Charlie LaFrenz

Melinda, was that the year we all went to Jim's house for breakfast after staying up all night?  His parents served us on the lawn.

Melinda Lang (Bachman)

Charlie you have a good memory.  Yes we did go to his parent's house for breakfast.

So glad we grew up in that era?  Special memories from high shcool.

Bill Orr

Our president has made us proud again. He is a Russian patriot. a real communist hero. He has delivered the United States a 200 Billion dallor busines tot he Russians a 1.50 Billion busines. What a wonderful Republican hero..

Can you imagine    a more Republican hero. God almighty how a American president could do such a treasonest act. Yes I am drunk but am sobber enough to know that our country has been sold out to the communist  Shitheads. I just want to get to within 10 feet of the bastard. 

He needs to be brought to justice and those Republicans who support him need to be brought to justice like the French did to the German colaborators in WW2.

LTC WS Orr

nk 

Charlie LaFrenz

Very well said Bill!   Right now, our Republic is in a very fragil state.  It is astonishing that people seem unaware that history repeats itself.  It is hopeful that our allies are able so see through this madness, and will be patient enough to stay with us if and when this comes to an end.  In all our travels abroad, I've never felt shame being an American, but  all of what is happening now is a national embaressment.

Charlie LaFrenz

How about some good news.  Last night my Janet Fife-LaFrenz was honored at an event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and named Woman of Achievement for 2018.  She made the front page of today's paper.  I knew ahead of time, so I showed up with two dozen red roses.  This morning she left for a conference in Mason Clity.  Her commitment to good  causes is nonstop.  I'm very proud of her.  AND...She can dance!

Kay Marsh (Eaves)

Tell Janet congratulations. She is a busy lady. I see her picture in the paper a lot.

Charlie LaFrenz

Thank you Kay!

Brad Wiedmann

Charlie,  Congratulations to Janet.  

I believe our FMHS site needs to be a forum for sharing our classmates lives,  I, for one, am always pleased to see/hear what is happening in our lives.  I certainly don't want this to be a site where I hear attacks.  I can turn on the evening news and get that.  I hope you are well.

Brad

David Kutscher

I agree totally with Brad. Having left Fort Madison after my sophomore year at FMHS I to enjoy seeing what  former classmates are up to, and yes I can find hate speech on either side, if that is what I want, in any number of other places!!

Dave Kutscher 

Karan Kreighbaum (Faul)

So glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to read/share political reterick on our class site. That being said, Charlie... congrats to your lovely wife, Janet. And weren't you a sweetheart to deliver the roses to her.  I also want to take this opportunity to send prayers to all those who were affected by last night's (Thursday, 7/19) storm/tornadoes here in the tri-state area.

Charlie LaFrenz

Thank you Brad and Karen for your kind words.  And David, you are a member of the class of 61!  And to all, you are right this is  not the place to air our political views, but, after having lived a wonderful life, even with the ups and downs,  if some of us see potential tragedy, it can be difficult not to express out fears.  Never having had children, I am so lucky to have two amazing grandchildren I love very much and so I suppose it is natural to fear for their future.  I am to them, Papa Charlie.  What a wonderful gift.  And to finish, when things happen that gets you down and you need cheering up, find someplace to dance, even if your standing in front of the mirror shaving.   It works for me.  However Ladies, when shaving your legs, don't dance until you are finished.

My best,

Charlie

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

Thank you Brad & David. My thoughts completely & totally. 

Congratulation Janet.

I just returned last night from 3 days at Little Swan Lake, Bushnell, IL with a gf. Knew I had a tree down but couldn't see any damage, as it was dark. I walked thru the yard & back meadow this morning to see the storm damage from last night. There's a huge tree down across from my house. Also, have lots of limbs, branches & twigs all over the yard. The good part is we also got 3" of needed rain. My son-in-law was already busy with a chainsaw. He & my grandson will take care of it all for me. I'm blessed to have family close.

I've only been home about 3 wks. from taking my whole family (19) for a week on the beach in Gulf Shores, AL. Also, stopped on the way home in the small town ,Camden, AL, to see a dear friend. I loved living down south. It was a great trip. God is so good...all the time.

Am praying everyone in the class is doing good. Would like to hear more from others about their families. Take care of yourselves.

Have heard from a 1960 friend that Gary Benjamin is very ill with brain cancer. It brings back everything my husband went through. It's sad to hear of loosing people we knew from our past. 

David Kutscher

Charlie, thanks for the kind words. It was hard for me to leave good friends, but as we all know so well we don’t always get what we want or think we want. Life however had been good to me, better then I probably deserve!! Dave Kutscher 

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

HELLO CLASSMATES.......Just read on the class of 1960 forum that Gary Benjamin passed away today at his home in AZ. I remember him as being one of the gentlemen in that class. That class gets together every year for a mini reunion. And every year they loose a class member. Wish our class could get together more often. I like to say. "I'm glad I did." instead of, "I wish I would have." Life is too short. 

Also, wih more people wrote on our forum...we need to stay in touch better than we do. But, that's just my opinion...which that & $1 won't buy a cup of good coffee. OR...I could say that's my 2 cents worth & that won't buy anything either.

Cyndy Day (Savage)

I agree Linda, I remember him fondly, he was one of the "good ones". Thank you for letting us know. I will remember his family 

Nan Nelson (Hays)

Linda,

Yes...I agree with all you said about our classmates  needing to stay in touch. Sadly, with many of us who are experiencing declining health, it can make it more difficult to get together. Traveling can be an obstacle for some.  Also, conflicting schedules put a damper on setting a date to come together.  

But, as you said...life is short! Let's put out the question:  if some of us are willing to try & make a date for a mini reunion...will you make an effort to come?  This forum can give us any commitment put there.  I'm willing to work with others to try and make it happen.

Nancy

Brad Wiedmann

Class of 1961,

I agree we ought to try and get together more often.  The groups most likely will be small in numbers.  For example, my brother, class of 1957, gets together for dinner 3 or 4 times a year on a Friday nght at the Elk's in Fort Madison.  Generally, there are 12 to 20 people that can make it.  Personally, I would be open to driving down to Ft Madison one or two times a year for dinner with a small group.  It's about an 8 hour drive for me. I also think we should all open up dinners to other classes, ie., 1960 and/or 1962.  Even open to Aquinas graduates.  We all share a common history of growing up.  I still participate in an every other year or so a reunion of undergraduate members of my social fraternity from Iowa State.  We have a group of 20-40 people, including spouses, from graduation years of 1960-1966 or so.

I don't think this would require lots of coordination or planned events other than a dinner.  

Nan Nelson (Hays)

Brad...thanks ever so much for your input. Hopefully, there will be more.  I remember from our 55th that it was suggested that we meet again this year,  just one day for dinner.  Well,  doubt enough time to pull it off this year, but worth a try for next year. And as you said...small groups could probably work. Set a date & place (in F.M.) and just see who can make it. Maybe enough to make for a happy mini reunion!

Let's hear some more input classmates!

Nancy

Marcia Conley (Davis)

I read all posts but have been preoccupied with health issues that affected my working, making me very frustrated and with limited mobility.  I have a severe back problem, have the best doctors but have found AGING is not for everyone, especially me!  The last procedure burned the nerve endings at the base of my spine to relieve the pain I've been having.  I am moving upright but slowly.  Traveling has become an obstacle.  BUT. I am not giving up and am planning my fall schedule but it won't start until November.  I'm not down and out YET!

I would be very interested in coming back to Fort Madison in 2019 for a visit.  I enjoy coming back home and visiting my sister in Burlington.   A small informal group would be okay with me.

Sandi Thompson (Philips)

First of all, I must apologize for my infrequency in posting on the Message Forum., I use the excuse that I have 2/3 jobs, but actually there is nothing going on.

Marcia, I am so sorry about your health problems. Ple are in my thoughts and prayers.ase know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

I would be very interested in coming back to FM for a mini reunion.As far as I am concerned, it doesn't have to be anything fancy - Meeting for dinner would be great!  The important thing is getting to see "old" friends again.  .  

Charlie LaFrenz

Aloah Everyone!

As I mentioned in an early post, Janet and I spent three weeks in August in Hawaii.  We arrived before the rest of the family because of mechanical problems in D.C. So, we had this beautiful place all to ourselves.  First thing I decided to take a swim in our infinity pool overlooking the Four Seasons golf course.  After my amazing impersonation of Johny Wisemuller, I got out and later went in and turned on TV.  Suddenly, I went totally deaf.  I could hear nothing, not the waterfall in the pool, the birds, or, worst of all, Janet.  I thought, Oh great, maybe I've had a stroke.  I found out later that that is not a sign of a stroke.  This lasted more than a day, but when Menda arrived, our consierge, sent us to a clinic.  The doctor said this happens all the time.  It seems that because the temperture of the pool water was so warm that it melted the ear wax (yucK) causing me to become deaf.  His nurse was able to fix the situation with a garden hose,(just kidding), and the results were a happy ending.  

While on the Big Island, Janet and I  were able to spend the day with Carol Kempker Allison class of 61 Aquinas, and her husband Doug.  The last time I saw Carol was about 47 years ago on the Emerald Lady.  She and Doug met in Chicago when she worked for American Airlines and he was a Stock Broaker.  They retired early, moved to Hawaii, and have never left.  We shared many wonderful memories.  Took lots of pictures, wish I knew how to stick them into this machine.  Unfortunately, our heliocopter ride over the valcano was canceled because of the weather, but the kids did take surffing lessons, and night got to snorkle with the manta reys.  I was too chicken.  Besides, I'd look rediculas in a wet suit.  

The two weeks on Kauai were  wonderful except for the last week with the approach of Hurrican Lane.  We had beautiful accomadations in Honalei whiich can be reached only by a one lane bridge, whiich, when it rains is impassable..  So Janet and I got out and rented a Condo on higher ground, and the next day the rest decided it was time to get out while they still could.  Due to the storm, we were a day late getting home, but it was a wonderful trip.  Oh, one night we were having dinner at the St Regis and at the table next to us was Pierce Brosenan and his wife and another couple.  They live on Kauai and we saw them on our last trip to the Island.  Lots more to tell, but this will do for now.  However, two weeks in paradise is enough, three is over kill.  Was great to get home.

Best regards to all,

Charlie

Sandra Buckley (Matthews)

Charlie,  It was good to hear about your trip to Hawaii with Janet and the family - since that is where Bill and I got engaged before he shipped out of Pearl Harbor for the Gulf of Tonkin, it holds special meaning for us.  We have been back for several "milestone" anniversaries - 25th, 30th , 35th, 45th (where Terry and Margaret Noonan joined us) and then, what we have said was our LAST trip - our 50th Anniversary where Jay, Joe and his wife, Tamrah, and our granddaughters (Aila and Tatum) joined us on Kauai for a week.  That time, Bill and I preceded them by a week and went to the BIG Island and stayed on the Kona Coast. Loved it every time !!!!  I never had to make a trip to a Clinic like you just did, but came quite close - this last time in 2016, while on the big island, Bill decided he found a really great picture spot for me to sit on a group of black lava boulders near the shore by our hotel.  Well, it would have been fine if the boulders hadn't been wet and I hadn't slipped and torn up my knee - bled like a stuck pig !  We managed to get me back to the room and clean out all the black scum from the lava - Bill made a quick trip to a local drug store and got enough gauze, bandages, tape, hydrogen peroxide and neosporin to stock our own drug store !!  I managed to hobble around the next few days - stairs were a real problem - but by the time we met the family on Kauai, I was able to get in the swimming pools - the only outing I didn't participate in was the 1/2 day tubing float at an old sugar cane plantation.  They had converted the irrigation canals to accommodate the large tubes and the former fields had been on a mountain slope.  Bill thought it might not be a good idea to expose my still oozing knee to that type of water !

Anyway, travel is always an adventure - glad to hear you and Janet keep yourselves busy seeing the world.  Do you two still play lots of bridge?  I can only get Bill to play in a couples club that is as much drinking and talking as cards, but I play 2-3 times a week and love it.  Between bridge and my daily Sudoku puzzles, I try to keep the old brain active.

We were so blessed getting through Hurricane Florence, but many of our nearby North Carolina residents have been devastated.  We had 3 solid days of rain but never lost power, although 50-60 mph winds here did bring down some good size trees.  We had a screen blow off and that was it.  Plus, because we live in a Methodist Continuing Care Community, we didn't have to do any of the yard clean-up - the contracted landscape people were here yesterday and the whole campus looks great !  We are about 20 miles from our former home in Cypress Landing, on Chocowinity Bay at the top of the Pamlico Sound, and they had a pretty good storm surge at the Marina, with lots of debris from that, trees down at the golf course, some trees fell on roofs, and they didn't get their power back until yesterday - out 6 days !  We are 55 miles from New Bern, NC which has been all over the TV - those poor people are still cut off with flooded roads!  We are 2 1/2 hours northwest of Wilmington, NC, where the hurricane made landfall.  All in all, we dodged a bullet !!!

Marcia Conley (Davis)

Kauai is the only place I have ever been able to fully relax.  For many years it was the place I headed to immediately after the April 15th tax filing deadline but the past few years, there has always been something keeping me from going.  I hope to make it after the 2019 filing season in the Spring.  My favorite place to stay  was the Princeville Resort which now is the St Regis.  The view from the Lounge Deck is priceless.  Beautiful sunsets!  I believe I have stayed at all the major resorts on Kauai in the past 20 plus years.  Because of all the rain they get, it is a very green and lush island.

I have visted all the other Hawaiian Islands but Kauai is my favorite. 

I am very glad to hear Bill and Sandra are okay after Hurricane Florence.  Such devastation!  I am so fortunate to live in beautiful sunny southern CA.

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

                                                HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS                     

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.....May you all be blessed with JOY in your hearts & good health. Our lives are on the down hill side whether we like it or not. Praying you know the answer to that old question...is there a heaven & hell. 

Missing a white Christmas, but we can't have everything.....Linda Lu

Joyce Casady (Sheumaker)

Yes, Linda, I know there is a heaven and hell!!  Also, I know what you need to do to be able to go there!

Joyce