Newsletters

Welcome to Rise

Welcome to the November edition of Rise Grand Island the alumni newsletter for Grand Island Senior High published every other month by the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation. Rise is where we connect with thousands of Islanders across the globe, keeping you and them informed on what’s happening in Purple and Gold land, and reminiscing a little bit as well.

This is Volume 5, Number 6 the last edition of 2020 as the official publication for alumni of Islander Nation. Thanks for reading us and for your comments and support.

We really enjoy hearing from those of you who find Rise in your in-box every other month. Give us a shout, especially if you or a GISH alum you know has done something new, newsy, or newsworthy. We would love to include it in our Milestones section. You can reach us at alumni@gips.org.

Our At the Top lead story looks at some new educational digs for future Senior High alums, made possible through the generosity of a local community leader and a local business.

On the Island has a new correspondent. Please welcome Jacqueline Ruiz-Rodriguez. Jackie is a sophomore at GISH and this issue writes about how students are dealing with COVID protocols and how the school musicals are adapting to the new normal of the pandemic.

Foundation Executive Director Traci Skalberg delves into the strategic planning, perception surveys, and Vision Mission Value as the Foundation continues to look for ways to improve itself and its service in her Shaking the World and Your Legacy stories.

Our Class Reunion Update lets you know who is going to party and when, in case your class is on deck or maybe you just want to crash another class’s soiree and see a few old friends. Heads up, though: The pandemic may have moved some dates, so a call beforehand to class leaders would be wise.

Kara Brostrom, Class of 2009, has been honored by the Nebraska State Bar Association. Read more about her well-earned accolades in Milestones.

Distant Mirror correspondent, Mike Monk, Class of 1967, writes eloquently about his father’s service in World War II in a tribute to all our men and women in uniform.

My I’ve Been Thinking column is a think piece, or accurately, a piece about thinking and the debt of gratitude I owe four Senior High teachers.

As usual we’ll see what songs were popular on the radio, what movies were wooing us to the big screen, what novels we were reading, and what television shows entertained us from each decade during November.

Finally, as we do every issue, we honor those Islanders who passed away the last couple months in our In Memoriam section.

We hope you find this Rise to your liking

Remember Islanders: Keep pushing on. And please stay safe.

George Ayoub, Class of 1968
Editor, Rise Grand Island
alumni@gips.org

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At the Top

JBS $400,000 Gift Moves Early Learning Center Forward

Future Grand Island Senior High alums will soon have a new place to get a head start on their educations.

Thanks to a generous donation from local meatpacker JBS and an earlier promise from Grand Island businessman Ray O’Connor, the O’Connor Early Learning Center is set to open to preschool students at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.

O’Connor agreed to lease part of the building, formerly the home of Shopko, to GIPS. Just this month JBS presented a check for $400,000 for the remodeling of the building. The Grand Island Board of Education had established a new and expanded early learning center as a priority. Through O’Connor’s and JBS’s generosity, that goal will be realized when school starts next year.

For more on this story including photos click on the following link. JBS Donates $400,000 to O'Connor Learning Center

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Top Rated Television Shows

from many a November 15th ago

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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On the Island

Hard Times and Musicals

Jacqueline Ruiz-Rodriguez, Class of 2023

COVID-19 has brought many difficulties to students and teachers all over the world as cases continue to skyrocket and people get restless of staying home all day.

The pandemic has spotlighted changes in keeping students healthy and in school, the role of social media for students, and activities such as the spring and fall musicals.

Senior High students started the school year wearing face masks, frequently using hand sanitizer, and using the new water fountains the school installed. These school precautions were put into place to help stop the spread of germs and COVID-19.

As students continue to move forward with their studies, they have started sticking together on social media and at school to entertain themselves and help bring hope to one another.

Sophomore Aida Lopez said she believes that social media can have both positive and negative effects on students because social media is used everywhere by teens and adults. This can distract them from the work they need to be doing.

“On the positive side, (social media) can help teens see a different reality. For example, religion and culture. It can also help teens advance their knowledge of the world around them,” she said.

According to Lopez, media influences our daily lives without us even realizing it. She later added that social media helps everyone see the different perspectives from people around the world and can bring everyone closer together in times of crisis. According to Marci Veach, an English teacher at Senior High, teachers have also been put into a tough situation where they are still trying to figure out how to manage kids both at school and at home using new apps such as Zoom. It is a difficult time for all staff members and students, but as the year goes on teachers and students at Senior High have slowly started to adapt to online learning.

“Kids these days are wanting to come to school, so students are staying on task and doing the right thing more often,” Veach said.

The CDC reports that getting the flu vaccine this year is very important to protect our families, friends, and communities. Getting this vaccine can help save medical resources for people that need to be treated with COVID-19. 

Working with the Central District Health Department (CDHD), Senior High wants to provide a free flu vaccine to help stop severe hospitalizations and help stop the spread of COVID-19. October 14th was the last day for students to turn in their permission slips to get the flu vaccine at Senior High. The school had two vaccination clinics that started in the middle of October and ended October 20th. 

“We expect the flu season to be impactful in conjunction with COVID-19 this year. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that children and young adults aged 6 months through 24 years be vaccinated against influenza,” said GIPS associate superintendent, Dr. Robin R. Dexter.

Even though COVID-19 has changed much, people's spirits and willingness to be there for each other needs to be as strong as ever, so save a date in your calendars for the spring musical at Senior High next year. “Seussical” takes us into Dr. Seuss’ world and features characters such as the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Jojo, and so many more characters. Cast members were scheduled to participate in Harvest of Harmony Parade, but COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the parade.

Instead, cast members decided create and stage a play for both parents and students to enjoy: "Zoom of the Living Dead," with seniors, Emaline Bockoven and Jackson Kissler as student directors.

The student directed and written play on Zoom helped students use their editing and leadership skills on a show designed for students and families to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes without anyone needing to risk getting sick.

In addition to the fall play, Seussical, the spring musical will be staged for students to enjoy and take a break from the stress of studying hard. Loyalty and friendship are themes in Seussical, but the story also teaches people that it’s okay to have a unique perspective on something that other people don't agree with.

“Seussical will be very cheerful, it is kind of the reason we chose it. After everything that happened last year and that is going on this year, we wanted it to be uplifting and happy,” said drama teacher, Christine Kier.

According to Kier, auditions will be held in December for Seussical. She added that although they don’t know what to expect, they have many talented students wanting to participate, so she knows that everything will turn out amazing.

Senior High has not required or created any new rules for getting into the theatre or where to sit since the start of the year, but more information will be provided before the spring production. Whether or not theatre productions are going to be on Zoom or in person is still being talked about with school administrators and staff members. For now, students and parents will have to keep wearing face coverings and social distancing to school events until further notice.

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Top Rated Movies

from many a November 15th ago

Source: playback.fm

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Shaking the World

GIPS Foundation adopts Vision, Mission, Values Statements

At their October 21, 2020 board meeting, the GIPS Foundation Board of Directors adopted the following Vision, Mission, and Values Statements.

Vision
We envision Grand Island Public Schools as a place where all students experience a rich educational journey with robust opportunities to prepare them to thrive and dream big. Every GIPS student will have adequate resources to attain their potential.

Mission
The GIPS Foundation builds strong partnerships with the district and community stakeholders, responsibly manages and grows charitable assets, and inspires the power of community to invest in access, equity and opportunity for all GIPS students.

Values
The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation’s programs and services will remain flexible and responsive to students, staff and district needs.

We will:

• Adhere to the highest ethical standards
• Manage the Foundation and its assets with integrity and transparency
• Cultivate a culture of trust
• Advocate for GIPS students and all students in our community and beyond
• Inspire and foster a partnership of shared values with GIPS Staff
• Build and steward community partnerships, galvanizing relationships for perpetual impact
• Invest in innovation and opportunity
• Help donors achieve their philanthropic goals to invest in students

These statements are the result of the first stage of strategic planning pursued by the GIPS Foundation Board. Having now defined these statements of intent and values, the board will move into the organizational assessment and goal setting stages of the planning process.

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Your Legacy. Their Opportunity.

GIPS Foundation Perception Survey

If you don’t know where you are going, you will end up someplace else. – Yogi Bera

Wise words from baseball legend Yogi Bera. At the GIPS Foundation we are getting ready to determine where we are going. But, we need your help to understand your perception of where we are. We have linked below a short survey to gather insight from our constituents. Please take 5 minutes to fill out the survey. We count on all of your insights to create our best path forward.

The GIPS Foundation (GIPSF) has engaged Match Nonprofit Consulting to conduct an organizational assessment to guide our future planning and we want your input during this important phase for our organization. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the following questionnaire by Friday, November 20, 2020.

Please be candid. The information you provide is confidential and will be reviewed by Match Nonprofit Consulting as part of an assessment of the organization. Your feedback is very important to us and will help inform recommendations for the assessment - thank you in advance for your participation!
 
*Important note regarding the survey: The best thing to do is complete the survey at one time. Once you have completed the survey, please proceed to the last "Thank You" page to save your responses. (If you need to return to the survey, you must be on the same computer with cookies enabled). For questions, please contact Barbara Gomes at barbara@matchnpc.com.

We appreciate your time and input.

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Top Rated Songs

from many a November 15th ago

Source: playback.fm

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Alumni Reunions

Planning a class reunion?

We can help get you started!
Contact us for your class list and send us information about your reunion. We will post it to our website.

Kari Price, Alumni Coordinator
kprice@gips.org
308.385.5900 ext. 201148

 

NOTE: Reunion information in this newsletter is current as of the publication date. To see Reunion updates and additions go to our Alumni Reunions page.

SENIOR HIGH REUNIONS/GATHERINGS

(Editor’s note: Please read the following list carefully as nearly all the reunions planned for the summer have been either postponed or canceled. Check with the contact person or classmates for more details.)

 

Class of 1956

The Class of 1956 wishes to extend an invitation to fellow classmates to join them at their monthly gathering. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Midtown Holiday Inn at 6:00 pm. 

 

Class of 1960

The Class of 1960 gathers the 1st Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. at the Stolley Park Pavilion or the Stolley Park Cave. Bring a lawn chair and join us!

 

Class of 1965

UPDATE: The Class of 1965’s 55th  Reunion has been called off until further notice. For more information email Loretta Catlett at  cruzinmom@hotmail.com
 

Class of 1966

The Class of 1966 wishes to extend an invitation to fellow classmates to join them at their monthly lunch gathering. They meet the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Platt Duetsche at 1:00 pm.

 

Class of 1970

UPDATE: Class 1970 Reunion Postponed — GISH Class of 1970, the Reunion Committee has come to a consensus and we have decided to postpone our 50th High School Reunion Celebration until further notice. Just to be clear, our 50th High School Reunion is not cancelled, it is just postponed to a later date. Many of you have already registered and sent in your checks, and those will be mailed back to you. We are all looking forward to a Party and after all of this I am sure we can all use a fun weekend. We will monitor the situation and let everyone know when we have rescheduled. Contact gish1970@gmail.com with questions. (Craig Paro)

 

 Class of 1990

UPDATE: Class 1990 Reunion Postponed
The 30th Class Reunion for the Class of 1990 has been postponed until 2021. Join the facebook group at GISH Class of 1990, 30 year reunion for updates and to connect with classmates.

 

Class of 2000

UPDATE: Class 2000 Reunion Postponed
The 20th Class Reunion for the Class of 2000 has been postponed until June 5, 2021. Join the facebook group at Class of 2000 GISH. For more information please contact Elizabeth Patterson, epatterson715@aol.com or Erica Wilkinson at ericawilk1326@gmail.com.
 

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Pushing On| Milestones

Islander Attorney Wins Prestigious Award

Kara Brostrom, Class of 2009, was selected as the Nebraska State Bar Association’s 2020 Outstanding Young Lawyer.

The highly regarded Outstanding Young Lawyer recognition is presented to a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association (NSBA) who has made “exemplary contributions to the community and to public service, who has actively participated in state and local bar activities and who shows exemplary professional knowledge, skill, integrity and courtesy.”

Brostrom chairs the Real Estate, Probate and Trust section of the NSBA, where she is also a member of the Women and the Law, and Young Lawyers Sections, and a member of the Legislative Committee.

In addition to Brostrom’s honor from the state bar association, in October she was named partner at Ball, Loudon, Ebert and Brostrom, LLC Estate and Business Law. Her practice includes tax planning, real estate law, and trust and estate planning and administration.

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Fiction Bestsellers

from many a November 15th ago

Source: New York Times

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A Distant Mirror

Veteran’s Day

On November 11, our nation celebrated Veteran’s Day. Today’s Distant Mirror is a tribute to our veterans. In particular I will today peer back into the 1940’s and World War II. I know many GIHS alums have fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, female ancestors, and many others who participated in the war effort in World War II. Roughly 290,000 Americans died in World War II. Countless other soldiers were heroes and served with valor.

I cannot tell every story of the war experiences Americans had, but I can tell the story of my father, Wayne Virgil Monk. I do not suggest that he was anything but typical of our courageous soldiers, but his story is the one I know best. I am in part inspired to write about him, since my brother Scott just located a copy of his Honorable Discharge Papers.

I knew that my father had fought in Italy in World War II. But throughout his life he never once talked to me about his war experience until about a year or two before he died. Then, one day in 1989 or so, I asked him about it, and he talked for almost two hours.

He was inducted into the Army at age 18 from Elm Creek, Neb., on June 7, 1943, and entered active duty as an infantryman. He told me his squadron of 200 men was sent to Casablanca, Morocco, and then to Italy (“It Lee” as my father pronounced it). He fought in the Italian campaign, and specifically the battle of Monte Casino. Monte Casino (between Naples and Rome), the site of a Benedictine monastery, was a high mountain position held by the Germans. This was a key position in the Axis Gustav Line. This battle marked one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of the Italian Campaign. The capture of Monte Casino resulted in over 55,000 allied casualties. The German losses were estimated at 20,000.

My father was in the historic 34th Division, which included Hawaiian and Japanese Americans who were not permitted to fight in the Pacific. He remained good friends with a Hawaiian fellow soldier throughout their lives after the war.

He said he lived and fought in a fox hole at the bottom of Monte Casino for weeks after weeks. He said in this dirty, cold, smelly fox hole he ate, slept, defecated, was rained upon, and lived with dead soldiers near him for days. He said if you even once accidentally put your head up above the fox hole, you were likely to be killed. He said you didn’t fear dying, you expected to die. What you feared was being horribly disfigured and then living.

My father then told me that of the 200 soldiers in his squadron, he was one of only 20 to survive the war. One-hundred eighty men in his squadron died. He was eventually wounded on May 31, 1944, getting shrapnel in his back, earning a Purple Heart. He was then sent to Marseilles, France, for a desk job for the remainder of the war.

He said when he got home to Elm Creek, for about a year or so he just drifted. He said no one could possibly understand what he had seen or been through, and he didn’t want to talk about it. The amazing thing is that that throughout his life, I never saw one ounce of bitterness or the mental scaring you might expect. My dad, nicknamed “Pickle,” was the nicest guy in town, a total optimist, with a great dry sense of humor, and everyone’s friend.

Near the end of the war, my grandfather, Pearly Monk, received a letter from a war buddy who fought in the same division as my father. The letter was published in the “Elm Creek Beacon” and read:

“Somewhere in France, December 10, 1944.

Dear Mr. Monk:

I’m not good at this kind of writing but I’ll try to explain. I am sending a $10 money order under your son’s name and if you can’t cash it please send it to him, and also send him my address. When he and I were in Italy, he loaned me ten bucks, so I am paying him back.

Your son was in the same Bull-Head Division I was in, and I heard lots of good remarks about your son. He once saved his squad leader’s life on a patrol. He was the last one to pull out and he helped all the wounded out of the tight spot. Wayne is a friendly type boy and everybody liked him well. When our boys went into combat with the 34th, we never found a better division. After the war we’re going to have a 34th Day in Hawaii. He will be treated with the best of care. I’d like to thank Wayne, so will you please tell him thanks for me.

Aloha and best wishes,
David K. Gusniken”

My father’s Honorable Discharge document has some other interesting details:
-“Military Occupational Specialty”: Cable Clerk.
-“Military Qualification”: “MM rifle 26 Jul 43.”
-“Battles and Campaigns”: “Rome-Arno,” “Rhineland,” and “Naples Foggia.”
-“Decorations and Citations”:
“EAME service medal with 3 bronze service stars – Purple Heart Medal. GO 84 Hq 121st Gen Hosp 28 Jun 44 – Good Conduct Medal GO 47 Hq 135th Inf 5 Aug 44.
-“Wounds Received in Action”: European Theater 31 May 44.
-“Date of Induction”: 7 June 43.
-“Date of Separation”: 4 Nov 45.

What stunned me the most was that my father was one of only 20 of the 200 in his infantry squadron who survived the war. If not, I would not be here. But the profound sadness is that 180 of the men in that squadron did not survive and did not live to return home to start or return to their families.

My California friend Bill Creim tells the story of his father in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. As an engineer, Bill’s father had to be put ashore after a Japanese island was invaded to help build a quick, simple airfield to allow the Allies to land planes. One night Bill’s father’s Seabee unit was sleeping, dispersed in three large huts they had built as quarters for themselves. They were bombed, and two of the huts were destroyed, killing most of the men in those two huts. By sheer luck, Bill’s father was in the hut that wasn’t hit and awoke to find himself now in charge, as the higher ranking officers were all killed. Once again, time, chance, and serendipitous events have such a significant impact on our lives.

When I hear these stories, I find myself wondering if I could ever have shown the courage that these soldiers displayed? Could I have endured and survived such horrific events? I am told that one’s natural tendency towards self-preservation is overcome by the need to support your fellow soldiers and have their backs, and that sentiment generally carries the day.

Once again, I know there are thousands who have similar stories of their family members heroism not only in WW II, but in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and many other engagements on behalf of our country. Bless them all. May we never forget what they accomplished. May we forever be thankful.

I can be reached at m.monk@mpglaw.com.

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I've Been Thinking

GISH Home for Sane Skeptics

… for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so - Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2

I’m skeptical.

Not of Shakespeare’s musing above, but rather much of the new world of information in which we find ourselves, where facts apparently have alternatives.

For that healthy dose of doubt — sane skepticism I call it — I thank Senior High teachers Mr. Kral, Miss Willman, Mrs. Barth, and Mr. Hopkins. 

My life experience log is long and includes nearly 30 years as a journalist, but those four GISH teachers were especially instrumental in laying a foundation for my current determined dubiousness. I neither understood fully nor practiced regularly what they were imparting then, but today I truly appreciate what they said.

I’ve heard their voices plenty the last 11 months.

Nothing underscores the impact of this quartet on my life than the sinister scope of 2020 with its accompanying array of misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and other assorted inaccuracies. Never has the need for thinking and reason and unimpeachable information been clearer.

I’m grateful they insisted those many years ago that I think on my own. And when I didn’t, they made my shortcomings clear to me.

Such a skill is not an exact science. I can stumble and stagger with the best of them from the information superhighway to some out of the way data cul-de-sac.

Nor is my sane skepticism reflexive. It is, rather, part of an exercise of sifting fact from fantasy and fabrication in a universe seemingly beset with trading fiction for  fact. If we can’t agree on the facts, little real thinking will follow.

Moreover, via social media such as Facebook and Twitter or even a coffee shop conversation or poorly reported newspaper article, we the pass along these tale tales and other deceits either for effect or simply in error.

These days we’ve taken to calling this process of “truing up” the details and making sense of them “critical thinking.”

I suppose critical thinking is as good as the next term, but then isn’t thinking critical to all our endeavors — from making informed decisions to staying current in the face of a pandemic to participating in the democratic process?

Whatever you call it, good sound thinking requires some skepticism: a pause for the numbers to add up, a double check of sources, a keen eye for the illogic, a leavening of the dramatic.

Without it, I’m trapped in what Mr. Kral called “lazy thinking,” his description of shortcuts to irrational, unscientific, fallacious, and, if I may, wrong conclusions.

Miss Willman was a stickler for research from Miss Willman-approved sources, but that was only the beginning. Then I had to determine the importance or consequence of those facts. Which is why I understand to this day that the drafting but eventual and decisive defeat of the Lecompton Constitution was a seminal event in the march toward civil war.

Mrs. Barth taught me that good journalism depended on quality sources, meticulous reporting (research), and clear writing.

Mr. Hopkins reminded me that the facts of history serve as its underpinnings but to truly understand it, I needed context, perspective, and an answer to the question: “What does it all mean?”

The circle closed for me last term at Doane University where I’ve been an adjunct for a number of years. I taught a capstone seminar, part of the school’s core curriculum, entitled “Democracy in the Misinformation Age.” The timing — an election year, a global pandemic, and the increasing use of social media as a news source — proved exceptional.

My experience with the class convinced me that “critical thinking” by any name should be required in every high school curriculum — with perhaps a five, 10, 25, and 50-year refresher course.

We could call it the Grand Island Senior High Kral, Willman, Barth, Hopkins School of Thinking, home to critically sane skeptics.

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In Memoriam

September and October memorial list of GISH Alumni

LORAINE (WINFREY) LIESS, Class of 1959, died April 11, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 78.
 

JIM SANDER, Class of 1969, died August 6, 2020, in Doniphan. He was 69.
 

JEANNE (NEUBERT) METTENBRINK, Class of 1955, died September 2, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 83.
 

CHAD BERGLUND, Class of 1996, died Sept. 4, in Kearney. He was 42.
 

RICHARD ROBINSON, Class of 1956, died Sept. 13, 2020, in Slidell, La. He was 85.
 

DARLENE (LETH) MASON, Class of 1959, died Sept. 15, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 78.
 

DELBERT STUEVEN, Class of 1954, died Sept. 17, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 84.
 

TIM VOSS, Class of 1982, died Sept. 19, 2020, in Lincoln. He was 56.
 

RICHARD JOHNSON, Class of 1965, died Sept. 21, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Co. He was 73.
 

JEAN (GRIM) PACKER, Class of 1952, died Sept. 23, in Grand Island. Jean lived in Wood River. She was 85.
 

LOIS (WOODEN) PARMENTER, Class of 1950, died Sept. 24, in Grand Island. She was 88.
 

ROY PETERS, Class of 1952, dies Sept. 24, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 85.
 

CATHY (PREISENDORF) POWELL, Class of 1985, died Sept. 24, 2020, in York. She was 53.
 

BENJAMIN PEREZ, Class of 2016, died Sept. 25, 2020, in Lincoln. He was 22.
 

DANNY HARRISON, Class of 1979, died Sept. 30, 2020. He was 59.
 

ED SLIPS, Class of 1964, died Oct. 1, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 74.
 

DONALD LOEFFELBEIN, Class of 1952, died Oct. 1, 2020, in Omaha. He was 85.
 

HARRIET (RUHE) MEYER, Class of 1948, died Oct. 3, 2020, in Central City. She was 89.
 

NORMA (SEMM) CAULKINS, Class of 1959, died Oct. 4, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 79.
 

MIKE HETRICK, Class of 1977, died Oct. 5, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 61.
 

PATRICK OBERMILLER, Class of 1998, died Oct. 10, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 40.
 

DOROTHEY (WHITEFOOT) HEFNER, Class of 1949, died Oct. 12, 2020, in Hastings. She was 89.
 

LEANNE PUCKETT, Class of 1975, died Oct. 16, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 63.
 

GENE BOLTZ, Class of 1947, died Oct. 17, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 91.
 

LARRY SCHWIEGER, Class of 1984, died Oct. 17, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 54.
 

JIMMY SWARTZ, Class of 1953, died Oct. 17, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 85.
 

MARGARET (O’HARA) PETERSEN, Class of 1950, died Oct. 20, in Grand Island. She was 88.
 

NANCY (SCHLEICHER) CASAREZ, Class of 1968, died Oct. 23, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 70.
 

BARBARA (GOODWIN) RODRIGUEZ, Class of 1959, died Oct. 23, 2020, in Kearney. Barbara lived in Shelton. She was 79.
 

EVELYN O’NEILL, Class of 1969, died Oct. 25, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 70.
 

AUDREY (WALKER) SCOTT, Class of 1943, died Oct. 28, 2020, in Grand Island. She was 94.
 

STELLA (WIECZOREK) SCHLEICHER, Class of 1948, died Oct. 29, 2020, in Loup City. Stella lived in St. Libory.
 

ROBERT POLLACK, Class of 1960, died Oct. 29, 2020, in Grand Island. He was 77.
 

CARL DITTMAN, Class of 1948, died Oct. 30, in Grand Island. He was 90.

 

To report an alumni death since October 31, 2020, please send an email with the first name, last name, class year and maiden name if applicable to alumni@gips.org