Thayer Alumni Reunion
The annual Thayer alumni banquet was held June 8 at Lorimor Community Center with 44 members and guests attending. Linda Huffman gave the welcome and Dwayne Henrichs the invocation. Doris Nelson Jackson prepared the delicious meal, and with the help of her daughter, Melissa Hunsucker, served it.
The business meeting was conducted by Huffman, who also gave the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports. Dwayne Henrichs and Chuck Lundquist reported that the Thayer Consolidated School nameplate and date have been in the care of Keith Mitchell, who is planning to restore and frame them. He will place them back on the school site and add a flag and flagpole. It was decided the alumni group will sell bricks from the school as a thank you for Mitchell’s work, with gratitude. The 2020 banquet will be held June 13 at Lorimor Community Center, with registration beginning at noon and the meal served at 1 p.m.
Alumni celebrated all who attended during the roll call of alumni members and guests. Darlene Hibbard Wimmer and Donald of Afton, with the class of 1945, was honored for 74 years. Celebrating 70 years was Doris Wolf Garner of Osceola, from the class of 1949. Her daughter, Barb Devore, was a guest. Leola Loomis Dolecheck and Ivan of Mount Ayr and Dwayne Henrichs of Thayer attended from the class of 1950. Attending from the class of 1951 were Phyllis Bailey Clark of Afton, Lois Lauffer Lewis of Creston and Darlene Conklin Henrichs of Thayer. Attending from the class of 1954 were Lyle Hannah and Marilyn of Truro and Raymond Johnston and Betty of Murray.
From the class of 1957 were Nola Huntsman Vorrath and Earl of Casey and Gary Bailey and Connie of Winterset. Jerry Becker of Glidden attended from the class of 1958. Celebrating their 60th anniversary in the class of 1959 were Carol Jean Eckels Edwards and Jay of Walden, Colorado, and Juanita Hibbard Leftwich of Davenport. Harold Downey of Afton attended from the class of 1960.
Members present who attended Thayer, but graduated after East Union was formed were 1961 – Dorothy Ann Eckels Vert of Waukee; 1962 – Ruby Bailey Cornelison of Winterset and Bob Denton and Linda of Creston; 1963 – Ray Medders of Northwood and Maxine Eckels Kilpatrick of Lorimor; 1964 – Gary Becker and Maureen of Perry, Nancy Landers Medders of Northwood and Linda Lundquist Huffman and Jerry of Creston; 1967 – Chuck Lundquist and Patricia of Omaha, Nebraska; 1969 – Cheryl Neisemier Whittington of Diagonal and Patty Huntsman of Shannon City; 1973 – Ed Moffitt of Thayer and Glenn Thompson of Afton; and 1974 – Doris Nelson Jackson of Lorimor. Other guests were Terry McDowell of Winterset and Wayne and Mary Hill of Afton.
The Thayer class of 1951 and East Union class of 1964 were honored as the classes with the most members present. The Bailey, Becker and Eckels families had the most members attending. Carol Eckels Edwards and Jay received First National Bank koozies and a mini-trash can for traveling the farthest.
The annual Thayer trivia contest ended in a tie for first place. With eight correct answers each were the team of Chuck and Patricia Lundquist, Glenn Thompson, and Ed Moffitt and the team of Lois Lewis, Phyllis Clark, Doris Garner, Barb Devore, Leola and Ivan Dolecheck, and Dwayne and Darlene Henrichs.
A drawing for door prizes was held, with the following gifts presented: year subscription to Afton Star Enterprise to Carol Edwards; Hy-Vee Starbucks basket to Maureen Becker; from First National Bank – golf balls and tees to Ivan Dolecheck; coffee mugs to Donald Wimmer and John Becker; cap and bag to Betty Johnston; Afton Star Enterprise – Thayer T-shirt, pens and flashlight to Harold Downey; El Ranchito gift card to Ray Medders; Kansas Street Deli and Purple Cow gift card to Darlene Henrichs; Fareway gift cards to Linda Denton and Maxine Kilpatrick; Amy’s Shear Shop gift bag to Darlene Wimmer; bags from Candy Cain to Phyllis Clark, Ed Moffitt, Leola Dolecheck, Juanita Leftwich, Patricia Lundquist and Jerry Becker; Afton Farmers Co-op bird seed to Dorothy Vert; gifts donated by Patty Huntsman were won by Ruby Cornelison, Raymond Johnston, Cheryl Whittington and Jay Edwards. A Thayer School mug donated by Whittington was won by Chuck Lundquist. All the donated door prizes were greatly appreciated. After singing the Thayer School Fight Song, visiting and photos were enjoyed.