Deborah Flaherty (Brochman)

It's been awhile since I checked the forum.  I was sorry to hear of Frank Gruber's passing.  He was a childhood neighbor and friend.  I am also very sad to hear of Donna's cancer.  My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.  If there is a way to beat this, I'm sure she wil give it a good strong fight.  Sending positive thoughts to her.  My husband had throat cancer and the Mayo clinic was awesome.  They saved his life.  Highly recommend the Mayo for any cancers!

John Cavanaugh

Donna,

You and Steve are in our prays.  This is hard news to hear.  You are the heart and soul of this forum in many ways.  Your posts would often make me smile.  If Kora and I can help in anyway please let us know.  I'm sure there are many others that would be willing to help also.  Know that there are many people who care for you and are pulling for you to fight this.

Dale Bentley

Jeffery DuBois

Donna, Thank you for making this forum possible.

Sorry to hear of your illness...our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Robert Ayre

Donna,

I am sorry to learn of your short set back with cancer. It is only a short set back with you as you have too many family and friends that care for you and as you of them. I wondered why you were not online very much recently. As others have said you really got a lot of people together again on this forum, so please when you get up to it stay in touch on line here. We could write a book like a Dr, Seuss with all of Donna's antics on the loose, if you could hide and skip out of class then we are sure you can kick that cancer in the a.. You can battle it in a bus or in a plane, in Mr. Fort's class we thought you were insane. You can fight it in a car, but just remember you will always be Steve's shining star. So listen to your friends and get to the Mayo fast, and get back on this site so our memories don't fade into the past. Wishing you all the very best with a full and speedy recovery. Prayers to you and your family

Douglas Kladis

Robert

I 2nd everything you said, a few years ago I got together with Steve Hardy and Dave Frazer for the first time since I left Park High back in 72.  I chated with with Donna on line some and mentioned I wanted to meat some of you all which came about the picnic we had a few years ago.  I thought it was supper cool and it was very nice to meat many of you all.

Vicky Myers (Smith)

I was at the North St. Paul car show that night also,but sadly didn’t see her or anyone. I am sad to hear this news about Donna as well and I will keep her and Steve in my prayers. 

Mary Ann Etzler (Etzler-Phillips)

Hello everyone, A busy last several months kept me away from posting but I have enjoyed reading your all's comments.  Donna, I am very sad to hear of your illness, but as was said before, DO NOT LET THIS DILUTE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT!  You have made this forum entertaining and valuable in ways you may never know.  Just being you is a blessing to all of us.  Know that we all are praying for a positive outcome and kicking this thing into oblivion.  We know the power of prayer makes miracles happen!  Stay strong, we're right there with you.

I wish we all had happy golden years but I suspect many others of us are grappling with the trials and struggles of aging--which totally sucks when our brains are screaming YOUTH!  Why can't I play tennis for 4 hours anymore?  Why does it hurt to get out of bed in the morning?  Why does standing up twist a knee or ankle?  My head says keep pushing, but my body screams to slow down.  I know you all are laughing right along with me....

So for all of my colleagues and your families, my prayer today is for us all to have more good days than bad, to recognize the good in even our bad days, and to keep encouraging us all to make a difference in someone's life every day.  My mother is beginning to struggle with memory loss issues which leads to a host of other things when she forgets how to take care of herself-- so I can say first hand that I have never been more grateful for the ability to recognize a small win every day when there can be so much darkness surrounding us.  The beauty and blessings are there for us to find, like mining for gold, but when we find them, the sun shines even through the rain.  Seek and ye shall find.  Pretty sure someone way more important than me coined that phrase.  Just sayin.

Wishing you all a blessed and fortuitous day, recognizing every small blessing we can find!

-Mary Ann

Dale Bentley

Steve Campos

Been a few months since I logged on, hard to take news like the passing of Frank Gruber and now Donna's news.  I see such great support for our classmates and prayers are being sent to Donna and Steve.

This spring and summer has been busy and yet, I seem to not have the energy to do many things at once like I use to.  I also feel a sense of lazyness creeping into my mindset or am I just tired?

I read today that the class of 1973 is having their reunion this month.  I just wanted to let folks know that at our last reunion, we had extra cash left over from the 2014 Car Bar reunion in the amount of $209.45  I still actually have that cash in a box labeled 2019.  

I am hoping the forum can garner some volunteers to begin planning for next year's 45th.  I will hand off those funds to the planning committee.  

It was wonderful catching up with all of the forum entries, excellent posts.

Steven Kaufhold

Lord bless Donna and Steve and Frank's family and friends

Yes Steve Campos we're not as young as we use to be. It helps to have family and friends to help us along, isn't it? I didn't know many of you in school but still greatly appreciate this website

Steve Hardy

There was an obituary in the St. Paul paper for Thomas Kastama, age 62, who was living in Lino Lakes until he died from cancer 8/28/2018.

Thomas P. KASTAMA

 
1956 - 2018 Obituary 

Age 62, of Lino Lakes Passed away August 28, 2018 After a courageous battle with cancer. Preceded in death by wife, Cindy; and grandparents, Steve & Louise Seliga. Survived by parents, Jim & Pat; step-children, Angie (Adrian) Henning & Chris (Holly) Popelka; grand-children, David & Cody; siblings, Dennis (Christie), Jerry, Patty (Larry) Pfundstein, and Karry; many nieces, nephews, other family & friends. Memorial visitation 2-4 PM Sunday, September 2nd at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME-LINO LAKES, 7050 Lake Dr. (Cty. Hwy. 23). Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society. MUELLER-BIES 651-784-3390

David Frazer

We are praying for Tom's family; Frank's family, and healing for Donna.  This is the season of life for us and our friends.  How are you doing in your lives as we approach an age where we lose loved ones (those who read the post - and miss Donna's posts for now too)?  Time is flying for us... a vapor... the good news is that eternity is timeless. If anyone ever wants to talk to me about heaven; even if you are pro or con on spiritual things but want to share, ask question, or yell at me; please do that!  Just shoot me a private e-mail from my sight or post.  I miss the young kids in the army approaching me all the time (especially when death was a possibility in Iraq or on the way to Iraq). I hope this doesn't seem morbid; but it has been a while since a post about Tom's passing.  I thought I would address the elephant in the room.  Praying blessings on the class of 74!
 

Steve Hardy

It seems that each year comes and goes more rapidly than the last, and quickly fades into the distance in the rear view mirrors of our minds. 

"Lord, teach us to number our days, . . . "

I often think of our mortality as I post the obituary notices of our classmates.  We cannot stop the clock, but we can use what time we have left to get together and show our love and appreciation for each other as often as possible.

As Steve Campos suggested, I would like to see us get together for our 45 year reunion next year.  I will be glad to help in any way I can to make this happen.  He also suggested the Red Barn in Cottage Grove for a venue, which seems like a great location.

If there are any plans in the making, please let me know.  I will be glad to help.

Steven Bilderback

Sound like a great idea Steve. Are there any volunteers to start a planning comity?

Donna Absey (Stuhr)

Hey guy's, checking in to tell everyone of you thank you for the well  wishes and especially for all your prayers.  I have been so blessed with my family and friends. My adventure with cancer was a complete surprise for me and Stev.e. I went to the Dr. expecting to hear I had an ulc!er by nooo they hit me with this CRAP.  I am doing O.K., I have chemo every two weeks, it is going well no hair loss. Thank God for that, I did not realize how vain I was until I got hit with the possibly of my hair falling out. I prayed for two things, don't let me loose my  hair and no throwing up ( that my friends is not a pretty sight, throwing up makes me throw up).  Other than the first few days I have not had those problems. I just had my 4th chemo and then on Oct 1  I will  have a pet scan to see if chemo is working.  I know on that day until I get results I will be a nervous wreck. I believe strongly in prayer so please keep me in yours! So enough of that crap.  I am so happy to see more people on this site, even the ones in the backgroud. Steve C. Tari Keapproth has the  rest of the class funds. She is looking to get in contact with you, her # is 651-735-8216,  her phone is her shop number so if she does not answer leave a message. Dave, just a few words God bless you for all you do. I will try to keep up with this site a little better. God bless all of you!!!!!!!

Steve Hardy

Donna,

I'm sure that I speak for all of us when I say that we are ever so thankful to hear from you again, and that you are in our prayers without ceasing.  You are much loved and admired by your classmates, and we hope to have you with us for many years to come.

The days may seem long, but the years pass quickly.  Again, I am not any good as an organizer, but I will gladly serve as a foot soldier in making our 45 year reunion come to pass.  I enjoy seeing our classmates, and I look forward to seeing everyone again.

David Frazer

Donna, you don't know how great it is to hear an update about you, from yourself!  We are praying for you (and Steve). 

Steven Bilderback

Donna,
We are all pulling for you -

You've got this!  
 

Mary Lou DeForth (Hosler)

Donna, it was great getting together last week and catching up.  You look great and glad that you have been able to avoid many of the side effects of treatment.  Although your energy level is low, just remember, take it one day at a time.  You and Steve continue to be in my daily thoughts and prayers.

Toni Heller (Brush)

Hi Donna this is the first I’ve been on the message forum for along while and I’m so sorry to hear of your illness if there is anything I can do to help please don’t hesitate to contact me please. Lynn and I will always keep you and Steve in our prayers, you two have been special friends to me during our teen years and after seeing you two at the reunions we remain friends to this day. I can feel your anxiety and and I want to be there for you in anyway. If you need to talk or like I said anything just call me please, don’t hesitate ok? Tell Steve hi from us and we miss you guys.

Toni Heller (Brush)

Sorry everyone I can’t wait till our next reunion to see everyone again I’ve been reading your posts to catch up. Dave, Lynn and I are doing good as good as can be expected. Seems like as we get older many of us have our illnesses, aches, and pains. I just hope you all are good also and a big shout out HI to you all and God Bless. See you all at our next reunion!

Steve Hardy

I'm sorry to be posting news of another classmate . . .

Steve Thome

Age 62. Died peacefully with dignity on 9-13-18. Private family service and interment.

Published in Pioneer Press on Sept. 23, 2018

Special thanks to Roger Fritz for bringing this obituary to my attention.

Jeffery DuBois

Hi All,

Thank you for raising the issue of organizing the 45th reunion for next year.   I'll volunteer to be the organizer for the 45th. 

Stay tuned I will  be sending out questions and soliciting ideas from the forum to get traction on this.

Thanks!

- Jeff

Taryn Buckley (Keapproth)

jeff,

i have the class reunion money.  please call me at 651 735 8216 

tari keapproth(buckley)