Many members of the original Dysart High School Class of 1961 gathered on the weekend of July 29th to celebrate 55 years after their graduation. On Friday afternoon, several members and their spouses toured the Dysart Historical Museum with Cathy Wieck. Friday evening found the group at Judy (McAndrews) Burkle’s in Dysart at a casual get-together with a cookout, drinks, and conversation. The friends reminisced, got reacquainted with those whom they had not seen for a long time, looked at photos from the 50th reunion, read newspaper articles about the classmates, their teachers, and their parents, and then took group pictures in the arboretum across the street.

On Saturday evening, the classmates enjoyed an interesting evening at the Dysart Country Club. After a delicious prime rib/pork roast dinner catered by Merchant’s grilling of Vinton, they enjoyed desserts and coffee while visiting with each other. Judy (Stein) Carney was the MC and told several interesting stories. Classmates shared news of those who were not able to attend. Everyone received a reunion book, and Kaylene (Olson) Balleau won the door prize which was a Dysart Commemorative Collectors’ coffee mug. Couples and group pictures were taken.

Silver Cord servers for the evening were Teagan and Tristen Prouse who also performed four lovely flute duets while wearing our class colors featuring a blue top covered by a white tunic which their mother had crocheted for the event. Watch for them at Carnegie Hall! We friends from the class wondered if any of us could still get a few puffs out of the instruments that we used in high school so many years ago!

Friends traveled from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Florida, and various towns in Iowa including Dysart, Buckingham, Grinnell, McIntire, and La Porte City. Class members attending some of the weekend activities included Pam (Whitmore) Koch and Fred, Judy (McAndrews) Burkle and friend Michael Dyrland, Joyce (Frankhauser) Coleman and Bob, Don Schuchart and Kathy, Kaylene (Olson) Balleau and Richard, Judy (Stein) Carney and Bob, Dave Hansen and Joanne, Charlie Cranston and Mary, Richard Luze and Diane, Warren Wagner and Mary, George Vopelak and Terri, and Pete Fehr and Deloris. Deceased members of the class include Joan Matthiesen, Terry Grimm, LeRoy Peterson, Bruce Overton, Jean (Bottomley) Black, and Bill Hanson. The next reunion will be in five years their 60th.