In Memoriam

GARY SCHROEDER

People who read this website regularly are aware that updating the “In Memoriam” section is one of my least favorite chores, as it is always difficult to say goodbye to old friends, and sometimes the words come slowly, and sometimes they do not come at all. This is especially true now, as I have to say Goodbye to my old and dear friend, Gary Schroeder.

Gary and I got to know each other because we both hung around at John Dueringer’s garage, which wasn’t really a garage but rather a large tool shed in the back yard of the Dueringer home which used to be a farmhouse but ended up just another house in just another subdivision. But the Dueringer garage was full of projects, and the prime one was John’s car, a Ford Model A (’30 or ’31 I think) two door sedan with a V-8 engine from (if I remember correctly) a ’39 Mercury transplanted under the hood. In addition to its secondary purpose as a garage, the building was also used as a place for young, insecure and unseasoned teenage boys to gather around, get greasy and sweaty, swear, spit, smoke cigarettes, have an occasional beer or two, lie about our success or lack thereof with the members of the opposite sex, and, in general, transform ourselves from kids to something resembling adults.

Everybody liked Gary because he was friendly, had an infectious laugh, and generally went along with all of the Tomfoolery that occurred.

After graduation, we all went our separate ways, and Gary and I went into the Army. Gary was in the Chemical Corps stationed at Ft. McClellan Alabama, and I was learning Corporal Missile Internal Guidance systems repair at Redstone Arsenal, also in Alabama. One weekend I decided to hitchhike to Ft. McClellan to see Gary, and we had a pretty good time. At the time, Ft. McClellan was the training center for the Women’s Amy Corps, the WACs, and the only Army post at which the women out numbered the men.

After I got out of the Army, our paths did not cross again until I transferred to UW-Madison from UW-Milwaukee. By this time, most of my friends from Waukesha H.S. Class O’58 had graduated with a degree, but Gary and I were still working on a Bachelor’s degree since we both got a late start due to our stints in the Army, so we got to see each other occasionally. Then came graduation, and after that, marriage, families, jobs, and all the general busyness called “Life”, and I don’t think I saw Gary until our 30^th or 40^th reunion, and I didn’t even recognize him at first. After that, we kinda sorta stayed in touch, until after the 50^th reunion, and then we started corresponding regularly, with long emails and telephone conversations.

After retirement, I got a big Harley touring bike, and sent Gary an email stating that I thought it would be fun the take the ‘cycle out to Seattle to see him, but I also said I thought it would be a difficult trip for someone of my advanced years.  Gary called and said “Sure, come on out – if you got the starch for it.” This latter phrase had just the effect that I’m sure Gary intended it to have, as I took it as a personal test of my manhood and started planning the trip immediately. The trip was in 2009, and I stayed with Gary and his wife Vicky (Vickey? Vickie?) for several days and got  to see the sights of Seattle and to have long conversations with Gary and Vicky about finance, investing, life, science, and politics. I also got to spend some time with my old friend John Dueringer who lives on a beautiful place overlooking Puget Sound.

After that, the only times I saw Gary in person was at the 55^th and the 60^th reunions, but we managed to call and send emails to each other. So I was very surprised when I got an email from Bob Lannan, Gary’s old game-bird hunting buddy, that Gary had fallen, spent a lot of time in the hospital, and finally succumbed to his injuries. I was crushed, as just a day or two earlier I had decided it was time to have a nice long talk with Gary, and now it was too late to get that done.

What happens to people after they die? I am not arrogant enough to profess to know, but I know that if there is an afterlife Gary and "Millie the Wonder Dog" are having a hell of a good time stalking pheasants on fragrant green fields and rolling hills.
 

COMMENTS on GARY'S PASSING

So sad, but thank you for thinking of me!   Joe Connelly
 

 
I’m sorry to hear this. I so enjoyed visiting with Gary at our 50th. As usual, Dave, you found just the right words eulogize him. I hope all of my former classmates reading this are doing well and coping with the covid crisis.   Meredyth AKA Micki (Hunter) Bender

 
I found out about Gary through Vicki’s Facebook. Like DR said we had many good times at John Dueringer’s garage fixing stuff, smoking cigs and sneaking a few beers. I always admired Gary, his intelligence, wit and his gentleness. We had wonderful discussions at reunions and I will miss him very much.    Paul Hansen

 
I am so saddened to hear that Gary is gone from us.  However, I feel he will always be in our memories, from high school years to our reunions.  His caring outlook on life never changed and that is what made him so interesting to know.  Someone is never truly "gone" until the last person to know him, or know about him, leaves also.  For Gary, I believe that will not be for many years to come. 
 
Barbara (Lauer) Chandra
 
 
I’m just so sad about Gary. When Jerry had his 50th class reunion in Seattle I called Gary and asked for the name of a hotel near the airport and he said stay with us. So we did and we did it again 10 years later for his 60th. They have such a lovely home and were so good to us. Then when we took two of our grandchildren out to Seattle he met us and had lunch with us and took us to the Bill Gates foundation which was a wonderful place for the kids to see. We will all really miss Gary. I can’t believe he’s gone!
Ann (Davies) Shea
 
 
David, 
This is really sad news!
 
Last weekend, I mentioned to Audubon friends here in Portland that I was planning to make the drive up to Seattle to surprise Gary by showing up at his door.  This is really scary for me!  He had been on my mind for weeks! 
 
Gary had sent me an email some time ago and I decided that I would try and blow his socks off by hunting him down and calling him rather than send email. I got too talk to him for about 45 minutes and he was the same person he was when he, Bob Thomas and John Krueger and I hung together our senior year. 
 
I was thinking about him for several reason but primarily because of his infectious laugh.  His laugh was one of a kind!  Months ago, I was at a U.of Washington meeting and some one there sounded just like Gary.  When that individual laughed I was talking to someone else, but the sound of what I thought was Gary’s voice, immediately made me turn around and look for Gary!
 
I also recall a time at the Attic when two guys from CMH were giving me a rough time. This thin little  guy by the name of Gary Schroeder walked up to them in a very threatening manner and told them to back off or he’d beat the crap out of them!  Gary was of a rather slight build and I though he was about to get killed.  To my surprise, they rapidly backed water and Gary turned and looked at me and laughed as he wiped the sweat from under the hat he always wore in the Winter.  
 
All the time he was on campus in Madison I only saw him once as he was crossing University avenue against the traffic.  He was a bit under the weather (drunk) and I thought he was about to get killed! He was dodging cars to get across the street.  He was on lucky person. 
 
I don’t know why I waited so long, too long, to reconnect with him! I regret it!  He was one of my best buddies my senior year and a person I will never forget.  
 
I never met Vickey!  All I knew about her was that she was the light of his life! He adored her!
 
So often now I find that I recall folks and I have made it a practice to touch bases when I locate them. Thanks to David Fuller! Gary escaped my visit because he was only four hours from the houses out here in Portland and I thought I could always have to opportunity to find him.  My loss. 
 
Gary you will never be forgotten!
 
Bob Christiaansen
 
 
So sorry to hear of Gary’s passing. We were schoolmates at Calhoun school. The path to the school passed right next to his house and many times he would jump out and scare me and then we would both race to school.  Those were joyful and carefree days.  He always had a smile on his face.  My sympathy to his family.
 
David, thanks for letting us know 
 
Dorothy Klinefelter
 

Every effort is made to make sure that the information on this page is accurate, but mistakes do happen. If you have an additions or deletions, call or e-mail Dave Fuller, 262-691-2613; kz1100man@sbcglobal.net .

NOTE: If anyone else would like to post a tribute to a classmate, send it to me and I'll post it.  Dave Fuller kz1100man@sbcglobal.net 

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                                       JERRY EALES
 Jerry graduated from Marquette University where he attended while working and raising a family. He was married to fellow classmate Marion Dettman and had three daughters, one son, and 12 grandchildren.

His work in Civil Engineering took him through the U.S. and to Saudi Arabia, Korea, and various Caribbean Islands, frequently to Jamaica to work with the mining industry and government archeologists.

He had many creative interests: in fine woodworking, building furniture and crafting musical instruments; creative bread baking; singing and arranging music; and playing bluegrass banjo. He loved aviation, was a pilot, and volunteered as a technical counselor at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) for many years and most notably  built award-winning ultralight experimental aircraft.

After a long history of heart disease, he died of a lung ailment in 2006.

Marion (Dettman) Eales


As the web master, I had the sad duty to add Jerry's picture to the gallery of departed classmates. We knew each other through Junior High and High School, and went to events, played poker, worked on cars, walked to school together with some other "regulars", and had many great Bull Sessions. He will be missed.
Dave Fuller

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Don Beringer gave a tribute to Rich Hernandez at the conclusion of the Saturday night festivities. This is his version:


Before we leave, I want to mention something about those taken before their time.  And maybe the mention of one will suffice for all.

 

Mark Twain wrote a story about a Captain Sturmfield who rode a gigantic ship to heaven. Upon arriving at the gate, Sturmfield is asked by Saint Peter where he is from.

   “ California ,” the Captain said.

   “And where is that?” the keeper of the gate asked.

   “ America on planet earth… that little blinking light over there,” our traveler said.

   “Oh,” said Saint Peter, “up here that is known as planet Wart. You’ll have to go twenty

   Gates to the right…that’s where people from planet Wart enter.”

So the Captain found the appropriate gate and as he entered, was bowled over by angels   streaming out with torn robes, bent halos and broken harps. 

   “Hey!” yelled the Captain, “What’s wrong? Why are you leaving?”

 The Captain grabbed one by the hem who paused just long enough to shout frantically:     

   “All we have to do around here is sit on a cloud and play our harps…there’s

   Nothing else to do…it’s driving us crazy!”

                                       End of Story

 

I want to change that ending to read that Captain Sturmfield enters heaven and sees an endless line of robed millions, each with hands on hips of those ahead of them, doing the Bunny Hop.  And you know who is leading that host with his joyful spirit and energy?  Richard Hernandez.  If there is a place from which the departed voices of our classmates could speak, they would certainly say, “No sad remembrances, please.  We’re just fine, and by the way, we got the better half of eternity because Rich is with us.

 

If we assembled here are the bone and sinew of this class of 1958.  Richard Hernandez was surely its heart.

 

Don B

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I got this sad e-mail from Micki (Hunter) Bender today.

Hi Dave,

 

Eva Ivanka Longbrake died Sept. 23 of breast cancer. Maybe you can post something on the website. She planned to come to the reunion but was just too sick to make the trip.

 

Eva moved with her parents and sister to this country from Hungary when she was in 5th grade. After graduation from WHS, she earned a degree from Carroll College in June of 1962 and married Dave Longbrake in August of that year. Eva and Dave moved to Berwyn, IL, then to FL, and lived most of their married life in Denver, CO. where  Eva was an elementary school teacher. They raised two sons and a daughter. Eva was able to get to know and enjoy her first grandchild, born a few months ago.

 

One interesting and unusual interest of Eva's was fencing. She started participating in this sport while in high school and the interest continued through her adult life.

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The Photos below are of my old Hadfield School classmate (The old red brick Hadfield building built in 1865 with the creaky wood floors, not the 1954 soullless single story Hadfield). Gary probably looks more like his graduation picture than (almost) everyone else in the Class O'1958. The following is from his Daughter-in-law:

Gary Lee Baumeister, died on August 30, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada after a difficult battle with cancer.  He is survived by his son, Bryan Howard Baumeister, daughter in law, Anastasia Mylonas Baumeister and beloved granddaughter, Emily Ann Baumeister of Lake Forest, Illinois.   He is also survived by his daughter Karyn Baumeister and granddaughter Hannah Baumeister of Thousand Oaks, California.

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Gary Baumeister & Granddaughter, Emily. Taken in Waukesha, August 2008

Gary Baumeister & Granddaughter Emily, Taken March 2007 in Las Vegas

Kay Lee Castagna

Notice |  Condolences

Castagna, Kay Lee (Nee Howe ) Sunday, January 18, 2015, age 74. Beloved wife of Mike "Papa" for 52 years. Loving mother of Michael Castagna and Katie (Richard) Neumann . Proud grandma of Mitchell and Amber Castagna. Sister of the late Fred (Judy) Howe Jr. Sister-in-law of Janet (Dave) Kessler and Sheryl (Lance) Anastasio. Further survived by other relatives and many dear friends. Preceded in death by her parents Fred and Kathereyn Howe. Memorial Gathering at WISCONSIN MEMORIAL PARK - Chapel of the Chimes, 13235 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, on Friday, January 30 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, with a time of Remembrances at 12:30 PM. The family will continue to celebrate Kay at FRACARO'S LANES, 1430 White Rock Ave, Waukesha from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Kay had two passions: May Kay Cosmetics and bowling. Kay proudly achieved Executive Sales Director with Mary Kay and was elected into the Waukesha Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
 

Judith A. Higbee, of Delafield, formerly of Waukesha, passed away on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at age 76. She was born on Feb. 7, 1940, the daughter of Donald A. and Charlotte O. (nee Ott) Renner. Judith was a graduate of Waukesha South High School and

Judy Renner Higbee

Betty Hurula

Donaldson, Betty Marie (Nee Hurula ) Betty was born May 22, 1939 in Ashland, WI and died October 30, 2016 in Milwaukee, WI. She is survived by 4 sons; Richard Hurula, and David, Kevin and Christopher Donaldson, and 4 siblings; Bill, Kathy, John, and Paulette and other family and friends who live to cherish her love and life. As a younger woman, Betty worked as an LPN, served in leadership positions in her American Legion Post, and as a Sunday School teacher and VBS leader as a member of Central United Methodist Church in Milwaukee. In recent years Betty was lovingly cared for by the staff at Trinity Village on Milwaukee's north side. Family and friends will share a time of remembrance of the celebration of her life graveside Wednesday, November 9th at 2:30 PM, Forest Home Cemetery - Prairie Rest Natural Garden, 2405 W Forest Home Ave in Milwaukee. (Enter 26th & Forest Home Ave)

Richard in 2011 visiting Waukesha

Richard Gagan

Last year at Christmas we were sitting around the dining room table at my sister's house and the conversation got around to a picture of me on a family calendar in which I am rather slender; and someone mentioned that there's a picture of me in my army uniform in which I am even skinnier. So we got out the proverbial shoebox full of photographs and, as I was looking for the picture of me in my uniform, I found several photos of me, my friend Richard Gagan, and a third friend, Jerry Eales. We all grew up on the side of Waukesha and all attended Hadfield school (not the new yellow brick Hadfield school, but the old red three-story building with creaky floors and real wooden windows and an externally mounted fire escape that got lowered to the ground by having a sixth-grader run out onto the steps and having his weight causing the fire escape to lower onto the ground. When I was a sixth-grader I got this job, and I really used to look forward to fire drills. But I digress.)

I was going to scan the photos and send a copy to my old friend Richard Gagan who lived in Leiscester North Carolina because I'm sure Richard would have been delighted at the image of three carefree adolescents enjoying a nice summer day. Unfortunately I procrastinated in scanning the photos, and today I got news that my old friend had a massive stroke and died on Thursday, 23 February, 2017. So he will never get to see the photos of himself. Jerry Eales has been gone for years. See the "Photos From School Days" pictures 79-81 for the photos from the 50's.

So I am posting the photos to the Class of 1958 website, along with this brief notice. Richard and I were very close friends. The Smothers Brothers (remember them?)  had a little routine where one of them said "Mom always liked you best", and you're not supposed to say to your friends that you loved one friend the best of all, but I am going to break that rule because Richard was always very dear to me. We almost always got along, we enjoyed the same things, and loved having long philosophical arguments about the state of the world, the future that we will soon be joining, and of course babes.

So goodbye old friend, I'm going to miss you. When we were together once I apologized for not writing more often and seeing him more often, and he said that the mark of a real friendship is that you don't necessarily have to do those things if you are really friends. He was right of course, but I still wish I had seen more of him when that was still possible.
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Here is the official obituary:

Richard John Gagan, 76, passed away Thursday, February 23, 2017 at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center, Asheville NC.
      
Richard was born in Waukesha, WI on April 24, 1940 to the late Willard A. Gagan and Ethel Susan (Barkow) Gagan. He completed undergraduate and master’s degrees in sociology at the University of Wisconsin and he was awarded a PhD in rural sociology, research methodology, and statistics at Cornell University in 1969 and a Post-doctoral in mental health systems research in 1981 at the University of South Florida in 1981.  He began his teaching career at the University of South Florida (USF) in September 1968 as an Associate Professor of Sociology.  He became the Director of the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at USF and enjoyed participating in joint research with the medical school among other academic endeavors.  In the mid 1970’s, Richard took a hiatus from teaching to work with the United Farm Workers Union; an experience for which he was immensely grateful.  Richard retired from the Sociology Department at USF in 2008.  In 2015 Richard and his wife Sally moved to Asheville, NC to enjoy the outdoors and their two collies.
 
Richard loved many things.  He was a popular teacher and adored his students.  He was a great companion and valued his friendships; many of which lasted several decades.  Richard loved to sing and write poetry, was active in the Tampa community theatre, and enjoyed all kinds of music. One of his favorite songs was ‘Mr. Bojangles’ which he would play on his guitar. In his final days, his caregivers at Hospice played it for him.
 
Richard was predeceased by his parents and his sister Nancy Abrahamson. He is survived by his beloved wife Sally (McKay), his three children, Michael Gagan of Tampa, FL, Kathleen Gagan of Bernardsville, NJ, Robert Gagan of Salt Lake City, UT, and six grandchildren.  He is also survived by two stepdaughters, Sara (John) Shaylor of Washington DC, Caroline Dumas of Asheville, NC, and two step-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brother Bill (Claire) Gagan, of Asheville NC, sister Marion (Marty) Dwarkin, of Bethesda, MD and brother-in-law Ron Abrahamson of Waukesha, WI as well as many nieces and nephews.
 

 

Karl Thew's Obituary

Karl was born on September 21, 1938 and passed away on Tuesday, September 26, 2017. Karl was a resident of Waukesha, Wisconsin at the time of passing. Karl proudly served his country in the United States Army. The visitation for Karl will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the 11:00 a.m. memorial service at Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS), 701 Northview Rd, Waukesha, WI 53188 or to the Hurricane Harvey C/O American Red Cross, PO Box 37839 Boone, IA 50037-0839.

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                                            CURT HINCKLEY
Curt Hinckley wasn't the biggest guy in the class, but he had a kng-sized personality, and was determined enough to play varsity basketball for Waukesha South, then known as Waukesha High School. He also played golf and was a popular and active member of the Class O'58. Following is a photo of him in happier days, along with a few other members of the Class O'58.

 

Paul R. Westbrook

Milltown - Paul R. Westbrook of Milltown, New Jersey, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2019. He was 79. Born in Milwaukee, WI, he lived in Watchung, Montclair and Westfield, NJ before moving to Milltown 13 years ago.

Paul was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and a lifelong Badgers fan. An expert in finance, Paul founded his own financial planning firm, Westbrook Financial Advisors, taught at Rutgers University and wrote several books on finance and business. He was a member of the Rutgers Club and enjoyed listening to opera and European travel.

Paul is predeceased by his parents John and Anna Westbrook, and his sister Lynn Westbrook.

Surviving is his wife Elizabeth Marquez; his daughter Ashley Westbrook and her fiancé Tommy Donaldson, of Brooklyn, NY; his stepdaughter Elizabeth Johnson of Seattle, WA; his stepdaughter Alison O'Neill, her husband David and their children, Brian and Katie, of Summit, NJ; his sister Ruth Williamson of Milwaukee, WI; his brother Kurt Westbrook of Poynette, WI; and his niece and nephews.

Friends and relatives may call on Saturday, June 22nd from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm at The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N. Main St. - at Riva Avenue, Milltown, NJ. A Memorial Service will be held during that time at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org. You may sign the online condolence "guestbook" at www.crabiel.com.

             
RUSKIN, FLA.

Gilbert 'Gib' Larson
June 17, 1940 — May 26, 2019

Gilbert “Gib” Larson, 78, died peacefully on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at the Plaza West Health Center near his home in Florida, following a brief battle with cancer. He leaves behind his loving wife, Sandra; his sons Chris and Chad; his daughter-in-law, Maribel; his stepson, Scott; his grandsons Connor, Mateo, Marco, Spencer and Nikolas; his sister, Sally, and her husband, Tim, and their sons Ryan and James.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Larson and Meredyth (Basney) Larson. Born in Greensburg, Pa., he was a graduate of Waukesha High School, class of 1958, then the University of Wisconsin where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and later served in the US Army Reserves. A competitive golfer, he won the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship in 1961, played in the U.S. Open in 1962, and continued to play golf throughout his life, as a member of Merrill Hills Country Club, Minnetonka Country Club, Timber Creek Golf Club, and Cypress Creek Golf Club.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 2, at 2 p.m. at the Woods Chapel, 525 Leaf St., Long Lake, MN 55356, with family receiving visitors one hour prior — golf attire is welcome.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) , a youth development organization.
 
 
 

 

Passing of Carole Meyer Kowalski

I'm sorry to inform you of the passing of Carole. She died at home on June 14, 2019. She was a loving, caring person who saw the good in everyone. She was a devoted wife for over 59 years and the mother of 4 children  and  7 grandchildren. She worked in special education in a local high school for 19 years, retiring 1n 1997. We traveled extensively and she especially enjoyed river cruising in Europe, trips to Florence, Italy and Athens, Greece. She is very missed by her family and many friends. Her passing was sudden and unexpected.