Sheree Holmes Duffeck Obituary

I'm sad to report that our classmate, Sheree Holmes (Wauters) Duffeck, was unable to beat her cancer. Her obituary follows. Our sympathies to her family.

Tom VanderGeeten Shares His Cancer Story

I was wondering why Tom arrived at the reunion too late to eat dinner and didn't stay as long as we would have liked him to. That just wasn't like him. I received the following information from Tom today and he'd like to share his story with you. Thanks, Tom. You know we wish you a full recovery and that you will be able to stay until the bitter end at the 40th with the rest of us!

I know my visit was brief so I thought I would explain:
I'm currently in a battle with cancer. My cancer is called Squamous Cell Carcinoma, found on the skin, internally and externally. Smokers often get this, although I do not smoke. I had an enlarged lymph node removed from my neck and the cancer was discovered. The doctors said it did not start in the lymph node, but after two body scans and a throat biopsy no other cancer was found. So it falls into the category of "Squamous Cell Carcinoma with unknown primary", which happens in about 10% of the cases. Good, because there was no other cancer, bad because it had to start somewhere. I need Radiation treatment to my entire neck which is where it most likely started, and close monitoring for a few years.

Prognosis is that it was caught early and I should have a normal life.Tomorrow will be the halfway point of my 31 treatments, which I get everyday except weekends. Eating is very difficult due to an intensely sore throat and lack of appetite and taste. However, I'm hanging in there and prognosis is good.
Here are pics with my Radiation mask. It's used to bolt my head to the table so I don't move. Pretty weird looking thing.

If you know of anyone who might be in a similar situation you can give them my name and e-mail. I've learned a lot about cancer in the last 2 months, and I continue to learn...and I would be happy to share what I know.

Benefit for Lisa Geyer Valenta on Saturday, Sept. 26th, 2009

FUNDRAISER BENEFIT FOR LISA (GEYER) VALENTA

Lisa, a two time breast cancer survivor is battling a recurrence of breast cancer and is currently undergoing Chemotherapy. Lisa has dedicated the past 6 ½ years of her life organizing/running fundraising events such as “Relay for Life”, “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”, “Daffodils” and “Annual Fashion Show” to raise money for research, education, advocacy and patient services for The American Cancer Society. Now it’s our turn to help Lisa. Her Family and Friends are holding this Fundraiser to help defray her mounting medical expenses. There will be a Silent Auction, Cash Raffle prizes, food and a DJ. Monetary donations may be made directly to “Lisa Valenta Benefit Fund” at BayLake Bank 920 Huron Rd., Green Bay, WI 54311.
· WHEN: Saturday, September 26th, 2009
· WHERE: VFW - 754 Riverview Drive - Howard, WI
· TIME: 2-7PM
· ENTRY DONATION: $10.00 Per Person
Raffle tickets will be sold 3 for $10.00 - 1st prize is $1,000, 2nd Prize is $500 and 3rd prize is $250
Any questions please contact: Lori J. Geyer @920-660-0609 or idlelady02@yahoo.com

Kevin Collard's Wedding

Kevin married the former Beth Koehler were married on September 30, 2007 at "The Vineyard" in Appleton. After a honeymoon in Phoenix, AZ, they now reside in Meadow Creek subdivision, which is just south of Freedom. Congratulations, Kevin & Beth!

From Brian Tierney

Here is a photo of me on the salt flats in Utah. I just pretty much work on motorcycle and race for land speed records when my motor isn’t broke.

Thanks for the great picture, Brian!

Hi from Patti Weinfurter Sturzl-Price

Unfortunately, Patti won't be attending the reunion because her dauther Katie's wedding reception and family visiting will conflict. Katie was married in Cancun on February 11th, 2009. Katie is 28. This picture is of them just minutes before the ceremony. Katie and her husband, Chad Jacobs, had been dating for nine year, so Patti is thrilled the event finally occurred.

Thanks for the picture, Patti!

Look who got married!

Cindi Emmel is now Cindi Hereth! Cindi and her husband, Edward, from Glenelg, Maryland were married October 17th, 2008. Cindi and her husband plan to attend this year's reunion! Congratulations, Cindi!!!! And, we are so excited we will see you this year!

News from the Bahamas & (Joyce) Marie Lambden Thompson

Thanks to (Joyce) Marie for this great blog addition.

Marie moved to the Bahamas 21 years ago. She met her handsome husband, Bobby, (pictured with Marie) and they have been together for 20 years - soon to celebrate their 17th anniversary. Joyce met Bobby and they really had a connection, she ended up staying in the Bahamas.

Her business came about out of necessity. She originally was doing T-shirt designs for a local company, one by one, her boss's kids came home from college and she eventually lost her job. She really had a hard time finding another job she liked, so she invented her own. She says she thinks we call this American ingenuity. She sat down and thought about it. She was an artist who liked toys and she knew know how to sew. So she sat down and designed a line of toys, made samples and hit the road. She has been a toy designer for 19 years now. Her toy company is called Huggable Art. You can see a sample of it on this website: http://www.ting-n-ting.com/small.htm and scroll down to see her "Huggable Art". She still loves her job. She has a home workshop, so she works with her dog, Munchkin, under her work table. Her retired husband likes the fact she can stop and play anytime. Last year, she "upgraded" her U.S. citizenship,. Her sister and she applied and were accepted into their grandfather's tribe. She is now a tribal member of Brothertown Indian Nation. Right now she is a permanent resident of the Bahamas, which gives her the right to live and work there, but she didn't give up her U.S. citizenship.

Aren't the pictures just great? I think her life in the Bahamas must agree with her; she looks awesome! Thanks so much for sending them, Marie! Can we have our next reunion down in the Bahamas with you??