The following are the memories our classmates chose to share.
Bonnie Weldon sent me the first news of the reunion in an email entitled “WE HAD FUN”:
“We had about 125 people at the bash last night. Will be sending pictures soon for the website. There were several people that flew in from various places just for the reunion. It was a nice crowd and everyone seemed to have a good time…I will write more later”
Dave–
The reunion was a huge success! There were so many more people there than I expected and everyone seemed to have a great time. We all discussed making sure we had a 35th–10 years was too long to get together again!
Cheri McCabe Hochstetler
Dave,
I didn’t know 125 50 year olds could have so much fun,
(I took two cameras for insurance…the cheap 35mm fixed focus, and it jammed on me, so I had to break out my 30 year old SLR and hoped I could focus in the dark bar and still get good pics…) I just got back into the Twin Cities at 4:30pm and decided to see what people might have said about the reunion…Mr. Barker was there, Randy Rogers, and more teachers. As soon As I get the cds from the photo store, I will send you the pics if they turned out. Let’s hope for the best…Every one was talking about what a good job you did for the web site, Dave.
Gene Hartsock
Dave-
The reunion was soooo fun– it wouldn’t have been possible without all your hard work. Sorry you couldn’t make it– maybe next time? People were having so much fun that they suggested we do this every year!!!! Probably not a possibility huh?
Dave, do you remember Dick Snyder? I thought he was in our class?? I also was trying to look up Sue Anderson- who moved to Marshalltown before she graduated from West– maybe she moved in 11th grade– I thought she might like to come to the reunion some year. Her step sister’s name was Char Anderson . Anyway– Sue used to go with Dick Snyder– and someone at the reunion said that they wished Dick Snyder was here and I couldn’t find him on your e-mail roster?
Any ideas????
Hugs,
Deb Gardner Persons
Dear David,
…I had a very nice time at the reunion. I went with very few expectations and was so pleased when the people who came were so friendly and genuinely warm. Really delightful. It was great to see everyone and find out where everyone is at in their lives. I’m really sorry that you couldn’t make it, I know you would have enjoyed yourself…
Patty Kennedy McBride
Hi,
Good visits all around. It was interesting to have people genuinely interested in what is going on in each others’ lives It really was affirming to realize what things people remembered about me and to learn of some of others’ life celebrations and struggles, too. Many asked about you (Dave) and were sorry you couldn’t be there. None of the teachers that showed were any that I had. I was sad to learn that Mr. Workman is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Mr. Barker did come – he looked pretty good. John Waite says that Mr. Watson is now teaching in the twin cities. I hope we can raise money to start a Class of 73 scholarship or something. It would also be nice to get together at least every 5 years.
Sincerely yours,
Laura Walters Anspach
Dave,
Thanks for keeping us together. Missed seeing you at the reunion – we had an amazing turnout.
Warmly,
Nancy Hug Montier
Dear Dave,
Thanks for all you do in keeping the class page updated and newsy. I had such fun at the reunion. It was wonderful talking to everyone. It’s amazing to see and hear about everyone’s path in life. I’m sorry you weren’t able to attend but family takes priority. We all understand that. Hopefully you’ll be able to attend the next reunion and we can thank you in person.
To all of you that I visited with, thank you for sharing part of the evening with me. I really enjoyed talking to each and everyone of you. Take care everyone.
Sincerely,
Sue Hansen
Dave,
My wife Susan and I went to the reunion and had a genuinely good time. It is interesting to see how some have matured great, and some who have not. I sat and talked to mostly the girls in the class, something I would have never done in high school. It was great to see Mr. Barker, Mr. Dye and Mr. Rogers at the reunion. I had a great dialog with Mr. Barker for about ten minutes about politics. Mr. Rogers said he appreciated the congratulatory email I sent him for his retirement. He said he had a tear run down his face when he read it.
I think I convinced Steve Riggan to come see an Iowa Cubs game in Des Moines sometime this summer. It would be great to have a person who appreciates baseball like he does. His son is playing Triple A ball somewhere in Louisiana, a catcher like his dad. The only problem is, our favorite player just got called up to the Chi-Cubs, Augie Ojeda.
Everyone agreed that we need to have a 35th reunion. It would be great if we could even combine with the classes before and after ours for a combined reunion. This seems to be happening more and more. We had so many people who have married either old or younger classmates that I don’t think this would be too much of a problem to get the message out. Bonnie had Charlie’s Place pretty well organized. Cheri McCabe Hochstetler and Dave Kacena’s daughter was a waitress that night. I don’t know if that was planned but it was nice to meet her. I think the Web Page did a great job of communicating the Class Reunion. Thanks for all you did for making this a success. Try to be there for the 35th!
Regards,
Mark Ferguson
Bonnie Weldon wrote:
Dave,
I wanted to let you know that we put out a sheet for everyone to sign which included updated information and a place for e-mail addresses at the reunion. So, shortly we will be able to give those to you. It will include everyone that filled out a sheet and we will be able to add more to our list.
Also, I wanted to thank Deb Rogers and Brenda for getting together the sheets for the updates and Bill Ackerman for sending notes to all of the old teachers and Kevin Kelly for getting the nametags and the banner welcoming the CLASS OF ’73 . Everyone really pitched in and helped by telling someone else and that is what made the whole thing a success. I will send the info as soon as it is available. And also thanks for your help in the success. Without your time and effort we would not have a way of getting anything done.
Hi!
Here is a post reunion story: As a result of my attending the West High reunion I received a phone call from a gal that used to live next door to my grandparents and baby-sat me! This connection came as a result of hearing about a U-High reunion from some of the folks at the West Reunion. Small world.
It was good to reconnect with people. I was only at West one year, but connected with many West people while at U of Iowa, and even here in Des Moines. I see Mark Ferguson at City of Clive functions, and my daughter went to Colorado with Katie Bretz as chaperone before we figured out it was Katie Collins Bretz! I vote for doing it again in 5 years.
Thanks for doing the web page. Hopefully YOU can come next time!
Karen Davis Leibold