On July 18, 1998, Jerry Soldner's oldest son, John, was married in Toronto, Canada. They traveled to the wedding with three other sons and Jerry's mom, Betty. John and his new wife, Jennifer, are going to live in Boston where John works for a sports radio station, according to Susan Soldner.
It's a really small world and it must be confusing for the Kerry Fairchild abode since Kerry wife's name is....you guessed it...Kari! Can you just imagine the scene when he first met her? It must read like the old "Who's on first" Abbot and Costello routine!
Ray and Stephanie Sampson Dahlberg became grandparents for the second time when the oldest son and.....girlfriend.....(#!!*?!!) became the parents of a baby girl. Momma had a rough time because she is under 5', weighing MAYbe 90 pounds and Nyla Anne was 8#4 oz. I wasn't just wild about the name but it was better than "Seppie" (to honor Guisseppe Verdi) which was slated for a boy, according to my son. I think he's paying me back for "Collin", his name! And it ain't just the baby's name...
Judy Hanschu Neuschafer also has a new grandbaby born last August, a boy named Brayden Varner. He was 6#13 oz. and a beautiful baby. Grannie Judy wonders if his big sister is still excited a year later when he's getting into his sister's stuff! Judy was priviledged to be in the delivery room for what she says was a miracle, tho. Otherwide, Judy's been doing volunteer work in addition to her regular job as an insurance agency which they own.
I have decided that I am NOT going to continue to use married names because we know these women by their maiden names and I am the Boss of the Newsletter, so there!
So, let's continue with a nice update from Donna Massey received April 3rd of this year. Donna says she really appreciates hearing for friends via emails and snailmail, but she ask that you be patient with her. She is going just as fast as she always did, course! A new hope toward one day meditation is a goal of hers. Her chicks have flown the nest and it is sounding like she finds that a very empty feeling, making her appreciate the times her own mom worked so hard to keep family traditions going. We can all relate to that, I'll bet! All her kids sound well and happy. Earl gets to retire (No fair, no fair!) soon and Donna is still playing tennis and doing ministries for her faith. This busy lady begs you all to call her if you're in Houston.
I told my email classmates that the Dahlberg's sang at the opening of the August 17, 1999 Royal's game. What t thrill! I have a video, even! Myself and all four kids really belted it out. None of them is shy like me...okay, that's a joke!
Jerry Weaver's wife, Judy, is the computer guru in that family. She keeps us up-to-the minute on ole Jer who continues to live in Salina, altho Judy says he's mostly on the road as a company rep for Schlagel, Inc., a grain elevator machinery manufacturer. Judy is an elementry Title I math teacher. They have two kids, Chris, 26, "retired professional cyclist" who is entering his 3rd year at TU and daughter Kari and hubby. Two boys call them Grand. Kari is a part-time social worker. She must have a great time using her father as a test case...
There was a wonderful surprise for me by way of an email from Ellen Backstrom on July 12th, 1999 which follows:
"Hi! This is Ellen Backstrom Johnson married still to Wade Johnson. We are now living in Overland Park, Ks. We have been here for 3 years. Wade is working for Geneaal Casualty and I still in charge of Volunteerism. We have a daughter who graduated from Indiana University and has been working in Chicago for 4 years. Bryan, 20, will be a Jr at Baker University in Kansas. I have been getting reacquainted with Marilyn Brant Spatz. Ellen"
Also on the same day, July 12, 1999 from Millie George:
"Dear Stephanie:
Greetings from your long lost past ! It's Millie (George) Burch. I heard from Katie Hughes Utter that you were doing an e-mail goody with some of the people in our class and I thought I would see if you would share with me. I'll tell you a little about myself.
Doug and I are still married (100 years now). We have one son named David, a lovely daughter-in-law named Dena and three great grandsons named Danny 13, Darren 10, Derek 8. They are my pride and joy and ornery as the day is long.
We live in a little country community on the outskirts of Dallas called Ovilla. We have been here 33 years I guess. Doug is still working, but I'm not. I was an officer with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department but now I'm playing!!! I'm the President of a large women's organization for Southwest Texas.
I'm going back to Salina next week I think. Doug still has a lot of family there. I better go for now. Let me know how you are doing and how to contact others please.
Love@stuff, Millie"
In case you're wondering, I asked for updates recently and also got this from Larry Smith:
Yo steph. just hanging in there enjoying life after kids. moved to new house last year with pool table, pool, golf course in back yard, putting green, bunker, chipping area, pond and water fall right next to a golf course. kids want to know why we didn't do this when they were home--silly question. life is good. off to hawaii next week for 2 weeks and then Singapore on business for a week. kids doing awesome with one living in downtown San Fran. and the other married with 2 boys in atlanta--of course there beautiful grandkids --it's in the the genes or diapers in this case. gloria still teaching at two arizona univeristies and life is good. how you?
I THINK I HATE THIS GUY!!!! If it weren't Larry...
I am going to paraphrase an email from Linda Garrison because I am running out of steam for today!
Linda has gone to 2 family reunions and done lots of family stuff this summer. She is also making plans for daugher Jennifer's wedding in April. The fiance and proposed bride both live in Denver, but the wedding will be in Wichita so Linda has been handling a lot of the details.
Linda's son, Jon, also lives in Denber where he married a year ago September. Her hubby's youngest, Anne, graduated from Creighton in May and moved to Washington. Oldest daugher, Mary, works for a newspaper in Derby, so all of the kids have now graduated. Linda sounds VERY happy about that...
The Garrisons got a week's vacation in May and will probably save other time for xmas and the wedding preps. They purchased mountain bikes this Spring but weather and time restraints haven't allowed them to ride like they thought they would. The farmer in Linda seems to call her to plant the garden. Church activites for Linda and Larry take up spare(?) time, but she still plans to take up watercolor painting and quilting after the first of the year. Do you think this is hormonal problem? This editor is worried!