School: NHS Class of 1926 (50 Year Reunion - 1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hantke, Swann, Bradbury, Neff, Woelffer, Wahl

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) /1976

NHS Class of 1926 (50 Year Reunion ? - 1976)

A glance at the calendar and a little simple arithmetic quickly show that it will soon be 50 years since the Neillsville High School Class of 1926 received graduation congratulations. And in all those years, not once have class members gathered to celebrate the event! No, some classmates are wondering if a quadri-bicentennial reunion wouldn’t be in order for ‘76, and hope that a response will warrant some get-together planning.

Mrs. Ruben (Gene Swann) Hantke, Rt. 1 Neillsville, has heard from some out-of-town classmates who would be interested in returning to Neillsville if a class reunion could be arranged. She’s like to hear from others who are interested, too, and will help carry on the project from that point. Mrs. Hantke can also be contacted by telephone at 715-743-3904.

Just for a memory jogger, officers of the Class of 1926 were as follows: Marion Bradbury, president, Francis Neff, treasurer, Irma Woelffer, vice president, Ruth Wahl, secretary. Both Bradbury and Neff are deceased.

***************************************************************

School: NHS Class of 1926 (Golden Reunion - 1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hanson, Hauge, Ruchaber, Cole, Bradbury, Drake, Schultz, Mier, Holub, West, Smith, Seif, Cardarelli, Hubbard, Schweinler, Herian, Gallagher, Neff, Eisentraut, Allen, Ehlers, Meyer, Broihier, Wasserberger, Stucki, Vincent, Swann, Hantke, Gerhardt, Syth, Sharratt, Schecklman, Olson, Kurth, Tifft, Herian, Brooks, Ward, Sonheim, Bohac, Snyder, Stevens, Gilbert, Schroeder, Keach, Ketely, Gerold, Walter, Filitz, Palmer, Lawrence, Jacobson, Sample, Rude, Wagner, Carlson, Zaeske, Imislund, Longenecker

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/09/1976

NHS Class of 1926 (Golden Reunion – 4 September 1976)

Saturday evening, September 4, the Neillsville High School graduating class of 1926 held a 50th anniversary reunion at Bali Hai Supper Club, with a banquet at 6:30 p.m. A program arranged by the planning committee was MC’d by Gilbert Olson.

The pledge of allegiance was followed by a moment of silent prayer in memory of departed class members: Marion (Babe) Bradbury, Vivian Drake Schultz, Katherine Mier Holub, Rosa West Smith, Harley Seif, Tony Cardarelli, Lyndon Hubbard, Merritt Schweinler, Donald Herian, David Gallagher, and Francis (Sandy) Neff.

Greetings were extended by the master of ceremonies, who also read a poem, “To the Alumni of Old Neillsville High,” written by a class member.

The poem is as follows:

Our high school building long has vanished – It lives now only in memory. – So, we must look backward in time tonight – To bring back the days that used to be.

But the old Armory still is standing – Perhaps a faint echo lingers there – Of basketballs thudding-happy voices cheering – Of youthful footsteps on the stair.

The changing years have flowed by swiftly – Since the day we launched a frail canoe – And were swept by life’s relentless current – Into a world that was strange and new.

No matter the path we chose to travel – We were often beset by doubts and fears – Those high school days were one to cherish – they gave staunch support in later years.

As we drink the toasts and dine together – let us recall once more, dear by-gone days – Then our hearts will be much lighter – When we depart upon our ways.

Each class member answered roll call by telling highlights of the past 50 years: spouses presented rebuttals.

Alta Allen read letters from members unable to attend. They came from Beda Filitz Palmer, Leta Lawrence Jacobson, Sara Sample Rude, G. Byron Smith, Hilda Wagner Carlson, Alfred Zaeske and the former Ethel Walter. Letters were also received from teachers Clarence Imislund and Arthur Olson.

The class-history was read by Gene Hantke.

Gifts were presented by Helen Syth to the following: Jessie Brooks Ward – dressed in red, white and blue; Louis Herian – most recently married (34 years) and first reservation; Ella Stucki – most grandchildren (18); Caroline Sonheim Bohac – serving the most years in elected public office (13); Hulda Snyder Gilbert – traveling the longest distance (Watsonville, Ca., near San Jose); Ben Schroeder – coming in the oldest model car.

The program was closed by the master of ceremonies with a poem written by the late Rev. G. W. Longenecker, longtime pastor of the Neillsville Congregational Church, and with a prayer.

Special guests were prof. and Mrs. Wm. C. Hansen and their daughter, Miss Helen Hansen, of Stevens Point, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hauge of Mosinee and Mrs. Olivia Ruchaber of Neillsville. Prof. Hansen came to Neillsville High School in 1922 when the class was in its freshman year and guided members throughout their high school years. Mrs. Hauge, the former Sadie Cole, was the high school librarian, and Mrs. Ruchaber started the class on its high school career in English.

Class members and spoused attending were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. (Alta Eisentraut) Allen, Mrs. Lillian Ehlers Meyer, Mrs. Faye Broihier Wasserberger, Mrs. Ella Stucki, Mr. and Mrs. Jim C. Vincent and Mrs. Genevieve Swann Hantke, all of Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. John (Helen Gerhardt( Syth, Greenwood; Mr. and Mrs. Albert (Genevieve Sharratt) Schecklman, Marshfield; Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Olson, Rice Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Cliff (Erena Kurth) Tifft, St. Paul, Mn.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Herian, East Troy; Mr. and Mrs. Donald (Jessie Brooks) Ward, Glen Mills, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. B.H. (Caroline Sonheim) Bohac, Merrillan; Mr. and Mrs. Ross (Inez Snyder) Stevens, Spencer; Hulda Snyder Gilbert, Watsonville, Ca.; Mr. and Mrs. Ben Schroeder, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Keach, Viola; Mr. and Mrs. Carl (Mary Ketely) Gerold, Willard; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Walter, Seattle, Wa.

The planning committee included Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Syth, Mrs. Hantke, Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Wasserberger.

 

 

 


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