Joe Schmitz

Happy Birthday Marsha. When we were sitting in the school room I never dreamed of making it to the end of the Century let alone to 83, but we both made it. Have a great day, better yet have a healthy year.
I was diagnosed in November with Parkinson;s Disease, and I will battle that the rest of my life, but I have improved immensely with the therapy I do daily and the medication they put me on, Life throws us curves sometimes and we just have to learn to deal with them.
My best to John.

Hi Di,
I tried to send you a email after reading your post about the class re-union. It said undeliverable. Did you receive it?
Your Friend, Joe Schmitz

Hi Jim, just checking to see if you and your family are okay after last nights terrible
tornado and mass destruction. I will say a prayer for you.
Joe Schmitz

Hi Mal, how is the New Year treating you and Catherine? Fine I hope. I'm getting excited about the baseball season just around the corner. Talking about baseball, I was surprised like most of the baseball world that your Nationals gave up so much for Eaton. He is a very nice player as his stats and WAR numbers point out. I have watched him play numerous times and he is a much better right fielder than he is a center fielder. He may be the best right fielder in the Majors. He has the arm for center, and the speed. He seems to get a late start on any balls hit over his head. I hope that is correctable. Your team looks lock solid except for a proven closer. You'll need one before the season ends unless you can develop someone from within your organization.

I was thinking about you yesterday when the WORLD CHAMPION CUBS visited the White House. I thought you would have tried to sneak in somehow, or got close to the White House to see your Cubbies.

Take care Mal, I just wanted to say hi.

Your Old St. Anthony Buddy
Joe

Hi Jim, it's your old St. Anthony's buddy and Ray's Cigar Store basketball team mate. I wanted to extend a most Happy Birthday to you and hoping one of these years, I either get to Colorado or you are back in the Streator area so we could get together. I know the White Sox play the Rockies this year in Colorado, and I'm thinking about going, but probably won't know that for sure until the Spring. If I do, I will get in touch with you. Have a wonderful Holiday Season and my wish is you're blessed with good health and much happiness in 2017.

Joe Schmitz

Hi Dianna,

I Hope this finds you well and enjoying this beautiful fall weather. I talked with some of our ailing classmates over the week-end. Nancy Wagner told me she is feeling good and thinks she can beat this stage 4 cancer that has returned. Her nephew Ralph Wagner who lives here in Morris told me that she only has 8 months to 12 months left on this earth. But talking to Nancy, you would think she has 8 years to 12 years, not months. She sure has the right attitude and says her doctors have come up with some knew ways to kill off the cancer cells. I sure hope she is right.
I talked with John Sabol for about an hour. He has been home a week, which you knew. There is not a lot they can do for him. Both kidneys are shot and he has to go on the machine 3 days a week for 4 hours a day. His diet has to change quite a bit, but he like Nancy is in good spirits and says he has a lot of good years left, he is just going to live those years differently than he has in the past. We are going down to see my son and his family on Nov. 3rd, so I will see John a couple of times while I'm there.
I also talked to Dave Snyder who sounded remarkably well. He says he is much better and is starting to work on getting more strength back so he can play golf again. He takes a chemo pill every day and said that he has not had any side effects from that in the last few months. He is planing on spending Jan thru May in Arizona where his Doctors at Mayo's Clinic in Scottsdale are.
It was encouraging to talk to all three and get such great news and comments about their health and future.
I didn't want to put this on the website, but you can tell our classmates and your friends any of this good news when you see them.
I need to call Sheila Higgins and bring her up to date also....which I will do.

Take care of yourself Dianna. Let me know if you and the gang get together and you don't mind me tagging along. I always enjoy seeing all of you and catching up.

Love Ya
Joe

Happy Birthday John. I have nothing but good memories of our days at St. Anthony's and at good old Streator High. We have almost made it to the 3/4 Century mark...just one year to go. Our buddy Shab is finally doing better, but his kidney's are shot forever. Not sure what they can do about them either, other than dialisis 3 times a week. Saturday will mark his 5th week in the hospital, but he is improving.
Take care my friend and I look forward to any time I get to see you and chat.

Joe Schmitz