Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

June 26, 1958

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

26 Members of Class of 1923 in 35 Anniversary Reunion

Twenty-six members of the Neillsville Class of 1923, which originally numbered 59, sat down at the 35^th anniversary banquet in the American Legion dining hall Saturday evening.  Fifty-one men and women were served. The tables were decorated in the class colors, purple and white, and beautiful African Violets, the class flower, were used for table decorations.

Jerome Kopecky, who has been a commercial teacher in Milwaukee for 30 years, was master of ceremony.  Invocation was delivered by Ernil Pease. After dinner, Mrs. John (Myrtle) Mattson conducted a memorial service in memory of eight members.

Deceased honored included Beulah Meinert, who died in 1924; Robert Olson, who died in 1930; Morris Svirnoff, 1943; his brother, Isadore Svirnoff, 1945; Ralph Slagle, 1945; Veronica Kosmosky, 1949; Melvin Ure, 1957; and Douglas Kurth, 1957.

Former teachers

Following the memorial service, each member stood and introduced his partner, gave the present location, number of children and grandchildren, and gave a brief history of the years since graduation.

Former teachers attending included William C. Hansen, of Stevens Point, and Mrs. Mary Corson Smith of Neillsville.  Mr. Hansen, now president of Central State College, Stevens Point, was principal during the last year of the Class of 1923’s attendance at Neillsville High School.  Mrs. Smith, the wife of Col. William L. Smith, served as librarian.  Both teachers reminisced of experiences which occurred at Neillsville High School.

The class motto was “Rowing – Not Drifting.”  The officers: Melvin Ure, president; Forest Thompson, vice president; Mrs. Dorothy Smith, Secretary; and Alma Steuerwald, treasurer.

Will meet in 1963

The class decided to hold the next anniversary in 1963, which will be its 40^th.  Letters were read from E. J. McKean, former principal, now mayor of Tomah; Naomi Lawrence Davis of Springfield, Ore.; Martha Filitz Noltner of Madison; Francis Gallagher of Warren, Ore.; Ramona Nason Dumphy of Chicago; Eva Quinlan of Neillsville; Marian Berge Burley of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Frieda Wagner Colburn of Wisconsin Rapids; and Francis Woodward of Chicago.

(A portion missing) for being married the shortest time, 15 years; Leona Hizer Zimbauer of Fairchild, for the most children, eight; and Mrs. Dave Bender of Neillsville, Rt. 1, for the most grandchildren, 13.  Mrs. Bender has been married 33 years.

The following members attended the anniversary:

Mrs. Irma Ackerman Sollberger of Columbia; Mrs. Mary Botnen Counsell, Marian Northup Kunze, and Mrs. Bethel Newell Webster of Neillsville; George Bramble of Janesville; Floyd Bronstad of Marshfield; Mrs. Mabel Broihier Bender, Rt. 1, Neillsville; Mrs. Irene Crockett Opelt of Granton; Mrs. Lillian Gangler Hart, Mrs. Myrtle Hanson Mattson, Mrs. Dorothy Kurth Smith, Mrs. Rose Marx Krantz, all of Neillsville; Nellie Haas of Milwaukee; Mrs. Leona Hizer Zimbauer of Fairchild; Jerome Kopecky of Milwaukee; Arthur Lastofka of West Allis; Helen Weaver Haslow of Owen; Fred Timmler of Greenwood; Ethel Thoma Garbisch of Eagle River; Kenneth Ruddock of West Allis; Mrs. Isla Rowe Bandelow of Menomonie; Mrs. Irma Rowe Pepper of Janesville; Marie Resong Weber of Sheboygan; Dorothy Portz Haselow of Chili; Ernil Pease of Janesville; and Forest Thompson of Neillsville.

Members not attending and not listed among those writing letters include: Howard Bowen, Wisconsin Rapids; Chester Arndt, Hurley, Ida.; Velma Bruley Chaney, Chippewa Falls; Elmer Chase, Deer Lodge, Mont.; Esther Davis Wilcox, Cattaraugus, N. Y.; Leona Farning Hughes, Milwaukee; Erwin Gall, Owen; Herman Gloff, Elmhurst, Ill.; Earl Groves, no record; Nina Haberland Thompson, San Bernadino, Calif.; Beatrice O’Brien Sischo, Wisconsin Rapids; Alma Steuerwald, Sheboygan Falls, O.; Clayton High, Eau Claire; Miss Alice McCauley, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mayme McCune Baldwin, Richland Center; Louis Morse, Chicago.