Jack Keefe

To Jim Rookus -- those are impressive pictures of Thanksgivings past. I certainly hope the cooking, prep and cleanup were team efforts and not left to one or two people. And I see some Walter Peyton football jerseys around the table. Go Bears, and here's to happier days.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

Table for two...hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Well Jim Rookus, If my memory serves me, you came to be a Raider late in your teenage life.  So, I remember you, but I don't think we had any classes together or any social connection.  That being said, you are a 64 Raider and seem to be a really great family guy.    I've enjoyed your pics over the past few months.  My wife went crazy over the pic of your two Grand children at Halloween of the UPS guy and Raggedy Ann.  She thought the pic of Raggedy Ann was the most precious thing.  But here is what caught my eye.  Your pic of Thanksgiving past.  I saw a couple of your family wearing the jersey of the late, great Walter Payton.  That puts you & those guys in my forever favorite people.  My love for the Bears, and the (Cubs), goes back to when I was 5 years old.  It's a long family story.  My uncle, who was really my older brother, was extremely tight with the Cub & Bear organization until he passed in 2015.  Anyway, I knew Walter, and he was a wonderful, giving, down to earth, hard working, family person you would ever know.  It did my heart good to see those kids wearing his jersey.  Thanks for the memory.

James (Jim) Rookus

WENDY ... looks like another one of you beautiful quilted creations gracing your table 😊

ROD ... correct ...I became a raider as a 9th grader so missed out on the elementary years that most of you shared together .... I remember you and many others just from being in class together but did not have much social contact with many.  Dan Woodard, Bill Rusk, Mel, Marv, George Drye, Pat Summers and Judy Walker were about my only "friendships" at BHS outside of school hours.  Due to my deep Chicago roots growing up my sons have always adopted the Bears and Cubs as our teams!   

JACK ... at all our family meals or hospitality to others our deal has always been Carol cooks a fabulous meal and I clean up... take note we used decorative paper plates with the larger group !  I'm not as dumb as I look!

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

I grew up a Bears fan, as my Dad was rabid!  Now I am a Seahawks fan but still like the Bears.  
 

love the pictures from your big and small gatherings, Jim.

James (Jim) Rookus

The Tree is up and decorated,  Just as the thanksgiving gathering was slimmed down .... so is the "Covid" tree.  The former tree for past 12 years was 9 ft tall and about 4 ft wide.  This new one 9.5 ft tall and only about two ft. wide... half the weight and much easier to maneuver,  You can see by the lower branches of "tree past" hanging well over the train and the new one is a much "skinnier" version.  Carol very pleases ... so " happy wife... happy life!!!

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hmmmmmmm.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Make merry you all!

Linda

Joan Pease (Clark)

This might be fun - does anyone else have one of these ancient pictures with Santa? I was obviously in my element, but twin John seems suspicious.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Joan:

I love your Santa photo.  I hope everyone can treasure those photos.

This reminded me of when my mother went to the nursing home, in the Alzheimer's wing, in 1984.  She would be there for 15 years.   

She began to show some childishness.  At that point, I made a Santa Claus suit for myself.  No plastic covers for the boots.  Bought the real black boots and stuffed the toes to fit me.  By hand, I drew out a pattern for the red fur suit (I wasn't able to find velvet), and trimmed it with white fur.  Found some black gloves that would match the outfit, and also some round glasses.  Made a pillow to make me have a jolly round belly that was girted in with a 4 in. wide black belt with a large plain belt buckle.

As I sought to find a wig and beard with a mustache, I actually purchased 2 sets to see which would fit me the best.  The red hat was made while sewing up the suit.  But something was missing.   Realized it was the magic bag for presents.  Finally, I fashioned the bag out of gunny sack material and made a draw string with a rope of red and green round-braided ribbons.

I decided not to talk (to cover up my voice).  Practiced a lower voice of HO ho HO!  My bag had a few small peppermint candy canes, chocolate kisses, and some children's toys.  I bought real-life-looking baby dolls. This seemed to be a calming effect for my mom as well as other ladies who lived there.  But, what they enjoyed the most was balloons with helium, on a string.

Little did I know that, by celebrating the child in my mom, I would be finding more understanding of that disease.  I was proud of her when she was the only one that could color within the lines.  I still have her artwork.    

We can all cherish our memories of Santa.  Thank you for sharing your photo.  I wonder how many more will still have their photo?

Love and Blessings to you and your's,

Linda

Regina (Sue) Petersen (Koppenhoefer)

Joan, I love your Santa picture!  This is my version; however, I'm the "out of it" one.  It's a good picture of my sister though.  I think it is the same Santa.

Joan Pease (Clark)

Linda, The Christmas care you gave your mother was truly touching. A labor of love that could be shared with the other residents. A good friend whose mother lived with the disease for many years also turned to a doll as her constant companion.

Regina, that is the same Santa! Remember a while back we were sharing childhood photos of us on a black and white pony that made the rounds of our neigh-borhoods? It looks like that pony and Santa had a corner on childhood entertainment back in the '50s.

Thank you both for sweet memories.

Joan

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Joan and Sue, there seems to have been only one Santa in town in those days. Not sure it was him in these photos, but Chester Wonderlin always comes to mind as the person who was the official Santa. Anyway, this is the same Santa Claus in 1949 (Marv left and me right). It seems a little premature, but it is never too early to celebrate Christmas. Hope others find something in their archives.

Marvin Theobald

Boo asked me to post these pics for her.

Boo at 8 years old.

Nancy Prillaman and Boo.

Joan Pease (Clark)

That Santa must've been around for a while! John and I were preschoolers when we saw him, it's so nostalgic to see my old classmates with the same guy. 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hi everyone:

This morning, as the sun came up over the mountain, I could still see one star.  It was beautiful.  I find that I am so thankful for the wonderful things the world has to show us.

I suppose this is what most consider to be 'smelling the roses' in life.  Taking the time to notice little things can add up to being a big deal.

I have such good memories of going to school with you all!  Your interaction on this class website reinforces those good memories for me.

Here's hoping that you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.  2021 is sounding pretty good!   It is my hope that the New Year will have more of you actively participating and at least reading this website.  Know that it is a comfort that others have known us for so long and that many have experienced the same or similar things as we have aged.  We are our own best audience and cheering section.

Blessings and love to you all,

Linda

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Hey Boo I had the same coat and hat when I was in grade school.  I think it was Burgundy.  
 

Did you spend Christmas with your mom's family back in the day?  We would go to my aunt and uncle's for Christmas eve and I think my sister and her family would also go.  Of course my papa would be there.  
He was your grandma's brother.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!
 

🎄🎄🎄 

Suzi

James (Jim) Rookus

Great to see Suzie's bold type and smiling face back on the sight ... been missing you!!!  Where has Dave Long been hangin out ???  

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Terri Baxter (Whirrett)

Suzi, Funny about the coat! Yes, burgundy! When I was young, Mom's mom, Grandma Gladys Gordon was with us at Christmas. Unfortunately, she died when I was around 8. What was your grandpa's name?

Terri Baxter (Whirrett)

Oops! What was your papas name?

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Boo:

How's the toes-Rose?

Love ya, Linda

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Boo, my papa (grandpa) name was John Rufus Raydon.
My grandma's name was Maggie Harper Raydon.  She died one month before I was born.

I remember when we were little we were at your grandparents house and we played with dolls or something while the adults played cards.

Suzi

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Jim, where did you go to school in Chicago?  My husband grew up Brookfield, and Lions township High School.

Suzi