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Thornton Fractional South High School 50th Class Reunion

DATE

October 2nd, 2021

location

Center for Visual and Performing Arts
1040 Ridge Road , Munster , Indiana , 46321

Invited Classes

1971

About Event

2 last minute Reunion reservations available
Due to a couple of cancellations, there are two last minute reservations for the Reunion available if anyone is interested. Let me know as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Lynda

We had a classmate have to cancel, so there is a last minute reservation available if anyone is interested. Let me know as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Lynda

The Reunion Weekend
Friday October 1
10:00 Golf. Centennial Park; Munster, IN on Calumet Avenue
4:30 School tour. Meet at the Rock. Masks are required.
7:00 Homecoming Football Game at South against Oak Forest (Fresh/Soph play at
4:30). If you want to attend, you can go to the Pass Booth and get in for free for
both games.
7:00 Jack’s Place, 3325 Ridge Road, Lansing. Food and drink available for purchase.
Meet in the outdoor patio in the back. If you are bringing items for the Memorabilia
Table to the reunion, bring them to Jack’s if you can and give them to Pamn Grieve Baker or Theresa Pasquarella
Saturday October 2
11:00 Historical Walking Tour of Lansing. Meet at 3056 Ridge Road (the oldest house in Lansing). You can park on Lorenz or in the Lansing Municipal building parking lot. We will walk a short half block to the corner of Ridge and Burnham. Most of the talk will be at the corner where there are historical markers. Coach Kijewski is joining Paul Schultz to share their knowledge with us.
5:30: Registration. Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. The venue is recommending and encouraging the use of masks if you are not vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals are also welcome to wear masks.
5:30 – 6:30: ‘Happy Hour’ Cash Bar
6:30 Opening Remarks and Class Photo. Pictures will be available on site for $20.
7:00-11:00 Dinner, Conversation, Dancing and Fun. Visit the Memorabilia Table
11:00 Jack’s Place for the ‘after-Prom’ Party (if anyone can stay awake!)

TODAY: Reservation Deadline for our 50th
September 23: 50th Reunion Reservation Deadline
Just a reminder that today Thursday September 23 is the deadline to make your reservation for the 50th Reunion of the Class of 71. If, instead of paying online, you put a check in the mail, please let us know today so we can include you in the count for the venue even if your check and reservation form have not been received (hard to tell what the pace of snail mail is). Now is the time for that flurry of reservations! We are excited to see you all and have planned a weekend that we think everyone will enjoy.
Lynda

Unlocated classmates
Here are some classmates that our 'detective' committee were unable to locate - or their emails bounced back or phone numbers weren't active or for the correct person.

If you have any contact information for any of them, please pass it on (or contact them yourself) and give them reunion information Thanks, Lynda

Laurie Bergren

Erik Diekelmann

John Gorszyca - Cherokee Village, Arkansas
Marlene Golden Poole - Carpentersville, IL
John Gianoli - Lansing, IL
Linda Graham Ganser - Jacksonville, FL
Shirley Greer McKelvey - Spokane, WA
Melanie Grote Grimble - Groverton, IN
Kathleen Harper Purvis, Chicago, IL
Barb Higbee Hjertquist, Janesville, WI
Joyce Honea Verbancics, Griffith, IN
Kay Hutson Smith, Hammond, IN
Sharon James Rundle, Lake Village, IN
Tom Durnin, Hutington Beach, CA
Lynn Edeltein Hales, Carmel, IN
Cindy Etrych Peterich, Las Vegas, NV
Pat Evert, Dyer, IN
Ralph Flood, Merrillville, IN
Margaret Fotschky O’Donnell, Clearwater, FL
Kathy Johnson, Chicago Heights, IL
Donna Kegebein Walter, Dyer, IN
Nancy King Ogonoski, Vero Beach, FL
Pat Koleff Pollitz, Salt Lake City, UT
Laura Kozul Lefevre, Lynwood, IL
Sandra Kuechle Jackson, Hamilton, AL
Janet Lee Endless, Lompoc, CA

Gar Liptak
Joan Listen
Donna Love
Terry Matz
Pam McDermott Snyder
Donna Medendorp Snyder
Pam Miller Murrin Schultz
Laura Morgan Bilik
Kevin Morrison
Michelle Murrin Ellerkamp
Elmer Pallok
Kevin Parameter
Randy Pazik

Coralee Postma Debruin
Susan Rebey Taaffee
Gerry Rosati
Jack Rossman

September 21: 50th Reunion Reservation Deadline reminder::
Just a reminder that Thursday September 23 is the deadline to make your reservation for the 50th Reunion of the Class of 71. If you mail a check in by the deadline, please let us know so we can include you in the count even if your check and reservation form have not been received (hard to tell what the pace of snail mail is). Looking forward to a flurry of reservations being made over the next two days. See you in less than 2 weeks.
Lynda

September 19: reminder
Deadline to purchase t-shirts or hoodie from Lansing Sport Shop via our online store is tomorrow (Monday September 20 at 11:59 pm Central Standard Time). Link available in previous posts or can be found on our TFS Class of 71 website.

September 18th Updates for 50th Reunion
Just two weeks from now we will be partying like only the Class of 71 can.
Here’s where we stand:
As of right now we have 93 attendees (68 classmates). The deadline to make a reservation is Wednesday September 23. Please help us get to at least 100 attendees. Once we have committed to the venue a final count, we cannot guarantee a refund. We may be able to accommodate last minute reservations if we have cancellations.
The deadline to order a short sleeve t-shirt, a long sleeve t-shirt or a hoodie is Monday September 20. The website created by Lansing Sports Shop for this purchase will disappear at midnight that day. Orders are placed online at https://tfs71.itemorder.com/shop and distributed (not shipped) at the Friday night event or the Saturday Reunion. If when opening the site, you get asked for a code, copy and open it as a separate website rather than clicking on it within the email.
We currently have 41 signed up for the Tour of the School (4:30 on Friday October 1) and 37 signed up for the Friday night event at Jack’s Place in Lansing (7:00 pm Friday October 1). If you did not indicate on your reservation form that you would be attending either of these events, please let us know so we can give an accurate count to each venue. There is still time to sign up for either event. A reminder that weather permitting we are planning to be outside on the back patio at Jack’s.
We only have 9 signed up to golf: Larry and Paula Mlynarcik, Ken Rahn, Mike Toepher, Ron Sylvester, Sabena Ramanna Poore and Donald Keller, Bob Oswalt, and Scott Malcom. If you would like to play on Friday October 1 around 11:00 (actual time and place TBD), please let us know immediately. We feel we need at least 12 golfers and 16 would be even better.
We only have 10 signed up for the Lansing Historical Tour. Again, please let us know if you would like to join the tour asap as we may not be able to offer it with such a small number. The tour would be on Saturday October 2 around 11:00 (actual time and meeting place to be determined).
Thanks,
Lynda

September 16:
Show your Class of 71 Rebel Spirit – Limited time offer

We partnered with the Lansing Sports Shop. And they have put together 3 products (short sleeve t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, and a hoodie) featuring our Class of 71 for our 50th reunion. This is a special offer for reunion weekend attendees only.
Your opportunity to purchase is limited (September 16-September 20 - online purchase only). Please do not call Lansing Sport Shop directly. You cannot order from them at the store or have the product shipped to you. You order online and the committee will deliver your purchase at the Friday night event or Saturday night of the 50th Reunion.
To purchase, go to: https://tfs71.itemorder.com/shop
Hope you enjoy this opportunity to celebrate and remember our 50th Reunion.
Lynda

September 15: Memorabilia Table reminder
Please let us know by Thursday September 23 if you are bringing any items to be placed on the memorabilia table. Items so far include items such as a Letterman's jacket, sweater, pins, yearbook, photos. Send to lyndawiller@comcast.net

September 12: Deadline for Reservations for 50th Reunion is approaching
Less than two weeks to the September 23rd deadline to get your reservation in and get in on a celebration of this landmark reunion. We begin our final push to increase the number of attendees. Many of our decisions were based on a minimum of 100 attendees. We are at 92 currently. So let's get to a 100 and then go beyond that minimum. Help us by encouraging classmates you know haven't yet signed up to do so. Remind them we always have a good time when the Class of 71 parties.
Hope to see you at the reunion.
Lynda

September 10 - Memorabilia Table at the Reunion
We plan to set up a memorabilia table at the reunion on October 2. If you have any items you would like to add to the display such as photos, items related to clubs, organizations, or teams, etc, please let me know what you would like to bring.
Please plan to make sure your item(s) have your name identified on or attached to them.
Hope this will be a fun way to rekindle memories and engage in conversations about them.
Lynda
September 7 - 50th reunion update
Currently, we have 90 reservations (68 classmates). Obviously, we would love to see more of you attending. We believe we have planned an event that all will enjoy. My goal originally was 100 classmates (Scott and Debbie probably had a more realistic number in mind). We are the Class of 71 and the reservation cost will stay at $71.00. You will be refunded if you have already sent in $81.00.
You can help us by sending in your reservations even though the final deadline isn’t until September 23. This will help us plan more of the specifics of the event in enough time for our reunion on Saturday October 2. Our class has been known to have a flurry of reservations at the last minute and we worry about planning for the potential of additional numbers.
We have gotten emails about the current state of covid restrictions in Indiana. Here is what we know:
The venue is open. However, they are recommending and encouraging the use of masks if you are not vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals are also welcome to wear masks.
Here is what we have done: we have booked extra space at the venue (at a cost we did not plan). We have an outside terrace rented off the main room. Additionally, we have a hold on an adjoining ballroom space so we can spread out and create good distancing. But that hold will expire this week unless we have evidence that more reservations will be forthcoming. If you are planning to attend, please let me know (even if you pay later by the deadline). Otherwise, we will lose that extra adjoining indoor space.
We also have planned to use the outside patio at Jack’s Place for the Friday October 1 evening event (weather permitting). Thanks to Jeff Kiester for the accommodation.
For the school tour, masks are required as per school requirements.
We hope these steps will address concerns you may have about the safety of the event. We are looking forward to having lots of fun. Ooh, aah, son of a gun, we are the Class of 71 – see you in October.
Lynda

August 31: Just a reminder that tomorrow (September 1) is the last day for the reduced reservation cost for the reunion. After tomorrow the cost will increase to $81.00.
Hope to see you in October.
Lynda

August 27 invitation for a tour of Lansing:
We have the opportunity to offer you (as part of our reunion weekend) a historical tour of downtown Lansing. The tour sponsored by the Lansing Historical Society would be on Saturday Oct 2 at 11:00. We would need at least 20 people wanting to participate to schedule this Class of 71 exclusive tour. Please let me know if you are interested (through a return email, private message, or a text (708) 945-7548).

Aug 25 reminders
Hi everyone. We are getting closer to Saturday October 2 for our 50th reunion. Planning is moving along. Our classmate-finding detective committee is hard at work. You can continue to help by contacting classmates you know. We are excited about the event we have planned for you. Here are a couple of reminders:
Reminder 1: Last week for reduced reservation price for our 50th reunion
The price of a reservation for our 50th reunion increases to $81.00 after September 1, 2021. The final deadline for reservations is September 23, 2021. Thanks to all of you who have already sent in your reservation. If you are planning to attend, now is the time to send in your reservation and put an extra $10 in your wallet.
Reminder 2: We need completed reservation forms.
There are many of you who have already paid for your reservation but have not sent in a completed reservation form. We need that information – especially whether you are planning to be at the tour of the school, the Friday night event at Jack’s Place or playing golf. We need to be able to plan based on the numbers and to let the school, Jack’s Place and the golf course stay informed about the numbers.
Looking forward to seeing you in October.

50th Reunion reminders – reservation deadline and classmate search results
Just a reminder that the deadline to make a reservation and pay $71.00 is September 1 (just 2 weeks away). After that the price increases to $81.00 until the final deadline of September 23, 2021. No walk-in reservations will be accepted or last-minute requests to attend unless we have a cancellation from someone who cannot attend (this is due to the venue needing a final count of attendees). So, get your reservation in, save money, and help us plan more efficiently. Please call other classmates you are in contact with, encourage them to attend and remind them of the deadlines. You can pay online or mail in your reservation. Please access the information at https://spiralblue.net/tfs/reunion.htm

If you are wondering about our numbers of contacts, here goes:

We have email addresses for 130 classmates, 96 classmates are members of our Facebook group, 170 are listed on Classmates.com and 54 on the Alumni.com site. Some classmates are on more than one of these lists. We have a committee doing detective work from addresses we had for the 40th reunion trying to find classmates for whom we don’t have email addresses or are not on any of the websites. They have found over 50 classmates’ phone numbers and have left messages (despite not a lot of response back, several classmates have been ‘found’ this way). And, unfortunately, 43 classmates that we know of have passed away (that list may not be complete, please look at the list on our website http://tfs71.com). If you know of a classmate who has passed away whose name is not on the list, please let us know. We had over 400 members in our class. A general rule from reunion organizers is that after the 10th reunion approximately 20% of classmates are lost with each major reunion (20th, 30th, 40th). Thus, by time the 50th planning begins we were down to approximately 160 classmates. Which is about where we are at. Of course, we think the Class of 71 were always over-achievers, so let’s get your reservation in and help us find more classmates and get them to the reunion as well.

Thanks for your help.

Does anyone have contact information for any of the following:
Charles Van Wieren
Marilyn Vickers
David Victor
Teri Wachowski White
Renee Walker Mlakar
Betty Wall Rahn
Kerry Warburton
George Widstrand
Wesley Wojcik
Theresa Wories Gallagher
Joyce Yauger Wade
Diane Vos McGettigan
Daniel Young
Joanne Zeldenrust

Class of 71 – 50th Reunion FAQs
Why is the committee encouraging us to get our reservations in before the set deadlines?
We have flashbacks to our 25th reunion when the reunion experts said not to expect a big turnout. So, we booked the Fireplace Room at Lansing Country Club, a cozy room upstairs that held 75 people. There was an explosion of late reservations and we had to find another venue at the last minute (an experience we would love not to have to repeat especially because a lot of venues are booked because they are rescheduling 2020 cancellations due to the virus as well as 2021 new bookings). Having an idea of the number of reservations also helps in other planning as well (tour of the school, Friday night event, golf outing, etc.). So, if you are planning to attend, please help us out by getting your reservation in early.
What are the deadlines?
On September 1, the cost of a reservation increases to $81 a person. September 23 is the final deadline. No late reservations or walk-ins will be accepted unless we have had unexpected cancellations.
Is there a Friday night event?
Yes, there will be an informal gathering at Jack’s Place in Lansing on Ridge Road at 7 pm. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. If you haven’t submitted your reservation form with your payment, please complete it and return it to Mark Valco so we can let Jeff know a tentative number of attendees.
Will there be a tour of the school?
Yes, as of right now enough people have expressed interest in a tour. Tentative plans call for gathering at the school at 4:30 pm on Friday. If you haven’t submitted your reservation form with your payment, please complete it and return it to Mark Valco so we can let the school know a tentative number of attendees.
Is there a T.F South football game during our reunion weekend?
Yes, Friday night is a home game against Oak Lawn. In fact, it is Homecoming. We have arranged with the Athletic Department for the Class of 71 to get into the game for free at the gate.
What is the ‘dress code’ for the formal reunion on Saturday?
No dean will make you kneel and measure the length of a woman’s skirt or shave any man’s sideburns! The event dress code is casual. And, of course, the question is what does ‘casual’ mean. In the past, we have had people wearing anything from more dressy attire (word was that Vern Werner, RIP, was planning to wear a tux this year) to nice jeans and a t-shirt. After all these years we certainly aren’t there to dress to impress.
Will there be a golf outing?
As of right now we have 7 golfers. Many people who paid online have not completed and returned the reservation form that would include whether you were interested in golfing or the tour of the school or the Friday night event. We need those completed forms returned to Mark Valco. We need 9 more golfers to make a golf outing happen. It would be scheduled on Friday morning around 11:00 am.

Class of 71 - 50th reunion reminders
2 months to the reunion (Oct 2)
1 month until price increase for reservations (Sept 1)
6 weeks to the deadline for reservations (Sept 23)

Please get your reservations in. Knowing the numbers will help us in our planning. Pay online or send a check to Mark Valco. Information is available at: https://spiralblue.net/tfs/reunion.htm
Make sure you fill out the reservation form so we have your contact information and whether you will be attending the Friday night event, the tour of the school (tentatively planned for Friday October 1 at 4:30), or want to golf. Friday night is also Homecoming at TFS and we will be admitted to the game with a pass if anyone is interested. Of course, if anyone is interested, you can build a winning float just as we did 3 years in a row while we were at South!
Looking forward to seeing you on October 2.

50th Reunion reminders:
If you plan to attend, please get your reservation in. This will help the committee better plan the event.
If you have paid online or are going to pay online, make sure you send in the completed reservation form to Mark Valco. This will help us know how many of you want to attend a tour of the school, a Friday night gathering, or a golf outing. And if there is an additional event you think would be good to offer, let us know.
If you have contacted other classmates and talked them into attending, make sure they include your name on their reservation form.
We have several people trying to locate classmates off our 'last known address list'. Each week we will post some of the names they have been unable to locate (doesn't mean these classmates are lost, just that so far we don't have current contact information for them). If you know contact information of any of the classmates we list, please have them contact us for reunion information. Here is this week's list:

Jeffrey Arendt
MaryLynn Anhalt Krismancik
Barb Candilas Brown
Greg Compeau
Steve Crabtree
Dorothy Crescenzi
Ray Cutler
Linda Darragh
Loretta Dekker
Michael Bottas
George Dancho
Nanette Brunetti Cooper
Carla Simpson Helsel
George Stamper
Ronda Strahl Szczepanski
Mary Szabo Edmonds
Linda Van Drie

Class of 71 – 50th Reunion Challenge #2
We have another challenge for you. This challenge is a 2-week challenge to contact (by July 25th) classmates you know or classmates you would like to catch up with at the reunion. Please call, text, email or post a challenge to someone you want to attend the reunion. When you convince a person to send in their reservation money, have them include your name on the form as the person who got them to take action and send in their reservation. There will be a prize for the person who gets the most people to respond!
Your help in this will greatly assist us in the planning of the reunion. We do not want to have to cancel the reunion due to lack of attendees. Due to the pandemic restrictions, we did not have the same amount of time we have had for past reunions to reach out to classmates. Please help us with our efforts. We cannot wait to create another memorable event for the Class of 71.

Just a reminder: Tomorrow is the deadline to meet our 50th reunion's Challenge #1 (71 reservations) for Class of 71 by 7/1. We are hoping to get an awesome turnout for our 50th on Saturday October 2nd. Reservations can be made online or by sending in a check. For details, please log on to: https://spiralblue.net/tfs/reunion.htm.

Thanks to those who have already made reservations. We will continue to send more details regarding the actual event and additional events being planned to help us celebrate this milestone.
50th Reunion Update:
Class of 1971 Challenge #1
Not an ice bucket challenge but a sign-up challenge.

71 (new reservations) for ‘71’s 50th reunion by 7/1

Come on everybody. You know you are planning to attend our 50th reunion. Pay online or by mail (go to https://spiralblue.net/tfs/reunion.htm). Meet the challenge. After all, 'ooh, ah, son of a gun, we’re the Class of 71'.
Hope to see your name on the reservation list soon. Thanks to those of you who have already made your reservations.
Lynda