POSTS FROM 2010 -

Announcements -

Need to verify your address information with the Reunion Committee? Click here!

December 2010 -

25 - Here's wishing ALL of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS, and a happy, wonderful and loving New Year!

10 - Dianne Mardus Parker sent a photo of Ladies of '65 Christmas Party that was held yesterday. I then looked on Facebook, and found some more photos of the event (one of which I pilfered and posted here). Thanks Dianne! You girls do seem to enjoy getting together! Click a photo for a larger view.

November 2010 -

16 - Here are this month's photos from the Ladies of '65 Dinner Club, and again, thanks Georgia Yost for sending them on to us. Click a thumbnail for a larger view.

7 - I feel pretty certain that everyone who attended this year's reunion had a great time, and the Reunion Committee did some splendid work getting everything organized for us. Now, we need your help. We'd like to know your thoughts about what our next reunion should be like. What should we do, where should we go, should we change the way things are done? You get the idea. The committee has prepared a very short survey that will only take a couple of minutes to complete, and that will provide them with YOUR ideas, thoughts and suggestions about the next time we gather as a class. Please take a minute or two and help them out - YOU could have a positive impact on our next reunion! The survey is located here. THANKS!

2 - Happy Election Day everyone! I hope you all have exercised your constitutional right (and civic obligation) to cast your ballot for the candidate of your choice today.

Diane (Hadfield) Miller sent me a photo this evening that I wanted to share with you - I'm not really sure what's going on here, but you can rest assured that everyone involved had a good time. Click the thumbnail for a larger version.

October 2010 -

23 - Let me try to play catch-up on the folks who have registered on the site. Since late August (that's the last time I was up-to-date) the following classmates have registered - and we welcome them all -

Louan Giglotto Warner
Gillis Turner
Marsha Katz Casler
Robert Finley
Susan Hoorman Darlington
Eileen Smiley McKay
Mary Esterlein Brown
Linda Giles Petry
Sharon Wolfe Viront
Joan Bennett Goehlich

Thanks for registering folks! We are VERY happy to have you onboard! For a listing of all of our registered classmates, you can click here, or access the listing under the "News" menu above.

19 - The Ladies of '65 Dinner Club held their regular October dinner last night, and Georgia Yost has sent us some photos to share. Click on a thumbnail for a larger view, and come on out and join them in November!

8 - The night before our 45th reunion, the Ladies of '65 Dinner Club met at Renee (Tope) Taake's home. As usual, Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a bunch of pictures with us. Click on a thumbnail below for a larger view. And in November, join the ladies for some fun and memories. Contact them here. Sorry for the delay in getting them online - been a little busy....

8 - Okay folks - I finally got the reunion photos online! We have posted 584 high-resolution photos (so far), and they are accessible by everyone thru the "Photos" > "Photo Gallery" menu options at the top of the page. There you will find 4 choices for 2010 Reunion photos - just pick one. When you get to the photo page, please take a moment to read the notes (instructions) at the top - these will tell you how to go about saving and printing high-resolution 300 dpi photos to keep. Enjoy! And if you have photos you'd care to share, send them on in and I'll get them online for everyone.

4 - Received word today of the passing of another classmate. Jean Weeden Farris died Saturday October 2nd 2010 after losing her battle with cancer. I'll post her obituary as soon as I receive it. Our condolences go out to Jean's family and friends.

3 - Classmate Joe Mannisi would like to thank everyone for the calls and prayers that were lifted for his wife Diana during her recent health problems. Diana is doing well now (and was able to attend the Reunion with Joe). On Joe and Diana's behalf, thank you all.

1 - Okay, I'm in town at the Drury - the Mixer starts in a couple of hours. Then the ladies have their luncheon tomorrow, we have the tour of the old school tomorrow afternoon, and the main event tomorrow night. If you aren't coming, we miss you already! If you'll be there, then I'll see you all in just a bit. Let's have some FUN!

September 2010 -

30 - Well, it's that time! I'm hitting the road this morning, Collinsville bound! Hope to see you all there. It's time to have a reunion!

25 - A Message from Diane Hadfield Miller -

Next Friday and Saturday we will celebrate together our 45th class reunion.

If you are planning to donate an attendance prize for Saturday night, please feel free to bring it to the golf outing, Friday night mixer, Ladies luncheon or the tour of the old high school.

If you are planning to tour the old high school, we will meet at the clock on High School Avenue at 1:00. This will be a Kodak moment so bring your cameras.

The Friday Mixer is scheduled from 5-8 at the American Legon. Fee free to make plans to stay and visit or take a group and visit other venues around town. Jim Seka has invited you to attend the home game at Kahok stadium which begins at 7. He is the announcer for home football games.

We are getting excited and hope you are as well.

24 - Time is getting short - only ONE WEEK 'til our REUNION! If you haven't made the reservations yet, be sure and contact Diane Hadfield Miller TODAY and come join us.

Classmate Bill Esicar will be bringing his lady love, Deborah, to meet all us 'old' folks and give us the opportunity to tell her what he was really like. He sent me a new picture of them today, and I have to share it with you. Deborah, you're a lovely lady, and you reallly are getting a good guy in Bill. Best of everything to you both. Click on the image for a large view. (And download a copy from the"Odds & Ends" collection in the "Downloads" area [must be logged in])

21 - Once again the "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together this month, and Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a few pictures of the ladies. Looks like a great turn-out - ans as always, it appears that they had a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

16 - A note from classmate Trois Pendleton came today with a comic strip that fits very well - our thanks to Trois, and to Comics.com and the strip "Pearls Before Swine" - hope you enjoy it as much as I did -

12 - We've received the word that Paul Heffner, husband of classmate Daisy Green Heffner, has passed away, having lost his battle with cancer. Our prayers and condolences go out to Daisy and her family.

2 - Has life gotten you down? Feel like you have it bad? Then PLEASE watch this video of Nick Vujicic.

August 2010 -

21 - Entertainment for the main event on Saturday October 2nd will be provided by The Melroys .

21 - To access the listing of who will be attending the Reunion - either on Friday for the Mixer or the Saturday main event - just select from the 'News" menu at the top of the page.

21 - Welcome our most recently registered classmates - Dennis Pace and Robert Wild! Dennis registered on the 18th, and Robert registered yesterday. Welcome folks - hope to see you in October!

18 - The list of classmates registered for the Reunion Main Event on Saturday October 2nd has been updated. Check out who's coming (so far) here.

17 - - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together this month, and Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a picture of the ladies with us again. Looks like a great turn-out - I count 19 ladies in that group shot! As always, it appears that they had a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

17 - Golf is back ON! Arrangements have been made with Fox Creek Golf Course north of Edwardsville, and our Reunion Golf Outing will be held after all. Cost is $20 at the course. All interested classmates please contact Jim Seka.

15 - Who's going to the Reunion (so far) ?? A listing of everyone currently registered to attend the main event dinner on Saturday October 2nd can be seen here. The folks who have indicated that they will be at the Friday night Mixer on October 1st can be seen here. You still have time to join them! Contact your Reunion Committee today, download the reservation form, and COME ON!!!!

15 - A big welcome to our most recently registered classmate, Jeanette Althardt Smith. Welcome Jeanette! Hope to see you in October!

10 - The first deadline for reunion reservations is Sunday, August 15th !!!!! Prices will increase after that because of extra charges incurred for late changes. Please get your reservations in NOW !! Download a .pdf reservation form here, or contact someone from the Reunion Committee (see Links page).

10 - Just received word from the Committee that the Friday Golf Outing has been CANCELLED. Seems that there were no local courses available - all are booked with larger groups. See above entry for August 17

10 - I hear that classmate Donna Kay Jones Preloger is known around the landing in Saint Louis as the "drumming grandma". Word is that she bangs on the drums three nights a week! Look for her page on Facebook.

10 A big welcome to our most recently registered classmate - Linda Claus ! Hope to see you in October Linda!

7 - A big welcome to our most recently registered classmates - Cheryl Kolo Keiser and Sandra Scurry Reynolds! Cheryl registered on August 4th and Sandra registered today. A complete listing of our registered classmates can be found here. Why don't you join them? Better yet, register here and then join us in Collinsville in October!

July 2010 -

29 - Just received the sad news today that Sandra Kretzer, wife of 36 years of our classmate Carl Kretzer, has passed away. Sandra departed this world on her birthday, July 19th. She passed peacefully after spending a week in the hospital. Our sincere condolences and prayers go out to Carl and his family.

25 - After much consideration, I have decided to provide a listing of all those classmates who have registered on this site, and their state or country of residence. You can access the listing here. It is also listed as a menu item under the "News" heading.

24 - Welcome to our most recent registered classmate, Phyllis Hankins Davis! Welcome Phyllis! Hope to see you in October!

22 - A big welcome to our newest registered classmates - Bruce Mottin and Dianne Taylor May. Welcome to you both! We're especially happy to hear from Dianne because she has been on our "Missing" page for awhile now. Hope to see you both in October!!

19 - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together this month, and Dianne Mardus Parker has been kind enough to share a picture of the ladies with us again. Susan Bauer Fletcher joined the group for the first time. As always, it appears that they had a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

15 - A big welcome goes out today to our newest registered classmates, Bill Davidson and his lovely wife Rita Berardi Davidson. Welcome! Hope you are enjoying the site, and hope to see you in October!

13 - Welcome to our most recently registered classmates - Bob Kosten and his lovely wife Joy Wood Kosten. Bob and Joy registered on July 10th.

9 - I have been extremely remiss in keeping up with our registered users, so let me play a serious game of catch-up today. We wholeheartedly welcome the following registered classmates - BeeJay Taylor Williams, Susan Yehling James, Ed Stull, Jere Juenger, Marcia Lynch Harms and her son Jeff Harms, Bill Molitor, Pete Dickson, Kathleen Best Freed, Pamela Baltruschat Parker, Emil DeLuca, and Beverly Merckel Dennis. All of these classmates registered between May 12th and today. My sincere appologies for being so late in welcoming them - but WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE!!!

June 2010 -

23 - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together this month, and they had an unexpected guest - classmate Dav Pauli, visiting home from sunny California, joined the ladies. Dav was here to visit a sister, but decided to share a tale or two with the ladies too. Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a few pictures of the ladies (and guy) with us. It looks that they had a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

May 2010 -

27 - We hear that there is another Reunion planned, also on the 1st of October this year. This one is for the Caseyville Grade School. I don't have any other details at the moment, but if any of you have good information about this, please shoot an email my way and I'll let everyone know. If you went to Caseyville Grade School, it'd be kinda cool to reunite with folks you knew at a little kid and then the next night (or maybe the same night) come on over and enjoy visiting with everyone from the Class of '65. I'll let you know when I get some details!

19 - Don't forget to register for the Reunion! A printable reservation form in .pdf format is here. Reservations need to be in by August 15th so that final arrangements for food, drinks, etc. can be made. Help us out and get your forms in the mail today. See you in October!

18 - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together this month, and Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a few pictures of the ladies with us again. As always, it appears that they had a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

6 - For those who haven't noticed, we have added a new page to the site called "Today's Thought". The regular link to the page is just beneath the menu bar on the right-hand side. It's fed from a database of quotes and sayings that tend to inspire, provoke, or kindle the thought process. Right now I have 150 quotations or other entries in the database, and will be adding more daily. Each time you click the link to the page the system will load a randomly selected quotation, poem or whatever. I hope you enjoy it.

April 2010 -

27 - A welcome to our most recently registered classmates - Penny Clark Robison registered on the 20th, and Maxine Dadara Frizzell registered this morning. Welcome to you both! Hope to see you in October! And late in the day, after I had entered the above, classmate Pam Milam Cox also joined us. Hope to see you in October too Pam!

20 - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together at Alphonso's Restaurant, and Sandra Lindley Snyder joined the ladies for the first time. Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a few pictures of the ladies with us. As always, it appears that they had a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

15 - A welcome to our recent registered classmates - John Lee registered on April 11th, and Stephen Hampsch registered today. Welcome aboard guys! Hope to see you in October!

8 - Reservations for the October Reunion are now being taken! A printable reservation form in Adobe PDF format is available here. The breakdown on activities and costs is posted on the Home page, so be sure and check it out. The only thing left in the air is a possible tour of the old high school building. This has not been finalized, but if it goes it will be about 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 2nd. Count your pennies! Print that form! Let's go to Collinsville in October! See you there!

3 - Today we welcome Jerry Meyer and Mary Jane Crowell Potter as registered users. We're glad you're both here! Mary, we had not realized you had moved, so we were sending reunion information to your old address. Thanks for helping us maintain current contact information!

March 2010 -

21 - Today we welcome David Doughty as a registered user. Not only do we get to say he registered, but by doing so we can also remove him from our "Missing" page. Welcome David! Hope to see you in October!

19 - Mick Eckart has registered on the site, and we welcome him! If you haven't registered yet, and you haven't received some communication from the Reunion Committee, then please take the time and register today. Information on the October reunion has already started going out, and we don't want to miss you!

17 - Jim Spagna is our registered classmate today. Welcome Jim! Thanks for helping us keep up-to-date contact information so that we can get reunion information to you!

16 - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together at Alphonzo's Restaurant, and Georgia Yost has been kind enough to share a few pictures of the ladies with us. Looks like they always have a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on a thumbnail for a larger photo.

13 - Tim Toon becomes our registered classmate for today. Welcome Tim! Hope to see you in October!

12 - Today we welcome Charles Sharp and Fred Poddig as our most recently registered classmates. Welcome aboard guys!

9 - Myra Hickam Sams and Kathie McDowell Maurer are our classmates who have most recently registered on site. Welcome to you both! And if you haven't registered yet, please take a minute and do so. It will ensure that we have accurate contact and mailing addresses when the reunion reservation paperwork goes out. I know you don't want to miss out, and we don't want you to either. So get registered today, and make plans to be in Collinsville in October!

6 - Our most recently registered classmates, who all registered on the site in the past week, include Judy Roschke Hart, Carol Kolo Basarich, Janice Thilman Macdonald, Paula Sweitzer Kilgore, Patricia DaPron Santhuff, Paul Rugg, and Keith Marshall. Welcome to you all! I hope you can all make arrangements to be in Collinsville this coming October - there's a lot of folks who'd love to see you!

February 2010 -

27 - Ellen Witte, Wayne Ray and Louis Schneider are today's newest registered classmates. Welcome! Hope to see you and everyone else in October in Collinsville.

26 - Today we welcome Mary Randant Reinacher as our most recently registered classmate. Hope you're enjoying looking around the site, and hope to see you in October too!

25 - We've had a bunch of folks register yesterday and today, so here goes - A very hearty welcome to Billie Jean McFain Rainey, Beverly Frame Fahrner, Joan Elliott Schrumpf, Richard Werner, Charlotte Lipe Haney, Mary Jo Sullivan Jones, Lynn O'Dell Martin, Patrick Pittman, and Ric Stephenson! We're happy to see you all here, and we'll be even happier to see all of you in Collinsville this October!

23 - For those folks who don't know the members of the hard-working Reunion Committee, let me give them a big Shout Out - Renee Tope Taake, Diane Hadfield Miller, Mary Brewer Astrauskas, Jim Seka, Terri Koehne Odorizzi, Pat Stephens Logsdon, Joe Mannisi, Dick Chamberlain, and Judy Schikowski Mentz. These folks have been putting in a lot of hours of hard work getting everything organized, arranged, and prepared so that the rest of us can come home to Collinsville and enjoy the best Reunion ever! My sincere thanks, and I'm sure all of yours, to these loyal classmates who make everything happen. You guys are the BEST, bar none!

23 - A big welcome to our most recently registered classmates - Larry Leach and Sandra Christie. Again, welcome aboard! Hope to see you, and everyone else, in Collinsville in October!

19 - Again I find myself behind schedule and playing catch-up. So let me welcome our latest classmates who have registered on the site - Patricia Stephens Logsdon, Jo Ann Reagan, Patricia Nance Soileau , and Alan Sinclair have all registered in the last four days. Welcome aboard all! And if YOU haven't registered yet, it's quick and easy, and will ensure that we have good contact info when the reunion mailings go out. Just click on the menu item that says "Register". See you in October!

16 - And a big welcome to our newest registered classmate, Rich Harrison. Welcome aboard Rich!

16 - The "Ladies of '65 Dinner Club" had another get-together last night at Alphonzo's Restaurant, and Nancy Kingsbury Fox has been kind enough to share a picture of the ladies with us. Looks like they always have a good time - maybe it's time for you to give them a call or email and join with them next month. Click on the thumbnail for a larger photo.

15 - Let me catch up on welcoming our newest registered classmates. Doug Hartmann, Gary Fletcher, Susan Bauer Fletcher, Jane Reinsch Kelly and Jeanne Dupree Stiles all have registered in the last few days. Welcome aboard folks. Hope to see you all in Collinsville in October!

8 - Welcome to our newest registered user, and also a member of the Reunion Committee, Renee Tope Taake! Welcome aboard Renee, and thanks for all the hard work you and the other members of the committee are doing to get us ready for the October reunion. We really appreciate it!

5 - We received this today from classmate Bill Esicar - looks like he has a new wife and partner - Deborah Esicar. Congratulations to Bill and Deborah from everyone. We wish you both all the happiness the world has to offer. And we hope to see you both in Collinsville next October! Click on the thumbnail for a larger photo.

5 - Welcome to our newest registered users - Mary Brewer Astrauskas and Terri Koehne Odorizzi. Welcome ladies! These ladies are Reunion Committee members working hard to get things organized for October. Join them here as registered users, and make your plans now to get back to Collinsville in October.

4 - Want a free email account at 65kahoks.com? Now available to registered users, a free email account with a quota of 50MB of storage. If you're registered on the site, just log-in, click on the "Extras" menu, and click on the "Free Email Account" link.

January 2010 -

30 - Today we welcome Linda Wetmore Vawter to our list of registered classmates. Welcome Linda! You made certain that we have current contact info for you when the reunion paperwork gets mailed out soon. Make sure you don't miss out either - register today! It only takes a minute. And thanks again Linda! Hope to see you in October.

29 - A big welcome to our newest registered classmates, David L. Cates and Jim Seka, and to Cassie Langford from the class of '63. Welcome aboard everyone! We're happy you're here!

28 - We confirmed today that classmate Nada Nolen McAllister passed away on October 11th, 2001 in Stilwell, Oklahoma. We have been unable to locate an obituary for Nada, but the information was confirmed by her nephew Kenneth Nolen.

17 - Have you ever felt that time just wasn't cooperating with you? Seems that way around here all the time. Anyway, let me catch up a little by welcoming our latest registered classmates - Linda Jerrell Pflasterer registered on Thursday the 14th and Vi Gillespey registered this morning. Welcome to both of you! And if you haven't registered on the site yet or verified your mailing address for us, PLEASE do it soon. The Reunion Committee will be sending out reservation packets and information soon for the October reunion, and you don't want to be left out!

12 - We've been busy getting a lot of pictures online out of the '63 and '64 Kahokian yearbooks. These are photos of our classmates - members of the class of 1965 - who didn't make it through graduation with us. Most moved with their families to other places, like classmate Steve Eyman, who actually graduated from Mattoon High, but tells me he has always felt the connection to the Collinsville Class of '65. Unfortunately, the pictures come from the group photos of our homeroom classes, and only list last names. If you can, take another look thru our class pictures and see if you can help me identify some of our "unknown" classmates.

11 - Today we welcome Jo Anne Giofre as our latest registered classmate! Thanks Jo Anne. You made certain that we have current contact info for you when the reunion paperwork gets mailed out soon. Make sure you don't miss out either - register today! It only takes a minute. And thanks again Jo Anne! Hope to see you in Collinsville in October.

10 - Things are getting busy around here, but we still have time to give a big welcome to our latest registered classmates - Dick Chamberlain, Karen Pitts Garner, and Phillip Roberson all registered in the last two days. Thanks a lot guys! Hope to see you all in October!

6 - A big hearty welcome to our latest registered user, Sharon Stumpf Kimme! Sharon registered today and has made certain that we have current contact info for her when the reunion paperwork gets mailed out soon. Make sure you don't miss out either - register today! It only takes a minute. And thanks again Sharon! Hope to see you in Collinsville in October.

1 - We start the new year off by welcoming classmate Don Omohundro as the first person to register on the site in 2010. Thanks for registering Don! Hope to see you at the reunion in October!