2013 Rolfe Alumni Reunion
official web site
Rolfe
Alumni Reunion flyers were mailed on Wednesday, January 30
(2013) to all alumni for whom the reunion committee has
addresses. If you know of someone (alumni, former classmate,
friend, teacher) who wants one but did not receive one, please
contact
Clara Hoover. Also,
in order to help future reunion committees, please let Clara
know of any address changes, e-mail addresses or alumni deaths.
You may
download the
flyer;
however,
please note this PDF is not as crisp as the flyer itself, nor
are the folds precise. The flyer is also available on the
reunion’s
web site
where
you will find a variety of information
about the July 13 Rolfe Alumni Reunion and Rolfe's
Sesquicentennial Celebration on July 12-14. Also, the flyer
includes the URL for the reunion Web site. |
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This web site will be
updated as more information becomes available.
Things have a way of changing, so check the web
site frequently. Bookmark it!
In addition, the
site provides many documents, including the
flyer, which can be downloaded. Please tell
other people, especially any friends and family
members who would not receive flyers, about the
web site. |
You may also
want to join the Rolfe Community School
Facebook
group. This site is updated by people who choose to belong
to the group. To the extent that people contribute, this site
contains current Rolfe news and links to obituaries of Rolfe
alumni.
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The 2013
Committee
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Alumni Addresses If you think the committee does not have your
current mailing information, please send it to
Clara Hoover.
Also, many RHS folk have
posted information in our
where they are
now section. You may visit the database, but it is no longer open for
new entries. |
2013 Rolfe alumni reunion
official web site |
The 2005 Committee
- Gus Brinkman, 1974
- Nancy Williams Brinkman, Gilbert, 1973
- Dave Duitscher, 1989
- Jolene Lahm Duitscher, Gilbert, 1990
- Jim Hansen, Des Moines Township, 1956
- Sharalyn Wolfe Hansen, 1963
- Bill Kemna, 1986
- Clairyss Donahue Kerns, Humboldt @1950
- Cleve Kerns, 1953
- Al Kuchenreuther, 1974
- Arlis Kuchenreuther, Bradgate @1971
- Jim Martin, Albert City,
1947
- Nancy Shelgren Martin, 1951
- Ben Ricklefs, 1966
- Kathy Vainreb Ricklefs, 1967
- Dave Rittgers, 1979
- Janell Naeve Rittgers, Mallard,
1979
- Mary Behrendsen Shimon, 1965
- Raymond Shimon, 1961
- Glenn Winthers, 1990
- Kim Brady Winthers, Humboldt,
1985
- Janis Lanus Young, 1958
- John Young, 1951
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Report of 2005 Alumni All-class Reunion
by Helen D. Gunderson, Rolfe alumni web site editor
The Rolfe High School alumni all-class reunion was held on July
9, 2005, during the Greater Rolfe Days weekend.
There was a 5pm social hour followed by
a meal catered by Hy-vee at each of three locations. The classes of 1934 to 1949
met at the Lutheran Church, the classes of 1950 to 1965 at the community center,
and the classes of 1966 to 1990 at the golf club.
That evening, there was a
program
for all classes at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Mary Lou Behrendson Shimon (RHS
1965) welcomed the visitors. Chris Pedersen (RHS 1974) was the emcee. Ken
Kerns (RHS 1956) announced the oldest returning class. It was the class of
1934 represented by Lorene Kipfer Hansen of Rolfe. The second oldest class
was represented by Deane Gunderson of Rolfe and Marie Hosier Noll of Arthur,
Iowa. Gus Brinkman (RHS 1974) announced a newly-created Rolfe alumni
scholarship fund to be awarded each year to a graduate of the Pocahontas
Area Community Schools who is a resident of the Rolfe area.
In the minds of many, the music was
the highlight of the program. It was a delight to watch director John
Nielsen, a Rolfe area farmer and live-long musician, in action as he
inspired the community chorus. The diverse group of singers created music
that wafted throughout the sanctuary, lifted spirits, and even brought a
standing ovation. The chorus did a resoundingly excellent performance of "On
Top of the World" made popular by the Carpenter's in the 1970s, "The Battle
Hymn of the Republic," and "God Bless America."
chorus
roster
Marilee Kleespies accompanied the chorus on piano. She also played clarinet
and directed a multi-generational band that she had assembled during the
summer. The band accompanied a large crew of cheerleaders and the crowd for the "Rolfe
Loyalty." Later the band concluded the evening with another rousing
round of the school song. The music certainly added spirit, delight, and
nostalgia to the occasion. Marilee is a Nationally Certified Teacher of
Music, Rolfe area piano teacher, organist, substitute teacher, and is
married to Bill Kleespies, former owner and manager of Bill's Food Store.
band
roster wmv
video clip of cheerleaders
wmv video clip of bandWe give a heartfelt thanks to the committee that made
the reunion possible, the speakers at the program, musicians and their
directors. There is the old slogan that Rolfe has used, "Some bigger, none
better." It seems that no other town or alumni group could have done
a better job of organizing a community celebration and all-class reunion.
There was a whole
slate of activities over the weekend, including a
parade on
Saturday. Thanks to all those folks for helping make the weekend come alive
for all of us alumni who descended on Rolfe for the reunion. It was
wonderful to sit at the library in the evening after the reunion and look at
memorabilia and visit with people. It was a bit spooky in the ways that the
gathering there was a reminder of yesteryear when Main Street was "the place
to be" on Saturday nights and the place was abuzz with cars, commerce, other
activity, and conversation.
Of course, the reunion would not be what it was without alumni, former
faculty, and friends of the community returning to Rolfe for the occasion.
And there were many side events for individual classes. For instance, the
class of 1955 was headquartered at the Bill and Peggy Kemna farm. The class
of 1960 had its own reunion dinner. The class of 1975 had a music jam and
sponsored a duck race on Pilot Creek to raise funds for the scholarship
fund. And who knows what other classes had special gatherings. For instance,
driving by the Jack and Karen DeWolf farm on the way home after the reunion,
we saw that there were several cars gathered there and many lights ablaze.
So if people have photos of the reunited classes or other images of the
weekend, send them to us to post.
A Note of Thanks from the 2005 All-class Reunion
Committee
We want to say thank you to all who helped make
our 2005 all school reunion a success — Marion Pirie, Phyllis Sellers, and
all the ladies that helped to carry out a wonderful bed-turning, quilt show,
Mark and Deborah Bruellman for their work on a great car show, and Jennifer
Trenary for all the computer help.
A big thank you to all the people that helped us set up and clean up after
the banquet, to all the young people that helped us serve, to John Nielsen
and the community choir, to Marilee Kleespie and the community band, to
Chris Pedersen and Kenton Kerns for their parts in the program, and to those
involved in the Greater Rolfe Days celebration and events.
Thanks also to the librarians — Karen Kerns, Bette Brinkman, and Brenda
Reis, Friends of the Library, and others who helped set up the display of
Rolfe memorabilia and made the library a hub of activity. To Andy Woiwood,
middle school principal for helping gather items for the display, and to
those who brought items in for display. To all who contributed to the Rolfe
Alumni Scholarship Fund.
If you enjoyed your time in Rolfe and went home with more special memories
of your Alma Mater, all of the effort was worth it! Nancy Martin has
started a list of volunteers for the 2010 reunion committee.
E-mail her if you want to add your
name!
Thank you all, The 2005 RHS Reunion
Committee
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The 2000 Committee
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Dean Behrendsen, 1967
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Sandy Spencer Behrendsen, 1968 (co-chairperson)
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Jennie DeLong Gardewine, Cedar Rapids @1991
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Todd Gardewine, 1979
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Helen Gunderson, 1963
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Susan Johnson, 1958
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Madonna Metzger Marine, West Bend @1974
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Mike Marine, 1971
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Sarah MacVey Munson, Pensacola Christian 1976
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Lawrence Nelson, West Bend 1951
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Marilyn Erickson Nelson, 1954
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Jim Shimon, 1979
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Tammy Pederson Shimon, 1983
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Curt Sindergard, 1977
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Bob Wagner, 1983
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Sherri Plantz Wagner, Pocahontas 1987
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Jim Winthers, Webb 1963
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Joann Gaskill Winthers, 1965 (co-chairperson)
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Deane Gunderson, 1935, was an ex-officio committee member. He
volunteered a marathon of time to detective work to find addresses for
missing alumni.
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