Iowa City West High Class of 1973
Home of the Trojans
Carter Family song – June Carter Cash, Mother Mabel Carter
Autoharp handcrafted by Ken Ellis of Whippoorwill Acoustics. Ken is a retired physicist and now a luthier.
The words to this song has provided me with much comfort over the years, especially during the pandemic.
Written and performed by Nancy Masbruch Olinger
Here is a song I wrote and performed. It was originally written in tribute to my parents who died from colon cancer, and has been requested for several funerals. I’ve written several and this is the one that touches my heart the most.
Margery (Marge) Evert Hoppin passed away on July 17 at home under hospice care in the presence of her family. She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 29, 1925 to John and Pearl Evert. At the age of two, her family moved to Glendive, Montana where her father was a surgeon at the Northern Pacific hospital. Upon the death of her father in 1937, the family moved back to St. Paul where Marge graduated from Murray High School with top honors in 1943. During the summer of 1943, she worked as a file clerk and receptionist at the University of Chicago Memorial Hospital during World War II while the Manhattan project was underway just a few blocks away. She then enrolled at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a BA in Psychology with a minor in Economics in 1946. While a senior in college she met Richard (Dick) Hoppin whom she married in September 1947. They moved to Pasadena, California where Dick earned his PhD in Geology and Marge earned a Master’s Degree at Claremont College in Educational Psychology. Following brief stays in Florida and Cape Cod, when Dick was serving in the Air Force Reserve during the Korean War, they moved along with their small son Art to a house on Melrose Court in Iowa City in August 1952. Dick then began his long career at the University of Iowa as a Professor of Geology. During the 1950s, as the family grew, Marge enrolled in more graduate courses in child psychology and was a Research Associate at the Institute of Preventative Psychiatry at the University until 1961. The family moved to a new house on Lee Street in 1964, where Marge lived until her recent death.
In 1965, Marge began her distinguished career at the University of Iowa in the Sponsored Programs Division. She served as Director of the division from 1969 until her retirement in 1991. During that time, the total grants and contracts from various government agencies awarded to the University of Iowa grew from $20 million to over $122 million, which she always credited to the excellence of the proposals from the teaching faculty. Marge was very active in the National Council of University Research Administrators that represented more than 500 colleges and universities. She served as the Council’s first female President in 1978 through 1979. She was honored as a charter member and fellow of the Nation Academy of University Research Administrators in 1985. Marge published several articles in national journals and gave over a dozen invited presentations at various national meetings.
Marge served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank in Iowa City from 1975 to 1993 and was Chairman from 1990 to 1993.
Marge was a longtime and active member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Iowa City. She freely and generously volunteered her time to numerous community activities including serving on the Board of Directors of the local Unicef and United Way campaigns, as well as the Family Planning Council of Iowa, and the Emergency Housing Project. After retirement from the University and well into her nineties, she volunteered at the Iowa City Public Library, the University Hospital, and the Kirkwood College Adult Literacy Program to help new immigrants become US citizens. She enjoyed concerts at Hancher, was a prolific reader, and avid gardener. Marge was proud of her community and dearly loved her many caring neighbors and friends.
Marge was preceded in death by husband, Richard ‘Dick’, son, Arthur and brothers, John and Robert Evert. She is survived by sons, Charles Hoppin (Bonnie) and Andrew Hoppin, and daughter, Jan Hensel (Paul) and daughter-in-law, Karla Presler; grandchildren Tim Hoppin (Kate), Dan Hoppin (Kandace), Brian Hensel (Sarah), Matt Hensel (Kristen), Anna Hensel, and Angela Kumar (Jai), as well as five great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Sue Chase and all the caregivers (Alishea, Brooke, Tamara, Deb L, Deb U, Sheila, Jean, Julie, Alexis, Akyrah) and to St. Croix Hospice for all their compassionate care while she remained at home throughout the past few months.
A memorial service for Marge will be held at the Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Iowa City on August 15th with visitation at 2:30 pm, service at 3:30, and a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials directed to either the Community Foundation of Johnson County, the UI Center for Advancement, or the Congregational Church.
Classmate Paul Roberts will be performing this year with the McPunk Brothers on Friday night, and with Banjoy on Saturday night.
A splendid time is guaranteed for all…
Janelle and I are on trip to Missoula to see our oldest, Nate and his wife Erin. We took a side trip to the Banff area, and visited Lake Louise (pictured). When Janelle was in the travel business, she traveled several times to Banff and Lake Louise. We had a great time seeing the sites and the glorious railroad hotels.
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.
Sharing a song you might like.
It touches on the irony of our egos and their notions that they can change the world instead of simply enjoy the ride sometimes!
Lyrics:
When I use all the words I know, love
Mark Zanger
Hopin’ to make life change
Then I realize all my words, love
To make life change
Really make it change
To make life change
Go for nothing at all
Better take ’em all back
You know, I better call Saul!
I better call Saul and have him take it to the limit
And then I’ll have him seal the case in silence
As I take the fall
We’d better call!
When I use all the words I know, love
Hopin’ to make life change
Then I realize all my words, love
Are a waste of my time
Better be sublime
Better use my time to climb
Let’s call a meet and greet of the best in this world of our dreams
And ask them what we should say
Let me tell you they’ll say,
“Just save it! Let’s not brave it.
Tell them all at the office you gave it!
Save your breath, my man,
It’s a better plan.”
When I use all the words I know, love
Hopin’ to make a big change
Then I realize all my words, love,
Are meant for me, so I can see
Just meant for me!
Save it! Save all your breath
Save all for yourself
That’s better now
Just keep it safe
All to yourself
That’s better
Keep it to yourself
You know it’s meant for you alone, just you love
Our tour of West High on June 24th 2023 was organized by Bonnie and led by Gary Neuzil, recently retired legendary teacher at West High, who did a masterful job as tour guide herding all us “kittens” around the school.
Special thanks goes to Karen Peak Lenth who bought the special “50 Year Reunion” banner that you see in the group photo taken in the Arganbright Theater.
