River Falls, Wisconsin.  Don is happily retired from the CP Rail System and is busy with hobbies and keeping up their 22 acre hobby farm.

Sue writes "One thing that sticks in my mind are the Pep Club jumpers we all made from the most unflattering huge red, white and blue plaid; usually worn with navy turtleneck and KNEE SOCKS!  I wonder if I still have it somewhere?  How cool did we think we were?  Tall ones, short ones, chunky ones, skinny ones, it didn't matter at all!  Bless Mrs. Yungschlager!"

Brent Wohlenhaus and his wife Cindy will celebrate their 28th anniversary with us at the reunion July 7.  Leave it to Brent to find an easy way to plan a party!  Their two children are Kam Alexander, 23, and Brad Wohlenhaus, 20. Brent is an Insurance Agent and the current Mayor of Griswold and Cindy is a Payroll Clerk.

Hizzoner writes "I will never forget the time alien spaceships landed on the school roof and abducted about 10 girls, no wait, 40 girls from the freshman class and took them to the mother ship behind the moon to perform evil experiments on them, and Mike Merritt borrowed a spaceship form Oakland because Griswold didn't have one yet, and rescued them.  That was cool.  Also beating Treynor in basketball."

Deb Young writes "I'm engaged to Ron Cruzan - no date set.  I have 3 sons.  Shawn Ward (26) is married with two sons, Devin, 4 1/2 and Parker, 1.  Cory Ward is 23 and Darin Beilfuss is 13.  I work for Berrien Mental Health Authority as their accountant and have been there for almost 12 years.  When Ron and I marry I will gain 3 married children and 15 grandchildren, including one set of 2 1/2 year old triplet granddaughters!"

For a list of the people who did not respond to our mailing, click HERE.