Welcome

Our class website was down from about October 2015 until early February 2016.  When it was reactivated, our former root admin was replaced by Jerry Germonprez and Cheryl Brooks White. 

We will do our best to keep you informed of class happenings, and ask that you help us out by notifying us of anything pertaining to our class that should be posted on this site. 

Jerry will post messages about upcoming events, such as our 70th birthday celebration in September.  Cheryl will add obits to the memory page.  You can help by letting us know if you change your e-mail address so we can reach you.

The following message is from our former admin, Alfred Williams.  It still applies:

The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.  Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

Cheryl Brooks (White)

Classmates:

Our 60th class reunion will be the weekend of September 20 & 21 at the Ramada Inn Downtown.  I have uploaded the information to a new page, and attempted to send it to each of you.  It's also on the class Facebook page.

Please let me know if you have received either update.

Cheryl Brooks White

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

THS Class of 1964 classmates,

We will have a class reunion luncheon on Monday, July 29th at 11:30a at Johnny's Tavern (29th & Fairlawn). Please let us know if you will be attending.

Jerry and Sharon Germonprez

Bruce Edward Jones

I can only attend the Friday evening part of the 60th reunion.  How much will that cost??????

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

Judy Pence Badger

Chrystal Diffenderfer Brim

Bev Elder Campbell

Judy Whitaker Conklin

Diana Dolgoff Corbin

Deborah Dandridge

Shirley Cowen Driscoll

Mercedes Santa Cruz Duran

Tim Edwards

Lea Parker Gerard

Jerry Germonprez

Sharon Worthington Germonprez

Mary Glanville

Dorthy Spees Grohs

Don Harrison

Carla Nordstrom Hearrell

Curti Heinz

Levi Lee Jr

Loran Lewis

Jack McGinnis

Janet Johnston McPherson

Margee Simpson Newell

Tom O’Dell

Denny Patterson

Jan Perney

Sheryl Bloom Petry

Barbara Warren Salyer

Bill Sampson

Josephine “Gloria” Santa Cruz Scott

Sharon Retschlag Slusher

Janie Irwin Thomas

Jim Turner

Susan Campbell Turner

Lawrence Vogel

Sharyl Holding Whitehead

Ron Herb Williams

Jackie McKethen

Jerry,

I would still like to be there; however, I haven't sent funds yet because I have throat cancer per Hines VA HJopsital and clinic. I have ben going through this since December of last year, I was at home for 3 months February through April and on home consinement since. I am on a feeding tube, They did an updated PET scan a couple weeks ago, but I haven't gotten the results yet.......I also hjave Parkisons disease and Macula Devgeneragtion in both eyes......I know.....I am a wreck........I do want to come, but don't know if the doctors are resdy to clear me for travel. HGow late do I have to send moies for the reunion? My wife died last year in June, and then the cancer showed up. It is awfully lonely here....

Jackie Mckethen

PS: Curt Hienz,

If you see this I hjope you have, or had a happy birthday......haven't been on the computer much for many months, so I haven't kep up well.

Tim M. Edwards

Most of you probably don't know me because I didn't arrive in Topeka until about three days before school started in 1963, our senior year. I read an article that claimed on the average a person changes careers five times during their working life. In my case that is true. Upon graduation from Washburn University with a degree in music education I was certified to teach music, kindergarden through high school. Teaching music was what I just new I wanted to do from about the time I was in seventh grade. In 1970 I got a job in USD501, teaching music at Holliday Junior High School here in Topeka. That lasted for five years when I finished a masters degree in education and decided I wanted to change schools or careers. In the summer of 1975 I became a Civil Rights Investigator with the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights investigating complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation. In February of 1981 I was hired by the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to be an Employee Counselor, a position the Kansas legislature had asked the Secretary to create to act as an inntermediary between the agency and themselves. In February of 1989 I was hired as the Human Resources Director at Kansas Neurological Institute. Due to continued budget restraints and staffing changes that job evolved in 1995 into a position titled Director of Administrative Services making me responsible for Human Resources, Business and Finance Operations, Information Technology, and the Physical Plant Operations. Thank goodness I hired and had excellent department leadership. In June of 2005 I added my position to the list of positions that could be eliminated in response to legislative imposed budget reductions. This lead to my final position, that of a substitute teacher in everything from pre-school special education, which i love, to high school classes where my main function is just to walk around saying, "good job, good job." This has lasted until today, my twentieth year as a substitute. I think both my wife Carolyn and I are in at least our third "this is our last year." Several of my careers were related, building on skills I may have picked up previously but the jobs were all different enough I would occasionally wonder what the heck I was doing. 

Anyone else have changes? 

Thomas E. Odell

Steve Murray passed away on August 18, 2024.  His obituary is on the Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home website. 

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

60TH CLSS REUNION UPDATE;  As of August 31, 2024 classmates who have paid reservations for the reunion are:  Barbara Warren Salyer & guest, Shirley Cowen Driscoll, Bill Sampson & guest, Jerry Germonprez, Sharon Worthington Germonprez, Jan Perney & guest, Don Harrison & guest, Mary Glanville, Judy   Pence Badger & guest, Janet Johnston McPherson & guest, Judy Whitaker Conklin, Sharyl Holding Whitehead & guest, Denny Patterson & guest, Jim Turner, Susan Campbell Turner, Sheryl Bloom Petry, Mercedes Santa Cruz Duran, Ed Carpenter, Curt Heinz, Janie Irwin Thomas, Carla Nordstrom Hearell, Tim Edwards & guest, Dorthy Spees Grohs & guest, Lea Parker Gerard & guest, Lawrence Vogel & guest, Deborah Dandridge, Diana Dolgoff Corbin, Jack McGinnis & guest, Levi Lee, Jr, Bev Elder Campbell, Ron Herb Williams, Loran Lewis,  Tom O'Dell, Chrys Diffenderfer Brim, Margie Simpson Newell, Sharon Retschlag Slusher & guest, Josephine "Gloria" Santa Cruz Scott, Renee' Hills Edinger & guest, Thomas Palmer, Linda Williams Lawrence, Bruce Jones, Nancy Lyden Dale & guest, Walter Hurd & guest, Jan Wilkin Chase, Connie Hall Hubbell & guest, Pam Carlson Clutter & guest, Barbara Patterson Johansson, Stan Peterson, Don Christman, Diana Wilcox Christman, Benjamin Gonzalez, Kip Foster & guest, David Hedstrom & guest, Bruce Senne & guest, Nancy Shelton Tompkins, Richard Smith, Don Taliaferro & guest, Bud Carter & guest, Tom Soza, Judy Duran Soza, Cheryl Brooks White & guest, Randy Kemper & guest, Johna Funk Hanson, Tom Stephens & guest, Ray Jones, Connie Burgess Kessler & guest, Georgie Walker Barnes, Dorothy Bay Susan Cole Henzy.  

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

TOPEKA WEST CLASS OF 1964-60TH REUNION CLASSMATES WITH PAID RESERVATIONS  AS OF AUGUST 26, 2024 are:   Glen Wools & guest, Becky Pratt Trippeer & guest, Keith Payne & guest, Janis Salsbury & guest, Ladonna Olson Hayes, Carolyn Cogswell, Patty Mills Peterson, Shirley Jean Crowell Massey, Pat Salsbury & guest, Jeannie Schmitthenner Patterson, Marty Sloo Kruckemyer & guest, Randy Gregg & guest, Hal Schreiber, Harriett Hutchison Fontana, Jim Deines & Marcus Guest, Zenab Mebed & guest, Lee Thaete, Jeanne King Hedrick, Linda Bond Weinbrecht.  Randy Gregg said additional classmates have paid reservations since he gave us this list.  As planned, we will be sharing the room with Topeka West 1964-60th reunion so classmates from both high schools can reconnect and visit about their grade and J. High days.  

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

UPDATE ON ADDITIONAL THS 64 CLASSMATES ATTENDING 60TH CLASS REUNION ARE;  Dale Jepson, Valerie Courter Keelin & Guest, Sharon Payne Kester, Bob Maxwell & Guest, Nan Hawks, Jeanne Gamber Elder & Guest, and Randy Phillips.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone on September 20th & 21st.  Jerry & Sharon Germonprez

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

UPDATE ON ADDITIONAL  CLASSMATES FROM TOPEKA WEST CLASS OF 1964 ATTENDING THE 60TH REUNION ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024.  THEU ARE;  Kent Pellegrino, Emily Buffon & guest, Stefani Schoonover Jehlik, Paula Friesen Sauder, Gwynne Elder Bonifield and guest, Don Rick Taylor, Mary Margaret McClure, Ron Sumner & guest, Jeannie Nordstrom Stephens, and Rocky Martin & 2 guests. We are looking forward to seeing everyone so classmates from both schools can reconnect and visit about their grade and Jr High days.  Jerry & Sharon Germonprez

Dennis Patterson

  Hi -- I just wish to THANK you and your wife ( and others ) who have put in all the work at creating class reunions ! We all had a very good time last night !! 
 
Denny Patterson

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

THS "64" CLASSMATES:  As our 60th class reunion now becomes part of our class history we hope everyone that was able to attend , enjoyed the reunion, had time to visit and reconnect with old friends, make some new friends and reminisce about grade school, jr high and high school years.  It was grea seeing everyone and we look forward to seeing you again in 5 years.  Jerry & Sharon Germonprez

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR REUNION COMMITTEE MEMBERS;  Cheryl Brooks White for being the adminstrator of our class website and updating  our In Memory Page that lists our deceased classmates.  Please let her know of any classmates who should be added to the page.  Don Taliaferro for printing our 60th reunion letters and registration forms to send to classmates without an e-mail address and making all of our reunion photo nametags. Our committee members, Judy Pence Badger, Chrystal Diffenderfer Brim, Bud Carter, Judy Whitaker Conklin, Shirley Cowen Driscoll, Renee' Hills Edinger, Tim Edwards, Lea Parker Gerard, Mary Glanville, Cheryl Park Gregg, Randy Gregg TWHS "64', Don Harrison, Linda Harrison, David Hedstrom, Jack McGinnis, Jan Johnston McPherson, Tom Odell, Stan Peterson, Barbara Warren Salyer, Judy Duran Soza, Tom Soza, Don Taliaferro, Jim Turner, Cheryl Brooks White, & Sharyl Holding Whitehead  who stuffed reunion letters in envelopes for mailing, worked at the reunion registration table, shared ideas in planning our 60th reunion and have always been  willing to offer their help.  WE THANK YOU,   Jerry & Sharon Germonprez

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

Hi all, Class lunch at Johnny's Tavern October 28th Monday at 29th and Fairlawn. 11:30 am. Let us Know if u can make it. Hope to see you there. Jerry and Sharon 

Gerald L (Jerry) Germonprez

THS Classmates:  We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!  Jerry & Sharon Germonprez

Barbara Warren (Salyer)

Congratulations to Levi Lee being inducted into the 2025 THS Sports Hall of Fame with a Trojan Award for athletes with great accomplishments during high school and possibly beyond.  

Barbara Warren Salyer

Clifford "Kip" Foster

Congrats Levi!!

Chrystal A. (Chrys) Diffenderfer (Brim)

Congratulations, Levi !!! Well Deserved ****

Curt S. Heinz

CONGRATULATIONS LEVI LEE!! 

I had the pleasure of helping you block those pesky defensive gnats. You were suchg a great running back! You made me and lot o others look really good.

Often overlooked is how great of linebacker you were. Once again, you made the rest of us look great. Thank you!!

Most importantly, I remain your friend through lo these many years. I'll always get to say "Iplayed football and was friends with Levi Lee". 

Curt S. Heinz

Congratulations! to George Olsen (1964) for being elected to the 2024 Kansas Photojournalism Hall of Fame.

George, I told everybody you'd be GREAT someday .  You've done me proud (Actually, back then, none of us really belied that ANY of us would be great someday).

Oregon is a long way from Topeka, but a lot of folks would be thrilled if you could make it to the next reunion.

Jan Perney

Congratulations, Levi! 

My only question is, why did it take so long?

Jackie McKethen

Congratulations to Levi Lee. You were a great player, and deservidly won the award. I don't know if it led to an athletic cvareer, but I would think it did, or should have. We most certainly could use your knowledge and skills here in Chicago with the Bears.

Jackie McKethen

 I would also like to say that I wish I could have been at the reunion in 2024, but My wife died in June of 2023, and then I was diagnosed with throat cancer in January in February of 2024. They say that the cancer is gone, but I still have a very hard time swallowing, and am still on tube feeding......the good news I am srill alive. I still serve on the Crete Library as a trustee. I think that may culminate my "political" interests....un;ess I run for relection. I am so sorry to have missed so many friends that were t the reunion. I hope to be at the next one.

Cheryl Brooks (White)

We are sorry to share the information that Jan (Janet Johnston) McPherson's husband, Brian McPherson, died suddenly and unexpectedly Jan. 7, 2025, at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

Brian was a driver for Old Dominion truck lines.  Prior to that, for many years he had co-operated a family business, Sunshine Recycling, in Topeka.

Besides Jan, he was survived by two children, and three grandchildren.

A memorial visitation will be held at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Sunday, April 6th, from 2-4pm, with memories of Brian shared at 3:30pm.  Memorials may be sent to Helping Hands Humane Society, sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, KS 66603.