More Pictures Galore

I so liked the last group of classmate's pictures, I decided to do it again.

We have: Bill and Dorothy Fletcher apparently at a diner; John and Gail LeRoy at Pensacola Beach; Scott Butler boating on Immigrant Lake; Norm and Judy Plutchak in some exotic paradise; Norma Deardorff Plummer with daughter Elizabeth at where else but Wrigley Field --- go Cubs!

Pictures Galore

How about some miscellaneous pics of classmates? Rosemary Baker Burkhead with perhaps a grandchild; Grandpa Dave Spero; Greatgrands Jack and Kathy Brennan Blaa; Paul Cassiman and his ice cream; and Nan Vancil Biddle on her 55th wedding anniversary.

A "Bionic Man" Update

I received the following from our own "Bionic Man", John Spencer, in mid-February:

"Well, the dates are set for my right hip replacement. I have scheduled pre-op for March 7 and surgery for March 27 at the Colorado Joint Replacement Center in Denver. If my second hip replacement goes anything like my first, I'll be doing most everything I want to within 6 weeks. When I went for my 6-week check-up for my left hip,I asked the doc when can I ski, he told me after the first of the year, which was like 9 weeks after the surgery. I went skiing the 2nd of January and really enjoyed myself and have skiied 7 days since then, and will mostly ski another 7 or 8 before surgery.
John"

Please keep John in your thoughts and prayers as he undergoes yet another body-part replacement. If this keeps up, he'll not only feel like a 25-year old, he'll genuinely have the body of a teen-ager.

Our Own Bionic Man

If you've been following John Spencer's history of surgeries, you'll understand why we're dubbing him "the Class of '57's Bionic Man". After decades of working as a contractor, John's body has finally started hollering tilt. He's had 4(?) surgeries to repair vertabrae problems; he's had coronary artery bypass graft (better known as CABG); he's had his shoulder rebuilt ---- and there are more, but my senior moment isn't allowing them to come to mind right now, other than the following. John's most recent surgery was left hip replacement the end of October. And I think the following e-mail from John best describes his most recent experience:

"Anyone who says hip replacement surgery is a piece of cake must have heard someone else say it!  Although after 10 days I can say that things are looking up.  Up until the last few days I have been sleeping about 20 hours out of 24.  When I came out of surgery I knew everything was going to be OK because I could see immediately that all my toes were pointing the same direction.  I go back for post-op on the 11^th and should be able to start walking without some type of assistance.

The worst is that I know I’ll have to have the right hip replaced as well, I just don’t know how long I’m going to be able to put up with it the way it is.

John"

Of course, our best wishes for a speedy and painless recovery go out to John. And hopefully, his right hip will hang in there for him, so he doesn't have to go thru this again for a very long time.

Shirley Blomberg Alexander Has Passed Away

Received the following message from John:

"Received this in this morning's mail!  We've lost Shirley Blomberg Alexander, the
classmate who, with her husband, were full time RV'rs.  They were at our 55th
last August.  The following gives us info for her Celebration of  Life."

"CELEBRATION OF LIFE
In Memory of
Shirley (Blomberg) Alexander (born May 9, 1939; deceased November 3, 2013)
A Memorial  will be held Sunday, November 10, 2013,
from 2-6 pm
at Norway Community Center
3613 E. 2603rd Road
Sheridan, IL 60551
Casual dress attire
In lieu of flowers, please make a
donation to your favorite charity
Bring memories to share

from daughter of Vern & Shirley Alexander
Donna Sitts (Alexander)
Thanks"

It goes without saying our sincerest sympathy goes out to Shirley's family and friends. And we hope those of you who are able will attend Shirley's memorial service.

Naughty or Nice?

We just received the following from Jim Myhre:

"I hope all is well with you.
I thought I would let our class know what I've been doing the last few years at Christmas. I never expected to have this job, but it is great. I hope that all of you have been good!!!!!
Attached is a picture showing me in my "work" uniform. I shave off my beard Christmas Day and get a haircut and then start again in June.
Regards to all.
Jim Myhre"

Santa Jim with Mrs. Claus, Joanna

Tom Fields Has Passed Away

John just received word of the passing of Tom Fields on January 20, 2012. Tho better late than never, our deepest sympathy goes out to Tom's friends and family. And now, thanks to the efforts of Garland Edgell, we're able to add Tom's obituary to the class blog: