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Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Becky Fulkerson and Darlene Hefley.

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Brother of our classmate Sally Vonderheidt Luker: 

JEROME VONDERHEIDT OBITUARY

Jerome T. Vonderheidt
Brighton - Jerome T. Vonderheidt, 83, of Brighton, passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in Alton.
He was born on January 3, 1939, in St. Louis, the son of the late Talford and Ilah (Wood) Vonderheidt.
Jerome married Maurine Knigge on June 5, 1965, in Festus, MO. She preceded him in death on November 13, 2021.
He served our country in the Unites States Army from 1958-1961. He was a group leader in the shipping department at Olin for 38 years. Jerome was an administrator for the Carpenters Union for 27 years. He was a faithful member of Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, the FBI Car Club, and was heavily involved in the Brighton Boy Scout Troop 39. He and Maurine were also active with Meals on Wheels for 25 years.
Jerome is survived by three children, Natalie (Todd) Garrison of Rosewood Heights, Jerome (Dody) Vonderheidt of Brighton, and Teresa (Rob) Leggett of Medora; grandchildren Steve (Terry) Garrison, John Garrison, Greg Garrison, Laura Retzer, Elizabeth Retzer (Paul Stewart), Zach Retzer, Nicky Vonderheidt, Hannah (Alex) Burnett, Gerri Ann (Jake) Geoghagan, Deric (Brittany) Vonderheidt, Destiney Vonderheidt, Brett Leggett, Matthew Lahey, Shelby (Glenn) Peterson, Diane (Ryan) Baumgartner, Jacob (Ashley) Leggett, Rachel Lahey (Wade McGee), Brandy (Joseph) Croquart, Karlena Lahey, and Whitney Lahey; great grandchildren Drake, Lindze, Haidn, Magnus, Emma, Aubrey, Madison, Rylee, Karter, Kynsley, Roland, Brooklynn, Jerry, Ayden, Zoey, J.J., Sandra, Sophia, Evan, Ryan, Aubrey, Sophia, Celia, Glenn, Chase, Bailey, Kylie, Emmalyn, Zoey, Emmett, Easton, and Eliza; sisters Dorothy (Clifford) Link and Sally (Rick) Luker; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Talford and Ilah; wife Maurine; sisters Joann (Ted) Gibbs and Mary Helen Vonderheidt; brother James (Sharon) Vonderheidt.
Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey.
Funeral service will be held at 10 am on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey.
Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church.
Burial will follow at Fosterburg Cemetery.
Condolences may be left online at www.andersonfamilyfuneral.com

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Mike Boschert, John Hamilton and Tom Kennedy.

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Marilyn McGuiggan.

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Wayland Britt.

Marion Foster (Dimond)

We've lost another classmate. No Tatler pic to post.

GEORGE BUTLER OBITUARY

George Richard "Dick" Butler
Godfrey - George Richard Butler, 75, died at 5:47 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at River Crossing of Alton. Born June 9, 1947, in Alton, he was the son of George Robert and Charlotte (Els) Butler. Dick, as he was known by friends and family, served in the U.S. Army and retired as a lineman for AT & T after 35 years. On August 2, 1968, he married the former Susan Losch in Alton at Saints Peter & Paul Church. She preceded him in death. Surviving are four children, Andrew Butler of Granite City, Libby Wittman (Jason) of St. Jacob, Katie Butler-Simpson (John Moore) of Alton, and Alex Butler (Gina) of Godfrey, a daughter-in-law, Tammy Uetz-Butler of Rosewood Heights and seven grandchildren, Kelly Butler, Joey Butler, Maxx Butler, Chloe Butler, A.J. Butler, Brody Simpson, and Georgia Rose Butler.
Dick and Susie relocated to their family property in Missouri in 2008. Dick was a lifelong and talented bowler, being the first/youngest bowler to ever throw a 300 game at Bowl Haven Lanes in Alton on June 8, 1964, at the age of 16, a record which stood for over four decades. He later joined the PBA tour and threw twenty-four 300 games throughout his career, the last being on 9/6/19 at P.B.A Lanes in Potosi, MO. He was a passionate fan of The Ohio State University Buckeyes and liked to attend games at "The Shoe" with his family. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed vacationing with close friends/family often. Dick was a devoted husband, father, and friend to so many. He believed in carrying on traditions and was always there when anyone needed him. O-H….I-O!!
A celebration of life will be held at Bowl Haven Lanes in Alton on July 10, 2022. The doors will be open from 1-5 pm with a prayer and memorials to begin at 1:30. Donations can be made to the youth bowling programs at Bowl Haven Lanes in Alton, IL. and P.B.A. Lanes in Potosi, MO. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is overseeing arrangements. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Richard Bono and Ralph Wakefield.

Richard P. Stilwell

Fortunately, I had the sense to keep my ticket stub from that  August 21,1966 Beatles concert at Busch Stadium. When I showed it to my high school students years later , they were astounded that I had paid only $5.50 for mine. I must have   been rolling in it when I bought my tickets. Betty Flavin, Marquette class of '65 and  I had been dating through most of our freshman year at SIUE and we went to the concert together. Two things stand out in my mind about that concert. First, it had been raining most of the day, and when it stopped, the Beatles OPENED THE SHOW for such acts as the Cyrckle and Bobby Hebb. Next, the Beatles  messed up the words for one of their songs but I can't remember which one it was. Regardless, they did only 4 concerts ever again after that and no one will ever see them again, so I'm really glad we were there. Betty, I hope you remember that night as sweetly as I do.

Kathryn M. Novitskie (Pool)

Nice memory of that concert Richard...I SOO  wanted to go to it but we were out of town at the time.
Glad you went and shared this memory!

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Gerry Brown, Sherry Brown, Joyce Graham and Dianne Stobbs.

Ronald Frost

In the obits is a Letha France 98 died 6-27-2022 She was the mother to our class mate Jeffrey Dunnagan o Godfrey .

Kathryn M. Novitskie (Pool)

Happy birthday to all today..esp. my sweet friends Sherry and Gerry!

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Kathy Chambers and Herb McCartney.

Special thanks to Herb for his IT expertise on this website.  

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Daughter of our classmate Judy Cochran Young, who died in 2015.

Darlene Kay Young
Alton - Darlene Kay Young, 55, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Springfield Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL.
Born Aug. 28, 1966 in Alton, she was a daughter of Gilbert K. Young and Judith K. (Cochran) Young.
She enjoyed crafting, reading, fishing and camping. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children.
Survivors include her children, Justin Mason, Dylan Mason, Alicia Mason, and Ryan Mason; two sisters, Tina (Danny) Brumley of Alton and Melissa (Robert) Ballhurst of Blue Springs, MO; her stepsister, Maranda Young (Brian Brinkley) of Alton; her father Gilbert and Alvie Young of Fosterburg; and her grandmother, Melba Burton of Brighton.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Stacy Bannister; her mother, Judy Young; and grandparents, Lloyd and Velma Cochran and Robert Burton.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Paynic Home for Funerals, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday.
She will be laid to rest next to her mother at Upper Alton Cemetery in Alton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the 5 A's animal shelter in Alton.
An online guestbook is available at www.paynicfh.com

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to James Duckels.

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Herb McCartney's aunt, age 105. Wow, great long life.

Meda Christina Miller
Jerseyville, IL -
Meda Christina Miller, 105, died Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at Jerseyville Manor. Born March 12, 1917 in Eldred, IL, she was the daughter of Crit and Minnie (Rathgeber) Shaw. She married Andrew A. Miller on June 9, 1943 in St. Charles, MO. He preceded her in death on February 23, 1979. Meda began working for Montgomery Ward when it opened and retired in 1982 after 25 years of service. She volunteered her time as a foster grandparent at Lovejoy Elementary School in Alton for several years. As a foster grandparent through Senior Services Plus, Meda logged five hours a day at the school, reading to the children and assisting them with their math problems and other classwork. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Godfrey. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her three brothers, Arthur, Lawrence and Luther Shaw, and three sisters, Ada Weller, Mary Klass, and Freda McCartney. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Paula Luecht and James Webb. 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to David Erwin.

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Have you seen the new Elvis movie? Did you like it? What was your favorite scene? I LOVED it, and as a lifelong Elvis fanatic I'm a tough critic. It really captured his magic. The kid who played him is so amazing, sometimes you can't tell him from the old clips of Elvis sprinkled through the movie. Also explains his sad decline, "caught in a trap" by greedy Col. Parker.

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Nancy Dixon

Marion Foster (Dimond)

Mississippi River Festival Exhibit at Wood River History Museum

July 9-31

It will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00. - 4:00 weekly until July 31

Exhibit features pics and info from our classmate Lyle Ward, one of its leaders. From Lyle on Facebook: "I was hired by SIUE when still a senior to help hire and supervise student workers for MRF. Roger and Carol Carol Griffin Smalley were also. Then I was hired as Asst to Dir of the University Center and had increasing responsibilities every summer with MRF becoming Managing Dir through 1977."

The Mississippi River Festival, l969-l980, a festival of the performing arts initiated by President Delyte Morris, is the extra-curricular activity for which Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville is best known. The MRF was a glorious but short-lived child of its time. It flourished during an era of great turmoil and change in American society. It was the final grand gesture that Delyte Morris added to the remarkable new Edwardsville campus.

The MRF originated in 1969 as a joint effort between SIUE and the St. Louis Symphony Society. Morris intended to establish a prominent cultural venue that would draw public attention to SIUE, while the society wanted to provide summertime employment for members of the St. Louis Symphony. From this beginning, the MRF evolved into a varied performing arts festival that presented the best in classical music, contemporary music, drama, dance, and film.

Morris decided to locate the MRF at a large natural amphitheater on the northern portion of the campus where he had been holding commencement exercises since 1963. He improved the amphitheater site by placing a permanent stage where the commencement platform had been situated and by installing a huge open-sided tent to cover the stage and reserved seats. Extensive additional space for thousands of viewers/listeners existed on the gentle slopes outside the tent.

From the first, the MRF was an artistic success. It drew large audiences from both sides of the Mississippi River and from far beyond the metropolitan St. Louis area. It also generated extensive favorable publicity for SIUE. However, when student unrest in Carbondale led to Morris's resignation as university president in June 1970, the young MRF abruptly lost its original patron.

Financial problems troubled the MRF throughout its lifetime. The festival consistently lost money. The state of lllinois cut back its financial support of the university during the 1970s, and in turn the university was increasingly hard-pressed to sustain the MRF. Rock concerts, although they often drew extensive audiences, eventually began to be marred by instances of drug abuse, thefts, and violence. The MRF began to receive negative publicity. The key initial relationship with the St. Louis Symphony deteriorated and, in 1974, the university took full responsibility for management of the MRF. When President John Rendleman, Morris's protege and successor in Edwardsville, died on March 4, 1976, SIUE and the MRF lost their second great advocate.

The same fundamental problems persisted. The MRF tent began to deteriorate and it seemed impossible to find the money to erect a new permanent structure. In 1978, a private firm, the Nederlander Organization, was awarded a contract to run the MRF, but Nederlander gave up the effort after just three years. Following the 1980 season, the MRF ceased to exist.

During its heyday in the era of the military draft and the unpopular war in Vietnam, the student revolution, Watergate, and the rise of the counter-culture the MRF brought remarkable entertainment to SIUE. It is doubtful that any other campus in America was visited by more of the legendary performers of popular music between 1969 and 1980. Among the famous artists who appeared at the MRF were Joan Baez; The Band and Bob Dylan; the Beach Boys; Blood, Sweat, and Tears; Jackson Browne; the Butterfield Blues Band; Harry Chapin; Chicago; Judy Collins; Rita Coolidge; Jim Croce; David Crosby and Graham Nash; John Denver; the Eagles; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer; the Fifth Dimension; Dan Fogelberg; the Grateful Dead; the Guess Who; Arlo Guthrie; Iron Butterfly; Jefferson Starship; Janis Joplin; B. B. King; Kris Kristofferson; Gordon Lightfoot; Loggins and Messina; Dave Mason; Don McLean; Bette Midler; Joni Mitchell; the Pointer Sisters; Rare Earth; Helen Reddy; REO Speedwagon; Kenny Rogers; Linda Ronstadt; Todd Rundgren; Seals and Crofts; Rod Stewart; Stephen Stills; James Taylor; the Marshall Tucker Band; and Ike and Tina Turner.

--from SIUE Archives
 

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stltoday.com%2Fnews%2Farchives%2Fthe-night-the-grateful-dead-inspired-a-cast-of-thousands-orgy-at-the-mississippi-river%2Farticle_eaa9d3d8-febd-11ec-9795-b3d28e9c5224.html%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_campaign%3Duser-share%26fbclid%3DIwAR045xCtsrziEUjJn6BLeXidRsG0T_PfJ5aZuFrkZnXrfQx7h2B8L-gZOdA&h=AT1HY4bHwgdbdGhtQhZINkMmmV8uSLO44oM251x3YRoPzCtDRAxkYftINyzl7CmQsOBdiVepFjvNooU2RqAfvEcSdUEopW4phqFBTkPgaid7ii6-cl74H5NK6Ld1QO3vUjlWBxlrVaoR6eBmf4eQZjZH71AHJuljutOFmg&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c[0]=AT1jRJkj7zxCGjdUFjDGdb8IDwuAQVEXdo2sbMrDzmmCq4cQJgCD-0ReGK9itzzl11WqwWuBY0ZembDp_Ert0EWP3J5qIoCSbnW6n3lPjs5Ke1_2kFdeae2PUY8y7JyH1Gv9SgOvn-bFX5V-TkW1iI4BigciFssOBPAKXydVVTQFxlnxH0wV2_tWv-XrL6a7pyCiRSxkIYLkgNGwlM8

St. Louis paper article, maybe can't access without a subscription...

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Forrest Martin.

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Phil (Gurujan) Dourson. 

Linda Hicks (Montayne)

Happy Birthday to Judy Greenwood.

Jeffrey A. Bernard

Happy Birthday Phil...maybe we can celebrate with another cruise...in a canoe over and through the dam like you, Jon Harris, and I did many years ago...helluva ride ...like our lives have been ! ☮️