70 classmates attend reunion of FHS Class of ‘58

The Fremont High School Class of 1958 held its 50th anniversary class reunion at the Banquet Room of One East Main in downtown Fremont on July 12.

A total of 126 attended, including 70 classmates, 47 spouses and five guests. Retired teachers Eldon Durkee and Duane VanDuzen and their wives also attended.

Classmates came from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Michigan.

The memorial table attracted nostalgic attention for the 15 red carnations for the men and nine white carnations for the women who have died since graduation in 1958. The table also included yellow roses for teachers Robert Kraai and John DeJong, who died since the 45th reunion in 2003.

The dining room at One East Main was available all day as a reunion headquarters. Refreshments and snacks were available. Classmates were invited to tour the high school and the community to see how things have changed. Local classmates served as hostesses to make visiting easier by providing any needed information.

In the evening, prerecorded music of the 50’s and 60’s played in the background during the festivities. Classmate Robert Robart served as Master of Ceremonies, regaling his classmates with many of the memories for the Class of 158, from Mrs. Geeting in kindergarten to Mr. VanDuzen and Mr. Durkee in the class’ senior year. He was even asked about Fremont’s first streaker in 1975.

Out of 155 former classmates, only three (Donna Berg, Gale Jeffries and Warren Stout) were unaccounted for at the time, as compared to nine in 2003.

Several special awards were presented: the Class of 1958 “Henry VIII” to Don Warren and the Class of 1958 “Bulldog” to Barbara Young Sherwood. Darriel Wilks received the Class of 1958 “Detective” award and a special award was presented to Jerry Woodring for 26 years of participation in planning the six class reunions since the 25th anniversary reunion in 1982.

A total of 35 classmates, spouses and guests participated in an informal indoor picnic on Sunday, July 13 at One East Main.

Several classmates were attending their first ever reunion and said that they would be back for the 55th in 2013.

A souvenir reunion booklet, featuring classmate biographies, was given to each participant. Booklets will be mailed to classmates who were unable to attend.

The committee for the 50th anniversary reunion included those who attended the Class of 1958 “Coffee” that meets on the third Thursday of the month, April through October, in the Banquet Room at One East Main at 2 p.m. All classmates are invited to attend.

A committee was formed to plan for the 55th anniversary reunion on July 13, 2013. Jerry Woodring has agreed to maintain an address list for those who would like to keep the class updated. The committee includes Barbara Young Sherwood, Dick Diekema, Bob Robart, Gloria Smith Bazzett and Jerry Woodring.