Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Miller, Greene, Opelt, Gross, Kotcon, Poziombke, Meier, Schoengarth, Dux, Fitzmaurice, Donahue, Elmhorst, Marty, Harder, Mrotek, Brey, Hoover, Tesmer, Dopp, Lukes, Carl, Olson, Lundstrom, Rakestraw, Eddy Henseler, Fox, Theiler, Kunze, Roberts, Urban, Dieball, Kronberger, Friedemann, Embke, Popple, Vetrone, Laufenberg, Smagacz, Johnson, Ross, Sikora, Spiegel, Gress, Mattson, Mohr, Artac, Hansen, Schult, Meredith, Rueth, Lewis, Simenson, Watz, Vincent, Steinbring
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/22/2015
Neillsville High School Class of 1975 (40th Reunion - 22 August 2015
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, over 30 members of Neillsville’s Class of ’75 followed the signs next to a winding trail and gathered at a classmate’s cabin overlooking the river to celebrate their 40-year reunion.
There were lots of handshakes, hugs and excited greetings and reminiscing was the order of the day, as the yearbooks were brought out and more and more people arrived. For some, this was the first reunion they were able to attend. Earlier in the afternoon, a few hardy souls went kayaking. Later in the evening, the fire pit was lit. In between, a delicious picnic meal was served.
Some classmates were easy to recognize, for others, thank goodness for nametags. In the 40 years since graduation, there have been a lot of joys as well as sorrows, a lot of dreams and goals realized; some disappointments, jobs to go to, families raised and grandchildren to enjoy. But for one afternoon and evening, everyone there was transported back in time and we were 18 again. And that’s what reunions are all about!
Attending from Neillsville were: Janice (Miller) Greene, Wayne Opelt, Rick Opelt, Jerry Gross, Sue (Kotcon) Poziombke, Debbie (Meier) Schoengarth, Steve Dux, Jeff Fitzmaurice, Bill Donahue, Jim Elmhorst, Terry Marty.
Those attending from out-of-town were: Tim harder, Hugo, MN; Donald Mrotek, Hayward, WI; Dave Brey, Zumbro Falls, MN; Mike Hoover, Chili, WI; Paul Tesmer, McFarland, WI; Mark Dopp, McLean, VA; Gary Lukes, Spring Valley, WI; Wendell Carl, Jacksonville, FL; Ellen (Olson) Lundstrom, Nashwauk, MN; Patsy (Rakestraw) Hansen, Whitehall, WI; Sandy (Eddy) Henseler, Granton, WI; Bonnie (Fox) Theiler, Humbird, WI; Cindy (Kunze) Roberts, Holmen, WI; Brenda (Urban) Dieball, Colgate, WI; Diane (Kronberger) Friedemann, Stratford, WI; Sue (Embke) Popple, Eau Claire, WI; Debbie (Vetrone) Laufenberg, Hixton, WI; Lori (Smagacz) Johnson, Hixton, WI; Gary Ross, Custer, WI; and John Sikora, Oconomowoc, WI.
At every gathering of the class, those members of the class who have passed away are remembered - Ronnie Carl, Mary Spiegel, Brad Gress, Jeff Matson, Eunice (Mohr) Artac, Keith Opelt, Mike Meier, Lori (Hansen) Schultz, Tracey (Meredith) Rueth, David Lewis, Marilee (Simenson) Watz, Valerie (Vincent) Schultz and Lana (Steinbring) Marshall.
Much appreciation was extended to the reunion committee, consisting of Janice (Miller) Greene, Wayne Opelt, Rick Opelt, Jerry Gross and Sue (Kotcon) Poziombke, for their contributions in planning a most wonderful gathering and to Wayne and Connie Opelt for providing such a perfect venue.
Members of the Neillsville Class of 1975 who attended the reunion are (kneeling) Janice Miller Greene, Wayne Opelt, Gary Ross, Jeff Fitzmaurice, Steve Dux, John Sikora, (row 2) Ellen Olson Lundstrom, Patsy Rakestraw Hansen, Sandy Eddy Henseler, Lori Smagacz Johnson, Diane Kronberger Friedemann, Sue Kotcon Poziombke, Debbie Vetrone Laufenberg, (row 3) Don Mrotek, Mike Hoover, Bonnie Fox Theiler, Cindy Kunze Roberts, Brenda Urban Dieball, Sue Embke Popple, Debbie Meier Schoengarth, Jim Elmhorst, Bill Donahue, (row 4) Tim Harder, David Brey, Jerry Gross, Rick Opelt, Paul Tesmer, Mark Dopp, Gary Lukes and Wendell Carl. Missing from photo is Terry Marty
