Newberg High School Class of '58

"Just spent the last 90 minutes enjoying each and every photo and memory!   What an awesome class!!!  I regret that I have been unable to attend most of the reunions;  not lack of desire……just live too far away!!!  I do think of each of you and celebrate the photos and memories they bring of you!

Don and I still live in Omaha;  he still runs his insurance agency, and loves his work, his clients, his books!   Don has over 10,000 books…….almost all history, biographies and autobiographies.  We are trying to Get Rid of Stuff so we can downsize and move to Senior Living;  Don seems willing to part with stove, refrigerator, kitchen table, but not a single book!   I’m still involved with Bible Study Fellowship, think this is about my 25^th year, and also volunteer for the Salvation Army and the Nebraska Humane Society.  A severe storm hit Omaha this past month, but Don and I were very fortunate;  we had major tree damage to our old cottonwood trees, and we were without power for 4 days, but otherwise no damage!  A miracle;  just a few houses down the hill, the entire North side of their home was blown off, and across the street the roof was lifted off.  We felt so blessed that our damage was minimal.    Truth is, if I’d attended the Golden Gathering…..I would have missed this mess in Omaha!!!! 😊  Know you are in my thoughts!"

Received from Diana just after our 60th Reunion celebration:

Hi Classmates!   I felt so badly to miss the reunion this year;  seems as if everything happens on the same week-end and choices are tough!   Don and I still live in Omaha……so if you should be passing through, stop in!  It sounds as if everybody had a great time;  I sure was thinking of you. 

Don still owns his insurance agency and goes to work every day……..I didn’t think he’d ever quit, but he surprised me this spring and decided to sell out.   He was approached by two younger agents who wanted to buy the agency, and Wag will work for them and with them for 2 more years, and then he will officially retire.   I figured we’d sit on the porch and watch the world go by after that, but Wag has decided he wants to go back to school and finish a degree in history he started a long time ago……….so good for him.   He loves learning and is a voracious reader, so he will enjoy his Retirement Years.  And I will get to type all his term papers!   As usual!

I retired 2 years ago as director of a mental health foundation, and now mostly play.  I am a leader with Bible Study Fellowship, and lead a men’s Bible study group at a home for the profoundly intellectually impaired.  These guys are so limited in ability, they are strapped in wheel-chairs, most on feeding tubes and breathing support, and have no verbal skills.  One smiles at me, and one barks, one of the more advanced gentlemen kisses my hand, and one throws up a lot.  But…somehow they have gotten into my heart and I love being with them each week.   I tell them Bible Stories, and once in a while I try singing a song………but that usually gets some raised eyebrows and looks of disbelief, so my singing obviously hasn’t improved At All over the years!

Thank you to each of you for staying in touch!   I love hearing about your adventures!   Take good care and know you are in my thoughts!