Kersey High School Reunion brought laughter, memories, to Red Fern Saturday
KERSEY--It's been 62 years since any of the former students walked the halls of the Kersey High School, but the gathered alumni on Saturday still have fond memories of the old school that sat in the center of Kersey near the current Community Center.
In a change from their normal venue at the Royal Inn, the reunion this year was held at the Red Fern on Irishtown Road in Kersey. Well over 50 former students and their partners attended the fully served dinner at the convention center and enjoyed the program of the evening, which included sing-a-longs, embarrassing memories, and presentations from members of the class that for 1/2 century attended school in Kersey.
The organizing committee of Karne Olson Shirey ('59), Hazel Lavella Luchini ('44) Mary Ellen Swanson Badeau ('52), Roger Bimel ('61) Merv and Janis Kemmer ('62), and Dolly Pontzer Ranouye ('62) have organized the reunion for many years but still brought new features to the program on Saturday evening.
This was an anniversary year for graduates from the classes of 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, and 1962 and the alumni were honored with a separate presentation for their graduation. Door prizes were donated by Roger Bimel and included handmade rolling pins and baseball bats.
The "Troubadours" made up of Roger Bimel, Merv Kemmer, Wil Shirey, and Mary Ellen Swanson Badeau provided musical entertainment for the evening with the signing of the Alma Mater, God Bless America, and several of the old athletic high school cheers that used to sound through the hall of the school.
Memories of their time together, along with some embarrassing stories were shared by the former students of the High School and included taking 7th Grade Classes in the "Chicken Coop" and the pot-bellied stove that sat on the gymnasium floor and barely produced any heat during winter basketball games. Karen Olson Shirey, Judy Saline Wonderling, and Joan Moyer VanHorn led the sharing memories portion of the program for the evening providing many laughs to those in attendance.
As with any reunion, commemorations were also announced for those alumni that have been lost since the last reunion, and a tribute to all members of the military was shared by Janis Kemmer, in the inspiring story of the men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima in World War II.
Hazel Lavella Luchini presented a short introduction of the $1,000 scholarship winner for the year, which was granted to Zachary Mosier of Kersey, the grandson of Bill Mosier of the class of 1959. An additional presentation was given to Kermit Sandberg of the class of 1947, who celebrated his 75th Anniversary and also cared for the Kersey High School Monument Site near the Community Building for many years.
Helen Cuneo Pontzer of the class of 1942 was the oldest attendee, and celebrated her 80th anniversary, while Ed Baueau ('62) and Theresa Brendlinger Petrocchi ('57) were the alumni who traveled the furthest for the reunion both coming from their homes in Florida.
The next reunion is scheduled for July 8, 2023, and will be a more informal affair to be held at the St. Boniface Social Hall in Kersey as an afternoon to an evening gathering of friends. The organizing committee would like to thank all of those in attendance and the Red Fern for providing them with a new venue for the reunion this year.