Dorchester High School - Dorhian Yearbook (Dorchester, WI)

Page 18 text:

PAGES OF THE FUTURE This is a letter we found written to Bob Schumacher from Patricia Stelzel dated April 21, 1954. Dear Bob: Knowing how busy you must be, working as the new Tavlor County agent, I will forgive you for not answering my last letter. Congratulations to you on your new job and also on your recent engagement to that cute little blonde from River Falls. Saw her picture and the announcement in last week’s Clarion. Good things really happen quickly for you, don’t they? There is really so much to tell you that I don’t know where to begin. You can just pull up a chair and relax, for I have a funny feeling this may turn out to be a fairly lengthy letter. To begin, by putting first things first, I wonder if you would help plan a reunion of the Class of '49. As it stands now, the date is all that has been set and that is June 13th. I have seen and talked to John Grinker (who as you may know has a big turkey farm northwest of Dorchester and also is now a married man with a year old son, John Jr.)--and he says he says he will help with the arrangements too. I have kept in touch with many of our classmates these five years and have heard Via the grapevine about the restbut do not have, everyone’s address. What I’d appreciate your doing for the cause is to write to some of the boys, Danny Kramer, Roger Malchow and Jim Herman, for I do not have their addresses, and see if they will O.K. the date and come. I surely was surprised to hear that Danny is engaged to a girl from Milwaukee, guess he has a pretty nice teaching position in Wausau now, too--history and assistant coach at the high school--not bad for a beginning.' Was very proud to see Jim Herman’s name in the Milwaukee Journal this winter--he must be doing a terrific job of coaching down there in Lake Geneva for his boys to cop State Championship the way they did. I did see Roger one week end when he was home but forgot to mention the reunion to him; I was all ears, to hear about his forest ranger job at Tomahawk. It must be very interesting by the way he talked.' As you know, Bob, I have now opened a beauty parlor in Dorchester and though it keeps me quite busy I enjoy my work very much. At Christmas time Rose Drinks dripped in to have her hair fixed and she also is engaged—got the ring for her birthday from her boss, she told me. He’s a lawyer in Milwaukee--tall, dark and handsome from her description—something she’s always wished for. Rose also tells me that Charlene is married and is busy putting down her day dreams in book form as well as keeping house. 1 get a letter occasionally from Joyce and Alice. Those two are planning a trip out West this summer for the three months of Alice's vacation. Sounds exciting, wish I could take off and join them. Alice has finished college and has been teaching in Stevens Point while Joyce has been working in Wausau at Employer’s Mutual. Joyce has made plans to work as office manager at Employer’s Mutual when she returns-- Alice has been taking voice lessons from a well-known teacher and next winter she has a fifteen minute program over the Stevens Point radio station as well as her teaching. In Alice’s last letter she told me all the news about Helen Peissig. Seems she has been a receptionist at the Morgan Steel Company in Chicago and has also been going to Northwestern night school taking a short course in journalism.

Page 17 text:

OUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY By — The Seniors On September 4, 1945, we, as thirty-six energetic Freshmen, enrolled in Dorchester High School. During this first year, we took part in all the curricular activities, one of which was the carnival. Our popularity candidates, James Herman and Jeannine Mertens, received second place. Our Sophomore year with Mr. Carnahan as class advisor had us thinking of the future, so here we were selling different articles to raise money. The popularity candidates at the carnival were Robert Schumacher and Helen Peissig. They received third place. The Junior year was a busy one, with the annual fall carnival taking place. Danny Kramer and Joyce Ortlieb lead the grand march as first place was received. Our Junior Prom, on April 16, 1948, with Robert Schumacher and Betty Beck reign- ing as king and queen, was a success. The hall was decorated to the theme of “Serenade of the Bells. The year was completed with a class picnic on May 27th. Our trip took us up to Copperfalls, Wisconsin and up to the bay of Lake Superior at Ashland. At last we have arrived at our Senior year! The programs of many of us were crowded with responsibilities, other than class particiaption. Marvin Busse, after a September class meeting, found himself President of the class: Danny Kramer became Vice-President, Joyce Ortlieb, Secretary, Roland Larson, Treasurer, and Robert Schumacher, Class Reporter. The Senior Ball was held on November 13, 1948 with Leaves Come Tumbling Down as the theme. The Varsity Boys furnished the music. The grand march was lead by Marvin Busse and Joyce Ortlieb who reigned as king and queen. Out on a Limb was the name of the class play presented in April. During all four years, our class has participated in the activities and our basketball boys have been champions for four years at the inter-class tournaments. The motto chosen by the class is The Way is Hard, but the Prize is Great. Our class colors are maroon and silver and our flower is the white rose. On May 26, 1949, in maroon caps and gowns, all twenty-two seniors received their diplomas at the evening commencement exercises held at the Recreation Hall. 13

Page 19 text:

Went over to Eau Claire for some supplies last week and stopped in to see Gladys Tischendorf. She, too, has finished her beauty course and is working in a very exclusive beauty parlor there. Some day she hopes to have a “nook” of her own too. While over there, I had to stop in at the Merten’s Transit Company-- alias Hank's--and both Henry, who is the manager, and his wife, who is his bookkeeper and secretary, said they would come to the reunion. Oh yes, before I forget, 1 believe you know the addresses of the Seidel boys-- Dale and Gerald—would you please write to them too? I’ve heard that both have been in the Army and now Gerald is a pilot, flying those jet planes from California to New York. Dale is a mechanical engineer somewhere in Ohio. Do you remember Jeannine’s ambitions to be a nurse? Well, she has gone even higher than that now—yes, she put in three years of study, but now is pert and pretty little airline stewardess for United Airlines. I’m afraid the airlines won’t have her very long, for she has a big diamond from a former Abbotsford fellow. I had my trusty old Ford to the garage last week, and guess who was head mechanic. Merlin Ludwig.’ In no time at all he had my car fixed and when 1 paid my bill, who should reach out and grab my money but Rollie Larson who is cashier and bookkeeper, at this new garage in Athens. Usually haven’t too much time for much recreation but--when I do, my friend and I usually go over to the bowling alley in Curtis which is operated by our old classmates, Glen Jensen and Donny Ortlieb. They said we could have their alleys for the day if we wanted to have our reunion there. Wrote a letter to Marvin Busse about it. He is studying for the ministry at Springfield--singing in the choir and working his way through by assisting a public accountant after school. He tells me he’s going to be home in June, and he, too, will help us. Almost forgot to tell you that Audrey Brunner is now married and as her husband is an Army man, she is stationed with him at a Kentucky post—right off hand it slips my mind which one. Her business school training has come in mighty handy, for she is also working as private secretary for the president of a big concern there. Well, here’s hoping we can get in touch with all 22 of the Class of ‘49 and have a grand reunion. Do you suppose we might rent the new gym for the day and have someone put on a big dinner for us, or what would you suggest? Please write or call me soon so we can go ahead with the arrangements. Your classmate of ’49 Pat