Green Bay East Class of 1974

Sheree Holmes Duffeck Obituary

2009-08-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-30T07:39:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

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??

Fellow Classmate Pete Wozniak

2008-10-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

Fellow classmate, Pete Wozniak, passed away on Saturday, October 18th. The link to the obituary is below. Our heartfelt sympathies go to his wife, Kim, and his family.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081020/GPG010301/810200554/-1/obits

Another great time at the 1001 Club - April 2008

2008-07-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Here we all are! Well, most of us. There are some other people missing from this picture that joined us later you will see down below. If you can't figure out who any of these classmates are, the same picture is posted at the end of this batch of pictures with the names.

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

I did a great job catching the eyes shut on this one. Sorry guys! Here are Mary Wallenfang Diehl, Tom Vandergeeten, Julie LeTourneau, and Karen Lotto Wyman.

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:19:00.001-07:00

It is always a great surprise when Tom VanderGeeten joins us. He came up from Milwaukee for the weekend and stopped in to visit with us. Julie LeTourneau is pictured here with Tom.

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:18:00.001-07:00

Scott and the gals. I guess I took a lot of pictures of Scott that day!

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:15:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the bad shot here Pam! This was a funny story. I went by the entrance to make a phone call and thought Pam Messerschmidt McKeefrey was coming to join us. She wasn't on our email list but just happened to at the 1001 for dinner, so we were able to enjoy her company for a while. She's on the list now!

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

Another group shot of some of us. It really was a fun day!

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:07:00.001-07:00

Longtime friends Mary Wallenfang Diehl and Karen Lotto Wyman with Mary's daughter, Aprille.

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:01:00.000-07:00

Yeah, Scott is a considerate smoker and went outside. He looked pretty funny walking up and down Main Street by himself.

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

Ann Wilson Connelly with that Scottie. Annie is still always smiling!

Of course, we can't see Scott's hand in this picture!

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T05:53:00.001-07:00

Jan Schultz's sister, Mary (who is like way younger than us, but an East alumnus as well), Scott Opolka, Martha DeWan Huguet.

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T05:46:00.001-07:00

Cheryl Bray Bellin, Scott Opolka, and Jan Schultz. Scott obviously has something on his mind other than getting his picture taken!

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful friend Carol Bloomer Campbell & Kathy Erdmann (Class of 1975 and just always fun to have around. She also happens to be Rick Stoll's wife.)

More pictures from April 2008 at the 1001

2008-07-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Tom Caldie, Karen Lotto Wyman, and Rick Stoll.

April gathering at the 1001 Club

2008-07-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry it took me so long to get these pictures posted! Where does the time go??? I had a nice phone call a couple months ago from fellow classmate John Johnson. I hope he will be able to make the next reunion or the next get-together we have. It was great talking to him. Here are the pictures from the group that met at the 1001 Club in Green Bay. Another really great time to meet and catch up!

From left to right: Tom Caldie, me, Rick Stoll, Carol Bloomer Campbell, Mary Walenfang Diehl, Leslie Weich Prange, Harry Huguet, Martha DeWan Huguet, Ann Wilson Connelly, Karen Lotto Wyman, Cheryl Bray Bellin being noogied by Scott Opolka, Jan Schultz, Kitsy VanOss Baumgardner, and Paul Baumgardner.

An email from Wendy Walenski Pang

2008-04-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

I do hate posting bad news, but I asked Wendy if she would mind if I posted her email below. We both thought it is not a bad idea to remind everyone of our own mortality as well as that of our loved ones. Her most recent email to me asked if I remember a group of us going smelt fishing in high school. How could I forget, Wendy! What great times those were! Wendy promises to be a subsequent Class of 1974 get-together. Our prayers are with both you and Steve, Wendy. God bless!

From: wrpang@aol.com [mailto:wrpang@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:57 AMTo: Cathy EckersSubject: Re: Time for an East High Gathering!

Hi Cathy,Unfortunately I will not be able to attend. We are arriving back from a European vacation the night before. Mary Seering Bodmer did ask if I would join her and come along. We would have great fun but the timing will not allow. I will hope and plan for the next one! My husband has been recently been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. We are trying to adjust to this and my doctors that I work for are sending the two of us to Europe to fulfill a dream of Steve's. He has always wanted to go to Germany but would not take the time or spend the money(?)...a true achiever in the banking industry. Life is so short and I have never reflected that school of thought. I have been to Europe twice before :) so, the absolute love of my life will slowly slip away before my very eyes...I can hardly bear it. Please pray for us as we face these uncertain days ahead. He is having difficulty walking and with upper body muscle function as well as speech/swallow involvement. Please pass along that once again, the reminders of how short and truly special life is needs to be noticed and honored. Love life each and every day for tomorrow may never come and it may come with incredible challenges. We continue to smile and be so thankful for the blessings that we have enjoyed and continue to experience. Have fun and give my greetings to all. Wendy

A message from Bob Brisk

2008-04-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have Bob meet up with us several years back. He sent me a picture taken in Moscow I thought I'd share. Bob will be in Moscow through the end of the month. He is really a fun guy!

Greetings Cathy!
I am once again working on the road. This time in Moscow, Russia. Unfortunately I will not be attending this drink up.... er... event. The last time I saw this crew I enjoyed seeing my old friends & wish I could attend more! With this, I should be passing through possibly late July or early August. I can let you know when the dates are locked in & perhaps there will be another event during that time. My wife is determined to buy a home near Baileys Harbour. If that is the case I would have a destination to be near by more often.
Till we cross paths again -

Peace & Happiness
Bob Brisk