Class Bulletin Board

Hi Dave:

News to share with the class. 2011 has ended on a sad note for our family. It’s probably easiest to paint a timeline of events: Dec. 12 we flew to Nashville to admit my husband’s brother (Bruce) to a Hospice care facility. On Dec. 13, while he was being admitted, my husband (Ron) suffered  a massive heart attack in their lobby. Quick action by the Hospice team, and close proximity to one of the best heart hospitals in the nation, had Ron in the ambulance and to the hospital within 8 minutes and into surgery within 20 minutes. A 100% blockage was opened with a stent and after 3 days in ICU, he was released from the hospital, but couldn’t travel for another few days. I wasn’t with him when it happened as I was back at his brother’s house gathering things he needed at the Hospice facility.

When I got the call, I had no transportation and didn’t have a clue where the hospital was or even if Ron would make it through the heart procedure. I’ve never felt more alone than at that moment. My daughter immediately hit the road and made the 11-hour drive to be with us. Fast-forward now as Ron is released to return to Iowa. We are home 2 days and our beloved wiener dog of nearly 15 years suffers a stroke and we have to have her put down at midnight – I picked up her ashes just a few days ago. Making daily calls to Ron’s brother, we knew when we left to return to Iowa that he would likely take a turn for the worse. Two days ago, last Friday, we got the call from Hospice – Bruce passed away at the Hospice facility. He had been up walking that morning and still talking……but the day before on the phone he had told us it would be the last time we’d talk. Guess he had that Divine Connection to know his fate, as that was the last time we spoke. This week Ron faces yet another heart procedure to have a second stent put it for another artery that is 80% blocked. We’re having to delay Bruce’s funeral a few days to give Ron time to recover so he can attend. Needless to say, prayers are appreciated.

I was suppose to start a new job this week, but that is delayed a week until all of this is behind us. I’m excited to start this new venture – Program Development Director for Camp Fire USA, Iowana Council – so at least there are some bright spots among this mess.

Nancy

Dave:

We just got back from a quick trip to see my Dad and now are trying to get the boys geared up to get back to school (and finals) next week. The boys were disappointed that there was no snow in Iowa.  Wish we’d had time to look up some of our old friends.

Thanks for all your posts and for helping our class stay in touch.  Feel free to post the photo to the class site if you wish.Judy

2011 Holiday Greetings from The Bryant Family 

This was another interesting year for our family filled with adventures and challenges. Together we took another RV vacation piggybacking off a week at Scout camp in north Georgia in July. Along with Rommel the wonder dog, we visited Dave’s mother in NY before heading to Acadia National Park in Maine for a few days. We then visited Lexington and Concord before heading to Boston for a reunion with Judy’s family. We hiked the Freedom Trail on the day of the second highest temperature in the city’s history. Great fun seeing family, learning more American history, and visiting Plymouth Rock on the way home.

Sam celebrated his 15th birthday, which in Florida means he is now learning to drive. He is quite busy playing tuba with his high school marching band. They performed in Tampa’s Gasparilla parade as well as with the University of South Florida band at a football game, not to mention all the high school games and various marching band competitions. He just finished his second term as Senior Patrol Leader for the Scout Troop and earned a silver palm to go with his Eagle rank. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow (Scouting’s honor society) and served as a counselor for a week-long Cub Scout summer day camp.

Ben turned 12 and has taken up tuba for his middle school band. He got to play with Sam at one of the high school football games. Also following in Sam’s footsteps, Ben was recently elected to serve as Senior Patrol Leader by the Troop. He now has Star rank and finished several more merit badges at summer camp this year. He got braces in August which he adjusted to quite well. In school he was honored with 3rd place in the Regional Science Fair and was selected for the 4-student math team which won 4th place in the county-wide competition. Ben’s schedule is exceptionally busy now with soccer practice 2 nights a week and games every weekend.

Judy has completed 30 years at the University of South Florida’s Psychology Department. She serves on the School Advisory Councils for the boys’ schools, our neighborhood association, and as Chair for our Scout Troop Committee. She traveled to professional conferences in Montreal and Washington, DC, this year as well as to Iowa to visit her father.

Dave visited New York for his 35th high school reunion where he spent time with some old friends and helped his mother select a new car. He also took his father up for a Bryant family reunion which, schedules permitting, we all hope to attend next time. Last Spring he was hired to go to the island nation of Anguilla to handle a major criminal investigation that had significant economic implications. He was successful not only in catching the criminal, but in discovering a thief in an unrelated matter. In another case, he was able to establish the innocence of a man jailed for drug smuggling who faced 15 years in prison. Based entirely on Dave’s opinion and reputation, the State Attorney dropped the charge and released the suspect. Dave also continues as Scoutmaster for the Troop, but is actively trying to identify a replacement. No news regarding Saphira (our uromastyx) or Rommel (our Rottweiler).

Busy as we are, we enjoy visits from and visiting friends and family. Although this may be the only communication we get to have with many of you, we still like to hear from folks to stay up to date. If there is an opportunity to get together, do let us know. Best wishes to all of you for a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Our scouting family ­ can you believe these giant boys? 

Hi Dave,

Happy Holly Daze to you and our class! We wish you joy and happiness and most importantly, laughter… it is the greatest remedy of them all!

Best wishes,

Jackie Dague Nicholson

Our family is spreading out further away from Coralville.  Valerie, our middle daughter, and her fiancé, Alex are moving to Bozeman, MT (18 hours away by car).  Alex just took the Director of Strength Conditioning at Montana State.  He has been there since the week before Thanksgiving.  We will head over to Des Moines to help pack the truck on the Wednesday after Christmas.  We are a little sad, since she was the CLOSEST of the kids, and now will be the furthest away.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Mark Ferguson

Katie (Collins) Bretz wrote:

Barb Alderman Acker’s mom, Clem Alderman, passed away on Wednesday. I wanted to pass along the news for anyone that would like to send Barb a message or stop by the Elks Lodge on Sunday afternoon from 3-5 for a reception in her honor.

Katie also passed along the link to Mrs. Alderman’s obituary in the Press Citizen.

Here is Barb’s mother’s obituary, offered as a tribute to a wonderful woman:

Cora “Clem” Alderman, 85, longtime resident of Iowa City died Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence.

A gathering for family and friends will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 13, 2011, at the Elks Lodge on Foster Road in Iowa City. At 5p.m., Pastor Kyle Otterbein of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church will conduct a brief memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Iowa City Hospice, Holden Cancer Center or the UI College of Nursing. Online condolences for the family may be sent through the web at www.gayandciha.com.

She was born June 24, 1926, in Ft. Madison, Iowa, the daughter of Stephen Leroy Clem and Dora Marie (Hall) Clem. She graduated from Ft. Madison High School and from the University of Iowa with a degree in nursing. Clem married Robert Newton Alderman on December 30, 1947, in Davenport, Iowa. The couple were lifelong residents of Iowa City. She was employed at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where she worked for Dr. Randall in OB-GYN. Clem was a member of Mercy Hospital Guild, P.E.O. Chapter KQ, and participated in her favorite bridge club for many years. She and her husband Bob enjoyed traveling, especially spending time at Lily Lake and Sanibel Island in Florida. Clem always cherished her friends, and was a very gracious hostess.

Her family was very important to her; especially her granddaughter, Mary Nell!Her family includes her son, John T. Alderman and his wife Stephanie Hamilton, and their daughter, Mary Nell, all of Iowa City; her daughters, Barbara Acker and her husband Mark, of Hailey, ID; and Catherine Marie and her husband Ken Norris, of Raleigh, NC; and her two sisters, Maymie Chamlee and Betty Baker, both of Ft. Madison.

Clem was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant daughter, Virginia Nell Alderman; and infant granddaughter, Rachel Lou Alderman.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Clem’s family and her services.

Meg Eginton said:

Hi Dave,

Julie Kent’s father passed away on Sunday evening. He was a wonderful father and friend.  I spent many, many afternoons and evenings at their house and out on their pontoon boat learning to ski and laugh. He also went sledding with us on Richards St.

I am sure that many of our classmates will remember Chuck, because he took so many of our high school graduation pictures.  I thought you might like to get this into our newsletter.  He was a wonderful man.

Charles F. “Chuck” Kent, 86, of Iowa City, died Sunday, July 31, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Chuck chose to be cremated and a private burial will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City.

The family will greet friends Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at The Kirkwood Room at Governors Ridge, 515 Kirkwood Avenue in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation or The Mercy Hospital Foundation.

Charles Frederick Kent was born April 7, 1925 in Iowa City, the son of F.W. and Clara (Hartman) Kent.

A lifelong Iowa City resident, he graduated from University High School and attended the University of Iowa.

He married Alice Mae Donham on April 3, 1947 in Iowa City. Alice died in 1991. On January 2, 1993, Chuck married Helen Taylor Keppler in Iowa City. Chuck was a professional portrait photographer (Kent Studio) from 1947 until his retirement in 1975. He was instrumental in establishing one of the first color photo processing labs in Iowa.

Chuck served in the Army Air Corp during WWII. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, Phi Kappa Psi and served as president of the Professional Photographers of Iowa.

He very much enjoyed traveling the country in his RV, boating, playing bridge, golfing and dancing — all of which were shared with family and friends.

Chuck is survived by his wife Helen; children, Jane Kent of Iowa City, Ann (Mike) Hitchcock of Iowa City,Julie (John) Larson of Ames: step children, Kathy (Greg) Wunsch of Naperville, IL. And Karen (John) Bower of Stillwater, MN; grandchildren Jenny (Luke) Sutter, Tyler (Alina) Beck, Shawna Hitchcock, Corey Hitchcock, Sara Larson, Bryan Larson and step grandchildren Libby (Greg) Phillips, Katie Wunsch, Christopher Bower and Adam Bower and great granddaughter Samantha Kriz; brother Tom Kent, brother-in-law Charles Buckley, sister-in-law, Blanche Hartsock and many nieces and nephews.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Alice, brother Jim (Cloy) Kent, sister Barbara Buckley and sister-in-law Ann Kent.

On-line condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com.

Hi Dave :

More band news from Phoenix’s Favorite 50’s Group!  September 7, 2011 would have been Buddy Holly’s 75^th birthday and “Come Back Buddy” will be attending the ceremony in Hollywood where he will receive post humuously(finally) his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (next to the Beatles!).  We will be headlining that evening at the World Famous Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood (with a bunch of other bands).  Should be a hoot.  Any L.A. area classmates are invited to come out and celebrate with us!

On another note, Walt Osborne and I recently got together when he was in Phoenix on business.  Always good to re-live old adventures a couple of times a year when he is in town!

Also, our daughter, Nicole, was recently married here in Phoenix and Karen (Davis) Liebold and husband Chuck flew down from Des Moines for the wedding.  We hope to reciprocate in September for their youngest daughter!

The summer is over half done here in God’s country…which means only 2 more months of 100 degree heat!!!

Don