Schools: Neillsville High School Class of ’56 (50th - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Gaier, Urlaub, Lukes, Afkind, Johnson, Albrecht, Smigelski, Bell, Crockett, Duchow, Patterson, Eisentraut, Gall, Wirkuty, Hagie, Meredith, Janisch, Corese, Lincoln, Lindner, Nauertz, Mabie, Holt, Mills, Gerber, Overman, Meier, Randall, Hotchkiss, Reams, Cheney, Reese, Enerson, Schlemme, Schwellenbach, Struensee, Stucki, Markus, Turville, Thompson, Meinholdt, Wavrunek, West, Yankee, Zank, Dodte, Sharp, Evans, Nexworski

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, WI) September 27, 2006, Page 6

NHS Class of ’56 holds (50th) reunion

The Neillsville Class of 1956 gathered on Saturday, September 16, 2006, at Fannies Supper club for their 50th reunion.

Prior to the dinner, several members met at the Neillsville High School for a tour conducted by District Administrator John Gaier. Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Ben Urlaub. Honored guests were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lukes. Henry was a former math teacher and coach. There were originally 71 graduates in the class. Twenty-nine were present along with spouses and guests. A moment was taken in memory for 18 deceased classmates.

Attending were Helen (Afkind) Johnson, Hixton; Mrs. Sarah (Albrecht) Smigelski, San Jose, CA; Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bell, Neillsville; Eugene Crockett, Wichita, KA; Connie (Duchow) Patterson, Alma Center; Mr. and Mrs. Arne Eisentraut, Apache Junction, AZ; Mrs. Alice (Gall) Wirkuty, Neillsville; May Lou (Hagie) Meredith, Eau Claire; Mr. and Mrs. Sam (June Janisch) Corese, Norridge, IL; Charles Lincoln, Moses Lake, WA; Mr. and Mrs. Tom (Edith Lindner) Nauertz, Ft. Atkinson; Mr. and Mrs. Jim (Cheryl Mabie) Holt, Black River Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Merlin (LaVonne Mills) Gerber, Madison; Kay (Overman) Johnson, Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne (Maureen Meier) (no surname given), of Neillsville; Vivian (Randall) Hotchkiss, Robbinsdale, MN; Elaine (Reams) Cheney, Kenosha; Judy (Reese) Enerson, Ackley, IA; Sonja (Schlemme) West, Windsor, CO; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Schwellenbach, Janesville; Bob Struensee, Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Ron (Erma Stucki) Markus, Kewaskum; Ann (Turville) Thompson, Marshfield; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Urlaub, Neillsville; Joan (Meinholdt) and Tom Wavrunek, Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Ron Yankee, Round Lake Heights, IL and Eileen Zank, Neillsville, Wis.

Joining the graduates were former class members; Mr. and Mrs. Mel Gall, Merrillan; Mr. and Mrs. Carl (Lucy Dodte) Sharp, Rice Lake and Mr. and Mrs. Geo (Carol Evans) Nexworski, Appleton.

Mary Lou Meredith co-sponsored a "50 Year Lament" for the class and quiz relating to businesses in the 1950’s.

Reunion committee members were Joan Wavrunek, Eileen Zank and Mary Lou Meredith.