Onarga Township High School - Onarquois Yearbook (Onarga, IL)

Page 30 text:

(Hiass JSiistoru On September 1, 1949, sixty frightened little first graders entered the Onarga Grade School into the classes of Mrs. Eimen and Miss Day. The joy of the year was when we were allowed to visit Brookfield Zoo. At the end of the year, we lost Karen Henrichs--plus twenty-four others. In 1950, we journeyed down the hall to be greeted by Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Reed. Our most exciting experience this year was visiting ''Station Cloudville in our school operetta which was directed by Miss Corkill. We were all very sorry to see Martha Black leave, but were glad to welcome Carl and Carol Natterstad and Nan Beale r. As time sped on, we drove our teachers crazy with our brilliant brain capacity! Among those were: Mrs. Doran, third grade; Mrs. Zirkle, fourth grade; and Mr. Aikman and Mrs. Hanson, fifth grade. In those years, we gained Buddy French, Bob Gharst, Cletus Nolde, Jeannine Smith, Sharon Haire, and Christine Bayston. We were sorry to lose Bobby Miller, Bobby Berg, Jeannine Smith, Johnny Clifton, Nan Bealer, and Kay Rohrm. Sandra Kuhlman was queen of the May festival in fourth grade, and Ruth Ann Patterson was queen in fifth grade. The biggest moment of our sixth year in school was being able to move to the high school building. Mrs. Steinecker and Mr. Robek were waiting there to greet us. Another great moment was being able to be patrols and get to tell the little kids what to do! We were happy to welcome Toni Neely and Sandra Hubner to our class that year, but were sad to say good-bye to Kenneth Larkin, Tommy Paine, and Charlie Schumacher. The main event of our seventh year was when our teachers, Mrs. Stillens and Mrs. Pierce, took each of the classes on a field trip. We were glad to welcome Raymond Harshbarger and Pat Trumble that year. Finally eighth grade arrived with Mrs. Stillens and Miss Clarke as our teachers. We had a very busy year. Besides taking constitution tests, we were busily preparing for the May Festival and promotion into high school. This year we had to bid farewell to Pamela Tector and Danny Shelley. We added our beautiful voices to the songs for the May Festival and Ruddieann Goodwin was our May Queen. In May we took our class trip to Chicago. Forty-two students graduated from Onarga grade school on May 26, 1957. The History Award was given to Ruddieann Goodwin and Barbara Thomas and Robert Gharst received the Legion awards. Carole Coyne, Kay Brown, Sheila Lee, Sandra Kuhlman. and Sharon Haire were cheerleaders that year. In the fall of 1957, forty-three slightly green freshmen treked to school to begin their Freshman year. We were all anxious for initiation to be done away with so we could begin living again. We were welcomed into high school by the Freshman-Sophomore Reception and then settled down to work towards graduation. Barbara Thomas, President; Sheila Lee, Vice President; Bob Gharst, Secretary; and Kay Brown, Treasurer were our class officers. Greg Salmon was our Student Council representative. Miss Wright and Mr. Calloway were our sponsors. As the year came to an end, we had to bid sad good-bys to Alice Faulkner, Hiram and Lois Williams, and Toni Neely, but we gained two new classmates that year, Karen Henrichs and Jim Bohlman. We moved on to our Sophomore year with a great anticipation of the things to come. We entertained the Freshmen at the Freshman-Sophomore Reception. Our sponsors were Mr. Gromm, Miss Williams, and Mr. Ritsma. The class officers were: Greg Salmon, President; Kay Brown, Vice President; Karen Henrichs, Secretary; and Judy Swearingen, Treasurer. Glenn Lee was our Student Council representative. We decorated the football field for Homecoming and our float won first place in the Homecoming parade. Greg Salmon and Sheila Lee were our Homecoming King and Queen candidates. Kay Brown and Sharon Haire were in a saxophone duet and were in the state contest. We had a successful Penny Supper and the next thing we knew it was the end of the year. We lost Ruth Ellen Nis-wander, Glenda Zirkle, June Ficklin, and Sharon Haire that year. Karen Henrichs attended the F.H. A. Camp and Christine Bayston attended Art Camp.

Page 29 text:

 1961 (Sraduating Qllassi DAR Karen Henrichs CO-SALUTATORIAN Patricia Meyer VALEDICTORIAN Ruth Ann Patterson CO-SALUTATORIAN Ruddieann Goodwin Honors anti (Afuards SAR Cletus Nolde AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY Ruth Reed AMERICAN LEGION Robert Gharst AMERICAN LEGION Madonna Wasmer

Page 31 text:

In the fall of 1959, we left the underclassmen and began a busy Junior year. Our class officers were: Glenn Lee, President; Bob Gharst, Vice President; Mari Virkus, Secretary; and Penny Hyland, Treasurer. Karen Henrichs was our Student Council representative. Mr. O’Neal and Miss McFall were our class sponsors. Our class rings were received in February and our Junior Class play, “Finder’s Creepers’ was very successful. Concession stands at the football games and during noon hours provided our class with money. Our Homecoming court attendants were Greg Salmon and Karen Henrichs. Karen Henrichs was also chosen F.F.A. Sweetheart. May 9, 1960 started a hectic week for us. This brought the Junior-Senior prom, “Enchanted Sea” into reality. At the end of the Junior year, Junior boys and girls acted as Marshalls and ushers at baccalaureate and graduation. During the summer, Karen Henrichs attended G.A.A. Camp, Carole Coyne attended F.H.A. Camp, and Christine Bayston represented the chorus at All-State. Carole Coyne also attended Summer Music Camp. Ruth Ann Patterson was chosen for Girl’s State, but her alternate Mari Virkus attended. Eddie Varner attended Boys’ State. During our Junior year, we gained one class member, Verna Mae Cotter, but lost her along with Dick Jordan, Wilda Stevens, and Alice Henry. Our Senior year finally arrived. Our class elected Bob Gharst, President; Glenn Lee, Vice President; Karen Henrichs, Secretary; and Penny Hyland as Treasurer, to lead our class. Mr. Rice and Mr. Eade were class sponsors. Barbara Thomas and Greg Salmon were Homecoming King and Queen, with Karen Henrichs and Bob Gharst as attendants in the Court. Sheila Lee represented our class as a football cheerleader. During the basketball games, the tournaments, and the noon hours, the Seniors worked very hard to earn money for the all important class trip. Extra money making projects were held to supplement this fund. Mari Virkus and Ruddieann Goodwin represented the Chorus in All-State activities. Ruth Reed and Carol Douglas were in a clarinet quartet that went to state contest. Six of the Senior girls were in the chorus that also went to state contest. As the end of the year drew near, excitement grew. Everyone’s thoughts were centered on graduation. The class colors were chosen as lavender and white; the class motto, “Climb Every Mountain Till You Find Your Dream ; the class song, “Climb Every Mountain”; and the class flower was a colonial bouquet made up of pompom mums. On May 13, the Juniors were hosts to the Seniors at the Junior-Senior Banquet and Prom “Evening in Paris”. On May 21, 1961, we entered the Methodist Church for our Baccalaureate Service; and on May 26, we walked down the aisle of the high school gymnasium to receive our diplomas. Karen Henrichs received the DAR awards and Cletus Nolde received the SAR award. Ruth Reed received the American Auxiliary Award and Madonna Wasmer and Bob Gharst received the American Legion awards. We attended the Alumni Banquet and Dance as guests of honor on May 29, and we departed on May 31 for our class trip to Kirkwood Lodge in the Ozarks. Mr. and Mrs. Eade and Vincent Poskin were our sponsors. We returned from our trip on June3each to go our separate ways in hopes that we will all meet again soon. Historians, Ruth Reed and Ruddieann Goodwin