Great Bend High School Class of 1968 40th Reunion Reminiscences

Saturday Night Smiles

2008-09-11T22:02:00.013-05:00

Thanks to Vivian Duryee Harbaugh for sharing her pictures from Saturday night:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005116&l=2b2b2&id=1391830495

St. Pats and St. Rose "kids"

2008-09-07T12:12:00.009-05:00

The "Friday Night" group: Judy Kuhn Krebaum, Cindi Hergenreder Wood, Judy Prosser Johnson, Bob McGreevy, Peggy Quinley Beck, Jeanne Damm McDonald.

The "Saturday Night" group: Cheryl Dwyer Murray, Peggy Quinley Beck, Jeanne Damm McDonald, Judy Straub Olson, Judy Kuhn Krebaum, Judy Prosser Johnson, Rita Murphy Buchanan. BACK ROW: Joe Kramer, David Johnson, Mike Komarek, Mike Petz, Bernie Guesnier, Lana Alefs Wolf, Steve Koch, Cheryl Maneth Yunk, Bob McGreevy

Reunion Memories

2008-09-07T11:18:00.006-05:00

Friday night's activity, Saturday's events....So much variety and so many memories! I still smile, a month after our reunion, when I think about glancing around at all of the different groups of people mixing and mingling, getting reaquainted after many years. Some had never attended a reunion and finally decided it was time, some hadn't been since the 10th when we were still most comfortable with those we knew best in high school, some have attended every gathering and it felt like coming back to family... With all of that, two things stand out in my mind, my good memories.

The first was that in looking at tables of people sitting and laughing, groups standing around catching up, people even re-introducing themselves to each other made me realize that we were all together celebrating as one group rather than pockets of people. We weren't just hanging around with those that we knew way back in the halls of GBHS. We were people gathered together to relax and enjoy the weekend. And enjoy we did!

The second memory that still makes me smile even as this is being written is the way that the reunion ended. Remember how that typical last dance at high school would be slow, swaying? A last chance to 'properly' hold your current love close to you and not get caught for inappropriate PDA? Barely moving because music was the last thing on your mind at the time? Well, think the very opposite now. Here we are, forty years later, it's midnight. The band, some former GBHS upper classmen, didn't play slow and sultry. They knew from the feel of the evening that we were enjoying being together too much to end in bunches of twos. So, we ended the evening with two fast moving dances; we begged for one more. And, EVERYONE was up dancing. Not one person was seated, the tables were empty, no one standing around watching. We didn't have partners, we didn't need them. We were all out on the floor laughing, enjoying and celebrating our time together. A life memory was created that night for me and I'm sure for many others!

Friday Frame Up

2008-09-03T20:36:00.022-05:00

Thanks to Elaine Cole Felke for framing and photographing
many of those attending the social Friday evening:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004748&l=6e027&id=1391830495

And for sharing her photos from the dinner and dance on Saturday:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004753&l=975e0&id=1391830495

And of the preparations:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004754&l=55419&id=1391830495

The Reunion Class Photo Is Great

2008-08-27T20:08:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone ordered and received their copy - its a great picture. Dale Riggs took the picture and had to Photoshop himself in, which he did - twice. Good job Dale, you deserve all the credit you can get.

Morrison School "Kids"

2008-08-19T21:32:00.012-05:00

Several classmates began their educations at Morrison Grade School. Those pictured are (left to right) James Schutte, Mike Castello, Sarah Hoener Shirer, Mindy Kite, Maureen Tefft, Elaine Cole Felke, Steve Simonson, Susie Evers Gibson, Roger Switzer, Elaine Amerine Mull and Dennis Steadman.

So long Morrison - Thanks for the memories!
http://morrisongradeschool.blogspot.com/

Now I get it!

2008-08-12T19:24:00.003-05:00

When I read the words of the Alma Mater on the blog site, I realized I had it wrong - well, I was a newbie in our Senior Year. So I can learn something from a classmate after all these years!

Liz Scott in Long Island, NY

This is great!

2008-08-10T11:27:00.002-05:00

Thanks for setting up this blog site... it's great! I wish I would have been able to attend this year, but maybe I'll be able to catch up with folks this way. Thanks, Vicki

Reunion Committee Core Group

2008-08-09T15:24:00.006-05:00

The Reunion Committe spent countless hours planning, preparing, organizing, phoning, emailing, purchasing, cooking, creating, fetching, toting, setting up, breaking down, and cleaning up for our 40th Class Reunion. Thanks for all your hard work! The "core group" of Elaine, Judy, Suzi and Judy are pictured.

Banquet Prayer

2008-08-07T07:57:00.003-05:00

Gracious Father in heaven,

We pause at this moment to remember that you are the source of our lives and blessings. We praise you for each day of life and for the beauty of our reunion here.

Bring to our celebration joyful thoughts and laughter over memories of high school days, of achievements past, and challenges overcome.

We humbly remember those of our number who have passed on ahead of us and are mindful of their contributions to our lives and world.

What gift can we bring this night but our grateful thanksgivings for the daily bread that sustains us and for the food and festivity we share here. As we rekindle the ties that bind us together we thank you, O God, for your loving kindness which is fresh each morning, and for your grace given in Jesus Christ. It is in his name we pray and live and create our tomorrows. Amen.

(Courtesy of Rev. Gary Brooks, First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, KS http://gbfumc.org/)