When I was eleven or twelve years old, Tom and his mother and father moved into the house across the street (Parish St.) where we lived in Delavan. Tom was from Southern Illinois...Rantole I think. Tom and I quickly became mates and spent a couple of summers fishing in lake Comus and loafing around. He liked to call me by my middle name-Pascoe. By our freshmen year we both had discovered cars and girls and it was about then when Tom became interested in our neighboor MaryEllen Williamson. We were both in the Swift Shiffters car club and used to race around town in his moms old Corvair . Well Tom's life got a bit messed up when his father left never to return. Things were tough economically for Tom and his mother. After graduation, Tom went to work at the Chrystler plant in Bellveder. I remember him showing me his hands that were totally swollen from the assembly work he was doing. I went off to college and saw Tom only a few times after that. I remember hearing that he and Mary Ellen had married sometime in the 70's. I was long gone from Delavan by then up in the Colorado Rockies. When my Dad died in 1989 in Janesville, my brother and I were there with him. After he passed, Scott and I went over to Delavan and spent a couple of nights crowsing at the bowling alley and assorted bars around the Lake. Thats the last time I saw Tom and Mary Ellen. He wasnt looking too good then...he'd put on alot of weight. It was still good to see him though and to laugh about the old times. I'm not sure when he passed on. I'll always remember him as a jokster. He was a nice guy and a good friend.
Gary Utter, I lived on the other side of the Flood's from you. You lived in the old O'Brian house who was owner, at that time, with Betzers Funeral Home. Your classmate Kathy O'Brian lived there for a period of time. On the other side of you a couple of houses down was Chuck Hanson, remember him.
Your Grandfather Mr Wood who taught Shop was by far my favorite teacher.
Glad things are going well with you and thanks for remembering yourclassmate. Gary
Stuart Browne (1965)
When I was eleven or twelve years old, Tom and his mother and father moved into the house across the street (Parish St.) where we lived in Delavan. Tom was from Southern Illinois...Rantole I think. Tom and I quickly became mates and spent a couple of summers fishing in lake Comus and loafing around. He liked to call me by my middle name-Pascoe. By our freshmen year we both had discovered cars and girls and it was about then when Tom became interested in our neighboor MaryEllen Williamson. We were both in the Swift Shiffters car club and used to race around town in his moms old Corvair . Well Tom's life got a bit messed up when his father left never to return. Things were tough economically for Tom and his mother. After graduation, Tom went to work at the Chrystler plant in Bellveder. I remember him showing me his hands that were totally swollen from the assembly work he was doing. I went off to college and saw Tom only a few times after that. I remember hearing that he and Mary Ellen had married sometime in the 70's. I was long gone from Delavan by then up in the Colorado Rockies. When my Dad died in 1989 in Janesville, my brother and I were there with him. After he passed, Scott and I went over to Delavan and spent a couple of nights crowsing at the bowling alley and assorted bars around the Lake. Thats the last time I saw Tom and Mary Ellen. He wasnt looking too good then...he'd put on alot of weight. It was still good to see him though and to laugh about the old times. I'm not sure when he passed on. I'll always remember him as a jokster. He was a nice guy and a good friend.
Gary Utter (1964)
Stu:
Gary Utter, I lived on the other side of the Flood's from you. You lived in the old O'Brian house who was owner, at that time, with Betzers Funeral Home. Your classmate Kathy O'Brian lived there for a period of time. On the other side of you a couple of houses down was Chuck Hanson, remember him.
Your Grandfather Mr Wood who taught Shop was by far my favorite teacher.
Glad things are going well with you and thanks for remembering yourclassmate. Gary
Bill Yazbec (1965)
Hi Stu. Tom passed away last September. He had lung cancer. He fought hard,but lost the battle.
It was nice to read your comments and memories about Tom. He was a good guy and always seemed to take things as they came.