James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

PAT SUMMERS 

(GRIFFITH) !!!

Hope you have a special

and wonderfully blessed

Birthday Today!!!

James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

GEORGE  DRYE

(MY GOOD FRIEND & U of I         ROOMATE) !!!

Hope you have a special

and wonderfully blessed

Birthday Today!!!

James (Jim) Rookus

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

NANCY (ERNIE) 

PRILLAMAN !!!

Hope you have a special

and wonderfully blessed

Birthday Today!!!

David Brock

A few years ago, Sandy and I visited Alaska.  This a resting eagle resting on a navigation buoy.

Puffins on the rocky shore.

A lone mountain goat on the craggy heights.

Sea Lions resting on a navigation buou

The backs of several Humpback whales.  All the faint white plumes are expelled air fromotherwhales.  This particular pod was a feeding pod, formed only for feeding.  Ususally pods are comprised of families/offspring of whales.  These whales are led by 1 female who circles the bait fish and reduces the area for feeding.  On signal, the pod attacksand eats the fish meal.

David Long

Some of you may recognize this person....

Then there was the pope that no one liked.....

They didn't want to waste new marble on him!

Julie Hart

Jim - I mostly do what is known as small group travel - maximum usually 12 people.  I've had anywhere from 5 - 12 on trips.  I also sometimes travel with a friend from Boston.  Nat Hab, Intrepid, Classic Journeys, Atlas Obscura are some of the groups I've used often.

Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia  March 2022 with Natural  Habitat - my first safari.

David Brock

More Alaska adventures.  Today's pics are from the Juneau/Mendenhall glacier area.  This shot is a decaying stump being taken over flora of the woods.

Another tree decaying stump with different invading plants.

Waterfall near Mendenhall

Salmon in stream--The salmon werebeginning their spawning run.  You can an orange salmon in the left center.

Stream scene--You can the splashing of salmon as they swim upstream.

Bear encounter--he was about 50 feet away.  He really was not interested in people, he got the fresh fish memo and was heading downhill for 'fish lunch'.

Wild stream near Mendenhall.

Ice melt from the glacier running into the bay

Close up view of the Mendenhall glacier

David Brock

Julie--Great pictures from your safari

Linda Bristow (Elias)

Hi everyone!

If any of you care to do so, I would ask for a prayer for my grandson who will turn 20 in Sept.  He leaves 7/22/2024 for the Middle East for 410 days with the Army.  His name is Gabriel Isaac Elias.  Thanks to any of you who follow through.

Love to all,

Linda Bristow Elias

James (Jim) Rookus

LINDA .....

WILL BE PRAYING FOR GABRIEL

James (Jim) Rookus

DAVE  &  JULIE .....

GREAT PICS FROM BOTH OF YOU !  THEY SURE TOP MINE FROM LAS VEGAS !!!

JULIE, I SURE HOPE YOU WERE NOT AS CLOSE TO THOSE ANIMALS AS IT APPEARED... HOPING YOU HAS A LONG DISTANCE TELESCOPIC LENS !  THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A SPECTACULAR TRIP !

Karen Sue (Suzi) Denton (Merritt)

Linda, special prayers for your grandson.  🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

James (Jim) Rookus

Our trip to granddaughters wedding in Santa Cruz continued through Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu and north up the coast to Santa Cruz. 

First pic is the famous Chinese Theater with hundreds of tourists walking the Hollywood stars walk of fame

The next is a view of HOLLYWOOD sign after winding up a very narrow steep street in a residential neighborhood.

On the way up noticed this modest house (worth about 2 million) on very narrow stilts..... don't think I'd feel too safe sleeping in that bedroom if there was a slight earthquake tremor ! 

Then past the famous BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL 

Then a few blocks away the former home of I LOVE LUCY on Rexford Blvd ( a Realtor always has to check out real estate when traveling!)

And next door to Lucy's home is the former home of JACK BENNY and Rockchester .... actually Rockchester probably had his own abode.

From here meandered past the playboy mansion behind such large hedges could not even see more that the cap of a chimney, the last home Micheal Jackson occupied when he died and several others. Interesting how in most neighborhoods the streets are very narrow and curvey that if cars are parked on one side two cars can barely pass each other and most large homes very hidden by large hedges.  Almost dangerous driving !  Then on through Malibu and up the coast to Montecito to visit Oprah and Prince Harry and Megan !

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Linda, Prayers for your Grandson.  My Grandson, who is 25 now, spent about 18 months in Afgahistan about three years ago.  He was with the National Guard. He was also in DC during the inserection. Again, with the National Guard.   So I know the worry.  

Marvin Theobald

It is with deep sadness I am sorry to report the recent loss of two of our dear classmates, the unconfirmed loss of two more and the husband of another.

Ed Stanfield passed away July 5, 2024 in Springfield, IL. His obituary will be posted in the In Memory section of this website.

Suzy Farlin-Barber passed away July 12, 2024 in Ponte Vedra, FL. No obituary is available at this time.

Larry Cotton’s reunion invitation sent to a Galt, CA address was returned stating “deceased 4-30-22”. His obituary cannot be found.

Judith Francis Wright born Feb 2, 1946 passed away June 22, 2024 in Bloomington at the age of 78. Her death was listed with East Lawn Funeral Home but no obituary is available at this time. While there is no confirmation she was in the BHS Class of 1964 it seems almost certain that she was our Judy Wright.

Jesse Nesby died July 13, 2024 in Normal. He was married to Wendy Meyer in 1983. Visit East Lawn Funeral Home in Bloomington to see his obituary.

Marvin Theobald

Sadly Suzy, her husband Bruce and Judy Wright were among those that had planned to attend the 60th Reunion. At least 13 others were planning to attend but will not be there due to various health issues and another 6 had schedule conflicts. In spite of these issues we currently have 77 committed to attend the BCC event Aug 17 with a few other probable attendees.

A Planning Committee Meeting is planned next week to start getting the details for the reunion worked out. If anyone still wants to attend that has not returned their RSVP please send me a message. You can still be included. We don't want anyone left out.

Sandra Jeakins (Singletary Sizemore)

Marvin, Thank you for the update on the loss of our classmates.  So Sad.

David Brock

Linda-- Blessings and prayers for your grandson.  Active duty anywhere today is a real challenge.  Just remind him that God can still work miracles.

Marvin Theobald

For some time I have thought about researching our classmates that we lost contact with. In the process I have sadly discovered two more that have passed away.

Carol Jones-Mulhall June 8, 2023 in El Paso, IL. Obituary was found and will be posted in the In Memory section.

Alan Jacobson Nov 23, 2007 in Vero Beach, FL. Obituary was found and will be posted in the In Memory section.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

This has been a rough week for the Class of '64. Following Marv's comments, I tried to find out more about Larry Cotton and Judy Wright. For anyone interested, Larry was active on this site a few years ago and wrote about his battle with cancer and lifelong love of Yosemite National Park. You can learn more about him and most of the other classmates we've lost by going to their Profile pages and reading what they have posted in prior years.

May you all stay healthy and join us for our 60th Reunion in August.

James (Jim) Rookus

Sorry to say I personally don't remember any of the classmates who Marv listed as recent deaths.   I did always injoy all the back and forth postings with Ed Stanfield and Larry Cotton in the past several years and was looking forward to meeting at the reunion.  We need to realize at our age, this is becomming much more something we're dealing with.  Last month we attended 7 funerals and missed an 8th one of long time friends and close aquaintences. Following is a picture of me working in my office today reviewing all the new real estate listings of the day !  Have to keep abreast of the market just in case anyone call for help to buy or sell.... NOT happening too often these days !  Just had an interesting sale last week (first in 11 months) I personally sold a house that I sold the present sellers 36 years ago, which I had sold to those sellers at that time 6 years prior, so in the past 42 years I've been the only realtor to have sold that property.  Guess that says something for longevity ! Maybe I'm just too stuborn to give it up !  

Marvin Theobald

At the risk of depressing you, I have completed my search for inactive classmates and discovered four more that we were not aware of having lost as well as a teacher. While this is not a pleasant task I feel it is important to let those that were old friends know when these losses are discovered. Each of their obituaries have been posted in the In Memory section.

Dixie Paul passed July 29, 2015.

Sharon Harrison Mayfield passed September 5, 2018.

Ron Runge passed September 21, 2020.

Richard Leininger passed March 15, 2024.

Betty Baumgardner passed February 20, 2024.

Marvin Theobald

On a happier note - RSVP's are still coming in for our 60th Class Reunion and we have 80 planning to attend. A few more are not certain yet if they can join us but it is going to be an excellent turn out. If you did not receive an invitation in the mail or have not yet mailed your RSVP and would like to come please contact me. We can still accomodate you.

The committee is working at finalizing details and making very good progress. It will be a very special and memorable weekend of connecting with old friends.

James (Jim) Rookus

Thanks Marv for you diligence and hard work for all the updates you have provided...

QUESTION:

Does the 80 attending include the spouces or is that actually 80 class members?  AND is there any chance of arranging another tour of BHS ?

Marvin Theobald

We are now looking at 81 attendees at the reunion of which 50 are classmates. I will discuss the possibility of a BHS tour with the Planning Committee at our meeting Wednesday. It would have to be on Saturday morning since the committee members will be busy setting up at BCC in the afternoon. Would need to see if the BHS staff would be willing to support it as well.