Wrap Up
August 15, 2011
Dear
Classmates,
As the saying
goes, “All good things must come to an end” and we now find the 55th
class reunion has also done so. What a wonderful weekend it was renewing old
friendships with classmates and spouses. It seemed like conversations picked
up right where we left them the last time we were all together.
The first evening
was spent at the Goss Opera House which we knew as Krieser’s Drug and what a
difference years have made. No more cherry cokes but lots of interesting
things and very good food. The old opera house has been discovered and
remodeled on the third floor where occasional entertainment now graces the
stage. Numerous artists have their work on display and you can even watch
them at work throughout the day on second floor. Josh Spies has wonderful
art work on display in his gallery on first floor also. His grandfather
Burdell we all knew as the owner of Spies grocery store.
On Friday many
took the trolley ride around Watertown passing many interesting places. We
say “Thank You” to Mary Rueb Conner who treated our class to free rides. Our
class picture on the old library stairs was published in the Watertown
Public Opinion this past week and I must say, it is a nice looking group of
classmates. Friday evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Lunker's on the
lake. Some of you may remember this facility as Club 20! Thank you Rev.
Bruce Wiliams for a meaningful invocation. Once again a lot of visiting and
we were also entertained by classmate Darrel Crocker with his fine voice
serenading us with songs of the 50’s. Thanks Darrel. A job well done. Darrel
also was the chair of our committee arranging meetings and contacting the
facilities for our reunion. Thank you Darrel for doing a fine job that
nobody wanted. Thank you also to Wes Edwards for a very touching Memorial
presentation to our 46 classmates who are no longer with us. A fine tribute
which brought tears to many. Jim Marking and his wife were also special
guests once again and we enjoyed visiting with Jim and hearing some of his
stories of years gone by.
Saturday was a
beautiful day at the lake where our potluck was held at the home of Larry
and Bonnie Wolff. How could anyone pass up all that good food and once again
a nice day for visiting? Thank you Larry and Bonnie, for opening up your
home to the class. Thank you to Keith Hanson who shared class memories and
readings that were special to us. Kevin reminded us that” We are becoming
what we were meant to be.”
Each year on the
first weekend of August, Terry Redlin’s family provides a free concert at
the Terry Redlin Art Museum grounds. Three Dog Night was the entertainment
this year enjoyed by all. A spectacular fireworks show was put on by
classmate Lew Raderschadt and his family behind the Redlin Museum. This is
the best every year which can be seen from all over the city. Lew shared
with us that MANY hours go into the planning and it was appreciated by all.
Thanks Lew and family for a great show.
Sunday was the day
for goodbyes and was best said with food. So a brunch at Minerva’s at the
Watertown Event Center and Ramkota Hotel was our final event. My, how
quickly the weekend went by. Amazing how we spent three days together and
still had lots to visit about on Sunday morning. So after good food, lots of
talking, it was time to say goodbye, so some could get on with their travels
and locals could go home and nap (due to age) after a busy weekend. Thanks
also to Wes Edwards as pictures from the reunion are available on the
website at
https://picasaweb.google.com/WHS.Class.1956/WHSReunionAug2011#
A video is
also available on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZqx4cXt7-Q
This is
spectacular so please check it out. Wes puts a lot of work into each
presentation so we do hope you will look at the two sites on the Internet.
Thanks Wes for providing us with the presentations that will be lasting
memories for us. I am sure those of you who have received our reunion
booklet enjoyed all the information and pictures.
Thank you to
Nina Schmeling Mitchell for the 28 page booklet that updated our life
changes since the 50th. Hopefully, it will help to keep us in closer
contact with one another.
If you did not order a booklet or picture, Nina has 2 booklets and 1 picture
left. Contact Nina if you are interested. First come, first served.
Thank you also to
Jackie Baxter, our treasurer who also put many hours into keeping our
finances up to date. Once your registrations got to Jackie, she kept an
accurate list of who was coming, who wanted a booklet or picture and what
you wanted to eat at the banquet. At our age, that was quite a job. Thank
you Jackie!
We would ask that
you keep us updated on any change of address
so we can keep our class directory up to date. Each time we plan a reunion,
it takes extra time to try and locate those who have moved and we certainly
do not want to leave anyone off of our mailing list.
If you have an
e-mail address that is not in the class booklet or if yours has changed,
please
notify us as e-mail is the fastest and cheapest way of communication
when notifying classmates of a reunion or updates on our class.
The committee of
the WHS class of 1956 would like to thank you for attending our 55th
class reunion and for those unable to attend, we missed you and hope
you will plan to attend our 60th reunion which will be on
Homecoming weekend in September, 2016. Yes, there was talk that we need to
think about 5 years down the road so mark your calendar for 2016.
Sincerely,
WHS class of ’56
Reunion Committee
