Waukesha South High School

Orrin Sprague

Now

Birthday:June 28, 1941 Occupation:Retired Fire Fighter Wauwatosa Marital Status:Committed Relationship No. of Children:2

From Orrin:

After graduation I spent 2 years in the Navy, mostly on the USS Springfield stationed in the " Med". Knocked around a couple of years, got married in 64, joined the Wauwatosa Fire Dept. in 65. I moved to the Gulf coast Mississippi in 93 after my wife and I divorced. Am now semi retired, we own rental properties, am in an 8 year relationship and very happy. Boating is our passion and what better place to be a boater than on the Gulf of Mexico.

Johanna Steinmetz

Then

Now

Birthday:July 02, 1941 Occupation:retired Marital Status:Single Again

From Johanna:I graduated from Lawrence University in 1963, having had a junior year in Tokyo, where I learned that I love big cities. So I spent my 20's living in several -- New York, Tokyo again, Stockholm -- before settling in Chicago, where I worked as a journalist in a variety of jobs for almost 30 years. I married Gary Cummings and we had two super boys, Ian and Pearson. Creating that family and getting to work professionally at the same time was a really wonderful part of my life, hectic and hugely rewarding. But then things got tough: Gary died of melanoma in 1987. Ian died in 1993 following a college accident. In 1995 I married Joe Kohut of Portland, Oregon, and moved out here. It worked for a while, but in 2004, we divorced amicably; he was killed last October in a tragic hiking accident in the Columbia River Gorge. In many ways, I have missed the midwest -- its people and its culture, not its weather. My son, Pearson, and his wife, Alison, expect their first child in Seattle the very weekend of the Waukesha reunion. I am so looking forward to welcoming someone into the world for a change! In the last 4 years, I've done a fair amount of international travel -- Argentina, Australia, Vietnam -- and have been consumed by the study of Argentine tango. It's not an easy dance to learn at any age, so I've been working hard to develop enough technique to allow me to continue well into decrepitude. (But decrepitude is moving faster than I am, I sometimes think.) Anyway, it keeps me off the streets. Although all of you knew me as Jody, I haven't used that nickname in 40 years. "Johanna" took a little growing into, but I did it. I had more than my share of (very) modest fame while living in Chicago, and I've managed to repress my embarrassing moments. But if anything comes to mind, I'll let you know. Such fun to read your stories on the website!

Susan Birkholz (Thomas)

Then

Now

Marital Status:Married

From Susan:When I received my invitation I was so excited. I can't believe it's been 50 fast years. I know I will miss a very good time-good food and fellowship.

I have been working at St Bernard Regional Center for 38 years. I retired four years ago and in one month they called me back to work staff support.

I have one daughter Laura Holly. She is in east Asia with her husband Jim. I have two granddaughters and two greatgrand children.

I married Wayne Endes and after being divorced for 13 years I married a man from church in 1984. His name was Lawrence Darouse. He passed away in 1994. I remarried in 2003 to John Thomas.

I have a very full life. I have a garden and do a lot of canning for the winter. I love to work in my flower garden, cook, watch old movies, walk for exercise and have friends over for dinner. My favorite drinks are bloody marys and beer.

Please keep me posted for any future class reunions.

HAVE A BLAST!

Susan Birkholz (Thomas)

Then

Sharon Kramber (Truhlicek-Carlson)

Then

Now

Birthday:September 30, 1941 Occupation:retired Marital Status:Married

From Sharon : After graduation I went to Beautician school. After that I worked at the Phone Co. for four years. In Jan. of 1964 I married John Truhlicek.He quit south in his Sr. yr. joining the Navy in 1958. In April of "67" we found out he had cancer.In Aug.of that yr.he turned 27 and died in Oct. Then I met Al Carlson who I had known all through High School,beer joints and softball games,and the good ole "hook and shell."
March 6 of 1968 we got married. We are now married 41yrs.and still living in Waukesha. We travel when we want. That requires a sitter for our Toy Persian,our baby,10yrs.old and 6#'s.

Karen Duckert (Uglow)

Then

Now

Birthday:February 09, 1941 Occupation:retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:1

From Karen :

I have been married to Brian for almost 48years. We have one daughter Sue and two grandchildren,Elizabeth 10 and Andrew 8. Our son-in-law is Bill. I love to babysit my grandkids whenever possible. I like to read and travel and discovered I especially enjoy cruises. I am also a cancer survivor.

Leslyn Frank (Vaughn)

Then

Now

Birthday:July 24, 1941 Marital Status:Widowed No. of Children:1

From Leslyn:

50 years is a long time but it seems to have flown by in the blink of an eye. After graduation I work in retail both in Milwaukee and Chicago. In 1962 I started Nursing school in Manitowoc, graduating in 65. Married Bob in 66 after his first tour in Vietnam(I wasn't going to let him get away again.) Traveled with him all over the US and Germany, where our daughter was born. In 78 I went back to work. Spent some time in New Braunfels Tx. Then New Orleans and finally Corpus Christi, where in 2000 we retired. Our dream was always to full time RV and that is what we did for 5 years. As Bob's health was deteriorating we made a final move to Kerrville tx. which is where I now live in a retirement community. I still love to travel, but now it is mostly on cruises. My hobbies are travel, gardening and reading.

Ronald Vincent, Sr

Then

Now

Birthday:March 15, 1941 Occupation:Retired Banker Website:www.vincentvincent.com Marital Status:Married No. of Children:4

From Ronald:Graduated from UW with B.S. degree in Economics in 1963 and Graduate School of Banking in 1970. Moved to California in 1976 and back to Wisconsin in 2005 to retire and enjoy my children and grand children. I am currently building a cabin in northern Wisconsin where I enjoy hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and motorcylcle riding. I also enjoy family genealogy, writing essays, poems, and songs and playing the banjo and guitar. I am divorced from Linda Rozek with whom I had four children. I married a West Allis girl, Susan Stiefel, in 1977. I have volunteered to develop and maintain a web site for the class of 1959 which will continue after the 50th class reunion indefinetly to act as a vehicle for on-going communication between classmates and to recognize and remember those who have passed on.

MY 15 MINUTES OF FAME

During my Junior year I won the state diving title and went undefeated all season. This resulted in me making the National All-American Team which was a real blessing. It got me a full athletic scholarship to UW-Madison. I would not of been able to go to college without it. I owe a lot of gratitude to my coach Rollie Bestor.

MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT

One Friday night after working at the First Nation Bank I and some friends decided to go to Billy D's located where the old Custard Cup used to be. I was drinking bloody mary's and complained to Billy D that they were not spicy enough after each drink. After having several ever spicier drinks I decided I better head home. I got as far as Busse Rd when nature called with a vengeance. I realized I would never make it all the way home so decided to pull over and use the bushes. I opened the car door and took one step and-----it was too late. There occured a massive expullsion that soiled completely my little banking suit. The question now was do I take my suit off and risk being picked up by a cop half naked or do I bite the bullet, get back in the car and create a mess there also. I did the latter and traveled the rest of the way to Pewaukee where I arrived about 2:00 a.m. and rang the door bell. The wife opened the door and said "what happened to you" and I immediately said "don't say a thing and throw this suit away"

Both my wife Susan and I are cancer suvivors. Our motto for the rest of our lives is "Everyday is a Holiday and Every Meal is a Banquet"

GARALD (GARY) WALTERS

Then

Birthday:August 10, 1941 Occupation:RETIRED Website:NONE Marital Status:Single

From GARALD (GARY):AFTER GRADUATION I ENTERED THE ARMED FORCES. CAME CLOSE TO GETTING MARRIED SEVERAL TIMES,BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE .
SINCE RETIREMENT. ENJOY SPENDING TIME HITTING 6-7 FLEA MARKETS A YEAR ,SELLING WITH MY BROTHER.
FOUND BAGGING GROCERIES DURING THE WINTER TO BE A GOOD OUTLET.
PRETTY MUCH KEEP TO MYSELF ON THE HOME FRONT.
WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE REUNION. GREETINGS TO YOU ALL.

Janice Watson

Then

Now

Birthday:June 14, 1941 Occupation:retired pet sitter Marital Status:Married No. of Children:1

From Janice:
50 YEARS:
     Since high school, I've not strayed far from my Waukesha roots. I attended Monmouth College (IL) majoring in sociology, and worked in Monmouth and later Waukesha.   Then began a myriad of various temp jobs in Minneapolis and then Milwaukee.  This enabled me to avoid permanant employment (a priority)  for many years. A stint as an entrepreneur (placing pets in sitter's homes while owners vacationed) was the most rewarding - though not monetarily so - of all my paid work.
     I married Al Lustig, who kept his own name. Despite a compatability test, which revealed I was much too serious for the likes of him, we have been together 39 years. Our 34 year old bachelor son, Andy, lives/works in Milwaukee, 20 miles from our home in Thiensville.
     Activities, nowadays, include hiking and biking - though not as far, nor as fast. (The use of treking poles and "granny" gears, affords me a needed edge.) Landscaping (I am a voracious weeder!) for 3 churches, and dog sitting are our volunteer pursuits. We also enjoy van travel and camping in warm weather states, as a winter reprieve. In summer we like to take in as many free outdoor concerts as possible.

15 minutes of fame:
     Representing Pet Vacations Ltd. (my little business) against the big bad Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue in Tax Appeals Court. I won a decision that pet sitting is not considered "maintenance of tangible personal property" and therefore not subject to sales tax. The ruling was given only one paragraph in a 1993 Wisconsin Tax Reports publication, but I got a whopping refund of paid in (under protest) sales tax. Revenge is sweet!

Embarassing moment:
     Plummeting through a soft spot in the snow,at Jacksonport Harbor (Door Co.), down into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. It was noon on New Years Day and a crowd had gathered to watch the crazies jump into the icy water for the Annual Polar Bear Plunge.  My "act" became sort of a prelude to the main event. A Good Samaritan fished me out. (My husband and brother were ineffectual, due to their uncontrolled laughter.) So, yes, I have been there, done that, and crossed it off my "bucket list".
     I had a change of clothes in the car.