Griswold Graduating Class of 1971

Welcome to the 30th Reunion of the Griswold Community High School Class of 1971! The following information was gathered from your responses to the Reunion Committee's mailing. People are listed in alphabetical order by their last name, women being listed by their maiden names. A list of those who did not respond to our mailing, including their last known addresses, follows the responses. This information is available on the Internet at and you can see photos taken at the reunion there after July 8.

The 30th Reunion Committee

Linda Billings Pierson and Peggy Forsyth Fleming

/ We salute those classmates who have passed before us: Kenny Myers, Sherry Jones, Kathy High, Kathi Grennell Milligan and Sandy Nielson Brasher. /

Debbie (Alff) Meyer and her husband, Craig, live in Lewis and have been married for 29 years. They are godparents to a little boy named Dylan who will be 2 months old at the time of the reunion. Debbie has been the secretary at the Lewis United Congregational-Methodist Church for 12 1/2 years. Craig works for the Cass County secondary roads department. Debbie says her fondest memory is basketball in our sophomore and junior years, but her most vivid memory is riding backwards all the way to school!

Address: 300 Court St. P.O. Box 203, Lewis, Iowa 51544
Phone: 712-769-2454

Kelly Baier says he is still practicing law and there is "not much new going on with us. Kate is 14 now and will be a freshman next year. Sam is 12 and will be in 7th grade. They are playing softball and baseball most of the summer so that takes up most of our leisure time. Shel is on the school board and does a bunch of volunteer work."

Address: 3110 Norman Drive, Marion, Iowa 52302
E-mail:(office)

Beth (Bates) Slagle and her husband Dan will celebrate their 28th anniversary with us on July 7! Beth is a media specialist and Dan is a farmer. Their daughter Kayla is 22 and married to Derek Spence. Their son Jared is 20.

Address: RT. 1 Box 80, Sargent, NE 68874
Phone: 308-527-3867
or

Manzel Berlin lives in Colorado. He's writing a book and he and his fiancee, Lindee, are trying to find time to organize their wedding. Manzel writes "My 3 daughters are college age (Mandy just finished, Anna is half finished and Christy just starting). Lindee's 3 kids are early elementary so they demand a great deal of our time. Blessings to all friends from Griswold!"

Email Manzel at

Linda (Billings) Pierson has been married to classmate Mike for 26 years. They have one daughter Erin, 21, who will graduate from Iowa State in December with a BS in Psychology (any job offers for her will be appreciated!). Mike is Maintenance Supervisor at Oakland Manor Care Facility where he has been since 1995. He is a volunteer fireman and an EMT on Oakland Fire & Rescue Squad. Linda is employed by Acceptance Insurance Company in Council Bluffs as Agency Service Manager.

Linda writes "My memory is actually from Jr. High when Beth Bates had a huge slumber party at the old house next to her parents new home. We had the entire run of this old house and I remember Linda Bates wanting to sleep and of course we were not allowing that! She took her blanket and pillow into the bathroom and fell asleep in the tub, so we turned the water on her....needless to say, she was not happy!"

Address: 708 Dane Town Hill Road, Oakland, Iowa 51560
Phone: 712-482-3594
E-Mail:

Barb (Bishop) Hirsch and her husband, Bill had their 25th wedding anniversary March 27, 2001. They have two sons. Barb writes "Jason Hirsch, 22 yrs old, lives at home and works for Nelson Industries in Mineral Point. They make large equipment mufflers. Nathan Hirsch, 16 yrs old, will be a junior at Mineral Point High this fall and works part-time at the new steak house in town. I am working at Lands' End the catalog company. I job share in 2 departments - customer sales and internet. Lands' End also does the state tourism and some days I work in that area. My husband Bill sold his milk hauling business 4 years ago to have more time with the family. We now have time to do some camping, 4-wheeling and snowmobiling. Bill now drives a front discharge cement truck for a local company, Ivey construction."

Address: 407 Ridge St., Mineral Point Wi, 53565
Phone: 608-987-3592
E-Mail:

Kathy Boucher works for a lawyer in Las Vegas. She enjoys bowling in a league, playing cribbage online and working out at a gym. She says her house is ruled by two dogs and a cat. Kathy's husband Mike passed away a year ago after 15 years of marriage.

Address: 817 Canosa Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89104
E-Mail:

Ed Champlin lives in Atlantic with his wife, Leann.

Address: 609 West 8th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022-1629
Phone: 712-243-4620.

Bruce Coughlin married Glenda Liddell 19 years ago. Bruce farms and drives a school bus. Glenda is a salesperson for Red Oak Greenhouse.

Address: 1138 O Avenue, Elliott, Iowa
Phone: 712-767-2468

Beverly K. (Cousins) Munden is a Substitute Teacher for Orange County Schools in Florida. She and her husband, Michael have been married for 23 years. He works in I.S. (Information Services) for Walt Disney World. They have three children, Marie and Heather, 20 and David, 12. In addition to her teaching and managing her family, Bev is a full time college student and hopes to graduate in the spring. Way to go, Beverly!

Beverly writes: "I do remember how much fun my friends and I had going to district meetings for FHA. We sang songs on the bus to and from the meetings which was a lot of fun. We also sang songs at the meetings. I enjoyed being a part of that group."

Address: 659 Stevelynn Circle, Winter Garden, Florida 34787
Phone: 407-656-1156
E-mail:

Kathy Curtis Waggoner works at the Atlantic News Telegraph. She has one husband, Ted. Their kids are Andrea & Al Smith who have a daughter Tiana, 2 and 1/2, and Justin Waggoner who has a son Justin, Jr. 6 and a daughter Michaley, 1 year. Kathy's hobbies are gardening, camping and reading.

Address: 57004 Marne Road, Marne, IA 51552

Kelly Curtis married classmate Diane Rabe. They have a son Jared, 28, and a daughter Lindy, 21. Kelly is a GTE Systems Switching Technician. See Diane below to find out what she does!

Kelly writes "The chickens in the lockers is one of my favorites too. I wish I could remember who put them there."

Address: 309 Glad Street, P.O. Box 67, Schleswig, Iowa 51461
Phone: 712-676-2201
E-mail:

Kenny Evans and his wife Charlotte have been married for 26 years. Kenny drives a truck for Horizon Distribution and Charlotte is an LPN at Cass County Memorial Hospital. Their kids are Leah Schmidt, almost 25, Ryan Evans, 23, and Katie Kelly, 22. They have two grandchildren, Clara May Schmidt who is almost two and Evan Ryan Kelly who is 8 months old. Charlotte gets to babysit Evan on her days off.

Kenny's most vivid high school memory is when the choir boys fell off the risers at a music program.

Address: 69051 570th Street, Griswold, Iowa 51525
Phone: 712-778-4121
E-Mail:

Peggy (Forsyth) Fleming has been married to Bruce for almost 21 years. They have three children. Katie, 18, is taking classes at Des Moines Area Community College. Megan, 15, is a student at Roosevelt High School and Robert, 13, goes to Callanan Middle School and is a Boy Scout. Peggy designs and makes soft sculpture, especially teddy bears for the collector market. She enjoys making Robert practice his saxophone, teaching Megan to sew, coding her own web site, and expanding her flower garden. When she is not tormenting her family, she tutors children at an inner city school and serves on a church board. Bruce is a consultant with Cap Gemini Ernst and Young and enjoys being a Boy Scout leader.

About memories from GCHS, Peggy writes "Since I am putting together everyone's information, I am reminded of many of our most outstanding moments! Most unforgettable (besides the chickens) was a slumber party at the Noble Center parsonage when, while running rampant through the night, we found Kathy Boucher lying face up across Highway 71 just over the crest of a hill. No intoxicating agents had been consumed, but I wonder what Mrs. Jones put in those brownies?? I also fondly recall marching indignantly into Mr. Eshelman's office and demanding that we have a GIRLS' golf team!"

Address: 521 Glenview Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Phone: (515) 277-8060
E-Mail:
Web Site:

Kathy (Frazier) Luedke and husband, Spencer Luedke, have been married 25 years. They have one child, Dillon W. Luedke, 21. Kathy is a Manager, Pioneer Services (Loan institution for military personnel worldwide). Spencer is a manager in a finance business. Kathy said to have fun and she was sorry she would not be there.

Address: 707 Gemstone Lane, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
Phone: 757-493-8244
Email:

Kristi (Grennell) Bequette has been married to Michael Bequette for 28 years. Their son Jason is 28. Kristi is a social worker and Michael is an environmental engineer. If you would like to see photos of Kristi and her family (cute grandbaby!) go to .

Address: 1314 Mayper Drive, Carter Lake, Iowa 51510
Phone: (712) 347-5535
E-Mail:

Joy (Hansen) Weaver looks after many of our relatives and acquaintences as Administrator of the Griswold Care Center. She married Dan Weaver 30 years ago and they had four children. See Dan below for more info.

Karen (Hofmeister) Wilcoxon married fellow GCHS graduate Chuck Wilcoxon. Karen writes "Chuck and I have been married 25 years and live south of Atlantic. We have 3 daughters-Anna, 22 a recent graduate of the University of Iowa, Kara, 19 just completed her first year at the University of Iowa, and Bethany, 14 will be a freshman at Atlantic High School in the fall. Chuck is employed at Dana Glacier Vandervell in Atlantic and I work at a preschool in Atlantic."

Address: 60031 Lansing Rd, Atlantic, IA 50022
Email:

Beverly (Holldorf) Curtis has been married to fellow Griswoldian, Jim Curtis for 29 years. They have one child, Evan, who is 12 years old. Bev works in the Risk Management Department of Deere & Company. Jim works for the Iowa Department of Transportation. Bev writes that her most vivid memory from GCHS is "Kenny Evans literally picking me up and carrying me out of the gym while working on prom decorations."

Address: 310 West Oak Street, Eldridge IA 52748
Phone: 563-285-9098
Email:

Donna (Hollesen) Connell and her husband Mike have been married for 20 years. They have two daughters, Katie, 19 and Megan, 17. Donna is an orthodontic assistant and Mike is a sales executive for KGOR radio.

Address: 10411 "M" Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127
Phone: (402) 331-6772
E-Mail:

Nancy (Hollesen) Coughlin is an LPN at Creighton Pediatrics Clinic in Omaha. Her children are Courtney, 26, Jordan, 20 and Alexandra, 14.

Address: 1212 North 164th Street, Omaha, Nebraska
Phone: (402) 498-9013

Kim Hoogeveen and Lu (Wheeler) have been married 25 years. They have two children, Brett (19) and Blake (16). Kim is a Licensed Psychologist and President & CEO, Quality Living, Inc. Lu is a Homebound Teacher. Kim writes "Sorry I will not be able to attend. Have a great time and please pass along my regards to all."

Address: 415 Ridgewood Drive Bellevue, NE 68005
Phone: 402-573-3700
E-mail:
Website (Company, not personal):

Richard Houser has been married to fellow Griswold grad Carolyn Orstad for 28 years. Their children are Aaron, 26, a loan officer in Elkhorn, NE; Ryan, 23, a mechanic at Lindeman Tractor in Atlantic, and Cole, 16, a student. Aaron is married and has one child, Russell. Ryan is engaged.

Richard is a letter carrier for the USPS and Carolyn is an LPN at Stanton Care Center, Stanton, Iowa. Richard's most vivid memory is a Playboy centerfold on Mr. Douglas's podium. Surely you didn't put that there, did you Richard???

Address: 312 W. Main, Clarinda, Iowa 51632
Phone: 712-542-6570
E-Mail:

Bill Hunt is still farming near Elliott. He and his wife, Colleen, have been married for 20 years. They have two daughters, Sarah, 21 and Emily, 18. Colleen works for the Department of Education.

Address: 12528 525th Street, Elliott, Iowa 51532
Phone: 712-767-2232
E-Mail:

Jerry Jamison rocks on in Elliott with his wife, Lisa. He has a day job in Red Oak. Their address is: Box 155, Elliott, IA 51532.

Dennis Jipsen farms near Lewis. He's been married to his wife Marilyn for 28 years. Their daughter Dawn, 26, is married to Matt Freund and they have 2 daughters. Son Kevin, 25, is married to Amber Kirchoff and they have a little boy. Kim, 23, is married to Ronnie Vaughn. While Dennis is in the field - and probably when he is not - Marilyn babysits their wonderful grandchildren.

Address: 20809 525th Street, Lewis, Iowa 51544
Phone: 712-769-2300
E-Mail:

Barb (Johnson) Bakhit and her husband of 29 years, Abe, own and operate a convenience store in Omaha and will be starting construction on another one in the next several months. Their children are Al, 27, Abe, 26, Stasia, 18 and Jabby, 14. Barb says "My two older boys are through college. One works for Mutual of Omaha and the other one works for us. Stasia just finished her freshman year in college. She goes to school in Ohio and is on the women's hockey team. Jabby will be a freshman in the fall at Central High School. He plays select hockey and baseball so we spend a lot of weekends travelling."

About her memories of GCHS Barb writes "I remember moving from the old high school to the new one and getting out of classes for a day. I also remember the bomb threat. I got in trouble for leaving the school grounds to wash my hand after a bird pooped on it."

Address: 3818 Burt, Omaha, Nebraska 68131
Phone: (402) 554-0248
E-mail:

Donna Jones writes "I am still teaching nursing for Southwest Missouri State University - West Plains. In the last four years, SMSU-WP has entered the 21st Century both figuratively and literally. I not only have a computer of my own now, but it is a new Gateway with more memory than I could have hoped to use a few years ago. I have discovered Power Point and pictures and give me another year and I may figure out how to use up all that memory.

Home is a new place, too. I moved into a new house last April. Of course, one must remember that I live in the Ozarks, so therefore, my new house is not finished and probably won't be until sometime after I retire. It is, however, the nicest place I've ever lived. The house has lots of wood and windows, is well out in the country/woods on the back of 40 acres with little chance that the views will substantially change in the next 20 years. I share the house with my partner, 4 dogs, and 5 cats. I am presently in the process of landscaping in red clay and rocks. It is a challenge to say the least.

As for my memory of high school - probably my most vivid memory is of cutting music class to hang out on the stage one day and getting in trouble (something foreign to me at the time). The counsellor and the teachers wouldn't believe I'd really done it. It was my first lesson in not always following the rules. Probably should have gotten in more trouble in those days."

Address: Rt 3, Box 3410, Thayer, MO 65791
Phone: 417-264-3368
Home E-mail: ; Work:

Steve Jurshak and his wife, Deb, have been married for 24 years. They have two daughters, Elizabeth, 20 and Mona, 16. Steve is a design engineer. He's looking forward to seeing all of us.

Address: 211 Troy St., Murray, Iowa 50174
Phone: 641-447-2430
E-Mail:

Donna (Kirchhoff) Cook is a teller at Nishna Valley Credit Union in Atlantic. She's been married to Rodney Cook for 29 years. Rodney is an electrician. They have three sons, Michael, 26, Brian, 25 and Jason, 21. Donna writes "I think some of my most memorable days from school were at the numerous slumber parties. Those were most definitely the good old days!"

Address: 61868 Richland Road, Lewis, Iowa 51544
Phone: 712-769-2468

Dennis Kunze has worked for the Iowa DOT for 30 years where he is now District 6 Land Surveyor. He's been married to Kelly, who attended our last reunion, for 3 1/2 years. They have a 14 month old son, James Dennis.

Dennis writes: "I remember the chickens too.(so does Jipsen, it was his locker they were in!) The faces and times all are quite vivid and I think of them often. As I sat here trying to think of something in particular I remembered winning the Griswold Invitational Wrestling tournament in 1971. I was flying high. I took a hand painted tiger face from the wall of the gym that night as a souvenir. It had been painted by the cheerleaders. I remember catching hell because it was a lot of work to make and was to be used all season. Well, I still have that tiger painting. Thanks guys, it lasted more than ONE season."