Remembering Coach Olson and the 1991 Class Reunion

[Note:  Mary D. shared these memories and photos after the recent obituary for Coach Warren L. "Ole" Olson.]  

1991 Class reunion at the Sheraton in Cedar Rapids when past teacher and coach, Warren Olson was able to join us.  I now look back on this occasion fondly because I was so excited that not only did Mr. Olson join us but he addressed the class with special remembrances.  

Elaine Dimmer Pietro also attended this reunion and it was the only one she was ever able to attend.  Later she shared with me how much she enjoyed being there and visiting with everyone. 

Lowell Vogt was still with us at that time and it was, I believe,the first, but not the last reunion that we had both Len and Jerry in attendance.

We basketball girls loved Coach Olson  - RIP.  

Fourth of July Festivities 2011

Our 50th Reunion was held just before Marengo's 4th of July celebration so some people were able to continue the celebration on Sunday.  Thanks to Evan we have some pictures.

The first two are from the car show which our classmate, Darold Slaymaker organized.  I understand the first one is his hot rod!

The next one shows some cars from our school days!.

Then some parade scenes with, as far as I know, none of our classmates visible.

(Note:  By clicking on one of the pictures you can bring up a slideshow with all of the pictures.)

Memorial to Our Classmates

We have ten of our classmates who are deceased.  Claudia prepared the above display recognizing each of them for our 50th Reunion and included them in our program.  On the Classmates and Classmates M - Z pages we have their birth and death listed with an asterisk after the information.  The individual remembrances pictured above are available on the In Memoriam page.

The deceased class members are:

James Byram
Terry Cronbaugh
Elaine Prieto (Dimmer)
Robert Hawkins
Marjorie Angerer (Kennell)
LaVerne Murphy
Larry Olson
Erna Wickwire (Radtke)
Robert Smith
Lowell Vogt

They are missed by all of us.

Thank You to the Class of 1962

Several members of the Iowa Valley Class of 1962 joined us at our gathering at Phat Daddy's.  They shared their memories of our times together and our effect on their lives.  Modesty, and the statute of limitations, prevent my repeating some of the stories.  Thank you to Diane and Pete, Rosemary, Ron, and Jim, as well as the spouses of our class members from their class.  My apologies if I have missed anyone.

Best wishes to the Class of 1962 with their reunion next year.  I hope they also have a great time at their events!

50th Reunion Picture Published

The latest issue (July 28, 2011) of the Pioneer-Republican has the group picture taken outside before the 50th Reunion at the Ox Yoke Inn.  Thank you Mary D. for arranging this and thank you Dianne Kinzenbaw for taking this great picture!
You can see a larger version of the picture by clicking on it and then clicking on the picture again.

Reunion Trivia Quiz

For the reunion program, Evan created a trivia quiz. The questions are shown  in the picture to the left.  Many of the answers came during the program.  For those that did not or those you missed hearing, you can see the trivia quiz with the answers here.

Reunion Cake - July 2, 2011

Thank you to Carol Ann for making an outstanding reunion cake!  As a cake fanatic - my wife accuses me of marrying her only because of the wedding cake; which is not true, it was the wedding cake frosting - I can testify that both the cake and frosting were great.  Just looking at the picture makes me hungry for it again (I don't think any of it remained)!