Elmhurst High School Class of 56

Dick Winesburg

Joyce and I want to Thank All My Friends and classmates for a very enjoyable reunion with a Special thanks to Bev and Dick for opening their home allowing some of us to get reacquainted after so many years of no contact. Joyce was so impressed with how she was accepted by everyone for she was only familiar with Jerry and Audrey Buchan and that took a lot of recall as many years had past since we had any contact with each other. Joyce said she enjoyed everyone and was at no time made to feel out of place. Stories which came to light during the tour of the school and various other times were very interesting to her and left her with the questions as to how this class turned out so many Preachers, Teachers and Law Enforcement Personal???? I did have to question this myself!

There were some who left from the evening get-together prior to me getting pictures and I do regret that. I have good shots of many, Allen and Meredith, Ed and Judy, Loren and Sharon, Norma and Dave to mention a few but Roy, Darlene, Sonny and Dean escaped, as did others.

Karen, you and Don were some who helped make that list, but we understand, we know the pet thing well. As for me knowing who you were early in the day, I was standing by Lorene and Larry when I spotted you, so prior to walking over and saying "Hi", I had Lorene verify that I was correct. A little research can help keep an edge in these moments.

The committee did such an outstanding job putting things together. The spouses were great to give up their time to support this effort. Thank each of you.

I wish we could have spent a couple hours with each and every friend and classmate. Larry and Lorene, it seems each attempt was short, but the super part was seeing y’all. Elaine and Bruce, thanks for breaking the ice at breakfast the first morning. Loren, thanks to you and Sharon for spending time with Joyce and me, it was GRRREEAAT. Jerry and Audrey, thanks for the Special Sunday morning. May it happen more often. Sonny on your way West this Fall stop and have a cup or two. For all who should happen to come to our great and Beautiful state of Utah and would like to say HI and maybe have a cup of or glass of ??? drop an email jrwinesburg@msn.com or a phone call 1 (801) 731-4348.

Again, thanks For a GREAT time!

Tom Johnson

My highest complements to the committee for the VERY FINE planning of the class reunion. Every thing was down to the last detail. This was an event that will be remembered for the rest of my life. My how people have changed, except for Allen Poorman. All the work everyone put into the event was will worth it and was appreciated. Just to find everyone was a feat for Ripley's believe it or not. Then all the phone calls to get everyone to attend was real dedication. I feel sad for the people who did not attend, they missed a very important part of their life. I hope they get the message and attend the 55 year event. I will personally tell Fred Blume what he missed. I hope to see him this summer when he visits his in-laws in Indiana this summer. Thank you for all your hard work.

Ken Kauffman

Sonny Talbott

Many thanks for putting together the reunion, but did you have to invite all those old people? I surprised myself and had a good time. Again, thanks

Dick Garland

What a wonderful time! It was so good to see classmates and friends after so many years. Thanks to the Committee for you splendid work in pulling together our 50th Reunion. I will savor the memory of our time together for a long, long while. When we graduated, we were a rural school living in the shadow of our city rivals. But, oh what we have accomplished. I am so proud to have been a part of this class. Educational achievements, long successful careers, families to be proud of, spread across the country: who could ask for more? And wasn't it fun to see who we have become, seeing how the years have transformed us, catching up on each other's lives, picking up conversations that we'd left off the last time we met. I loved the easy laughter of our gathering, and the sharing of the stories that shaped us through our high school years, and seeing Mr. Werling and Don Goss—amazing! And what a fine building old Elmhurst has become! As we paused for the Memorial Time I felt more than one lump in my throat, mingled with appreciation for some special people in my life. Then it was so quickly over and I was back home. As I page through our Class of ’56 Book of Memories and read through the 1956 Anlibrum again, I find myself smiling a lot. What a joy it was to see you all again! If you're up New England way, stop in in little old Rhode Island. There's a surprising amount of stuff to see, and I give a very good personalized tour. I'd love to see you again.

Elaine Fulghum Satterthwaite

Jerry, indeed, that reunion was something special…and so are all of you who worked so hard on it. I really appreciate you. And I've just got to say…God Bless. Thanks so much for putting me on the list for the photo. We looked all over for the guy, but didn't see him. When you mention the picture of Loren and Bill—and if you meant the one where they were dancing—my husband snapped a photo just as they were parting, so it actually just looks like they are there talking. He was an instant too late for America's Funniest Home Videos. Yes, Bill is a character. When I lived West of F.W. on Hwy 14, he lived about 2 blocks from me on a side road—Lagro Drive. So I've known Bill not only in school, but in the neighborhood ... and he seemed just as ornery in both places. But that's just Bill. I was surprised to arrive at the Hilton and there was Bill at the door. Big hugs exchanged and then he introduced us to his new wife. he is my husband's cousin. After that Bill kept saying, “Whodathunk—we are cousin-in-laws.” I never thought I'd have Bill as a shirt-tail relative. It is a small world. It was SO GOOD to see faces that meant so much to me during those high school years.You have no idea how much fun I had ... and our table of old school lunch buddy chums laughed so hard that we cried at times. I'm so glad we went. Since I had not graduated with the group—but I did go part of my senior year—I guess I've always carried with me a stigma about it…but that went away the night of the reunion. So—you see—it was a healing night for me as well as a lot of fun. Thanks again to you for the special things you did for the class.

Arlene (Buskirk) Lenich

Hope that I have said it a million times before, but again thanks for a great job. Bev and Dick, that open house was so much fun where I found it easy to talk to a number of classmates and catch up on more than just a place where they are now living and an occupation. What an interesting class! The memory book must have been a challenge to keep at $8. One of my friends said that is as good as my yearbook. Every once in a awhile I think of someone else and wonder what they are up too and I look it up. I didn't find Janet Minser's email address, but hope she and Jerry realize how much their effort at finding everyone was appreciated. They may have the world record and will no doubt find themselves in the Guineas Book of Records. Loren your personal contact, and I did sit down to see the power point. Thanks for so much time. Bev keeping all on task certainly paid off in an excellent event!!!!!! Much gratitude …

Karen (Carpenter) Bjork

At least once a day I find myself recounting the day of the 50th reunion at the Hilton Garden Inn with a smile. Loren mentioned that the one regret he had was that many of his cronies were unable to attend. I, too was disappointed to find that the girls I hung out with most (with the exception of Lorene Scherer-Blair) did not show up. Lorene and Larry live within 45 minutes of my home and I had lunch with them last summer. So at least I could recognize them!! My apology to Dick Weinberg as he did remember me and I must say he is just as friendly and fun as ever. It felt so strange to discover gray haired, (or no haired) cool guys. And gals that once were babes discussing great-grandbabies. Next time Don and I will get a dog sitter so we can stay longer. It's just that we have the sweetest black lab on the planet and had to return home to her that night. Thanks again for all the work put into the planning of the 50th. I do hope to see all of those who attended once again in 5 years. So everyone hang in there and breathe until 2011. We won't act any older, it's just that our wrinkles may be more mature.

Anita Roser Hemmeter

I am still smiling from all the fun I had at the reunion and spending time with our classmates from high school. What a great time I had and the evening was even more than I had anticipated. Words of thanks seem so insignificant for all the work you and the committee did in order for the rest of us to have a fantastic evening. But, words are all I have and I want you to know that what you all did is greatly appreciated. I'm sure you could tell that Mary Ellen, Skip and I had a great time. I also thank you for the dance (Loren). The Service of Remembrance was so moving and so very well done. It certainly makes one stop and thank God for the many blessings He has given us and to remember those who are already with Him. I really do hope that we can all keep in touch and not wait another 50 years to get together again. I'm sorry for those who did not come and missed out on a wonderful evening. Again, many thanks to you and the whole committee. If you are ever in the Knoxville area, there is a place for you to stay here.