School and family reunions held
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 01:01 p.m., June 23, 2008
Updated 01:01 p.m., June 23, 2008
Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School alumni for the classes of 1932-1962 gathered for their reunion June 6 and 7 at the Emporia American Legion. The reunion opened Friday evening with a social hour and was catered by the Legion. On Saturday morning, there was a breakfast. Tables decorated with the school colors of blue and white welcomed the alumni when they returned in the evening for pictures and a dinner. Attendees also had a drawing for door prizes. Bill Lewis (class of 1956) of Emporia gave the invocation for breakfast and dinner.
Dave Stormont of Emporia was the photographer. The master of ceremonies was Grant Walkup of Shawnee (1956). Chuck Cowan (1960) of Mapleton and his band entertained. Two other alumni, Judy Lostutter (1960) Hargraves of Leawood and Pat Keeny (1958) Sutton of Americus, sang with the band.
Those attending from out of state were William (1948) and Audrey King of Christiana, Pa.; David (1951) and Glenda Cowan of Vacaville, Calif.; David (1955) and Vickie Peck (1960) Rindom of Fort Worth, Texas; Raymond Ashbaugh (1958) of Alvarado, Texas; Ray and Ann Rogers (1959) Boice of Gering, Neb.; Emanuel “Mac” (1959) and Ardie McDuffie of Edgewood, N.M.; Larry Solomon (1959) of Marietta, Ga.; Kay Rindom (1960) Carey of Henderson, Nev.; and Nancy Honeycutt (1960) Crane of Houston, Texas.
Others attending from Kansas were Dr. Neysa Koehler (1939) Eberhard of Newton, Patrick (1940) and Margaret Huntley of Topeka, Dolly May Highwood (1946) Soyez of Cedar Point, Marleyne Holmes (1948) Farr of Olpe, Chuck (1953) and Darlene Melton and Shirley Dryden (1956) Copenhaver of Wichita, Marie Cates (1953) Overall of Ottawa, Bonita Storey (1953) Rosey of Mission, Herb and Carole Hammer (1953) Wilcox of Anthony, Ken (1954) and Patricia Preston (1957) Willey of Milford, Juanita Facklam (1956) of Lyndon, Richard and Sharon Martin (1958) Brickell of Valley Center, Jack and Arleyne Holmes (1958) Kaufman of Concordia, Gary Nienstedt (1958) of Neosho Rapids, Bill and Junita Cook (1958) Sterbach of Overland Park, Donna Cowan of Mapleton, Jeff (1960) and Sherry Denton of Salina and Larry Boden (1961) of Lebo.
Others attending from Emporia were Jean Lloyd (1936) Nicklin, Ralph Marsh (1939), Howard and Eunice Holle (1956) Gunkel, Jim (1956) and Karolen Swint (1958) Harrouff, Gayla Atchison (1957) Browning, Myrtle Colburn (1958) Dewald, Don (1959) and Judy Tull (1959) Lill, Fred (1960) and Lillian Spellman and Stanley (1962) and Lauralee Ashlock (1964) Hearn.
Van Sickle family
The 35th Van Sickle reunion was held June 8, 2008 at Jones Park in Emporia with a basket lunch and fellowship “on a very windy day,” said the reporter. Twenty-seven descendants of John and Anna Ellis Van Sickle attended the event.
Hazel Gilbert, 94, of Emporia, the only surviving child from a family of nine, attended. She has not missed a reunion in the 35 years they have been held. The youngest to attend was Bailee Van Sickle, six months old. She is the daughter of Justin and Megan Van Sickle of Emporia, who also attended.
Family group pictures were taken.
Others present were Dewayne Stone and Shirley E. Van Sickle of Deepwater, Mo.; and from Kansas, were John and Dorla Pagels of Paola, Kerri Van Sickle of Shawnee, Sondra Van Sickle of Reading and Charles Dorton of La Cygne.
Attending from Emporia were Evelyn Frazier, Melvin and Betty Lusk, Ellen Van Sickle, Raymond and Shirley Van Sickle, Grace Van Sickle, Kevin and Ashley James, Lee Schaefer, Brian and Gena Schaefer, John and Jamie Van Sickle, Maddie and Anna Van Sickle.