Classmate Ronald Yoss, 1952-2015

 

Ronald E. Yoss, 63, of Ossian, died at 12:08 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

He was born April 4, 1952, in Decatur to Delbert G. and Treva Fern (Dailey) Yoss. He married Jacqueline “Jackie” Moses Aug. 24, 1991, in Kokomo; she preceded him in death April 23, 2009.

He graduated from South Adams High School in 1970, and he retired from Northern Wells Community Schools in 2015 after 19 years as a bus driver. He loved spending time with the children as a bus driver.

He was a gun enthusiast and he enjoyed electronics. He attended several churches in the Bluffton area.

He is survived by a sister, Carol (Richard) Teeple of Bluffton; a brother, Delbert W. (Sharon) Yoss of Galliano, La.; eight nieces and nephews; and 13 great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marilyn Beeler.

A service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at Goodwin-Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton, with Pastor Wayne Steury officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Geneva.

Memorials to the Northern Wells Community Schools Transportation Fund.

Lost Your Reunion Information? Here's a copy.

Greetings! We hope at least one or more of the events listed below will convince you that our class reunion is worth attending. If you need lodging, Clock Tower Inn (260-589-8955 or BerneClockTowerInn.com) is offering rooms for $74.90 which includes tax. If you have a restricted diet, indicate that on the registration form and we will try to accommodate your needs. Three events require prepayment so we can adequately prepare food for the number attending. Refunds will not be issued if you need to cancel after sending in your registration form. The caterer doesn’t issue refunds once the count is given and the unused smaller fees for the other two events become your contribution toward our 50 year reunion.

Hope to see you soon!  Carol, Lora, Lynette, Mari & Terri

 

Location and Time	Event Description	Cost
Clock Tower Inn Social Room US Hwy 27 North, Berne Friday, September 25 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.	Game Night: The goal of this casual night is for participants to connect with as many classmates as possible through no-stress, fun team games. Spouses/guests should also enjoy this event if they are familiar with the 1960s. We are serving pulled pork sandwiches, chips, relishes, fresh fruit, cookies, lemonade, iced tea and water. Note:  You are allowed to bring your own alcoholic beverages.	$10/person
Berne Dining Us Hwy 27 South Saturday, September 26 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.	Men’s Breakfast: This informal gathering provides an opportunity for men to meet in a smaller group for conversation and food. Individuals will order off the menu and pay their own bills. Hosts: Terry Steury, Rich Wulliman and Mike Van Emon	Pay at the restaurant
First Mennonite Church HeBrews Lounge (main level) 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.	Women’s Brunch: Join the committee for a relaxing social time while eating quiche, yogurt with fruit, a muffin, and tea or coffee. Cappuccinos will be on sale that morning for $1.00. Wives of classmates are welcome.	$5
Golf Club of the Limberlost Saturday, September 26 Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Play starts at 10:00 a.m.	Golf Outing: Is it accurate that Tom Agler, Hal Armstrong , Ed Liechty and John Muselman are the only classmates who participated on the golf team in high school? Most likely, there are many other classmates, males and females, who have taken up the sport since then who want to participate in a scramble type competition on a beautiful fall morning. This is a good event to bring along a friend or relative—the more the merrier! Inclement weather will cancel this event. Hosts: Rick Murphy and Mike Mertz	$25 for 18 holes of golf with a cart; pay at the golf course
Spare Time Lanes, Berne Saturday, September 26 Registration and Team Assignment: 1:45-2:00 p.m. Bowling: 2:00-4:00 p.m.	Bowling: If everyone from our class who belonged to the bowling club during high school would participate in this event, we would fill Spare Time Lanes! Fifty-five of our classmates listed bowling club in the senior directory with high score recognition given to Sandy Ralston (176), Sheldon Christener (188), and Mike Mertz (213). Hosts Sheldon Christener and Ted Rich will divide us into competitive and non-competitive teams based on whether you’re participating for fun or looking for a little more serious action. Feel free to bring a family member or friend to join your team. Snacks provided but beverages must be purchased at the bowling alley.	$ 3.00 per game; shoe rental is free! (We thank  Lance Sprunger for the special rate!)

Geneva Community Hall Saturday, September 26 Appetizers: 6:00-6:30 p.m. Dinner: 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Celebration Dinner: This catered dinner concludes a weekend of reminiscing about school years and catching up on each other’s lives in the 45 years since then.  After appetizers, diners will be served a spinach salad then enjoy a buffet of tender roast beef, chicken marsala, green beans with almonds, baby glazed carrots, red skin potatoes, rolls and assorted cream and fruit pies.  Let us know if you have food sensitivities so we can accommodate you.

$20/person

 

Registration Form for the 45 Year Reunion
of the Class of 1970

Name __________________________     Guest ______________________

   Email address (in case we need to contact you) ______________________________

 

 

Event	Cost	Number Attending	Amount Due
Saturday, September 26 Men’s Breakfast	Order off the menu, Pay at the restaurant	Include number for planning purposes: _______	NA
Saturday, September 26 Golf Outing	$ 25 / person, 18 holes, includes cart rental; Pay at the golf course; Guests welcome!	Include number for planning purposes: _______	NA
Saturday, September 26 Bowling	$ 3 / game;  free shoe rental; Pay at the bowling alley; Guests welcome!	Include number for planning purposes: _______	NA
Friday, September 25 Game Night	$10.00/person Dietary restriction: _____________________		$
Saturday, September 26 Women’s Brunch	$5.00/person Dietary restriction: _____________________		$
Saturday, September 26 Celebration Dinner	$20.00/person Dietary restriction: ________________________		$
Make checks payable to: South Adams Class of 1970		Amount Enclosed

Get Your Groove On!

Thanks to Ned Neuenschwander’s extensive music library of oldies but goodies we’ll have lots to listen to at the class reunion. On Friday there is a playlist of party music including songs like Celebrate by Three Dog Night, Good Lovin’ by the Rascals and Green-Eyed Lady by Sugarloaf. In fact there’s a playlist of 121 songs that will play for 6 hours and 9 minutes so we won’t run out of music. Ned even created short clips to see if we can recall song titles. Some of these will be used during team games. It’s surprising how many lyrics can still be remembered forty-five years later.

If you attend the bowling event there will be songs to pump you up. Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf will “get your motor runnin’” or maybe it will take the pounding beat of Gimme Some Lovin by the Spencer Davis group to energize you. Your feet might start dancing when I Can’t Get Next to You by the Temptations starts playing which will give you a more interesting four or five-step approach before you release the ball. Then there’s Eli’s Coming by Three Dog Night which always takes me back to a good place because several of us attended their concert at the coliseum in Fort Wayne in the late 60s. Thirty-five songs are on that playlist to get us through several games.

Things will quiet down for Saturday night’s dinner. In the background, songs like The Look of Love by Sergio Mendes and Brasil, Never My Love by The Association, and This Guy’s in Love with You by Herb Albert and The Tijuana Brass will be playing while we converse and eat the meal prepared by Grant’s catering. There’s three hours and 29 minutes of this type of music.

There’s great music to be heard during the weekend—that is if the technology works properly. Hopefully, some of our classmates are techies and will be on hand at these events to help with any glitches.

Registrations are due this Saturday, September 12, 2015. Make sure to get yours in the mail ASAP.

 

Terri Habegger Coolman

 

Get Your Game On!

Wouldn't it be fun to fill the bowling alley with classmates on Saturday, September 26 at 1:45 p.m.? Surely, out of 52 classmates that were part of the bowling club, we'll be able to get a decent turnout. We also encourage you to bring a family member or friend with you to this fun event. Sheldon Christener and Ted Rich, both league bowlers, are assisting. Mike Doherty is another local league bowler, and if his work schedule allows, will join us. So for those of you who like competition, you'll enjoy comparing scores with those three.

And for those who are more familiar with gutter balls than strikes, you can join me (Terri) for a good time. I had a practice round with my son last week. He tried to get me to put a spin on the ball--you know, start with your palm up and end in the handshake position. That ball ended in the gutter half-way down the lane. After a few more unsuccessful attempts, he told me to just try throwing the ball straight. Well, that's easier said than done! My straight ball wasn't exactly straight so he kept adjusting my starting position, "start behind the line," "move over to your left," "a little more to your left," "maybe try it more to your right." You get the gist of it. Only luck was knocking some pins down as the next throw was just as likely to miss the remaining eight pins. Then it was time to try changing the weight of the ball to see if that made a difference. I finally seemed to have the most control when I threw an eight pound ball. You're suppose to use a ball that is 10% of your weight so I was hardly following guidelines. My grandson, age seven, would probably use that weight. How sad is that?! Sometimes on my approach I would lose my balance and almost fall over making my son shake his head and yell "What are you doing?" Of course, if you throw enough balls, every now and then a spare or strike happens, just enough to encourage me that things might improve and I could actually break 100 so we continued playing. Is 100 a respectable score to aim for? Well, if the first game is 67, then 100 looks pretty good.

My son's high game that day was 195 and he rarely bowls. When he was in high school the bowling alley in Decatur offered a great deal to students, so he and his friends bowled often. I'm a little concerned that bowling is like riding a bike--a skill that is once learned, isn't forgotten. Since I wasn't one of the 52 classmates in the bowling club, that means I'm at a definite disadvantage. Or at least, that will be my excuse.

So come out and join the fun. You already know it's unlikely you'll be the low scorer! Games will be $3 each and shoe rental is free. There will be some snacks provided but drinks must be purchased at the bowling alley.

Remember, registration for the various reunion events is due September 12. I expect to see some checkmarks in the bowling column.

Terri Habegger Coolman

P.S.
If you're new to our blog, check out some of the other postings.

Invitations Mailed!

By now, everyone should have received an invitation to our 45 year class reunion. We hope you're pleased with the variety of events that are scheduled. Remember, registration forms are due by Saturday, September 12.

We still need addresses for 15 classmates. If you know how to reach any of the following people, please let us know by sending an email to southadamsclassof1970@gmail.com and we will get an invitation in the mail as soon as possible.

• Sandy Ayers
• Mickey Caldwell
• Larry Coblentz
• Janet DiGirolamo
• Carla Fisher
• Linda Huffman
• Sheila Jones
• Sharon Lynch Huff
• Larry Mills
• Russell Myers
• Tom Rhoners
• Sandra Schierling
• Edith Treece
• Janis Tumbleson Haggard
• Steve Weikel

Some individuals on the list weren't at high school with us all four years but they still might be interested in attending so please help us get an address.

Thanks!

Updated list on classmates who have died

It's taken Internet searches, a few trips to the Berne Library and a stop at a funeral home to update the information on classmates who have died. There are still some missing pieces that we hope someone reading this can supply. If you have information, leave a comment on the blog or send an email to southadamsclassof1970@gmail.com. Your assistance is appreciated!

In order of death:

Marilyn Patterson died July 29, 1971 at the age of 19 from injuries from a car accident that happened three weeks earlier on Highway 27 four miles north of Berne. She was born July 10, 1952.

Randy Toland died June 8, 1973 at the age of 21 after accidentally being electrocuted in Korea where he was stationed with the US Army. He was born on February 14, 1952. Note: two sources list February 14 as the date of birth, one source says February 13. Can anyone confirm either date?

Kenny Jones -- at this point no data has been found on Kenny but we think he died in the 70s. Can someone provide us with more information? It was probably reported in the Berne Tri Weekly but if someone can supply at least a year and possibly the month it will speed up the microfilm search!

Bruce Weimer died June 24, 1986 at the age of 33 a few months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was living in Dallas, Texas and working as a computer analyst at the time of his death. He was born October 15, 1952.

Karen Haines Eubank, a resident of Linn Grove, died October 15, 1985 at the age of 33 following a two year battle with cancer. She was born May 10, 1952.

John Doty died in Germany on January 24, 1994 at the age of 42 while serving as a staff sergeant in the Army. He was born on December 30, 1951.

Rev. Thomas Schindler died March 7, 2000 at the age of 47. His obituary states he was "a kind and gentle man who affected many lives and will be greatly missed." Tom was born July 7, 1952.

John Muselman died October 5, 2004 at the age of 52 from complications due to lung cancer. He was a lifelong resident of Berne, worked in the family business, and served on many community boards. He was born September 29, 1952.

Danny Thornton died December 27, 2008 at the age of 56. He was living in Berne at the time of his death. Danny was born February 28, 1952.

Lodging at Clock Tower Inn

Clock Tower Inn, 1335 US 27 North, Berne, IN

Will you need lodging when you come to the class reunion in September? If so, consider staying at the Clock Tower Inn on the north side of Berne. The rate is $74.90 per night including tax. The website says this about the Inn:

"All rooms and suites are non-smoking, immaculately cleaned and have been renovated to provide a great night’s sleep. Each has brand new carpet, brand new bed linens with 300-thread count sheets, brand new top-of-the-line Wolf mattresses and new wall and ceiling paint.

The remodeled spacious bathrooms include curved shower rods, new shower curtains and new lighting.

Each guest stay includes a complimentary breakfast buffet that includes biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, sausage and cheese biscuit sandwiches, assorted cereal, yogurt, fruit cups, toast, bagels, assorted juices and coffee.

Room features include: complimentary high-speed wireless internet with download speeds up to 20 Mbps; 32” Samsung HDTV with remote control and complimentary cable television; refrigerator and microwave; DVD player with free movies; clock radio with easy-to-set alarm; electric door locks with lever door handles; coffee maker and hair dryer; complimentary toiletries; Amish handmade headboards and nightstands; and an Amish handmade rocking chair.

The lobby has been completely renovated with authentic Amish furniture that has been handmade just for you. The hotel includes 45 rooms that include one celebration suite with a large Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom, two Extended Stay suites, two Jacuzzi suites, four Business Suites, 17 King rooms, 16 Double Queen rooms, one Pet Room with two queen beds and two Handicap rooms with king beds."

Our gathering on Friday night is in the event center at the Inn. How convenient is that! Plus, you can walk across the highway to the bowling alley for Saturday afternoon's get-together.

To make a reservation, call 260-589-8955 or go to the website: www.BerneClockTowerInn.com.

We Need Your Help!

Did you know from the time we entered high school until graduation on May 24, 1970 there were 162 people who walked the halls with us in one grade or another? Of those 162 classmates, 131 are listed in the graduation program. We want classmates to know they are welcome to attend our reunion, even if they only attended school with us for one year.

The committee has been busy trying to get the word out through social media but we need your help. There are still many people who don't know about the reunion scheduled for September 25-26. Below is a list of individuals who haven't been contacted. Look through this list and check if you might be able to contact that person through your Facebook contacts, email addresses or a quick phone call. Then let us know who to check off our list. With the cost of postage, sending out letters will quickly go through the amount currently in the class account. Plus, many of the addresses from 2010 won't be accurate.

Your help is greatly appreciated! Who on this list are you willing to contact?

A

• Amstutz, Leon
• Aspy, Larry
• Ayers, Sandra (attended grade 9 only)

B

• Bailey, Beverly
• Balsiger, Jane
• Beer, Eugene
• Bergman, Delores
• Biberstein, Gaynelle
• Burley, Lynford
• Burry, Sue

C

• Caldwell, Mickey (attended grades 9 and 10)
• Case, Alan
• Clem, Joyce

D

• Davidson, James
• Derrickson, Janelle
• Diehl, Phyllis
• Dynes, Brian

F

• Fisher, Carla (attended grade 12 only)
• Fosnaugh, Gary
• Fox, Deryll

G

• Gerber, Dennis
• Glendening, Tom

H

• Habegger, Sharon
• Hall, John
• Huffman, Linda (attended grades 10 and 11)

J

• Jones, Sheila
• Jones, Von

L

• Lehman, Don
• Lehman, Kendall
• Lehmann, Beth
• Liechty, Richard

M

• Mertz, Mike
• Mills, Larry
• Moser, Cindy
• Myers, Deb
• Myers, James
• Myers, Russell (attended grade 9 only)

N

• Neuenschwander, Karen
• Neuenschwander, Sandra

P

• Purdy, Luann

R

• Reynolds, Ron
• Rich, Barry
• Ricketts, Vicki (attended grades 9-11)
• Rupp, David (attended grades 11-12)

S

• Schierling, Sandra (attended grade 9 only)
• Smith, Rick
• Sprunger, Joanne
• Stanley, Rick
• Stauffer, Bob
• Striker, Emalese (attended grades 9 and 11)

T

• Teeple, Roger (attended grade 12 only)
• Thornton, Danny (attended grades 9-11)
• Treece, Edith (attended grades 9-10)
• Tumbleson, Janis

W

• Weikel, Steve
• Wiederkehr, Ann (attended grades 10-12)

Y

• Yoss, Ron

Z

• Zerby, James

Another Name Added

Although we don't like adding names to our list of classmates who are no longer with us, we do appreciate Judie Sprunger reminding us that Karen Haines died some time ago. If you look again at the list in the January blog, you will see dates have been added next to John Muselman's name. If you can fill in any information for the other people listed, including Karen, please send an email to southadamsclassof1970@gmail.com.

We are hoping everyone will know about our reunion by the end of this month so plans can be made to attend the September 25-26 get-together. "Like" us on Facebook, send an email or leave a comment on the blog page as evidence the word is getting out. Be sure to include the names of those you have told about the reunion. Right now we can only confirm 26 classmates know the dates and activities that will take place to celebrate our 45th. This means we have a long way to go! The committee is counting on your help.

In Memory

As the committee compiles the list of classmates, we are reminded of those who have died. Our list includes:

• Kenny Jones
• John Muselman:  9/29/1952 - 10/05/2004
• Marilyn Patterson
• Tom Schindler
• Randy Toland
• Bruce Weimer

Is there someone we have missed? Use the comment section below or send an email to southadamsclassof1970@gmail.com to let us know.

Now we're working on the list of classmates who at one time or another were part of our class but not necessarily senior year. We want to welcome these individuals to our 45th reunion. For example, off and on through our twelve years of school, Joyce Burkhalter attended school with us while her family was home on furlough from India. Joyce was a sophomore the last time she was with our class. Then there are some who attended school with us for many years but moved before senior year. At least two in that category are Janet DiGerolamo and Kevin Hanni. The list goes on. In fact it is a little surprising how much turnover there was during our high school years.

If you're still in contact with someone who was part of our class but didn't graduate with us, extend am invitation to that classmate to join us in September.