Message Forum

I have a problem. Sue Hart just forwarded 5th grade class photo of South School. I also have my own photos from the 20th reunion. I would like to add these to the gallery. I read the instructions, but I do not get the option to add my own gallery / photo. Any suggestions?

09/26/22 12:57 PM

#24

Thanks to everyone posting about what a great reunion that you had this past weekend. I hope to get to the next one. Janice, would love to see the pictures too if you can get them posted. Can't imagine that you and Queenie Shebeck may have goofed off in PE!!🤣

10/14/22 03:46 PM

#25

Lucy Lane Obituary (2023) - Crystal Lake, IL - Northwest Herald (legacy.com)

The Photo Gallery now allows members to upload photos. Thanks Cindy! I've got a few to scan from the 20th reunion. Will do so soon.

01/13/23 10:57 AM

#26

Elizabeth Davies (Dewey)

I don't know how many people remember J. Larry Lane in Biology class, but his wife recently passed away.

01/21/23 06:02 PM

#27

Linda Kolby (Dentro)

Thanks for the info on J Lar's wife. I had him as a teacher in freshman biology.

05/04/23 09:31 PM

#28

Cindy, I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your best friend, Jeanette Madsen. This must be very difficult for you. I first met her at Lundahl Junior High. She was a joy to be around; always laughing and smiling. It's so sad to lose another classmate. She is at peace now. I didn't know her husband, but my heart goes out to him as well. I understand he was a wonderful man and husband.

07/17/23 09:48 AM

#29

So sorry to hear of Sann Froulas passing. He and I earned our Pilots licenses about the same time our Senior year at CLCHS. After he earned his license he went on and took acrobatic leasons, I believe in Rockford, who had the same type of light planes as CL Airport (now Lake in the Hills airport). The day he graduated he flew back to CL and took me up to show me everything he could do. You are required to wear a parachute while doing this. You wear the chute on your bottom so the the bottom seat cushion is removed while you sit on the chute. We did various acrobatics until we got to doing a verticle loop. These light planes only have 160HP. The first attempt we didn't make it around the top and tumbled out of the loop but recovered. (you are required to go to a higher altitude to allow for recovery while doing acrobatics). The next time he dove to a higher speed and we completed the loop. I never socialized that much with Sann except involving planes, but I always liked him, he was a nice guy. I've only been back to a couple of CLCHS reunions and never saw Sann come back for one? I lost contact with him after graduation, so it is nice to see his writeup. I'm glad he stayed on avaition and enjoyed it. Steve Bird

08/03/23 10:25 AM

#30

I am so sad to hear about Char Olson. We didn't know each other well in school, but became friends when I reached out to her about the class reunion. We talked on the phone and msgd very often during that time. Such a nice woman.

Here's a link to her obit: https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/southfield-mi/charlotte-olson-11363649

03/12/24 11:16 AM

#31

Cindy, I can't find your email address. Bonnie Hoppe's mother passed away. Can you post her obituary? I believe it's in the Northwest Herald. Service is this Thursday at Querhammers.

12/13/24 04:57 PM

#32

Steve Birds wife, Julia Bird, died Tuesday morning, Dec 10th, in her sleep in Steve's arms. She was 83 and had attended important family events this year; graduation, marriage, and Thanksgiving. She was a teacher and loving grandmother. Services will be in Statesville, NC at. Nicholson Funeral Home.

10/08/25 07:45 AM

#33

Really enjoyed the reunion! It was a nice size group of about 25 so you could mingle and connect with everyone. I talked with so many people that I didn't know that there were connections with! So many people who also went to St Thomas school in elementary school. People who were neighbors either by South School or Colby's. People who read these forums. Some of us talked about Sean. Many of you mentioned my wife's passing- thank you. I talked with several of your spouses. On Friday spent a lot of time with Geri Lortie and her husband and Cindy. If Marty hadn't walked right up to my car window by accident I wouldn't have been able to find the group. Met her husband Saturday night. We managed to tour the school through a kind teacher we met at the alumni table at the game Friday night. Touring brought back a lot of memories with everyone trying to remember teachers names etc. Chuck ONeil drove his 65 Mustang fastback GT. So much to say! I know I am leaving so many people out but thank Cindy and everyone for having a great time!

Thanks again- Steve Bird

10/09/25 10:56 AM

#34

Thanks for the coverage of the reunion. Glad to hear it was a good time. Maybe I can make the next one

10/10/25 10:37 AM

#35

Elizabeth Davies (Dewey)

Yes, Steve, thank you for the recap. I didn't attend many of the events (just the parade and the tour), but I am glad that people had a wonderful time visting friends and Crystal Lake.

BTW: We learned that study hall 105 is gone! It's all offices now! And the building is finally air conditioned.

10/11/25 10:36 AM

#36

Thanks for the further update Liz. What about what I called 'the sweat box'? It was a small downstairs gym. I think down the hall from '105' and on the left side. Anyone else remember?

10/12/25 06:13 AM

#37

Sweat Box - I remember two things about that small gym. 1. It's where we had freshman orientation, and 2. Sophmore year, the janitor (Chris?) caught me and Mike Tipps making out in there.

10/12/25 06:14 AM

#38

Claire Fruin (Ross)

Now THAT'S a real blast from the past! I thought we called it the "old gym," and seem to remember it was a swimming pool, long before our time? Now that you've reminded me of it, I'm reminded I sometimes dream about that gym! Nice to hear the reunion was successful. Hope I can make the next one!

10/12/25 02:29 PM

#39

Teri Owen (Sparacino)

I had wanted to make it but unfortunately my husband got a bad case of food poisoning and I was needed here.

10/13/25 09:32 AM

#40

Teri Owen - I sent you a Facebook message.

10/13/25 02:45 PM

#41

Well, OOO LA LA Janice!!!! Claire, I didn't know that it used to be a pool. HHMMM!

10/13/25 06:41 PM

#42

Geri Lortie (Graves)

Hello friends,

My husband Harry and I came to the high school reunion on October 3rd and 4th. We drove about 6 hours from Hannibal MO on Friday. Started out at the homecoming parade at 4:00 p.m The first two classmates I saw were Steve Bird and Marty Davis. I then saw Cindy (Lester) Powers and Liz Davies Dewey a little later. The parade was filled with many great floats, lots of school spirit and the great sounds of the high school band. Cindy, Steve, Harry and I went to The Cottage for dinner after the parade...very good! Went to the football game Friday evening for a little while. Unfortunately our team lost, but it felt good to be sitting up in the bleachers.

Quite a few showed up at The Goal Line Sports Bar ittle later that evening...Debbie McLean Groat, Corky (so good to see my old boyfriend!) & Chris Plews, Tim Conlon & wife MJ, Larry Wilbrandt, Jim & Sue (bestie) Tonyan, Julie Elsner Harney, Steve Bird,and Marty & Sue Davis. (Forgive me if I forgot someone!)

The next morning Harry & I, Cindy, Steve, Chuck O'Neil and Liz (Davies) Dewey went on the high school tour. A number of years ago a fireplace was discovered during remodeling. It is in the front entrance, and thankfully it was preserved.. While the school hasn't expanded, there are many changes on the inside. The auditorium and lunchroom looked very small. There were many new classes offered such as culinary arts, education for employment, fashion & design,industrial technology, AP Courses, STEM and Internship programs. We talked about the teachers, their locations in the school and shared many memories; all somewhat different from each other. We finally found our class graduation picture. It was severely water damaged at one time. Thanks to Jed Wing who reproduced ours. It was amazing to hear that story. Saturday afternoon Harry, Steve, Cindy & I checked out the Crystal Lake Brewery. Very hot and sunny…but we reminisced some more about the good old days. Harry was a good sport even though he didn't know most of my classmates.

Saturday evening we went to Rookies near the train station. I was happy to see my good friend Janet (Enright) Green, Steve Bird, Cindy (Lester) and Dan Powers, Dale and Paula (Buix) Berlin. Donna O'Hara, Mary Lynn Schnell (husband Rick), Tim Conlon (wife MJ), Corky (wife Chris) Plews, Janice Luttrell, Debbie Schauble (husband Ron Miller), Chuck O’Neil, Julie (Elsner) Harney and finally Buddy Nystrom. Hope I didn't miss anyone. So good to see EVERYONE. Someone picked up the tab for the evening, which was VERY NICE. I'm so glad we came and look forward to the next one.

Thanks Cindy, Sue & Marty and any others who helped plan the weekend.

Geri (Lortie) Graves

10/14/25 02:32 PM

#43

Thanks for the update Gerie. Sounds like a fun weekend. Of course I recognize all the names but would I recognize the faces. Would sure be embarrassing!! Sorry about that Janice when I didn't recognize you at the last reunion that I attended. Thanks for all the work and planning to Cindy, Sue and Marty and any others involved. Kit Pertle

10/20/25 04:30 PM

#44

I'd like to say again I'm glad I came for the whole weekend for the reunion. Along with everyone else mentioned I'd like to thank Dale and Paula Berlin for coming to the main event as we enjoyed "solving the nation's problems "? Ha! I was able to spend time with my brother ( who also showed up at CL Brewery) David (class of 74). Also drove around town and saw what changed ( and what didn't). Like was mentioned for the school, if anything it's improved ( like air conditioning and more prep for skills, etc). Sad to see Mr As is gone, but the pizza place is still going?

Anyway thanks again for a great reunion!

10/20/25 04:30 PM

#45