Occupation:  Methodist minister
Marital Status:  Married
No. of Children:  4
From TOM:

I am writing this piece from a subjective point of view. (If you prefer an objective viewpoint, click on Luanne Wright's comments.)

Nothing that happened to me remotely resembled what I had planned.  My plan was to attend the College of William and Mary and graduate in 1962, majoring in Business Adminishtration. Instead, I graduated from Carroll College in 1963, majoring in Philosophy.

My plan was to enter my family's business in Waukesha and become a instant hot-shot in the buisness world.  Having done that, my plan was to study the great books and travel the world.  Instead, I spent the next 33 years in the investment business -- starting in 1968, which was the beginning of the gut-busting 7-year(declining) bear market.  

My plan was to "wear the world like a loose garment" -- avoiding all the standard commitments of marriage and family.  Instead, I fell desperately in love with Luanne Nelson (my first date in 10th grade, whom I didn't have the brains to follow up with in high school).  We were married in 1967.  Talk about a "loose garment," we now have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

My plan was to be the Captain of Luanne's and my own ship -- charting our own course and living  our own lives.  Instead, in my investment career and in raising our family, I encountered challenges I was not able to handle.  I came to the point where all I wanted was to stop-the-world because I needed to get off.  In 1974, Luanne and I surrendered the whole mess to Jesus.

My plan was to continue to reside in Wisconsin.  Instead, we found ourselves moving to Des Moines, Iowa -- where, to my complete surprise, I became a Guru to midwest farmers.  Based on all the mistakes I made in investing, I was able to develop a program to help the farmer avoid making the same mistakes in their farming operations.  In fact, my biggest investment-blunder became a story that made me famous in agricultural circles because it mirrored the crises the farmers go through each year.

Who would have thunk it?  Not me!  After I surrendered to Jesus, I found myself on the ride of my life!  

Nevertheless, I was still in the investment business when, in 1991, I was hired by a bank in Geneseo, Illinois to sell mutual fund products to their customers.  My plan was to be "the fox in the hen house" -- slamming all the bank deposits into mutual funds and making a ton of money.  Instead, God extinguished the fire-in-my-belly I completely lost interest in making money.  I became deeply interested in my customers as people rather than as sources of revenue.  

Because the bank was swallowed up by two large bank holding companies, I bounced around for a while -- ending up at a small commodity firm in Iowa.  My plan was to use my background with farmers to launch a substantial agricultural business.  Instead, due to a conflict with my manager over discussing church-related issues over the phone, I abruptly quit. 

When I returned homethat evening Luanne inquired about how my day went.  You can imagine her shock when I told her what I had done.  Dinner and the rest of the evening were very quiet.  My plan was to hit the pavement and find a similar position with another firm.  I was such a "stud" (in my own mind) I figured that wouldn't be too difficult. Instead, the following morning at breakfast Luanne said something remarkable.  She said, "Tom, I've been thinking all night about where we should go from here.  I think the next thing we do has to be something spiritual..."

Can you imagine that?  She was walking in my moccasins all night long!

On Oct 7, 2001 Luanne and I began the candidacy-process in the United Methodist Church to become a local pastor.  We listed our house the following Memorial Day and it sold to the first people who looked at it that same day.  In less than one year, on July 1, 2002, we found ourselves in a two-church charge in Preemption and Viola, Illinois.  After 5 years there, we have been re-assigned to a three-church charge in La Harpe, Terre Haute, and Durham, Illinois.

Doing ministry together has brought a depth and rich togetherness to our marriage that I never would have dreamed existed.

I don't know about you, but nothing that happened to me remotely resembled what I had planned.  (Thank heavens for that!)

Luanne and I would love to hear the subjective side of your stories when we meet in September... 



        

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Occupation:  retired nurse
Marital Status:  Married
No. of Children:  3
From Mary Beth:
It is hard to believe that 50 years have gone by since those years at WHS.  It was job, family and then divorce during the first 8 years.  2 years later I became an Air Force wife and Mom to his 2 girls along with my 2  kids.  Our first move was to Ft. Bragg, N.C. where my husband provided weather support to the 82nd Airborne.  Next it was to Chanute AFB, IL. as my husband attend Forcester school.   Then we went to Warner Robins, AFB, GA.  While stationed there, I completed nursing school at Macon Technical College.  Our next move was to Hanscom AFB, MA during the Bicentennial year. I was employed in nearby town of Lexington, MA. The reenactment of Paul Reveres ride was memorable because his route passed 500 feet behind our quarters  This was also one of the saddest times of my life as my 14 year old daughter Nancy passed away. We moved back to Waukesha while my husband spent a year in Thailand and I worked in Physical Therapy. Then we made our final move and  were on our way to Florida. Dennis was weather support for the new Shuttle program PAFB/Cape.  I worked as a nurse at PAFB Hospital and medical support for Harbor Cay collapse in Cocoa Beach and witnessed the Challenger accident from the hospital window. One of my medical support duties was aboard the Range Sentinel tracking ship from Port Canaveral during underwater missile launches.  We attended NASCAR races and got involved as licensed scorers. I worked with some of the best a made it to Victory Lane 12 times most with the Kodak # 4 team and Ernie Irvin and Sterling Marlin as drivers. My son also went to Victory Lane at 2 Daytona 500's working for Dale Jarrett.  We also did scoring for the Trucks, Busch and IROC races.
 I have retired from NASCAR and nursing and my husband from both the Air Force and the Cape.  Daughter Colleen & Randy live in Florida as does Chris.  Daughter Tracey & CMSgt. USAF Jim, grandkids Rachel & Jake live at Mt. Home AFB, Idaho. We now watch Shuttle launches from our front yard in Titusville,  NASCAR races on TV,  go to the gym, enjoy movies and concerts, local restaurants and  sitting out by the pool. Retirement is  busier than expected and now have lived in Florida 38 years, longer than in Wisconsin. 
I wish the Best of Luck to my '58 classmates.




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Occupation:  Retired
Marital Status:  Divorced
No. of Children:  4
From June (Julene):
We all seem to agree, 50 years has gone by and it seems impossible.  After graduating in January of '58 I continued working at the court house.  Since college wasn't in the budget, I did what was 'expected' and got married.  My family started the same year and eventually resulted in one son and three daughters.  My son and his six children are in Arizona, one daughter is in Antigo with three children, one daughter in Waukesha and the other in Wales.  I've been in Waukesha after raising the family in Eagle and living in Oconomowoc for a few years.  South High School is visible from my kitchen window.

Once all the kids were in school I went back to work at an independent telephone company and remained there until they were bought out in 1991.   At that time I took advantage of an early retirement option.  After a few months I began working again, in the telephone equipment field for a few years and then as a contractor for SBC.  I permanently retired in 1997 and found that I excel at that, so that's what I do now.

Over the years I've been part of a group of gals that meet to chat and snack,  we've been doing this pretty much since graduation.  Besides me there is Donna Stephenson, Lynn Komberec, Janice Mertz, Judi Renner, Janice Palmer , Barb Benge and occasional others.  Early on we met monthly and someone was always pregnant it seemed.  Now it's bi-monthly and as much fun as ever.

This past year has been a challenge with some heart problems and lung cancer.  I'm on the mend but must be tethered to an oxygen tube at all times at the moment.  This will prevent my attending the reunion but I expect to be raring to go for the next one!  You all have a wonderful time.
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Birthday:  September 24, 1940
Occupation:  Retired
Marital Status:  Married
No. of Children:  2
From Gretchen:

  After high school, I graduated from UW-M, with a BS degree (Geography major, Botany minor). I enjoyed dorm life, and was active in my sorority, AOII, and played on the women’s volleyball team.

   I then went to work in the Geography Dept. of Britannica in Chicago, as a Research Geographer. Two years later I married and moved to New York, where I worked at Grolier in Manhattan as a Research Geographer, and three years later was recruited by Reader’s Digest to be Director of Research for the Almanac division.  A favorite activity was attending Met Opera performances at Lincoln Center.  Our travels stretched from Hawaii to Prince Edward Is. and many places in between.

   Like my parents, volunteerism has always been a big part of my life: US Jaycees, church work, NSDAR, YWCA, PTA, AOII Alums, American Legion Auxiliary, and Orchard Park Arts Council. What I enjoyed most for many years was traveling across the US and Canada, representing AOII, visiting collegiate chapters and participating in conferences and training seminars.

   In the late ‘70’s we adopted two children, Heidi and Andrew, who now live near us in WNY. We have two young granddaughters, Kelly and Katie; a baby grandson, Ben; and an orange  cat named Reggie.
My husband Ted is an urban planner (retired); I have a great retirement job with a Presbyterian church (in addition to various volunteer jobs), and league bowl September - May.

I look forward to the next Reunion in 2013!

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Occupation:  Retired !
Marital Status:  Married
No. of Children:  4
From Fred & Jan:
Both retired, Fred from the City of Waukesha and Jan from the Waukesha School District. We met in 10th grade and we have been married for 48 years! We have 4 sons and 4 grandsons. Jan insisted on a girl dog! We are very involved with our family. We enjoy traveling and spending summer weekends at our place in Portage, WI. At this time in our lives we are busier than we ever were and it's great! We will attend the Friday night get-together but will miss Saturday as our son will be getting married on that day. Hope to see many of you in September! Fred & Jan
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