Updated 6 March 2003       URL is http://our.tentativetimes.net/youth/ourstars.html

A Fledgling List of Bluffton Alums

Bluffton Alumni
Newest entries

Please note: Southern Wells is on a separate page now.
Norwell and Lancaster Central are on a separate page now too.

Please contribute items for this page. Send them to Sandra Weinhardt secop@parlorcity.com
I would love to add snapshots from the 1950s here too.

PageWatch no longer works. They wanted money, which I didn't have. Please check back here periodically to see if the page is updated. Thanks, and I'm so sorry it is no longer a free notification service.

BLUFFTON

• If your news is not on here, please write again. I get swamped. Thanks, Sandra the editor.
  • Newest
    From  Dana Metzger:   Wow, its great to see a page like this on the net! With it I have been able   to track down at least one old friend from back in my high school days.

    This is Dana Metzger a graduate of the class of 1989. After graduation Iheaded off to school at the University of Nebraska where I received my degree in English Literature and History. From there I enlisted in the Air Force and have been stationed in Missouri, Texas, Florida, Germany, Saudi Arabia and California. I received my commission as an officer in 1999 and am still in the Air Force, just getting paid a little more for it!
    As of now my wife Jacquie and I are stationed in Japan right outside of Tokyo and loving every moment of it.

    My family moved from Bluffton back when I was in college and now live inNebraska. They built a new house on some land that's been in the family forover 100 years and have "converted" to being country folk. My brother Garin Metzger is living out close to them and working in construction. My little sister Carmen lives in Iowa and works at a nursing home.
    I would love to hear back from any of my old friends and or anyone from my old stomping grounds. You can reach me at dana.metzger@yokota.af.mil

  • From Judy Borton Rohan, email JLR@pattishall.com I've completely lost track of all my 1978 Norwell classmates, but came across your site recently and thought it'd be fun to reconnect.

    My name was Judy Borton, now Judy Rohan. After Lancaster, Norwell and Ball State I moved to downtown Chicago and attended Roosevelt University Grad school, then got a job as a Paralegal at an Intellectual Property law firm in Chicago. I'm still at the same firm, but now am a licensed Investigator. I've been married for 11 years and have two boys, 5 and 7.
    

   We have a Doberman named Knuckles, a cat named Bonkers, and 3 goldfish. We like to spend time at our place on the East side of Lake Michigan; I still ride horses once a week and dream of having my own someday. We get home to my Mom's farm near Craigville (same place I grew up) 3-4 times a year. I'd love to hear from some old classmates, and can be reached at jlr@pattishall.com. Attached is a somewhat recent photo.

• I am Kathy (Rosenbrock) Haller. I graduated from BHS in 1980. I moved to Durham, NC in 1986 after attending Design school at Ball State. I currently work as art director for a trade magazine. I live with my husband and four year old son, Sam. You can write to me at rosie.haller@gte.net
•    Hi! I'm Sandy (Lucabaugh) Dunsmore, email dennisandy@pol.com
  Bluffton High 1971. My family and I just moved to Independence, KY (greater Cincinnati) where my husband Dennis started a family practice residency at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

  After graduating in 1971, I went to Ball State University where I graduated with an elementary teaching degree in 1975. My husband and I lived in Lansing, MI and Mexico City, Mexico before moving back to Bluffton in 1980 where we lived until 1995. Our two sons, Josh and Benj, were born in Bluffton. I taught at Lancaster for six years and then taught the migrant program at East Side Elementary School for nine seasons.

  In 1995, we moved to Grenada where my husband attended St. George's University School of Medicine. We lived in the Caribbean for two years, then went to England for six months of clinical rotations, and finally to Metro Detroit before settling here in KY.

  I'd love to hear from anyone who knows me! My e-mail is: dennisandy@pol.com

•    From: Cindy (Stiles) Stewart Jr., email ImaStew2@aol.com 11 Jun 1999
  Subject: Class of 1991

  Hello, I wanted to have a bit of info. put in concerning my family...I am currently running my own childcare business, Cindy's Cherubs...out of Mooresville, In....just a suburb of Indianapolis, In...I am happily married to Steven Stewart Jr., who is an employee of Rolls Royce Aerospace....I am also the mother of Kiefer 4, Chancelor 3, and my step-daughter is Kaila 9...I am an Ex-Military Police woman for the U.S. Army...my duty station was Panama, Central America, I am also a Certified Nurses Aide although I do not work as a CNA....I was married on 09/20/98...and I was a 1991 graduate of Bluffton High School...I am curious why we have not had a reunion of any kind since graduation?

  Well, Cindy, I wonder too. If anyone sends me any reunion information, I'd love to post it here.
  Bluffton HS reunions seem to be a big secret! Thanks for writing!!

• Hi... My name is Debbie (Reber) Kozuch, email JOSEPHJ999@aol.com
  I graduated from Bluffton High School in 1968. I have been married for 24 years. My husband, Joe, is an Engineering Manager with a company called Nortel, and I work in Guidance at one of the Middle Schools here in Cary, North Carolina. We have one daughter, Jessica, who is graduating from high school this year, and is planning to to go Meredith College. I would love to hear from anyone who graduated in 1968, or anyone who would be interested in corresponding.
• News from Patrick Manley, email PMa5861674@aol.com
  Hi , I'm Patrick Manley
  I lived in Bluffton from 1963 to 1980, would have graduated in 1981, but moved to Seattle, WA. Currently still residing there, would it be possible to have a where are they now page as another person suggested? Would like to hear from my old friends. I read the tragic news on my old friend Willie Blair, such a loss. Feel free to post this along with my email adress, PMa5861674@aol.com. Gosh, it would be so hard to change high schools for your senior year. All the best, Patrick, and thanks for writing. And Patrick, so far as I can tell, this page **is** a where-are-they-now, I think..... But I can't keep it going any longer, so there will be too few additions. (Sandra, the editor)
• Tony Sills, class of '95, was killed in a tragic hit-and-run crime near Liberty Center. He died on March 12, 1999. The full report is on the Willie and Sarah Blair page.
• From: BUDSHORT@aol.com
  Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 22:15:22 EST
  To: editor@tentativetimes.net
  Subject: Almost Bluffton High class of '66

  Hi,
  My name is Lloyd P. Short, when I lived in Bluffton, I went by the name Phillip Short (my mother liked my middle name so she enrolled me in school with it). Most of my close friends knew me as "Bud Short".

  I attended Park School, then Central School, and did my freshman year at Bluffton High. My father was transferred to Monroe, Louisiana in 1963, so I did my last 3 years of high school there.

  For whatever reason, I still remember my kindergarten teacher Miss Stair, then Gillam, Gauldin, Ritchie, and for 4th grade, Miss Bender.

  At Central School, I vaguely remember Miss Witkowski, the art teacher, Mr Tyndall the math teacher, who had a Corvette and Mr Mugg the shop teacher who drove a '55 Ford Crown Victoria. (I paid more attention to the teachers cars than their lessons)

  My memories of my freshman year at Bluffton High are pretty cloudy (hey, it's been 37 years) but I do remember one time making some fake chalk out of dowel rods, weighting them with a nail in the center then painting them with flat white paint. I got into math class early (at the end of the hall on the top floor) and moved all of the real chalk to the end of the black board and planting my "new" chalk at convenient places. The results were just like I had planned, the math teacher told me if I had spent as much time studying math as I did making that fake chalk, I would have been an "A" student instead of a "D" student.

  I would like to know what became of the class of '66. I remember names like Joe Romine, John Thomas, Larry Reed, Linda Wolfgale, Mike Rupley, Cindy Thompson, Mark Ballard, Dennis Markley, and a bunch more.

  Have you considered having a "where they are now" section listed year by year? That's probably a lot of work. The college that I graduated from does that, but they have an alumni association staff working on it.

  Well, I've rattled on too long now, better go for now. I'm glad I found this website

  Bud Short
  BUDSHORT@aol.com

• Margaret (Rose) Bond - graduated 1965.
  Many of you will know me as Maggy Rose. Others will know my mom as your old English teacher Dorothy Rose, my dad was Max Rose, & then there's my brother Dave who graduated in 1963. Both my parents graduated from Bluffton. Dad's gone now and mom lives in Montgomery, TX. Dave's in Houston, TX.

  After graduating from Purdue in '69 I moved to just outside Washington, DC & married a PK (peacher's kid) if you can believe it. Jack Bond and I were married in Bluffton in 1970 & we have lived in Bowie, MD ever since. We have one child Lauren who is a sophomore at Bucknell U. in PA. I am a retired Contract Interior Designer.

  I have been spending the last several years on the board of the local chapter of Camp Fire. I ran their primative camp and outdoor training program for about 10 years. Been doing "Rose" genealogy research for 25 years and that mainly keeps me busy these days. I get back to Bluffton every few years - last time was for our class reunion. Anybody else out there from the good old class of '65? My email is margbond@aol.com

  Looking forward to hearing from you guys!!!!

  

• Anna Melinda Cowens Gerber drowned in the Wabash River on Saturday, March 21. The Bluffton News-Banner reported the circumstances as they unfolded, and you can read the account on the memorial to Melinda on her brother's site.

  The Gerbers three children, Mike, Benjamin and Alicia have moved to Fort Wayne with their father, Scott, who has remarried.

  Condolence letters may be sent to Melinda's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Cowens, at 10616 North Grove Rd., Waubee Lake, Milford, IN 46542
  Email there is joco@kconline.com

  Mrs. Gerber was a registered nurse who had practiced at Lutheran Hospital for 13 years. She had been a migrant-school nurse and was employed as a substitute nurse and substitute teacher in Wells County.

  A fund has been started for the children's education. Donations may be sent to Old First National Bank, 304 West Market Street, Bluffton IN 46714.

  You may well wonder how this could happen in our little puddle section of the Wabash River. Unfortunately, it happened when the river was badly flooded and had a terrible, icy current. The van was actually shoved an entire mile downstream, underwater, to Salty Coulter's house, where it was finally discovered days later. This is a river we can normally just wade across.

• Hiester family news! Michael wrote this:

  As the president of the BHS class of 1990, I know how difficult it is trying to keep track of everyone when it comes time for reunions and such. Well here is an update on my wife and I. As I said, I graduated in 1990 from BHS. She graduated in 1993 from Southern Wells. My name - Michael Hiester. Her name - Dawn (Espy) Hiester.

  We were married in 1994. And great news for us, we are expecting our long awaited first child. Dawn is due June 22, 1998. She works for a publishing/adverstising firm in Fort Wayne and I am the Operations Sergeant/Armory Manager here at the Bluffton Armory. I was just recently transfered back here.

  I host several sites on the web, with my "home site" being The Firehouse (http://www.parlorcity.com/trump/). My email is trump@parlorcity.com. My wife's email is dheister@pub.mcleodusa.com. I know they misspelled her last name. Her corporate office did it and it was like pulling teeth to get them to correct it, so we just left it alone.

  I am also a firefighter on the Bluffton Fire/Rescue Department. I will finish my Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources in August 1998.

  An update some other Wells County grads.....

  My father Thomas Hiester graduated from BHS in 1960. He lives in Bluffton and works as a receiving manager at Scott's grocery in Waynedale (around 30 years now). He and my mother (Kay Davison Hiester - Lancaster High School 1964) are the proud grandparents of four (with one on the way). My mother owns Hiester's Buttons & Bows daycare and works fulltime with an Allen County Childcare Department. My mother is finishing up her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education (I think).

  My youngest sister, Megan Hiester graduated from BHS in 1996 (I think....or was it 95?) I guess I am not sure. She works full-time for the First Church of Christ Daycare here in Bluffton. Megan is pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education (I think).

  My older sister, Michele Hiester Marcum was married (don't know when) to Terry Marcum from Southern Indiana. Michele received her Bachelor's Degree with a double major in English and Journalism. She is currently employed in the accounting office at Moorman's Manufacturing in Bluffton. Michele and Terry have a daughter, Carlie, and three boys (Michele's step-sons), Casey, Jesse, and Kyle.

  Best Regards, Michael T. Hiester

  Now that is the kind of news we need, folks! Hope to hear from more of you soon.

• We had a January 1998 phone call from Michelle Weaver! Michelle left Bluffton a few years back to become a nanny on the East Coast. She found it wasn't exactly like the ads said it would be, but she likes it enough to stay. She lived in Edison NJ and is now a housekeeper for a family with two teenage boys. (They don't need nannying.) Michelle has lots of adventures and friends there.
  Did you see Michelle's youngest son, Brian Weaver's Christmas tree in the Embassy Theatre Tree Contest? It was beautiful. (My flash didn't go off, so no photo.) Brian went to businesses and homes and decorated trees for his employer, Sand Point Greenhouse. He stopped counting how many trees after 52. You know he was born with this art talent, and it's great that he has finally been recognized for it. Brian lives in Fort Wayne now.

  Michelle said that Mimi (last name?) who married Bob Girod is doing fine. They are still in Fort Wayne and Mimi has fully recovered from that brain aneurism she had right before her wedding.

• Sat, 10 Jan 1998
  From Ann Hamilton Shields, '71, I'm a 1971 BHS graduate, and enjoy reading the Bluffton news. A quick update for me - after living adjacent to Yellowstone Park for almost 18 years, my family and I moved to Berlin Germany in 1992. Since 1994, we have lived in a little village about 30 miles from the French border, in the Rhine & Mosel wine regions.
  I am a civilian RN for the US military in a high risk labor and delivery unit at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The opportunities for travel are unlimited, and I really enjoy the cultural diversity of the military population. My husband Mo is a retired HS teacher, and we have a 14 year old daughter, Abby. I'd love to hear from old friends at mashiel@bunt.com
• Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998. From Stanley A. Miller email mertnmoth@navix.net

  My name is Stan Miller. My twin, Tim and I have located around Lincoln, Nebraska. We both graduated in 1970, where "the boys were great and the girls were heavenly."
  I stumbled on this web page and am glad someone takes the time to keep us updated on alumni. I married a gal from Ft. Wayne back in 1975 and moved to Nebraska, home of college football champs 3 of the last 4 years, sorry Big Ten! I'm a convert to the max for Husker football, but my other heart still lies with Indiana basketball.

  E-mail us if you have a chance........mertnmoth@navix.net

• 30 August 1997. Laura Kleinknight graduated in 982 from Bluffton High School. She graduated in 1991 from Arizona State University with a degree in Elementary Education, then graduated in 1995 from Arizona State University with Master's degree in Elementary Education-Reading endorsement. She teaches eighth grade Language Arts at Frank Borman Middle School in Phoenix, Arizona. E-mail address is LLKlein@aol.com
  I hope a lot of you can write to Laura. Thanks for sending the news in, Laura, and have a great school year.
• Mike Murray and Mary Petzel Murray from the class of '86 are married. They have a daughter who is three and a new baby. Lydia. Lydia needs a liver transplant, and you can read about how to help out on Lydia's webpage.
• Lena (Lakes) Zook (class of '67) and Floyd Moser (class of '66) were married on July 5, 1997 at the First Church of Christ in Bluffton! After the wedding, they went to Lena's 30th high school reunion and danced their first dance together as husband and wife.

  This very romantic news was sent in by Amy Zook pagemaster@fstlink.com, Lena's proud and delighted daughter.

• Dieter Reich, age 45, had a farming accident and died of burns at the Saint Jo Hospital Burn Unit on May 25, 1997. His mother Ursula resides in Bluffton, his son Christopher lives in Bremen Germany and his brother Hans Joachim now lives in Geneva, Ohio.
• Michael D. Murphy, age 32, class of '82, died on April 26 1997 of a brain aneurysm. His parents are Patrick and Lucille Murphy, 411 West Miller, Bluffton IN 46714. No preferred charity is listed, but some people were giving checks to the First Church of Christ in Bluffton, a Thoma-Rich spokesman told me. Survivors include parents and one brother, David, and two sisters, Linda Spreng and Diane Cornett.
• John Jaskie, class of 1980, is a Fort Worth TX police officer. In a routine traffic stop on Valentine's Day, a back-seat passenger in the car fired his gun at Jaskie, striking him in the chest. Amazingly, the bullet smashed a small microphone clipped to Jaskie's lapel and caused only powder burns and scratches. (The shooter was quickly captured.) Happy ending! Jaskie was a three-sport athlete at Bluffton, in football, basketball and track. He and his wife Bonnie live in Grand Prairie, TX with their two daughters. (Thanks to the Bluffton News-Banner for this info.)
• Steve Miller would have been in the class of '94. He moved away after Middle School, but would like to hear from anyone he knew: Welcome to Steve Miller stevena@bgnet.bgsu.edu, now a junior at Bowling Green State University.
• Joe Meyer graduated in 1992 from Bluffton high school. He's now an Airman First Class USAF. His job is heating,air conditioning,ventilation,and refrigeration. He's been in for 18 months and is based at Holloman AFB New Mexico, outside Alamogordo. You can email Joe at jmeyer@wazoo.com.
• Lisa (Liby) Wagaman, Bluffton High School, class of '78 has a new address! She writes "I am now living in Dallas, Oregon. My new e-mail is lwagaman@navicom.com I am a Floor Supervisor at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, Oregon."
  Sounds like a lot of responsibility, Libby. I hope everyone writes to you. Do you have a guest room where you live???
• Thomas Eddington, son of Bluffton teacher Gene and Bluffton High School's secretary Phoebe Eddington expects to complete his doctorate in education this year (1996.) The newspaper reports that he has just been unanimously selected as the new superintendent of the North Miami School District at Denver, which is north of Peru in Miami,County, Indiana. Congratulations to Tom and his wife Michelle.
  

---

Please note: Southern Wells is on a separate page now.

Norwell and Lancaster Central are on a separate page now.

This page is sort of an unofficial alumni letter. Every one of our "kids" is a credit to us. Wells County is a terrific place.

How about a magic carpet ride back to Our Tentative Times?
Did you come here from our Nostalgia magazine?

Email me, Sandra Weinhardt, editor@tentativetimes.net

---

Thanks for stopping in!

Site-wide, since March 1996