Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 29, 2010

The graduating class of 1944 from the Mount Ayr public high school held their 66th year class reunion on Sunday, June 5, 2010. Eleven classmates and spouses attended. The reunion was held at noon at the community room of Heritage Park. A delicious dinner was served by Mary Lee FOLTZ, Karen PETTINGER and Cathy WARD. They had the tables decorated in the class colors of yellow and purple. Their class flower was the violet.

Bill RUSK was in charge of registration. Theola WEEDA welcomed everyone and gave directions for going through the buffet table. Faith SHINKLE gave the blessing before the meal. Everyone enjoyed the food.

A short business meeting was conducted after the meal. It was decided to meet again at the community room of the Heritage Park on the first Sunday of June 2011. Correspondence was read from Vivian LORIMOR RIGG, Theola ANDREW KENNICOTT, Thelma OSBORN BONNOR and Jean PRENTIS REGER. Theola WEEDA read a letter from Pearl HAUPTMANN, the wife of R. E. HAUPTMANN, who was the ag teacher in Mount Ayr for many years. He is deceased but Pearl HAUPTMANN, in her 90's, is doing very well she reported.

The group signed "Thinking of You" cards for Vivian, Theola, Thelma and Jean as well as Park RINEHART and wife Joan, who were not there due to Joan's recent surgery. Theola WEEDA had her scrapbook for all to see. She has done an excellent job of keeping news clippings, pictures and other event involving members of the class during all the years since graduation. She has the first 50 years in one and is working on the second (for as far as we can go!)

Those attending this year were Virgil MAIN of Fremont, NE, Delbert and Hazel JACKSON of Grant City, MO, Louise (TWOMBLEY) and Glenn McCARL of Cedar Rapids, and Neil and Irma JOHNSON of Beaconsfield. Those from Mount Ary were Neva (MATTHEWS) FISHER, Wanda (JETER) McGAHUEY, Theola (HIGHTSHOE) WEEDA, Faith (LAMERAUX) SHINKLE, Phyllis (MOON) FAUBION, Thelma (ANDERSON) RUSK and Bill RUSK.

To their knowledge, they had no deceased classmates this past year. This is the first year for some time that someone has not left their class by death.

Picture taking and much conversation made up most of the afternoon. All left looking forward to June 2011 to get together again.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2010

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 30, 2011

Members and spouses of the class of 1944 met Sunday, June 5, 2011, to celebrate their 67th class graduating.

Park RINEHART was at the registration table. They met at the community room at Heritage Park at noon. A catered dinner by Mary Lee FOLTZ was served at 1 p.m. She had a surprise guest helper, Nancy Lee RUSK.

Nancy is the daughter of a former classmate, Rex RUSK. Rex was deceased in 1984. He and his wife attended every reunion to that time. Nancy and Mary Lee met each other at the reunions many years ago and by chance met again that week. When Nancy found out that Mary Lee was catering the dinner, she asked if she could help. They agreed to cater again next year 2012, same time, same place.

Dinner was served buffet style.

Theola WEEDA greeted everyone and gave directions to go through the food line.

Faith LAMERAUX SHINKLE gave the blessing before the meal.

After dinner a short business meeting was held. Thelma RUSK read email letters from Vivina LORIMOR RIGG and Jean PRENTIS REGER.

Theola HIGHTSHOE WEEDA had heard from Mrs. R.E. HAUPHMAN and reported she was still in her own apartment and was 99 in November and will be 100 in November 2011 and is doing well.

Theola had also gotten a phone call from Louise TWOMBLEY McCARLL that she would not make the reunion this year. She was missed for she has always attended the class reunions.

It was agreed to have the reunion again next year on the first Sunday of June 2012. Mary Lee will again coordinate the dinner.

A tribute to the deceased members of the class was given by Thelma and Theola. They had two classmates who were deceased in 2010, Theola ANDREW and Mary Margaret GROVES. Thelma read all the names of the deceased graduate members, 20 in all. Theola then lit a candle in their remembrance and read the poem titled, "The Dash."

The remainder of the afternoon was busy looking at Theola WEEDA'S scrapbooks, visiting and taking pictures.

Those attending were Virgil MAIN of Fremont, NE, Delbert and Hazel JACKSON of Grant City, MO and Neil and Irma JOHNSON.

Those from Mount Ayr were Wanda JETER McGAHUEY, Neva MATTHEWS FISHER, Park and Joan RINEHART, Phyllis MOON FAUBION, Faith LAMERAUX SHINKLE, Theola HIGHTSHOE WEEDA, Thelma ANDERSON RUSK and Bill RUSK.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011