Jack Keefe

Hey, guys -- it was 62 years ago tonight that we graduated from BHS: June 3, 1964.

David Brock

Just a note--Things here are pretty much as usual.  We seem to have a few less hummingbirds than usual, but still 6-8 regular feeding at the feeders.  Garden is in and all the tomato plants are blooming--a few small ones are set.  With luck, the first one will be ready by July 4, the magic date.  Cucumbers are up and blooming.  Red and Yellow peppers seem to be doing well.  Looks like the friends and neighbors will have a welcome supply in a month or so.  best wishes to all

Jack Keefe

Great News, folks -- we have our December venue!

The December mini-reunion will be held at the Olive Garden in Bloomington on Saturday, December 5, from 1-4 pm. In other words, same date and time as previously announced but with a great new location. 

Last week's abrupt closing of the original venue could have been a disaster for a class of 80-year olds looking for a Holidays meeting place on the cheap. But some dedicated scouting, phoning and answering the bell when there was work to be done saved the party. We'll have reminders in place soon to keep you informed. 

If you wish to thank the social committee members for their quick work -- and they richly deserve it -- they are: Liz Spillman Alex; Sandy Jeakins Sizemore; Pam Hohnstreiter Zweng, and Sharon Green Leipold. 

Remember: Olive Garden, 1701 East Empire Street -- Saturday, December 5, from 1-4 pm. 

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

I was just going to post this TODAY poem, but came across the BHS fight song and thought that went so well with Jack's post, I had to post that first.  Did everybody sing that fight song as they read it?  I did.  

Marvin Theobald

Notice that the Home Page has been updated to show the revised Dec 5, 2026 Mini-Reunion location due to the closing of Alexander's Steak House. No corrected notices will be mailed so be sure to make note on the notice you may have received by mail. While we mail invitations to the entire class for the 5 year reunions, mini-reunion notices are generally only mailed to those that have attended in the past. All classmates and their guests are always invited and encouraged to attend every event but in order to conserve mailing cost mini-reunion mailings are limited. Hope we will have "perfect attendance" for our 80th Birthday Celebration Aug 21.

Marvin Theobald

Recent website messages to the entire class resulted in 11 email kickbacks. During my attempt to get updated contact information on these classmates I sadly discovered the obituaries of two class members, one of which just passed a little more than two weeks ago. These lost classmates are Ron Gibson who passed Aug 2, 2025 and Tom Homer on May 20, 2026. Their obituaries have been posted in the "In Memory" section.

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Mel, do you know where Bill is buried?  I was thinking about putting some flowers on his grave.

Suzi

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

This is for Emerson school group.  Didn't Tom Homer go to school there?
 

Suzi
 

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Suzi, accoring to Find-A-Grave, Bill is buried at Park Hill Cemetery in plot 0-1-130. This is a link to the information. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29857558/william_reinhart-buff

How kind of you to want to do that. I can't find any info on it, but there is some kind of memorial to Bloomington's Vietnam vets in Miller Park where Bill's name appears. Maybe you can find out more, but his grave is at Park Hill.

Wendy Stephens (Cullen)

That event sounds like fun.  I'm too far away.  Today is Cathy Quiet's birthday.  A good friend from kindergarten through high school.  We lost her way too early.  

Joan Pease (Clark)

More memories - here are some groups from the 1960 BJHS "yearbook." Cathy Quiet is in the top row, homeroom 217.

Faith Crissey (Campbell)

That was so much fun lookng at those pictures from the 1960 yearbook!  I can still recognize and remember many classmates!

Janet (Jan) Hitzner (Fries)

Hi Faith,

I remember so many good times that we had together.  Ironically I just came across a book your Dad wrote on Lincoln.  I have had it for years.  Sure hope you are doing well.

Jan Hitzner Fries

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Thanks Mel for the info on Bill.  I'm going to try to get some flowers for his grave.  

How's everybody doing?  We probably will stay home this year except for St. Louis for Dave's doctors appointments at Barnes Hospital.  I hope wearever you all are you have a fabulous and safe summer.  Try to make it to the 80th Birthday party.

Love to all,

Suz
 

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Thank you for the photos Joan Pease Clark.   Nice memories.  Ladies, I have a question.  Why did girls have to perform for Modern Dance, with Ethel Groves, in the auditorium in leotards?  I hope BHS doesn't do that today! I disliked that intensely.   Have a great day everyone!     Linda

Joan Pease (Clark)

Hello again! I continued thumbing through the old yearbook and realized not all of our classes were in sequential pages. Faith is in homeroom 205 and Steve Jetton in 301 - I used to see his name on this site occasionally. I think I shared before that our fathers were best friends when they were young.

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Joan:  Were you meaning Charity Lee?  I remember her.      -Linda

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

A perfect Summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.

       James Dent

Joan Pease (Clark)

Linda, yes, it was Charity Lee! 
My memory continually amazes me. I can't remember what I had for dinner three nights ago, but here's one from fourth grade at Franklin School: I was a horse-crazy girl who got a citizenship check mark on my report card because I was overheard betting on the Swaps vs Nashua Kentucky Derby. (Swaps won.)

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Joan:  My family had many horses.  Wish I had known you liked them.  I would have accomodated you with free access.        Linda

James (Jim) Rookus

HELLO RAIDERS 64 !   I've been Unpresent (is that a word?} for about a month!

I have watched site as often as possible but just no energy to think of talking or paying attention to Birthdays.... MY APPOLOGIES !!!   The reason for no energy is that we just moved !  That really wears an old guy out !   I will guarantee you that my next move is going to be carried out of hear in a black bag !  Moving from 4000 Sq Ft to 1500 and very limited storage is a lot of back breaking work.  Boxes of books are heavy,  sorting through 50 Hawiian shirts for the favorites was "heart breaking" and lets not talk about the shoes !   Now that we are somewhat settled, now only to sort through about another 40 or so boxes and plastic tubs of stuff occupying my one stall garage, hoping to get the car in by snow fall !  We didn't sell our house, are letting son and wife live there .... advantage I can still take youngest grandkids there to swim BUT I DON"T HAVE TO OPEN and CLOSE the pool any more !!!  YIPPEE !!!  Privilegdes without the responsibility and work!  We are now in a very lovely 55 and older community on the opposite end of the Grand Rapids area (26 miles move) to be around the corner from our youngest son and the 5 youngest grandkids who are the ones we are constantly involved with in our daily lives.  As Proverbs 17:6 states..... "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged".  Well that is me... AGED !!!  The neat thing is that we didn't sacrifice any actual daily living space,  LR is same size, dinging even a foot wider,  much more open environment, and master BR 5' longer and 1' wider and master bath much larger also.  Just almost NO EXTRA Storage (No Basement).  BUT this pack rat will convert to mouse with a back pack !

I will soon reusme my attention to Birthdays!  Time will now permit and now also back to dependable internet !

SEE YA'll Soon !

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Linda, if you remember, my Dad and I took horse riding lessons at your Dad's stables every Saturday morning.  It was fun.

Jim, it is nice to hear from you.  How has your puppy adjusted to your move?  I've lived in my home 61 years on June 1st.  I can't imagine living someplace else and don't want to.  My oldest Son is a Social Service Director at a nusring home and he said the people that have the hardest time adjusting are people, like me, who have lived in the same home most of their lives. 

I hope you and Carol are planning on coming to the Birthday Party in August.  It's going to be a fun time. I know that's quite a trip for you, but you can stay for Cheek's the next night and make a weekend of it.  It would be great to see both of you.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Jim, I second everything Sandy said. Glad you're back with us and hope to see you at the 80th B'day Bash.

And now for a little humor:

I've lived alone for over 30 years and finally joined an online service that matches up senior citizens. It's call Carbon Dating.

I was going to tell you a joke about time travel, but you didn't think it was funny.

Why can't you trust atoms? Because they make up everything.

Dave, where are you? Please help me out here!!!  

James (Jim) Rookus

Sandy.....  My new mug shot should answer your question about Muffin adjusting.... SHE is in HEAVEN !

We sure hope to make the Birthday Bash... Depends on Dr's scheduling stuff .... Carol has a few things coming up out of our control scheduling... still not determined.