Classmates

Sandy Strifler (Ruggels)

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: graphic design
Comment: Enjoy the reunion! Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Spouse or Partner's Name: Roger
Please share what you have been doing for the last 5 years?: Time is flying by fast--another reunion!





I like to travel and see the many wonders of the US, but have no regrets of not leaving Manhattan. But lately I seem to make more trips to Texas--have to see my granddaughter (love being a grandmother).





Still working at Kansas State University, but hopefully retiring soon!

Joe Sumner

Now Now
Marital status: Married
Occupation: retired
Spouse or Partner's Name: Nancy
Please share what you have been doing for the last 5 years?: Retired from the National Park Service. I do some volunteer work locally, and did some guide work at the Grand Canyon. Nancy and I have been married 28 years. We're lucky that we've been able to do some fairly adventurous travel the last few years.

Micheal Taylor

Marital status: Married
Children: 0
Occupation: Homemaker
Spouse or Partner's Name: Nicole Taylor

Dan Thorson

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Ret V-Pres Merrill Lynch
Spouse or Partner's Name: Sandi
Please share what you have been doing for the last 5 years?: Retired in 2003. We spend much time volunteering and traveling. We live on a lake in northern Mn and enjoy entertaining our grandchildren and NOT working.

Linda Ulrich

Marital status: Single
Occupation: Security Specialist
Please share what you have been doing for the last 5 years?: I have been living in Wichita since 1978, when I was transferred to McConnell AFB. There I was a Security Police Officer. Now I am working as a Security Specialist. Working to get my private investigator's license. Also I was a National Night Out coordinator for my community for the past 9 years.

Randy Umscheid

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Owner-Plastic company
Comment: 40 years have flown by. Still miss the old hometown. Will be good to see everyone. I see Ralpf Pfieffer in KC once in a while. Should I invite him?

Stephen Vancura

Marital status: Married
Occupation: physician - diagnostic radiology
Spouse or Partner's Name: Lydia Acker Vancura

Mary Welfringer

Marital status: Single
Comment:
Spouse or Partner's Name: Single

Greg Wells

Marital status: Widowed
Children: 2
Occupation: Administrative Specialist- KSU Div. of Biology
Comment:

Glad to see all of our classmates again at the 45th reunion.  Wish more would have come.  Maybe the new committee can come up with a way to get more classmates to have an interest in coming.





Good luck to them.


 
Spouse or Partner's Name: N/A

Mel Westmeyer

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Artist
Comment: Due, in part, to Mr. Yancy's encouragement at MHS I studied Art and Art History at K-State; earning a BFA in Painting and a BA in Art History.

After receiving my MFA in Painting at the University of Illinois, I moved to Chicago and opened Westmeyer Studio.

At Westmeyer Studio we (myself and the artists who worked for me) created commissioned paintings, murals, and wall finishes for restaurants, bars, and private homes for over 40 years.



My older son Travis, wife and grandkids live nearby in Oak Park, IL; and my younger son Charlie works for a logistics company here in Chicago.



My wife Dorie has had careers in Advertising and Real Estate.



Rascal the Cat (orange tabby) recently turned 15.
Spouse or Partner's Name: Dorie
Please share what you have been doing for the last 5 years?: 2024

Westmeyer Studio is still around, but I work only on my own paintings now. Still doing my oil paintings, but also playing around with digital art recently.

While I am slow to update my website, some of my stuff can be seen at westmeyerstudio.com, if anyone is interested.



We spend time enjoying all of what Chicago has to offer. And, until recently, we had a second home and studio in Wisconsin overlooking Lake Michigan. We now have a place in Fort Myers, FL - - so, new stuff to paint!



Stay groovy class of '69!