Elkhart ’61 Blog
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        1961 Classmate  Dee Pliskin Congress passed away at home on Sanibel Island, Florida after a lengthy bout with cancer on August 5, 2008.  After high school, she attended the University of Miami .  Dee  was married to Larry Congress for 46 years.   She and Larry founded Congress Jewelers in Sanibel, Florida in 1982.  She is also survived by four children, Scot, Doug, Juli and Brad  and nine grandchildren plus two brothers, Barry Pliskin and John Pliskin

        Our condolences to her family.

          1961 classmate Dennis R. Gardner passed away on April 4, 2008 in Elkhart  where he resided. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, the former Pamela Sue Ellis, three daughters, and two sons, a sister Linda and a brother Michael.

         Denny began working for the Elkhart Truth one week after graduation as a journeyman printer and later was a night composing room foreman.  He retired after 45 years , ending his career in the prepress department.

       Our condolences to his family.  Online condolences may be made at  www.billingsfuneral-home.com

         The class of  ’61 lost another member on October 10th, 2007.  Steve Bell passed away in Elkhart after a long struggle with cancer and diabetes.  After graduating in 1961, Steve had attended Tulane University,  the University of Hawaii, and IUSB.  He was a US Army veteran who served in Vietnam.

        He is survived by his mother, one son , one daughter and one granddaughter.   Our sincere condolences go to the family.

              The Class of ’61 has lost two members in the last several days.

             Judith A. Luke Coelho passed away on Sunday, Sept. 2nd, 2007 at home .  Judy  was employed at CTS for 46 years.     She is survived by a daughter and a son, four grandchildren, and three sisters.     

            John M. Schlamersdorf  died Tuesday, Sept 4th, 2007.  John was a graduate of Purdue School of Engineering and was employed at Bayer Corporation,  formerly Miles Laboratories.  He is survived by his wife, Dawn, one daughter, two sons, and seven grandchildren.

          Our condolences go out to both families.

        The class of ’61 has lost another classmate .  Charlie Miles passed away last week.  He resided in Elkhart .  Our condolences to his family.

           Since the beginning of 2007, two more of our classmates have passed away.   Sharon Dorman Weed died in January, 2007…and Dianne Hangartner Marlow passed away February 8th, 2007.    Sharon attended Roosevelt Junior High School..but..was not listed in any of the EHS annuals and Dianne  ( Central Junior High ) was pictured in the senior class of 1961..but..her obit said that she was a 1962 grad.  Our condolences go to their families.

The class lost two class mates in the last several weeks.

Pam Davis Nielson and Patrica Albert Nih.