Well, KHS65 friends this is the week I'm usually looking around the internet for another version of a beautiful yellow rose to post on the 10th. Instead I am posting more about deaths lately than graduation fun or memories. My memories of June 10, 1965 are very vivid because of my father's coming here from Florida to be with me, the following drive the next morning back to Florida with him and the special night at the Jefferson Arms, swimming at Cool Dell (by which I drive quite often lately) and breakfast at Teutenbergs, which is no longer. But now so many of us have holes in our memories because of the missing friends, and of course our aging brains which, if you are like me, are getting crowded and pushing some of those wonderful memories of our youth out of our heads! Today I am sad to say that our classmate Jim Persons, husband of Judy Lillard Persons, passed away February 27, just a bit before his 75th birthday. Jim was part of the Robinson School crowd, living not far from Thebes, our 'corner store', bike meeting place and candy counter center of our young universe. The store was just down the block from "Mouse" House's Mobil Station at which
LESLIE'S KHS65 BLOG
Interactive news, reviews, gossip, musings, activities, photos, mysteries, histories, stories, truths, lies & video tapes from & for graduates of the Kirkwood (MO) High School fabulous class of 1965. Email us anything you would like to share to leslieatkhs65dotcom. See photos at www.khs65.com - comment here or on the website to make yourself heard! FIND US ~ www.khs65.com ~ www.khs65.org ~ FACEBOOK KHS65 ~ http://khs65blog.com ~ KHS65 MAKE IT A HABIT!
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
YET ANOTHER CLASSMATE GONE WAY TOO SOON, another VETERAN, another VICTIM OF VIET NAM
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Carol Stalzer Koch, another classmate leaves us - a life well-lived
Thank you to Sharon Merritt Wyman for letting me know that our classmate Carol Stalzer has passed away. I was out of town so not able to post this before today, but I don't believe we have anyone living near where Carol did who could have attended her service.
. She never attended a reunion that I can recall, but she was in touch with me in the past few years via email and Facebook. I knew Carol at KHS, not well, but we had a class or two together. It's easy to see from her obituary that she was a brainiac and I do remember her as a very smart classmate! Here is her recent obituary:
Carol J. (Stalzer) Koch
Carol was a professor for many years at Bowling Green State University, where she taught a range of subjects from astronomy, mathematics, and English. She had a true passion for teaching, especially astronomy. Her love of anything astrological was also shown through her artistry, as she painted many pictures of stars and galaxies. Throughout Carol's life she also enjoyed traveling, reading, playing cards, doing her nails and puzzles.
Carol is survived by her husband, Ronald Koch, whom she married December 28, 1991 in St. Louis, MO; step daughter, Michelle Howey step-grandchildren: Lisa (Adam) Lowery, and Joshua (Mallory) Howey step great-grandchildren: Uriyah Lowery, Kingston Lowery, Dayne Howey, Brystol Howey, Coltyn Howey, and Brooklyn Howey; brother, Larry (Sandra) Stalzer; niece, Kate; and great-niece, Olivia.
In addition to her parents, Carol is preceded in death by her step-son, David Koch, and brother-in-law, Samuel Koch.
Friends will be received Wednesday, May 25, 2022 from 2-6pm with a funeral service beginning at 6:00pm at Foos Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 504 E. McPherson Hwy, Clyde, OH 43410.
Memorial donations may be made to the family for funeral expenses.
To send flowers to Carol's family, please visit our floral store.
Donations
To the family for funeral expenses
504 E. McPherson, Clyde OH 43410
Tel: 1-419-547-6616
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
News of another death in our class and interesting story of two Army Veterans
HI EVERYONE, HERE IS A WONDERFUL POST FROM CLASSMATE Rocky Reece received just this week. We have had a nice email chat and I hope Rocky will elaborate more in the future!
William Reed Stites
May 3, 1947 - February 7, 2020
William Reed Stites, age 72 of La Plata, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly Friday, February 7, 2020.
Born May 3, 1947 in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Dr. Joseph Gant Stites Jr. and Lucy Gray (Cates) Stites who proceded him in death. On January 6, 1996 in La Plata, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Carole (Lofblom) Van Hara who survives.
Also surviving are four daughters, Jaime L. Rader (Roger) of La Plata, Missouri, Jessica C. Benedict (Jason Campbell) of Memphis, Missouri, Gina Van Hara of Kirksville, Missouri, and Sydney E. Stites (Nick Ford) of Kirksville, Missouri; One son, Mikel J. Glaspie (Lisa) of La Crosse, Wisconsin; three sisters, Mary F. Morgan (Michael) of Elk Park, North Carolina, Ruth S. Lutz (Gary) of Columbia, Missouri, and Lucy S. Baker (Paul) of Long Beach, California; eleven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Reed served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1970. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. After living in Columbia, Missouri and Kirksville, Missouri he moved to La Plata in 1984. He owned and operated Stites Interiors for many years. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Reed was a good man and a friend to many. He loved blessing his friends with his cooking, and loved his family dearly.
A graveside service will be 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 11, 2020 with the family receiving friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Travis Funeral Chapel in La Plata, Missouri.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of William Reed Stites may be made to the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri. They may be sent to or left at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, MO 63549.
As they say, this is the rest of the story. As I was reading this from Rocky in the back of my mind was niggling that Reed, as we knew him at KHS, was married to one of the Barnard girls who I have connections to through Des Peres Presbyterian Church or else to one of the daughters of Mary Ellen and Don Barnard, he owning the Mobil station at Geyer & Manchester and she and I, later in life, encountering one another in our DAR chapter. Don was one of my step-father's good buddies, but I never knew Mary Ellen until I later encountered her at a DAR meeting. Turns out Reed's first wife was indeed one of the daughters of Don and Mary Ellen, I confirmed this when I spoke to a current good friend who is married to a Barnard from this tribe. I always say, when one stays in the same place all of one's life, the tentacles are very long and interconnected. I kept thinking there was something wrong with my memory so I asked my current Barnard friend for help and she straightened me out! But then, my memory also told me that Reed married/dated the [Barnard] girl who lived across the street from me on Claychester Drive..but according to my current pal, that part of my memory is wrong....but then!!!! I looked at my '65 yearbook....Reed signed it, we'd known one another from a class or two, Spanish maybe I think, and called himself my "practically" neighbor.... a bit of library research would straighten out my memory but it doesn't matter. I had the right couple in my memory, they unfortunately just didn't stay hitched! It amazes me how much detritus, as hubby Jack calls it, resides in a brain when it reaches our advanced age! But the great richness of those tentacles and connections is incomparable.
I asked Rocky a complicated question about Senor Skip Day - his experience wasn't what I thought maybe it was, an incorrect memory thread on my part, but we both admitted that our SSD involved water and alcohol! Maybe some day I'll post about that, but it involves others of our classmates who might not want to be named :-)) THANKS to Rocky for the memories and information about his and Reed's Army experiences. The more the merrier!!! All you Veterans send me yours! OH and ALAN YOUNT, isn't that funny that all those years later they ran into one another....which leads me to running into one of our classmates in an elevator in a downtown Chicago highrise office building one day many years ago...and we too recognized one another...Rocky's right, life can be funny that way!
Saturday, April 30, 2022
HOW A BOY FROM NORTH MET A GIRL FROM NIPHER - 57 YEARS LATER AND A GREAT STORY plus more of course!
I have been privileged to have some great correspondence with Bruce Antle for several years. He is a wonderful writer, must be all those sermons he had to write over the years! And he has many growing-up-in-Kirkwood stories to share. He and wife Darlene Petri, KHS66, are retired and living in Missouri these days. I'm going to publish some of our correspondence, but mostly want to share an article he wrote for me but I'm having trouble getting it posted due to the format it's in so for now I'm going to give you a glimpse into their lives as told by Bruce. Keep reading below and you'll see I finally got the story he wrote posted. Here are some random snippets:
Since being retired (still do a little real estate with friends and family) and some pulpit supply, but mostly take care of Darlene and that is my primary job. 4-2-22
It is hard to believe we are in the "4th quarter" of our life or the "last chapter" or on the "25 yard line" with 25 and goal to go, all of us within field goal range if we are so lucky. Darlene has outlived her parents and on my side 85 seems to be the magic number, so barring anything unforeseen we should have another 10 years of somewhat independent living.
Darlene and I are both doing fine. Thanks for asking. We both have our issues, but who doesn't at this age? Mine seem to be below my knees with what they call neuropathy. One foot doesn't want to cooperate like it is supposed to. I have conversations with it, but it wants to be lazy. Going down is easy, getting up needs a helping hand. Probably caused by all those years I used to jog or when I was doing a lot of physical labor. I used to love to run, but what can be good for the heart, we later discover, if we live long enough, can be tough on other parts of the body. Last year I asked Darlene to pick me up a cane for balance. 4-3-22
It [some physical ills] started about 10 years ago for both of us and like age, progressive. Darlene is still my 16 year old girlfriend and for someone turning 74 next month still has a cute figure and as pretty as ever. We eat sensibly which helps and we enjoy each other's company which is also very helpful, especially the last couple of years with Covid.
This is the wonderful response I received when I asked Bruce to write the charming story of his and Darlene's beginning as a couple:
The last person who asked me to do so might be sorry she did.
As a genealogist, he is one of my idols! I would love to do what he has done but I keep myself too busy to do it! Isn't he just amazing???
After Bruce sent me his article I had two suggestions, he said the number of graduates in our class was about 1,000, but it was really about 785 and he mentioned Cyranos being downstairs from the music store and I corrected him to "down the block" as in 1996 I opened a small antiques shop down the street, DeMun Avenue, so drove by where Cyranos had been 5 or more days a week HOWEVER, he was correct, the restaurant was below the music store and just down the street from other businesses. Here is his response to that message:
And yes,
Cyrano's was down the street, beneath a music store, later
moved to Big Bend, now in Webster Groves, Old Orchard, and
still has the Cherries Jubilee and World's Fair Eclair, or
at least the last time we ate there which was a couple years
ago. I could have added "down the street," and you are
welcome to do so but figured anyone in our class who went
there would know it. [The mother of the fellow who opened the Cyranos on Big Bend became a pal of mine thru my antiques biz and later the fellow who, with a partner, opened it in Webster was a pal of mine through our mutual membership in the Symphony Volunteer Association! - sooo many connections - sooo typical in Kirkwood and environs! lvr]
Of course that led to a discussion of Tom Holley, whose family owned Grandpa's, earlier Grandpa Pigeon's:
All history is related for those who might be interested. Grandpa Pigeons was also the grandpa I believe of one of our classmates ... Tom Holley. My dad commented he was impressed because he could read Tom's signature, apparently on a purchase order sent to the company and I guess, like me selling ashtrays my dad made, Tom was working for his grandpa at the store. It was a fun store. So many people just scribble their name, my dad was impressed when he learned Tom was a classmate who took the time to legibly write his name. Funny isn't it, what goes through that gray mass above our neck. It has been awhile ... as you know.
Well, as you can see, I was waylaid in getting this posted, a trip to Atlanta, prep for that trip and now after a week, still unpacking. Here is the romantic tale of Bruce and Darlene in his words posted 15 May:
How a Boy from North Met a Girl from Nipher
I guess this story could start as boys standing in line waiting to receive our high school diplomas and asking, “Who is that cute girl?” We had a large graduating class back in 1965. I believe close to 1,000. Add to that number, grades 10 and 11, when KHS was sophomore - senior classes and a combination from North and Nipher Junior High, it was not unusual to NOT know someone. And speaking from a purely boy perspective, KHS had a lot of cute girls!
Darlene came from Nipher. I came from North. My mom, my brother, my cousins Pat and Becky
Wall (KHS 60 & KHS 63) all
attended Nipher. My mom attended when it
was the high school. My cousins not only
attended but later taught at Nipher.
When it was my turn, North Junior High was brand new, and a little further
to walk than Keysor. I lived on a street
called Wilcox, a street off of Essex. Our house was about 3 or 4 blocks from
the high school, depending on if you took the pipe over the ravine to get to my
house and a lot farther to North Junior High. [I had a wonderful high school romance with a resident of Wilcox, whom I used to walk to that pipe over the ravine after school sometimes, then high-tail it back to KHS Essex parking lot to catch my ride home. lvr]
I was in my senior year at KHS when Tom Friel asked if wanted to go to an “away” football game. I
think we were playing Ritenour. We sat on the visitors side and in front of us on Tom’s side were two really cute girls. They were Juniors. Tom seemed to know them both, at least he knew their names and started talking to the one close to him. My eye was on the one farthest from me, a really cute strawberry blond. (I later learned it was a color that often changed.)
On the way home Tom told me her name was Darlene Petri. He remembered her last name, possibly from the associated with what we learned in biology as a Petri dish, named after a famous bacteriologist.
Over the weekend I couldn’t wait for school on Monday in hopes of seeing her. With no luck on Monday or Tuesday, I devised a plan.
I was on the “Call” staff as the business manager and free to come and go to solicit ads for the paper. Mrs. Conley, also my English teacher, led the “Call” as well the “Pioneer” and we would meet for 6th period. I decided to go to the office and ask if a note could be sent to Darlene to meet her at her locker.
Darlene had recently been photographed for the “Pioneer” in a full page layout. The student in the office was more than happy to help out, as well tell me where her locker was located. When Darlene got the note, she had no idea who this Bruce Antle guy was, so after class she raced to her locker hoping to avoid him.
No such luck, I was there to meet her. I was excited. She didn’t know what to do. When I asked if I could carry her books and walk her to the parking lot, she seemed relieved and vaguely remembered me as the “other guy” on the bench next to Tom. She said okay.
Our first date was a movie at the Esquire, followed by a flaming Cherries Jubilee downstairs at Cyranos. It was one of those cool, crisp fall evenings. I asked if she would mind if I put the top down? She had never been in a convertible and thought it sounded fun. We rolled up the windows and put the heater on, then a slow ride home down Clayton road, with the stars shining bright in the night sky and soft music playing on the AM car radio from Wood River. It was magical. I drove as slowly as I could not wanting the evening to ever end.We dated that fall and winter for about 4 months, falling madly and passionately in love. We broke up when things got too serious. 16 & 17 was a little too young for marriage. After graduation I was heading off to college. We would date others, but never stopped seeing each other, knowing if we ever got back together it would be for keeps.
Four years later I was standing in a different graduation line. This time from Washington University. In the audience my mom had invited Darlene.
A year later we were married. That was 52 years ago!
Looking back, it was also the first and only time either of us had gone to an “away” football game. We know God had a plan.
Bruce and Darlene
Joanne Hautly Cross, KHS64 and widow of our dear late friend Chuck
Here is the link to Joanne's obituary in the Post Dispatch:
Another trip to Bopp to mourn the loss of a great gal who leaves behind four wonderful daughters, grand-children and other relatives and many friends. Joanne was closer to our class than her own because she basked in the light and fun of hubby Chuck whom so many of us loved. I personally didn't know Chuck at KHS but in our later reunion activites we became very good friends. When I needed friends after my divorce, Chuck was always there. He renovated the kitchen of the house I bought so that my mom, who initially moved in with my children and me and had to eat frequently, could have a much-needed up-to-date kitchen. Chuck provided that, nevermind the fire as he was working but that's another day's story! It was a lovely kitchen and mom could cook to her heart's content. But back to Joannd, who was also the first cousin of our KHS65 classmate Linda Hautly, who I understand is doing well and still in Wisconsin, although not able to get to town for the funeral. Wednesday night I spent time with youngest daughter Becky Jones who is the secretary in the office at Paul Schroeder Park, the city park in Manchester. Becky told me that Joanne was doing fine, but had breast cancer in 2019 from which she recovered well with good treatments and care. However she later came down with lung cancer and one upper lobe was removed. Again she seemed to do well but that had metastasized and on March first she had a seizure which was a stroke from brain cancer. She was at home, with her girls each taking turns to care for her full time, until the last two weeks when she entered hospice care. The girls produced a great video of Joanne's life, from baby and little-girl photos to recent pictures with her children and grands. And, of course, several with Chuck. I noticed in several photos a lovely gold heart locket around her neck, which I had seen her wearing in her casket. She looked very life-like too, almost as if she was smiling up at me, lying there peacefully surrounded by the aroma of beautiful flowers. Gone too soon but leaving behind a legacy of love and wholesome family life. So long Joanne, rest in peace surrounded by love and when you meet up with Chuck please tell him I said HI and thanks for being my friend.
Saturday, April 16, 2022
Kirkwood School District Administrative Services Center on the move
I just saw today a notice in the Spring Alumni eCall that caught my attention because the Alumni staff have moved - I'd have stopped into the wrong place if I wanted to visit! J MILTON TURNER BUILDING, 1099 MILWAUKEE STREET, KIRKWOOD (314 213 6100) BUT the regular alumni office phone # remains 314 213 6123..khsalumni.org and alumni@kirkwoodschools.org are also the current online methods to reach the alumni staff.
Friday, March 25, 2022
NEWS FROM PROUD GRANDPARENTS JIM & LINDA GIRARD DAY - CHECK IT OUT
Here's a great bit of news from Jim and Linda - such a good reason to be proud, thanks for sharing JD!
Click the link for news of their grandson's hockey championship - yet another generation of KHS graduates making us proud!!! Way to GO Mitchell!!!! Keep up the great work!
Saturday, March 19, 2022
GEE, Thirteen Years is a long time
In the midst of trying to clean up a LOT of loose ends in my life, mostly on my desk, I had a reason to check something on my blog. I am amazed - Monday will be THIRTEEN years that I've been posting on this blog. We've certainly had some fun, shared many sad tidings, and learned from one another. I have a large stack of more 'stuff' to add, time is my constant enemy! Please be sure to comment or send information, announcements, news, or whatever my way and I'll try to be better at posting in a timely fashion. FACEBOOK has taken over as the way to communicate, I get that, but it's not as private nor are we able to post longer things and know they'll be here forever! I just skimmed thru all thirteen years of posts! It's all there, pix and all...JOIN IN THE FUN, SEND ME INFO or COMMENT on the posts.
Happy Spring to everyone! Before we know it I'll be sending my annual yellow roses for our graduation anniversary yet again~ STAY SAFE and WELL
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Classmate Linda Lee Scheffing Harre has left us, may she rest in peace and love.
Thank you to Karen Lowe Adams for alerting me to the recent death of classmate Linda Scheffing. I had not been in touch with her for some time, but at one time we did correspond, although she never, to my recollection, attended any of our reunion activities. She lived in Kirkwood and was friends with my late sister-in-law who was the secretary for many years to the then Kirkwood Schools Superintendent, somehow I think that was their connection. At any rate, here is Linda's obituary from the Kirkwood Webster Times:
Sharon Purdy recently reminded me that we are in the last quarter of our lives. Some days it seems worse than others. So much badness in the world and our friends and relatives leaving us, and like Linda, so many way too soon. I suppose the melancholy is worse now because of the time of year. This is the fourth death in my realm I have learned about just today. Stay healthy everyone!
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Fall-Winter 21-22 Jerry Jazz Musician Blog post sports more of Alan Yount's Poetry
Just yesterday I received a gorgeous 3D Christmas card from our KHS65 poet laureate Alan Yount and today my IN BOX presents the above-captioned entry on jerryjazzmusician.com. Once again Alan has created a poetic tribute that deserves a reading from our jazz enthusiasts! Or our poetry enthusiasts! Thank you Alan once again for adding to our ever-growing list of KHS65 members who remind us all what a stellar group of humans we have become. Aging stellar humans yes, but still our bright shining stars are still twinkling in the cosmos! As a group we sure shine! As individuals we shine on and on.
Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday season, and to anyone who is suffering from the recent terrible weather incidents, please know we are sending all our collective best wishes for recovery and wellness in any unfortunate situation. Mother Nature needs to get a grip.....
For Drummer Buddy Rich
many thought
drummer buddy rich
was the premier jazz timekeeper
for all of time.
*****.
how many of us
have to do the same things
over and over, several times
to get something down.
.*****.
buddy once said
he could not
read a note
of music.
.*****
.he said he had the timing
and tune, perfectly down forever
if he just heard a song,
for just once.
.*****
.by Alan Yount
[I love how Alan can express so much with so few words, a talent I really do not possess!}