Class of 1973 News for 2023
| 12/22/2023 |
I received an email from Legacy.com for WHS, that faculty member John R.
Liljeberg passed away at the age on 91 on 12/17/2023. His obituary
from Legacy.com follows:
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| 10/07/2023 | 50th Reunion |
Classmates
Friday’s tour of the school was a great journey down those familiar
hallways, visiting old gathering spots, discovering new learning
environments for this generation, and tapping into our memories of
yesteryear while getting reacquainted. The high school staff did a great
job in herding the cats down the hallways as we looked for our old
lockers. Rumor had it that John Ramirez and Scott Kendall wandered off
course and had to go to the principal's office…..one last time!
The
homecoming game was disappointing on the field but a wild success in the
stands for all of us who made it to the game. We were welcomed by
administrators with our reserved section in the stands and we proudly
stood at mid-field as a single unit for our class photo reacting to the
waves and applause from the crowd. However, despite Doug Groot
and Vince Mastandrea working as game officials, it was little help as the
Wildcats just didn't have the athletes to win the game. Some were asking
for Steve Miller to suit back up!
After
the games we all found various watering holes to spend more time getting
caught up with each other and many managed to close down the
taverns……..some habits are hard to break!
Saturday meant a golf course challenge for some at Buffalo Grove Country
Club while others tried to rationalize how a gutter ball could be thrown
after that elusive strike at Bowlero…….cocktails were seen in both places.
Finally, everyone came together at Belvedere Banquets for the red carpet
walk and the paparazzi elements but mostly it was milling around finding
old friends, being introduced to spouses, and sharing old war stories.
We toured Memory Lane with all of the news clippings, photographs, and
memorabilia from our days at WHS. We paid homage through video to our
fallen classmates and we looked back at how we came to WHS, made our mark,
and saluted those who made the trip Back Home.
Finally, as the night came to an end, we hugged, exchanged information,
and we talked about not letting so much time pass until we reconnect
again. Although a 51st Reunion seems aggressive the committee
(and new volunteers) are ready to reconvene for planning a 55th…..so begin
the planning to get together again. We hope everyone who traveled across
the county and the oceans to Come Back Home made it home safely.
SUMMARY
Many of you came up to committee members and thanked them for our efforts
to make the weekend special. As we shared with each other, seeing the
smiles and laughs was all the thanks that we needed. But
thanks again to our 50th Reunion Committee: Marsha (Addison) Vanek,
Debbie (Ball) Rybarczyk, Kim (Blair) Hall, Phil Lacy, Vince Mastandrea,
Rose (McCann) Schwinn, Mike Millay, Jim Stoik, Debbie (Langel) Toon and
Linda (Towery) Kious. Thank you for the commitment to weekly Zoom
calls, Slack communication messaging, and countless phone calls.
We came together as a team!
We are creating a video and image library from the weekend to share with
everyone. We would appreciate all of you sending any images you took with
your cell phones and sending them to info@whs-reunion.com so
we can curate them into a structured and accessible platform (Google Drive
or Dropbox) or on a photo platform like Shutterfly. Stay tuned for more
information in a couple of weeks. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your participation, your feedback, and your support along the way, but mostly for bringing your energy Back Home.
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| 06/26/2023 |
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In the process of searching for missing '73 classmates by the reunion
committee it was discovered that Daniel R. Holtz passed away early last
year on February 15, 2022. Here is his obituary: Daniel R. Holtz passed away peacefully on February 15, 2022 at his Florida home. He was born July 17, 1955 in Chicago, IL. Dan was a Master Electrician and owner operator of New Era Electric Company, LLC for 40 years. After retirement he enjoyed spending summer months in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and winters in Florida. He loved remodeling flipping houses, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, late-night stargazing and singing and dancing to rock and roll music videos. He is survived by his fiancé Heidi Grether, son Scott, daughter Lisa, grandchildren David and Emily Banach, sisters Joy Blomquist (Bob), Nancy Chiakas (late Kerry), and Jill Holtz. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Carol and brother John. Dan brought joy and happiness to every room he walked into. He will be deeply missed by family and friends and all who knew him. There will be a Celebration of his Life on Saturday, March 26th, 2022, from 11:30 - 2:30 at the Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Wheeling, IL 60090. In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Dan to As Good as Gold - Golden Retriever Rescue of Illinois. Published by Chicago Tribune on Mar. 13, 2022. Rest in peace Dan |
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| 06/07/2023 |
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I was informed today of the passing of Donna Lee Starke Holm's passing on
May 29, 2023. Donna Lee Holm, 68, of Victory Township passed away Monday morning, May 29 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Born Donna Lee Starke in Chicago, a twin daughter of Charles and Eleanor Starke, she graduated from Wheeling High School in Illinois and attended Spaulding College in Louisville Kentucky. She married her high school sweetheart and moved to Ludington, Michigan where she worked briefly for Handy Things Mfg. and then spent many years doing medical billing and reception for Dr. Charles Pollard and W. Mich. Cancer and Blood Center. Later in life she worked for Best Western Hotel in food service. She was employed almost continually her whole life, having had a very strong work ethic imparted by both her parents. They preceded her in death as did her beloved brother Robert. She is survived by her loving husband Harold V. (Hal) Holm, her beautiful twin sister Debra L. (Tom) Pfleeger of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, and brother Jeffrey (Amy) Starke of Liberty Missouri, nieces Jennifer (Aaron) Alley, Dana (John) Edgell, and Amanda (Matt) Erisman, and nephews Michael (Sarah) Pfleeger, David (Julia) Starke, Robert (Nicole) Starke, Kyle (Jess) Starke, Jeff (Sue) Jensen, and Eric (Julie) Jensen, 27 great nieces and nephews, and 2 great great nephews. Donna always considered others first and herself last. She loved socializing with friends and family, cooking, traveling, sailing, canoeing, hiking, flying, and daily walks on her property followed by spoiling the neighbor's horses with apples and carrots. A memorial/celebration of life will be held June 9 at 11:00 am in Michigan. A Memorial Service will take place Saturday, June 17th, 2023, from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at Justen Funeral Home: 3700 Charles J Miller Road McHenry, IL 60050. For information, please call the Funeral Home at 815-385-2400, or visit www.justenfh.com, where friends and loved ones may share memories of Donna on her tribute wall. Any contributions are requested to be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Memorial Service Saturday, June 17, 2023 11:00AM - 3:00PM Justen Funeral Home & Crematory 3700 Charles J. Miller Road McHenry, IL 60050 https://www.justenfh.com/obituaries/Donna-Lee-Holm?obId=28091473 Rest in Peace Donna. |
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| 05/01/2023 |
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Thomas M. Miller '73 passed away on November 18, 2022. This
information was provided by his wife and '73 classmate Dawn Wexler: "My dear sweet husband, the love of my life, Thomas Miller, passed away on November 18, 2022. I met Tom in high school when we were both 15. (His twin brother is Steven Miller.) We were married almost 49 years, so the heartbreak is indescribable! ????"
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| 05/01/2023 |
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It was discovered that Susan Gayle Thompson Dueck '73 passed away on 08/16/2021. Here is a link to Sue's memorial service. | ||||
| 04/20/2023 |
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I received this sad news from Julie Lipovitch '76, that her brother Roy
Lipovitch '73 passed away on April 17, 2023. Roy had been on
dialysis for 3 years. Roy had no Facebook page.
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| 03/19/2023 |
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Information provided by Kelly Chindberg today via a Facebook post:
"Just found out from her husband that Beth
Thompson passed on October 20, 2022. She was
living in Louisville KY since their marriage
in 1977. She is survived by her husband, two
sons and two granddaughters. Beth graduated in
1973 from WHS.Contributions
to lymphedema, diabetes and COPD foundations
were requested. She was a grade school teacher
and principal for over 30 years."
Rest in Peace Beth. |
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| 01/22/2023 |
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I'm sorry to have to report that Edhem "Ed"
Idrizovic passed away on January 11, 2023. Ed's
younger brother John '76 passed way before his
class graduated.
Rest in Peace Ed!
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| 01/02/2023 |
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Thanks to Joe Bucalo
'73 for providing this information, as sad as it is.
Eric Preston Wales passed away on September 29, 2022. Eric's
younger brother,
Keith Wales, is a '76 WHS grad. If you'd like
to post condolences to Keith, which the rest of the Wales family might
see, here is his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/KeithWales13, or at Eric's obituary page:
https://www.midstatecremationservice.com/obituary/Eric-Wales.
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| 01/01/2023 | Happy New Year! There are still 360 members of the Class of 1973 missing. | |||||
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