St. Patrick High School Class of 1965 gathers for 50-year reunion
St. Patrick High School Class of 1965 50-year reunion ... Left to right - Front row: Carol Blake Hatch, Msgr. Joseph Slepicka, Barbara Zahn Mason. Second row: Charles Bresnahan, Callie Irons, Dianne Fay Andersen, Joyce Troendle Regan, Jane Anderson Welch, Peggy Bresnahan Walch, Rose Marie Byrnes Magner. Third row: Tom Mauss, Janet Schulte Batson, Janice Whittle Soop, Donna Deeny Lonning, Camey Stilwell Johnson, Julie Brandt, Maury Gallagher, Bill Mohn. Back row: Pat Tierney, Ray Dixon, Ralph Steele, Pat A’Hearn, Allan Grady, Doug Haas, Janis Link Schulte, Jim Magner, Gary Schulte, Sharon Hammel Monaghan, Joe Hammel, John Waldron, Dennis Waldron, John Mettille. Photo by Becky Picard Waldron.
May 30, 1965 was an historic day for 44 young men and women of the St. Patrick High School-Waukon community. That was the day that these young adults graduated from high school.
Fast forward 50 years to September 12, 2015 when 31 of those classmates plus their guests gathered at Waukon Country Club, including any individual who attended one or more years of high school with the Class of ‘65. An evening of joyous laughter, reconnecting and reminiscing got off to a good start as classmates picked up their name tags featuring his/her respective 1965 graduation picture.
Denny Waldron, emcee, introduced the honored guest, Monsignor Joseph Slepicka, who had been associate pastor and religious instructor during the years Class of ‘65 attended high school. Waldron also regaled attendees with trivia questions pertaining to fellow classmates and high school events. The Country Club was decorated in an Irish theme.
As a homage to all the deceased Class of ‘65 Presentation Sister teachers, a religious sister figurine was placed on each dinner table. Memorabilia tables included not only the usual high school-related newspaper articles, pictures - especially from previous class reunions, and scrapbooks, but also an original 1965 cap and gown and the school newsletter, Scrolls, from 1940.
Deceased class members Bill Cunningham, Wayne Jones, Larry Anderson and LaVern Quanrude were remembered. Pat A’Hearn attended the September 12 class reunion yet sadly died December 7, 2015.
In addition to the Country Club event there was an informal gathering Friday evening at Green Valley; a tour of St. Patrick School hosted by current Principal Katie Fahey; and a 5:15 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Church. Monsignor Slepicka, as well as several Class of ‘65 members, had key roles in the Mass celebration.
The St. Patrick 50th Class Reunion Committee members included Julie Brandt, Carol Ann (Callie) Irons, Camey Stilwell Johnson, Donna Deeny May Lonning, Rose Marie Byrnes Magner, Mary Kay Delaney Martin, Joyce Troendle Regan, and Janis Link Schulte.
