Iowa Valley High School Class of 1961: Classmates

Classmates Then and Now

(For Classmates - M Through Z see this page.)

While this page is still being filled, we hope to eventually have all the Class of 1961 members with pictures from around 1961 and more recently. Also, we would like you to let us know what has happened in the last 50 years.

To add your comments, which we will move to this page, click on any of the names. This will take you to a webpage for your comments.

Donald Beardshear

Graduated from the U of I in 1966 with a degree in engineering and then spent 2 years in the US Army. I’ve lived in Iowa City, Midland, MI, El Paso, TX, WSMR, NM, Fort Wayne, IN, Orlando, FL, and now, San Diego, CA. Married 45 years, travelled the world for business and pleasure, raised 3 boys and now have 6 grandkids. Hobbies include golf, travel, woodworking and more golf.

Shirley Hall (Becker)

Elaine Means (Blount)

After graduation I worked at the Iowa County Savings Bank and in 1964 I married my husband, Larry. We lived in Marengo until 1971 when we moved to Greenfield, Iowa where Larry was a teacher for 31 years. I again started working at a bank, the Adair County Savings Bank, now after several name changes First National Bank. I've been at the bank for 32 years and still have no plans of retiring. Our family includes son Jon and his wife Dana. We have three grandchildren - Jordan 19, Jensen 16, and Keaton 14. Our second son, Douglas Michael, died in 1972. We enjoy watching the grandchildren in their sports events and some traveling. It doesn't seem possible that it has been 50 years since Graduation.

Jim Byram (1942-July 31, 1991)*

Russell Conn

Graduated from the U. of Iowa with BA and MS degrees. Employed at Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company in Omaha, Nebraska from 1967 until retiring as VP and Actuary in October, 2004. Continue to live in Omaha. Married with three children and our first grandchild arrived early in 2011. Interests include walking, reading, crossword and sudoku puzzles, and photography as well as several collecting interests.

Gary Cooney

After graduation I attended State College of Iowa (now University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls for one year.

I joined the Air Force in August of 1962 and spent the next eight years in the Air Force. I was a jet engine mechanic and did two tours in Vietnam and I was also stationed in Texas, Okinawa Japan, Arizona, Oklahoma and New York. My high school sweetheart, Elaine Hayes and I were married on January 2, 1965 and our daughter Alisa was born in Arizona on August 7, 1967. I left the Air Force in August of 1970 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

I went to work for the Iowa County Sheriff's Department in October of 1970. I worked there as a Deputy Sheriff for over two years and left there in January of 1973.

I started working with the Iowa Department of Public Safety in January of 1973 as a State Trooper. I worked as Trooper for eight years and worked I-80 in the Wilton area. I then worked as a Assistant District Commander at the District 12 office in Davenport. My next assignment was in Fort Dodge as the District Commander of District #7. My last assignment was in Cedar Falls as the Area Commander for the Northeast quarter of the state that included Districts 7,8,9 and 10. After 28 years I retired from the State Patrol in October of 2000 with the rank of Captain.

I spent 38 years in a uniform of one kind or the other. I completed a full circle, I started in Cedar Falls after high school and ended up there after retirement. I have now been retired for 10 1/2 years and do volunteer work at Covenant Hospital in Waterloo two days a week.. I am a van driver for the prenatal care Department at the hospital and I pick the high risk pregnant patients and take them to and from appointments.

Elaine and I have been married for 46 years and have lived in Hudson Iowa for the last 14 years.

Albert Cooperider

I graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in political science and education. After graduating I taught high school social studies and coached girls’ athletics in the Delwood and in the Clarence, Iowa, school systems. After ten years of teaching, I worked in sales for the next thirteen years. Since then I have been teaching drivers’ education at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. I have two children and three grandchildren.

Terry Cronbaugh (January 17, 1943-November 10, 1995)*

Elaine Prietro (Dimmer) (January 4, 1943-March 13, 1993)*

Jerry Elick

I have been married to Roseanne for the past 29 years. I have three daughters, two sons and six grandchildren, so far.

Roseanne and I live in Houston, Texas. We have lived here since 1981. We are the proud parents of two of the most adorable Monkeys, Mimi 9 and Olivia 6 years of age. We have raised them since birth. They were one ounce at birth and a pound now. We also have a 9 year old Afghan Dog by the name of Noah and a 19 year old cat, Scooter. They keep us really busy. I am still riding my Harley when I get the chance.

Roseanne and I have two corporations. The first is Nova Development and Construction, Inc. Nova is a design and build corporation that has designed and built everything from custom houses to shopping centers.

The second is Nova World Export, LLC. We export HMS1 and HMS2, Urea 46 (fertilizer) and Cement to countries around the world.. Needless to say, I do a great deal of traveling. Does anybody need a $ 150,000,000.00 cement factory located in Brazil?

Thought you-all might get a kick out of the pictures that I found. The first picture was taken in 10th grade.

Joan Bell (Frederickson)

After graduation, I attended and graduated from Paris Academy Cosmetology school in Cedar Rapids. Married to Bob Bell on Nov.4th, 1961. Moved to Iowa City in 1965, where we owned and operated a Standard Oil service station till 1986. In 1981 I also started working for the Johnson Co. Treasurer's office. We have been retired for 7 years and spend 6 months in Naples, Fl. and 6 months in Iowa City. We have 1 daughter and 1 son here in Iowa City, and 1 son still in Alaska. Six grandchildren ranging in age 23 down to 4, will be married 50 yrs. in Nov.

James Freeze

Jim Freeze married to Marilyn Koenig Freeze for 46 years with four children and 18 grandchildren. Jeff Freeze and Julie - Sarah, Andrew, Emilie, and Amanda. Ron Freeze and Ann - Elizabeth, Anthony, Nicholas, Samantha, Jacqueline, Benjamin, and Patrick. Kristi Freeze Haupert and Henry - Aaron, Abbie, Callie, and Marcus. Vicki Freeze Zittergruen and Matt - Marshall, Trevor, and Ali.
We spent 2 months in Ireland in 2010 with son Ron and family. Ron traveling for his job with Abbott so we helped Ann and grandkids. While there we traveled in Ireland, France, Italy, and England.
Retired once from teaching after 33 years. About ready for second retirement from delivering meds to pharmacies and nursing homes.
Enjoy attending grandchildren's activities when possible or talking with them on the phone about their activities.

Linda Kamp (Gates)

I graduated with a BS from the U of Iowa in 1965, completed my internships in occupational therapy in 1966 and married Tom Kamp, attorney, a native of Okiboji. We have three children, all musically inclined, but with day jobs, and two grandchildren. I worked in the health care system as a clinician, consultant, and educator until 1999, collecting additional degrees (MSEd, in Interdisciplinary Studies, Western Illinois, and PhD, Higher Education, Iowa) along the way. I became a fellow in the American Occupational Therapy Association in part for my work in program development, and finished off my professional career as a visiting professor at the University of South Dakota.

In 1999 we retired and enlarged and moved into our riverside home that had been our weekend getaway since the 80s. I enjoy gardening, collect antique quilts and make both traditional and art quilts, and am an amateur genealogist (I’ll look up anyone’s family tree!) and reading. I am presently engaged in a battle of wits with a fox who does not want her photo taken by my Bird Cam!

Evan Gerard

Currently retired and living in Campbell, CA. Married to Judy Olson, formerly of Lake Okoboji, and have two sons. Spent thirty odd years working in the defense industry. Graduated from the University of Iowa and started as an engineer and advanced to Vice President/General Manager. Travelled the world as part of the job involved in Signals Intelligence. Enjoy driving my vintage '66 Mustang and doing nothing.

Carol Ann Mason (Griffin)

Marjorie Gorsch (Hartmann)

Robert Hawkins (July 5, 1943-January 30, 2006)*

Karmen Flickinger (Heller)

Sheryl Peshek (Hibbs)

I graduated from UNI with a BA in Elementary Education and from Teikyo-Marycrest University with an MA in Reading. After receiving my BA I taught fifth grade for three years at Delmar, Iowa. I was home with my two children until 1984 when I went back to teaching. I taught junior high reading and later fifth grade in Mount Vernon, Iowa. I retired in 2006. We are moving to Grafton, WI, to be closer to our three grandkids. Since retiring, Rich and I have enjoyed playing in several bands, reading, and tent camping in the mountains of Oregon with my son and his wife.

Richard Hinkle

I enlisted in the Navy after high school in 1961, and served 4 years, 3 months, and 28 days, mostly based in San Diego, Ca.
During that time I did two West Pac tours, one of which was to Vietnam. Upon my return from Nam, I married my wife Louise.
We have been married for 46 years, and have resided in southern california - Huntington Beach - since 1966.

After the Navy I went to work for Southern California Edison, the local power company. I worked my way up from welder to a
management position and retired after 30 years with SCE in 1996.

We have two children. Our son, Bryan, is the Director of the Office of Career Planning at the University of San Francisco School
of Law. He is the father of our only grandchild, Cate Elaine. She is the love of our lives!

Daughter Christi is an E R nurse and teacher at St. Joseph / Children's Hospital in Orange County. Needless to say, we are very
proud of both of them and their families.

We really enjoy traveling, whether it's in an R V or cruising. I still do some hunting, and particularly love salt water fishing.

Richard Hogan

Marjorie Angerer (Kennell) (May 2, 1943-November 12, 1998)*

Claudia Hickey (Kenney)

Completed Paris Academy cosmetology school in Cedar Rapids, in '62 and married Mike Hickey the same year.
Lived in Fairfax, Ia. for 20 years prior to moving back to Marengo in '82. Accounting degree from Kirkwood Community College,
Cedar Rapids,Ia. Worked in the printing industry for 13 years and employed with a trucking sales and repair shop for 6 years.
I am now retired. Mike and I live on on a farm north of Marengo and we have four children and four grandchildren.

David Kinsey

I graduated from Southeast Community College in Milford, NE with a degree in Building Trades. I worked as a carpenter foreman in Conroy, IA intil I returned to Southeast community College as a Building Trades instructor in 1969. I moved our family to Ankeny, IA in 1972 to teach at Des Moines Area Community College.From there I began my own Construction company. I am now semi retired but keep busy with one man projects. I especially enjoy doing projects in Ankeny for my wife, Donna ( Bell) Kinsey, Daughters Jodi and Jennifer and Granddaughter Kinsey.

Betty Lou Gardner (Klein)

My husband, Paul, and I have been married for 46 years. We have 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren and 1 very spoiled 8 yr. old Maltese named "Maggie". In 1972 we moved to the Coralville area where we owned & operated an Amoco service station until May of 2001. We spend the summer months in Iowa & the winters in Arizona. I love spending time with the grandchildren, sewing & cooking. Paul & I both enjoy our extensive flower beds. We have Grandma Klein's rose bush that is now over 100 years old. It grew at their home on Marengo Ave. As a child, I loved going there and seeing it in bloom & am so pleased to have it here now for our children & grandchildren to enjoy.

Richard Kummer

"Hello Classmates of 61"

Although we are scattered around the country I still enjoy hearing from many of you.

As many of us are now retired and enjoying life to the fullest,I did enjoy my working years.I often think of our deceased classmates and how their lives were cut

so short.

I started school in Marengo in the 4th Grade and have been through all of school with many of you. As you all know I enjoyed sports from the very beginning and still watch many different sports today. I still follow the Hawkeye's very close.

I think back to my high school days and think of some of the great teams we had.Some of the records we had in football, boys and girls basketball,and Gary Cooney still having the only State Championship in all school sports. Correct me if I.m wrong.

We had many All Conference players in football and basketball. My greatest memory was when we were playing Williamsburg in basketball the score was tied or we might of been behind by one point with 2 seconds left in the game and I shot 2 free throws to win the game.

My wife Susan and I are fine and are enjoying life to the max. We now live in San Marcos,Ca. We wish all of you the best,and would enjoy hearing from each and everyone of you. Sorry we can't be there for the special day.

Sincerely,

Rich Kummer

Ronald Langlas

I graduated from the University of Iowa in 1965 and then spent 20 years in the Air Force flying fighters. I’ve been to some interesting places (RAF Bentwaters, Woodbridge, England) and some places that weren’t so interesting (Ubon RTAFB, Thailand and Kunsan AFB, Korea). I got my Master’s Degree while in the Air Force. I retired from the Air Force out of the Pentagon in 1985 and have spent the last 26 years in the Defense industry and worked for Northrop Grumman, LORAL, and Lockheed Martin in their Washington DC offices. I relocated to Dayton, Ohio in 2001 and now work for SELEX Galileo Inc. and travel to the UK frequently.

I’m married to Brenda Houser-Langlas and have one son, Charles Norman Langlas, from a previous marriage. Go Hawks!!!