Class Hangouts & Former Faculty Gatherings

Thanks to Karen Patano Lakeman for sharing a recent HKIS alumni get- together in Alabama in August. The 80s alums had the best afternoon!
Met up in Montgomery, AL today with Robyn Bradley Bryan (we are ‘85), her brother Brad Bradley ‘86, Linda Yoars Davis ‘86 and her sister Liesl Yoars Varner ‘84, and Adam Levowitz ‘87.

After lunch at Dreamland BBQ, we went back to Robyn’s place for dessert and spent hours reminiscing and perusing old Orientale yearbooks. I saw Robyn in 2012, but haven’t seen the others in 36+ years! Adam is producing his rock opera Don Giovanni at the University of Alabama October 5,6,8, and 10 (https://www.dgrocks.com) so if you’re anywhere near, come see it!

From top left to right: Bert Lobe, David Elliott, Michael Weber, Chuck Steinbach,
David Hoeppner, Jim Handrich, Walt Erhardt, Doug Baker, Jim Carlson
From second row left to right: Martha Lobe, Jerry Branstrator, Dale Koehneke,
Donna Koehneke, Deb Steinbach, David Chaveriat, Darrell Van Luchene,
Gretchen Erhardt, Sarala Carlson, Mary Jane Elliott, Bob Smith
From first row left to right: Chris Bickel, Lois (Ruhter) Branstrator, Ron Rush,
Mary (Hoff) Rush, Evelyn Chaveriat, Sue Van Luchene, Thea Patterson,
Beth Hoeppner, Louise Weber, Alice Smith, Sue Frerking, Pat Frerking.

On July 18, former HKIS faculty and students from the 1970s-2010s gathered at the home of Chris Bickel in Holland, Michigan. The organizing committee consisted of Martha and Bert Lobe, Mary Jane and David Elliott, Mary (Hoff) and Ron Rush, Jim Handrich, Thea and John Patterson, Lou and Mike Weber and myself (Chris Bickel). Not in the photo but instrumental in hosting the day were my three daughters, all HKIS graduates: Jenni Renaud, Joanna Bickel, and Meggen Saka.

It was a beautiful Michigan day, and all were able to enjoy sharing memories as we caught up on each other’s lives. Those who came for the day included Evelyn and David Chaveriat, Deb and Chuck Steinbach, Sarala and Jim Carlson, Gretchen and Walt Erhardt, Alice and Bob Smith, Sue and Darrell Van Luchene, Sue and Pat Frerking, Beth and Dave Hoeppner, Donna and Dale Koehneke, Lois (Ruhter) and Jerry Branstrator, and Doug Baker.

My wife Kathie and I (Richard) Siegert were teachers at HKIS in the 1970’s. Kathie taught 4th grade from 1970 until 1974, when she stepped aside to have our children. I taught a bit in Middle School, but after a couple of years moved to teach social studies in the High School. We stayed at HKIS from 1970-1981 (minus one year back in the States on an HKIS study sabbatical). We often remark how those years were life changing, and some of the best years of our lives. We are both now 75, but those years seem like yesterday to us. Anyway, about the fun alumni story: this week, a former student of ours Rochelle (Rhodes) Dunn passed through our city of Evansville, Indiana. Rochelle was in the class of 1979. We had lunch with her and some of her family from nearby Illinois. Rochelle was in Kathie’s first 4th grade class in HKIS way back in 1970-1971. She still has the 4th grade report card from Kathie for that year!! We had fun talking about our memories from those years.