Elkhart ’61 Blog
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       EHS Class of 1961 reunion committee recently toured the Lerner Theatre which is under construction.  For those of you who are not up-to-date on Elkhart happenings, the Lerner Theatre is the old Elco plus the addition of land on the corner of Franklin and Main  …and it is being restored into a beautiful arts and entertainment center.   We are tentatively going to hold our 50th class reunion there on August 19th and 20th, 2011.

        Here are a few of the members in their hard hats !! ….  and a worker detailing the gorgeous ceiling.   

       Class of 1961 member Richard A. Pedler passed away on June 23, 2010.   Richard attended Purdue University and graduated from Bethel College with a degree in social work in 2006.  He served with the First Infantry Division in Lai Khe, South Vietnam from 1968-1969.  Rich was president and co-founder of Recovery Journey, an addictions treatment center in Elkhart.  He was president of the board for the Elkhart Country Drug Free Partnership.  He also was chairman of the board of Tobacco Control of Elkhart County.  Dick also mentored children through Dreams Work and CARES,

      Dick is survied by his children, Stephaney ( Mike )  Nay, Elizabeth ( Brent ) Kattau , and Jeffrey ( Julie ) Miller;   six grandchildren and a sister Rosemary Dinse of Roseville, California.

     Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapel-hillmemorial.com   Our condolences to the family. 

     Class of  EHS 1961 class member Cinnann Freel Taylor passed away on June 16th, 2010 at Elkhart General Hospital.  Cinnann is survived by her husband Terry, also a 1961 class member; of Elkhart;   her mother, Bettie Freel of Elkhart:; a daughter , Kim ( Don ) Hilligoss of Elkhart;, a son , Mark ( Susan ) Taylor of Chicago; a sister, Scherrie Walters of Elkhart and five grandchildren.

      Cinnann owned and operated a daycare center in Elkhart for 35 years.  She was a homemaker who loved spending time with her family.

      Our sincere condolences to the family.

      EHS 1961 Classmate James Pettit passed away Monday, June 14, 2010.  Jim was also a graduate of Tri State College, and was employed beginning in 1965 at First National Bank in Elkhart, serving as senior vice president until 1990.  In 1991, Jim founded J.P. Industries, Inc. with divisions of J.P. Engraving, Keline Manufacturing, A-One Corporate Apparel and A-One Signs and Graphics and served as president until his death.

     Jim was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Elcona Country Club, served on the board of directors of Horizons West Association, Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, formerly served on the board of directors of the Humane Society of Elkhart County, Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart County Fight Crime Fund, Board of Aviation, Chairman of the Elkhart Sesquicentennial and St. Joseph River Flotilla Committee.  He served in the National Guard, and as an Elkhart City councilman and as the council’s finance chairman and president.

     Jim is survived by his wife, Sue: son, Jeff ( wife Ginger) of Dublin, Ohio: daughter, Jill ( husband Marc ) Barfell of Elkhart, grandchildren Brad and Ben Barfell and Natalie and Molly Pettit, a sister Phyllis ( husband Charles ) Gordon of Elkhart and a sister-in-law Judy ( husband Robert ) Sassaman of Elkhart.

    Jim was an intregal member of our reunion committee and will be greatly missed.  Our sincere condolences to the family. 

     Toni R. VanPatten, a EHS class of 1961  graduate , passed away May 11, 2010  at her home in Mishawaka, Indiana.  Toni graduated from the Purdue University School of Pharmacy in 1966 and was formerly employed at Newman’s Pharmacy, Alick’s Drug Stores and the Pharmacy at Elkhart General Hospital.  She also worked in the pharmacy at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend for 26 years.     She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and was an avid collector of Peanuts and Snoopy memorabilla.  She loved animals, especially her dog Max.

       Toni is survived by her mother, Tura Jane Van Patten, a sister,  Victoria B. Van Patten, both of Mishawaka,  two cousins, Bill ( Marilyn ) Van Patten Jr. of Elkhart and Nancy ( Steve) Blough of Shipshewana, her companion, Debra Anderson of Mishawaka and her dog Max.

     Our Condolences to the family. 

        EHS 1961 Grad Carolyn Staub Edwards passed away on April 25, 2010.  She was a homemaker who resided in Shipshewana, Indiana.   She enjoyed bowling and motorcyling with her husband of 11 years, Steven .

       Survivors include her husband, Steven of Shipshewana;  her mother , Margaret Chandler of Elkhart ; daughters, Tina L. ( Ron) Drake and Margaret ( Dennis ) Tam, both of Elkhart, and Angel Wells of New York;  son Harry Wells of Lagrange; stepson Steven Edwards Jr. of West lafayette;  brothers, Tom and Kenny Staub, both of Elkhart;  17 grandchildren and five great -grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Staub ; her stepfather, Leroy Chandler; a son Richard Brown;  and a brother Ray Staub.

       A memorial service will be at a later date.  Elkhart Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

      Our condolences to the family. 

     After responding to an editorial in The Elkhart Truth about forming an alumni choir , I received the following information.  I thought perhaps some of our class would be interested in participating.   More information can be found at the EHS Class of 1973 web site  Http://www.ehs73.com

Elkhart High School ALL Alumni Band-Orchestra-Choir!  (EHS Alunni BOC)

The formation of an Elkhart High School ALL Alumni Band/Orchestra/Choir is in progress.

The EHS Alumni BOC is in the process of forming a choir to perform at one of the opening ceremonies of the Lerner Performing Arts Center in Elkhart, Indiana (the old Elco theatre) in 2011.

 The choir should include graduates from Elkhart High School, Elkhart Central High School, and Elkhart Memorial High School.

 This choir is going to be a serious, dedicated group and its members need to be able to come to come to most practices.

We will be singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and approximately three other selections.  The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was performed at the final concert of the old Elkhart l High School building in 1972 before the building was torn down.

More information will be posted HERE I http://www.ehs73.com as it becomes available.

We are in the process of determining the level of interest for this project so please pass this information on to your fellow Elkhart high School alumni.

If you are interested in participating:

Please send your contact information to BOC@ehs73.com.

     The Class of 1961 has lost another classmate.   Judy Davis Doctor passed away February 9, 2010 in Hammond , Louisiana.   Until recently, she was employed as a receptionist at Quad Area Community Action Agency.   Judy  was married to Tom Doctor for 46 years.  He survives along with her mother, Marjorie Davis, sisters Carol Taylor and Evon Winguard, and a son Todd, a daughter Tonya, 4 grandchildren,  and one great grandson.   An online guestbook is available at  www.harrymckneely.com

     Our sincere condolences to the family.

        The following e-mail was sent to me by Jim Pettit and Jim  has given his permission to share it with classmates.     Jim can be contacted at jim@jpengraving.com         Ellen

Date: January 26, 2010

To: Friends and Business Associates:

From: Jim Pettit

Subject: Health Update

Dear Friends and Business Associates:

I have had 6 month check-ups for my previous bout with prostrate cancer for the last five years.

About 18 month ago a small spot was found on my spine as a result of the prostrate cancer spreading. It was pinpointed and through radiation, it was treated and I was given a clean bill of health. I have learned that once you have a cancer, it can and it often times comes back, thus the purpose of this health update.

I was scheduled the later part of November 2009 for my 6 month check-up only to find out my prostrate reading had jumped considerable from the previous six months. Both my regular doctor and my urologist thought I had possibly had an infection so treated their suspicions with Cipro for 30 days. After the 30 days of the antibiotic, I again had a blood test to find out my prostrate readings had doubled again. Upon reviewing the findings with my urologist on Jan 12, I was advised he was along with my regular doctor, referring me to a specialist on such issues, a doctor of hematology and oncology. In checking out the referral with others in the medical community, he is most respected in his knowledge and application of the latest findings in chemical treatment, chemotherapy.

I underwent a complete body scan last Monday, Jan 18^th along with a CT scan to pinpoint the issues. The findings were that I have numerous spots on the bone from my waist up. As of today, I am getting an infusion of Zometa, a drug to make the bone become harder and resistance to the prostrate cancer which it is now feeding on the bone. In addition, I will begin chemotherapy on Thursday, Feb. 4^th for 12 sessions. A session is getting chemo on day one and then again in 3 weeks. This equates to 36 weeks of treatment. I have a battle before me and I have made up my mind to fight like hell to beat this cancer again.

I am headed to FL tomorrow for 6 days to attend a board meeting of our condo association on Friday and our annual meeting and election of board members for the next 2 years. I am in high hopes of being re-elected for another 2 years. I feel my performance and contributions to our association over my last 8 years as a board member will be supported by the owners vote.

I will keep you posted as I progress down the road to recovery.

Your thoughts and prayers would be most appreciated!

Jim

1st Row – Mary Steinke, Mary Wentz, Elenor Heiliger, kay Robinson, Jolene Moore, Sandra Cooper

2nd Row – Carol Perry, Joan Buzzard, Jackie Brown, Janet Fair, Sara Kohler, Barbara Carter

Top Row – Marilyn Wise, Sharon Wheeler, Laurili Chester, Karen Holopeter, Joan Trindle, Nadine Reed, Frances Baylor

1st Row – Lawton Shank, Barney Pletcher, Homer Stonein, Allen Mechling, Herb Bevington

2nd Row – Steve Lichtenberger, Jack Pressler, Steve Vargo, Warren Johnson, Dennis Stout

                                      The above photos were provided by Joan Trindle Stiver