TRAER – Everyone is invited to stop in at the Traer Historical Museum from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 8, to help classmates of Traer’s Class of 1961 celebrate the “Big 65” reunion since graduation.

Come chat with friends and acquaintances while enjoying a cup of coffee. A short program beginning at 10:15 a.m. will be a fun time for sharing some memorable moments, a book presentation and a moment of silence.

This on-going coffee tradition has kept this class connected and involved with their home town since 2001. In 2017, they donated a memorial bench to the North Tama school in memory of their teacher, Don Lau, who taught them each person can make a difference in the world. In 2020, the class donated a metal sculpture to the Wilson Nature Preserve in memory of their classmate, Ellen Wilson Zmolek.

Back in 1961, 44 graduated from old Traer High; today 21 are deceased.

Two classmates have written books for this year’s reunion: Gary Burrows’ book of his life in Traer will be for sale. “Reminiscing Through the Decades; Cherishing Our School Days,” her sixth memory book for the class written by Marcella Podhajsky Pults, will also be available.

Hope to see all soon at the museum on this Winding Stairs Festival weekend.