Well Garry, thanks loads for all your time and talents required to develop the class web site. I'm really enjoying it. I'm still above ground thanks to a daily handful of meds, Like my cousin Jim, now deceased, I too had a heart attack, but they installed a stent to keep my ticker going. My story in short- A few years after graduation, I served 4 years in the

USAF then used the GI Bill to earn two sheep skins and a lifetime teaching credential from the Sac. State University. After teaching for 21 years, I'm now retired, and I live in a suburb a few miles outside of Sac. CA In my many travels, after attending the 1989 Class Reunion I've been back to visit relations and do some sight seeing around TC. On one of my visits a few years ago, I notice that the Mission Light House light was out. I put a new bulb in it. Who do I send the bill too? As expressed by many classmates, I too enjoy travel and photography. Since we have a common interest, I tried to communicate with my friend Jerry Lewis who was last living in Manistee, but only received mail demons.

Take Care, Vern Martin

Deanna (Zeits) Skrzypczak  1/16
deanna45@msn.com

Well we are still in Deming New Mexico, 12 years now.  It is a very small town in southern NM just 30 miles from the border of Mexico.  We go to Mexico several times a year, the town there is Palomas, also very small.  They have a good restaurant and it's fun to go and indulge in a different culture. 

We don't travel much anymore as I broke my leg last year right where my hip replacement is, and had to have extensive  surgery.  I feel like I have more parts than organic parts.  Other than that we are enjoying our "golden years".  I am still designing and making jewelry with local semi precious stones.  This is a volcanic region and there are lots of neat rocks to find.  We are finally getting rain here, it's been a five year drought and things were very bad.  Of course being in such a beautiful sunshine place if we get two cloudy days we complain.  We are spoiled!  We are very active in our church and have met so many wonderful people.  We always seek God's guidance in our lives.  We haven't been back to TC for several years now, but our boys came out to see us, and will again this year.  We now have eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren!!!  One granddaughter is in the Air Force in Florida and loving it.  Two are in Colorado, and all the rest are in TC.  We keep up with what is happening from the boys.

Norm and I have been married 56  years now.  Can't believe where all that time went!  We've lived a lot of places while he was in the Navy; Sicily, California, Illinois, Virginia, Rhode Island.  When he got out of the Navy we spent 10 year in TC I was working for Sara Lee, then got transferred to Mississippi (now that was a cultural education for me!), then whenI retired in 2000, we came to NM, and here we are.  I know all this isn't very interesting, but thought maybe someone might be interested.

My e-mail address is deanna45@msn.com
 
I'm attaching a picture of a birthday celebration in Mexico.

Ellie Morgan ( Gertrude Montague) 2/16
ellenmorgan@mac.com

Hello Everyone,

I have really enjoyed reading about everyone  and am especially grateful to Garry for his work on our website.

In Feb. of 2014 I lost my second husband to Alzheimers.  So I have moved into a condo on a golf course.  Perfect for me as I still enjoy playing.

 I am doing some traveling,  I will be going to Italy soon.

My interests in art has severed me well.  My media is watercolor .
 
I have three children and six grandchildren.   Two of my children live here in Madison Wi. along with two granddaughters  They are twelve and seven.  I feel very lucky to have them close.  The others are in Conn.

Hopefully I will get back to Traverse City for one of the get togethers.  It would be great fun to catch up.

 Ellie Morgan ( Gertrude Montague)

Letter form Sharon (Sullivan) Oelke - 5/17
sharon@earthlink.net

Thanks for your prayers for Robert.  The Lord has really blessed us.  Robert is doing really well and after 7 months will be coming home Thursday this week.  He uses a walker & sometimes a cane, with help & a wheel chair when he gets tired.  He's come a long way! and still working on it.  So far we'll have a person here on Monday's and Therapy soon. He has a care team to help - a manager & a nurse.  We need to get Rob to his new Doctor and see if he'll take us later, ours is retiring in September.

We're both pretty busy.  I'm cutting back on VFW Aux responsibilities ASAP.  That will help I think.  I'm going to pay a friend who cleans to help me catch up on some cleaning. Bob's helpers can only do what he needs personally.  I think that Michigan is set up that way too when it comes to Medicaid.

Our daughters help with a few things as needed when they can.  Barb is in St Louis, Dina in Columbus, WI and works in Beaver Dam.  Cross Roads in Mayville is near Beaver Dam so she stops in about once a week.

Keep well and God Bless you - and thanks for your prayers - they are still needed!

Love & Hugs
Sharon & Lee

New Letter form Sharon (Sullivan) Oelke - 9/17

HI Garry, I had a whole nice letter written up for you and hit a wrong button. Opps.

I wanted to tell you how wonderful it is to have all the information you put out there for us. I know a lady who has no idea about her class mates, they don't seem to have any of that info. So thanks for all you do.

I copied the Memorial list, thankyou. Son Robert is using cane and walker. He and Lee and daughter Dena are attending a Brewer Baseball came in Milwaukee. Wheel chair comes in handy for that.!

Best wishes and Hi to all for me. Sharon (Sullivan) Oelke

New Letter form Sharon (Sullivan) Oelke - 4/18

Thanks  for keeping up with the email site.  Hello  to everyone.  Besides helping with my son,  I've been making some note cards for the daughters to sell at their  Wyverns' Trove  Family Museum  in Columbus, Wisconsin.  A wyvern is a two legged  dragon, which I have taken liberties with as to what  it can do and what it looks like.  IF I don't forget Ill send one or two along  for you to get a giggle out of.  I make the ones to sell on card stock  for souvigners (SP)  I've done a bunch of flowers   and cats over time too.  Its fun anyway.  Some of the collections  are getting packed and sent to the daughters for their museum.  I have a helper to work with these days  too.  Lee is a big help and does a  lot of the driving that needs doing, besides  doing Honor Guard/military funerals/ and belongs to the Korean War Vet group.  Time to get supper which will be late.

Sharon  Sullivan Oelke

Gregory Boothroyd, Ph.D., CAAC, LPC - 9/17
gregoryboothroyd@yahoo.com

Greetings Gary:

This is a short note with a long and belated thanks for keeping me on your class email distribution list and doing all that you have been doing for years with your photographs to keep remaining classmates informed and connected.

 At the end of 2016, I relocated from Kalamazoo to Greenville, South Carolina to spend the final season of my life with my two sons and their families. Acclimation to southern culture has been and continues to be an interesting process when compared to my 38 year tenure as a university professor at Western Michigan University and 75 year residency in the beautiful state of Michigan. While a little too conservative for me, people here are

exceptionally friendly with women (complete strangers) typically referring to me as "baby, dear, sweetie, honey" and upon occasion "hot cakes" except at my local gas station where I am known as "Dr. Buttercup" ....with "Boothroyd" being apparently out of reach. Men simply call me "Bud," a common term of endearment.  I live in a thoughtfully laid out condo village almost across the street from Furman University which is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen.  Running through the campus is a 25 mile stretch called the Swamp Rabbit Trail which travels along the mountain base from the beautiful city of Greenville to the quaint little town of Travelers Rest. The trail is used by hikers, bikers, black bears and me on my 6 speed semi-recumbent tricycle equipped with dual mirrors, a basket and sensuous sounding bell.  It is my daily activity providing balance from continuing lectures and workshops on my signature professional work of helping people eliminate self-defeating behaviors. Together with periodic family gatherings, life is good although I have yet to find a replacement for my most favorite and peaceful pastime of searching for Petoskey stones on Christmas Cove outside of Northport.

I enjoy the luncheon photographs and suggest that you someday consider having one at my little brother Pete's Centre Street Cafe. Should you do so, by all means tell him that you appropriately deserve a price-break for our 1959 classmate connection and in lieu of all that I have taught him over the years to become such a successful entrepreneur. He is a fabulous guy with an astonishing wit and wicked sense of humor and he would enjoy your company.

Please pass on this greeting to anyone you care to and especially to Marlene who was so gracious and kind to me during my initial post-retirement days back in Traverse city.  Also if you will, let Woodrow and Bucky know that I am suspicious of their continuing school-boy looks and let Gary and Judy know that I remain a loyal U of M alum and fan. All of you have my best wishes for joyful hearts and quiet minds.  Breathe deeply .....all is well.  Greg

"It's impossible" said pride.
"It's risky." said experience.
"It's pointless." said reason.
"Give it a try." whispered the heart."

Gregory Boothroyd, Ph.D., CAAC, LPC
Author, Lecturer, Trainer
Professor Emeritus
Western Michigan University
269-548-7113

Mary Wagamon 12/12
maswag@comcast.net

Thanks so much for keeping everyone updated!  Would join you for class lunch if closer -- looks like fun.  Wishing you a wonderful Holiday!

This is  picture of me with adult beginner ski student, (had planned to photoshop -- but knew I could not fool you!).

This is 3 of my grandchildren having fun in the sun of Ca.

Thanks for all you do ....

Happy New Year

Much Love,

Mary Wagamon