'A CENTURY OF MEMORIES'
OF VAN WERT, DECATUR COUNTY, IOWA

1880 - 1980

GRADUATION CLASSES

1893
R.W. LittleHarry TuttleCharles Hall
1904
Dora Barr JenkinsLucetta Matheny GardinereEarl WiseEthel King Blair
Fannie Blair LamoreeRoy HawkinsO. Ray Young
1905
Mabel Waters SimondsHazel Hall BargerPoiteaux HalsteadRose Lamoree
1908
Edd KelleyFay MeyersEmma Young DunnCleveland Wolfe
1909
Leon GarberAgnes WolfeMinnie Malhonr Young
1910
Izora Heather NeffEugene BranaunZina CraftInez Skidmore
John HoffmanHelen Blair LamoreeMartin BoatmanLeon Boatman
Ralph Rumley
1911
Laura Hacker ThompsonVern McGrewAlma Garber BridgerJosephine Blair McGee
Raymond StoryClifford Johnson
1912
Ralph LamoreeWalter KingAlpha MulkeyDonald Price
Orbin HanksBeryl MyersFrank RushForest Allen
Boalis Halstead McMorris
1913
Martha Craft HanksRuth Hacker PocksClifford BarnesHelen Rumley Young
Merle JohnsonClyde JohnsonMay Irving LamoreeEdmund Blair
Lenore PriceAda Ramsey ShuttsFrank Young
1914
Florence Heather HalsteadGrace Keller MannasmithHelen Fierce Aiken
Burbank Halstead
1915
Violet Briner O'HairNeva Kelly Jamison
1916
Callie Johnson SchmidtLoral FierceEarl Edwards
1918
Cora Tepfer AdamsAtha Briner GillMabel Tepeer Bedier
1919
Vera MyersArthur FierceEthel Bulkeley LefflerChristi Lantz Mallatt
Eual Kelly SiefkasLucille Fierce Matthews
1920
Marie Barnes SandfordEthel Webb Love
1921
Nellie HastingsPhillip BlairRuth Bulkeley Kelso
1922
Ilene Hastings PullmanClara Davenport RamseyMildred Pierce BrandGrace Webb Young
Edith Hall Euritt
1923
Lorene Briner SullivanWillie BurgenDarrell BeanTwyla Johnson Russell
Lloyd BulkeleyEddis Downey AllenMargaret Redman WatsonLillian Houck Jones
Adrian Wilson Christensen
1924
Illa Davis WoodallJennie Edge WoodKeith MurrayAlice Wick
Floyd WebbMildred Tepeer LeeperMadge Redman KernenWilla Fisher Palmer
1925
Fred GlascockRalph SinkGladys Holt MeyerGeorge Redman
Jennie Watson SaffellOlga Mallatt GlascockJames CurryWilden Tuttle
Emma Walker HoyArthur AdamsOrville GardnerMyra Murray Burchett
Elizabeth Houck Mallatt
1926
Owen BulkeleyBerden Watson BulkeleyLila Saffell LittleMyron Blades
Mildred Dougherty PaulsonLowell SniderJohn HallerLloyd Ramsey
Irma Finkbone HaltermanEva Sink WebbBeulah Fierce FearMendall Cole
Dorothy Hall ByersLaura Bell SaylorLouis Fisher
1927
Mildred Githens TurkNaomi Fuller WheelerVera Lee GardnerLeona Gardner Van Sant
Ruth Barnett SimmermanTruman BurkeyLeone PoushJohn Schmidt
1928
Esther Stearns AndrewsLouis WebbBeryle MachlanRalph Finkbone
Dean PratherDoris Blair HarrisBeulah Redman OlsonMary Stubbs Sayers
Mabel Kelly SaddorisHazelle Baxter GreeneCharles BartonEverett Saylor
Louise Redman PerryNaomi Bulkeley HoweryMary M. Schmidt
1929
Elmer HouckRaymond RedmanEarl MurrayHarold Fuller
Arlene Cole HolmesFrancis GithensPaul MachlanPauline Rinard Houck
Marjorie Redman Sturdavant
1930
Ralph HouckRichard CurrieMamie Trisler DiehlFlorence Snyder Dickson
Arthur EdgeGoldie Stark SouthHarry RedmanNadine Lantz Redman
Paul ReevesPaul RamseyBruce Finkbone
1931
Horace RedmanLouise Githens EdgeMarie Houck ChownLela Fry Cain
Ronald HoadleyIrene BurganRuby Hall GrimEdward Lipsett
1932
Paul HeckathornRaymond EllisDoris Redman SinkNeil Byerly
Wayne DeVoreLloyd FletcherOrville Fry
1933
Wanda Cole RedmanHelen Redman KingEsther Lantz WatsonArlene Bullard Diltz
Francis StubbsMary Boatman KullMary Hall HolderAubrey Ramsey
Orville StearnsLena Lee
1934
Russell FierceRoland RedmanRobert RyanRussell Stubbs
Francis WingThelm Cole McDowellClarence PerkinsLorene McConnell Gilbert
Mamie Corsbie CraigEnid Murchison UpdikeMarvin GordonBaalis Fuller
1935
Rilma Rogers DriskillMary Simmerman HeinOpal Green PalmerHoward Houck
Cletus BurgenEffie LeighInez Collins HargerLouis Evans
Frank McMurtreyDonald O'NealEvelyn Gill O'Neal
1936
Ruby Husted KauzlarichBlondine Githens CiscoMargaret Erickson HerbertDorothy DeWild Fagan
Joan Jones TurnerEdwin DavisNaomi EurittRobert Boatman
1937
Elsie McMurtrey UpfieldWilliam BahrSylvia South HallMax Traupen
Vondean McConnell ClarkWillard BakerRobert FryEllen Byerly Reynolds
Ruth Rogers SimmsRalph Hein
1938
Mildred Corsbie AdamsAtha Palmer ThompsonAlvin DeWildRex Foland
Max FolandDonald KellyRonald CollinsIris Jones Jimmerson
Alpharetta Tiedje KockRussell ReedVan McConnelMarion Morris
James UpfieldMargaret O'Neal DannenLois Fitzpatrick Purcel
1939
Robert UpfieldElva Race DistmanRichard TompkinsMarcia McConnell Thompson
Harold HopkinsWillard FullerRaymond Tompkins
1940
Mabel Corsbie HorneyCharles CopleyMax PelsorHarold Jones
Ruth Palmer ReynoldsGeraldine Scadden ReedFred EricksonHarry Imhoff
Gwendolyn Simmerman KellyAlice Watson ParsonsWayne HeckathornCharles Imhoff
Dwayne MallattMarjorie Jones UpdikeHazel Race Crawford
1941
Betty Adams ReedMerlin PelsorBetty EricksonBarbara Upfield Spencer
Alice Jones OgbourneCornie VerversJimmy O'HairMildred Burchett Anderson
1942
Dennis BakerRoscoe ImhoffEvelyn Copley LynnDale Grimm
Lucille Dean MorganMildred Race BealsBilly TiedjeMalcolm Tiedje
Lowell BrownDarlene Scadden BuntainErmal PalmerEarl Erickson
Maurice PaceWarren Jones
1943
Lowell WatsonDarlene Woodall RandolphDean McConnellMurray Upfield
Junior EdwardsDennis AndersonEdwin EricksonKela Kivett
1944
Betty Upfield PotterEthel Woodal Chiles
1946
Wynette Jones Van DykeDonald McElweeRandall CoxLawrence Palmer
Bevery EricksonWorth UpfieldDonna PalmerRonald Pierce
Virginia Kirkpatrick
1947
Dean HouckJerrie Throckmorton FurtigBilly KirkpatrickWinona Jones Crawford
Darlene Pitts Cox
1948
Joyce Edwards McDowellRichard UpfieldLavern Kelly McDowellDelbert Woodall
Evelyn Woodall ShilmanBelva Ramsey
1949
Don MorrisGene BolesDon Pierce
1950
Beverly Houck JohnsonAlice Boles ArnoldOrland BulkeleyTwyla DeVore McElwee
Luetta Cain WakefieldBetty Shell FarrisRobert ThrockmortonWanda Jones
1951
Joan McBee EvansMary Ann Mallatt ArnoldWray SimmermanLois Cowden
Don HalBonita Houck Edward
1952
Wanda Simmerman SchuldtBeverly Wilson MorrisDeloris South HeckathornDavid Boles
Virginia Twombley MercerGeraldine LarkinsLloyd StreamLloyd Heckathron
John Hall
1953
Wendel WestSammy WestBilly DeVoreJimmie Stottlemeyer
Forest HoushColleen McDowell WestDonald HouckMilo McConnell
1954
Mardell Redman ShellEd BeersSusie Boles WoodBonnie Hall
Don FolandRichard BethardsBetty Cain MasonRoger Downard
Eldon SouthCarol Shell HallElaine Watson FisherDwayne Spidle
Wayne West
1955
Reva Kindred BeersSydney ShellMarna Hall SmithLois Jean Kernen
Don MallattMarlene Redman LukaszewskiLarry SpidleWendell Jones
Duane HouckJanice Edwards RhodesJon JacksonRoy McConnell
Sharon Defenbaugh Dobson
1856
Orval McDowellJames McBeeNorma Fullerton DeereAnnetta Miller
Janice Miller BaughmanSharon Woods SinclairBeverly Fry Row
1957
Nevalee Kindred McDowellRandall UpdikeWillard ParmerLarry Defenbaugh
Barbara Houck MerrickGerald FullertonBennie RedmanKaren Miller McBee
Shirley Rhodes JacksonJimmy PerryJennie Green PerryColleen Boles Kastler
Glen GilbertLarry StreamAnn Boles Rieb
1958
Shirley Stream GilbertDennis FierceAlan HeckathornWayne Cowden
Corwin CoxDarwin McDowellHarvey CarterDarel Foland
Donnie LarkinsNancy Smith VorchersLois Fullerton AlavarezBertha Boles Dugan
Evelyn King MoreyJeanne Beardsley BolesEileen Ramsey Reynolds
1959
Bobby TompkinsSharon SpidleBarbara RhodesRoberta King
Joan Kernen BolesWillene JonesRosalie HolmesGloria Gilbert McClure
Rowland UpdikeDanny RedmanArthur PritchardDaryl Houck
Larry FryLarry Perry
1960
Ida Ann Baker WestKathy Cowden LillebridgeMary Miller StogdillPatty Reed
Eldon ReedCharles StreamRobert EischenJon Redman
Paul Stiles
1961
Kay Cox FierceKay JonesKathleen HeckathornPetty Smith Boles
Lowell FryGeorge SouthDavey Redman
1962
Betty Green KelleherConnie Lewis HagenDoris FullertonDixie Coc South
Sondra Hall ReedCarolyn Reed NelsonNorma Smith ExleyTed Yost
Garry FryJimmie LeeGary HolmesDonald Fullerton
Larry BethardsDennis HouckDorman ReedRonnie Hein
Troy UpdikeRobert DeVoreBobby Pritchard

The high school and junior high students enrolled at Osceola when classes commenced in the fall of 1962. Primary through sixth grade students remained in the Van Wert school house. The elementary students of Weldon and Van Wert were combined as a part of the Clarke Community Schools in Osceola in 1966.

Along with progressive education came the phasing out of many small local schools. Consolidation seemed the answer. The Van Wert School district is located between Leon and Osceola. The people of the community voted to see which school they would attend. The town people voted to go to Osceola, and the country people were given their choice of schools.

In the fall of 1962, the high school and junior high students from Van Wert were enrolled in Osceola. The grades, primary through sixth, remained in the Van Wert building. In l966, the elementary children of Weldon and Van Wert were combined as part of the Clarke Community Schools.

After the many years of children's happy laughter, teachers instructive voices, the ringing of the noon bell, parents' proud faces on graduation day, and the cheering-on of our sports teams, our school building became silent, leaving only our cherished memories.

-- 1980 --

Four buses haul the Van Wert school children to school. Doris Clemens, Jerry Hatfield, and Bud Hood transport children to Weldon. Jerry Parmer hauls the high school and junior high students to Osceola.

Angie Jackson, Lowell Huer, Wesley Jones, Shad Cook, John Hobbs, Robbie Lewis, Tanya Reynolds, Deanna Akins, Andy Heckman, Brenda Rhodes, Tammy Miler, Tina Updike, Aaron Fry, Melanie Ramsey, Christy Hatfield, Jerry Parmer, Karen Reed, Mike Grim, Cheryl Boeckman, Jodi O'Hair, Jennifer Spencer, Lora Foland, Sherry Turpin, Ramona Houck, Jeremy Kelly, Paula Scadden, Raydean Boles, Brian Cox, Anna Marie Thayer, Sandy Scadden.

Kevin Schuldt, Richard Jones, Donna Cook, Brett Sickles, Deanna Cole, Sue Reynolds, Scott Cook, Donna Akins, Robert Chaney, Dan Rhodes, Vickie Miler, Brian Updike, Jim Snyder, Joy Poush, Bobby Grimm, Jennifer Parmer, Dhane Reed, Rosa Grim, Amanda Boeckman, Sara O'Hair, Richard Spidle, Ronda Foland, Michael Turpin, Lisa Cook, Diane McClure, Scott Hook, Jolene Boles, Chris Cox, Becky Scadden, Jody Chipp.

Clinton Huer, Melinda Jones, Doris Cook, Kimberly Collins, Cody Cole, Penny Reynolds, John Akins, Tim Heckman, Scott Crandell, Tammy Rhodes, Michelle Otto, Jeffrey Parmer, Penny Ramsey, Benny Hatfield, Patricia Parmer, Valorie Reed, Lisa Rowe, Jodi Hainline, Barbara Boeckman, Don Halterman, Heather Spidle, Michael Foland, Lorie Smith, Jeff Cook, Jill Chip, Ben Kosman, Penny Boles, John Thayer, Ronnie Scadden, Brenda Reed.

Evelyn Parmer, Sherry South, Larisa Houck, Rick Gunter, Maria Jones, Deleath McClure, Monica Bethards, Scott South, Bud McLaughlin, Everett Parmer, Annette Thorp, Dana McClure, Byron Bethards, Deann Snyder, Paul McLaughlin, Kim Parmer, Vincent Spidle, June Grim.

The school building was torn down but the gymnasium stood for many years, utilized as a storage facility. Eventually the gymnasium was torn down.

Pages 63-78
 
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