Get Togethers – Iowa City West High Class of 1973

Alaskan visitor

Hi Dave:
Thought I’d share the little West High gathering we had earlier today.

Janet Gregory came back to Iowa City for a visit from her home in Alaska and found a few hours to get together. Janet, Sue Davison and Nancy (Masbruch) Olinger caught up on the latest over the past several years. Janet and Nancy became friends way back in kindergarten and then we met Sue in 7th grade. Lots of laughter and memories shared. We even pulled in Carla (Blaug) Kestler via FaceTime from California for a bit. It was a walk down memory lane.

Take care,
Nancy

Sue (Davison) Haigh, Nancy (Masbruch) Olinger, and Janet Gregory

Classmates Celebrating Laura

A few of the classmates who attended Laura Reddick Hershberger’s Celebration of Life.

Front row- Sue Hansen and Brenda Schrock Bradley Back row – Kathy Williams Davis, Bonnie Tappan Weldon, Jane Svoboda Ahrends, Nancy Masbruch Olinger, Deb Dee

An Unexpected Stamp Related Meet-up

Classmate Ruth Jurgens Noth brought her Mom to the Cedar Rapids Stamp Club Picnic on Monday night, July 10, 2023, and was surprised and delighted to find that fellow classmates Kim Persons and Deb Gardner Persons were there as well. Kim is a member of the Stamp Club and Deb came along for a fun evening out.

The three classmates declared this a “Post-Reunion Get Together” and commemorated the event with a photo.

Kim Persons, Ruth Jurgens Noth, and Deb Gardner Persons

Women of West: Reunion Breakfast

Cheri McCabe Hochstetler, Janet Pate Barber, and Linda Vedepo Scotthosted the event on Saturday, June 24th 2023 at 9 AM-11 AM. It took place at Dwell Home Furnishings, on Highway 6 at the corner of 12th Ave.

Top to Bottom: Katie Collins Bretz, Karen Davies Leibold, Jackie Dague, Deb Barnes Rogers, Laura Walters Anspach, Alice Barker Miller, Debbie Dee, Julie Rogers, Julie Kent Larson, Betsy Elliot Stough, Cheri McCabe Hochstetler, Janet Powers Metzger, Brenda Schrock Bradley, Holly Richardson, Mary Balmer, Kathy Schrock Olin, Missi Strub, Nancy Hug Montier, Sara Muller, Janet Pate Barber, Judy Becker Bryant.

Mary Balmer and Betsy Elliott Stough
Julie Kent Larson and Kathy Schrock Olin
Deb Dee and Jackie Dague Nicholson
Jackie Dague Nicholson and Julie Kent Larson
Deb Barnes Rogers and Janet Pate

Friday at Bump’s with Betsy Elliott Stough

Betsy Elliott Stough met with friends at the restaurant named for her dad, Chalmers “Bump”

Holly Richardson, Betsy (Elliott) Stough, Julie (Kent) Larson, Jackie (Dague) Nicholson
Betsy and Bump Elliott
Betsy pointing to a very young photo of her dad.

Summer Solstice Sipping Beer

Dave Gerlits, Judy Becker Bryant, Kim Persons, Deb Gardner Persons

Impromptu Gathering the Day After

Left to right: Sue Davison, Nancy (Hug) Montier, Carla (Blaug) Kestler, and Nancy (Masbruch) Olinger

Sunday, the day after the reunion, an impromptu gathering of four West High grads materialized.

It’s not officially part of the class reunion but what fun memories we shared

Pickin’ and Grinnin’

Dave Gerlits visited Paul Roberts at his farm the week Dave was here for the 50th reunion.

Paul Roberts and Dave Gerlits at a visit to Paul’s Farm

John Kaelber 3 Day Golf Reunion

Thought I’d share a photo with you taken recently on a 3-day golf weekend/reunion spent at Eagle Ridge in Galena, Illinois, with West High graduates, two from class of “73” and three from “72”. Care to make any guesses to identities?

Four of us grew up together, living in the same neighborhood, since grade school at Lincoln elementary, and have been able to stay in touch all these years. So, from left to right…Dave Fomon, John Phelan, Chad Dore, Mike Paul, and myself. We rented a large house on the golf course, had a great time eating, drinking, and laughing until our sides ached about the “Old Days”.

5 men from the Iowa City West High Class of 1972 and 1973 — Dave Fomon, John Phelan, Chad Dore, Mike Paul, and John Kaelber

Ok, feel I’m starting to ramble on so I’ll wrap this up by saying have a great retirement, stay healthy, and enjoy every minute of it.

Regards,

J. Kaelber

Class Reunion Golf Outing

Steve Riggan told us this week that he has accepted the challenge of putting together a golf outing for all reunion attendees interested in having some early fun.

If you are interested in joining your fellow golfing classmates in some fun and companionship on the links before the reunion, click this link and tell Steve you are interested.