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Post by Mark Engblom on Aug 13, 2007 14:55:50 GMT -5
Hi Tom! Try posting now. I had no idea I needed to "approve" people signing up for an account. Sorry about that. Here's a page of people who've registered so far (many prefer just to stay "guests" without registering): dchs1984.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=membersHello to everyone else, too. I haven't been back here in quite awhile. Sorry to hear Central is closing down. I'll have to get more info on that...though I guess it's no surprise. Central's been on the chopping block many times over the past fifteen years or so. Too bad, but maybe it's for the best. The school, I've heard, is almost unrecognizeable from the time we attended...both the student body and the campus itself. As for news from my end, Dar recently changed RN jobs, leaving the stress of St. John's emergency department for a private pain clinic. She likes it, but is still open to something a little closer to home (instead of St. Paul). I'm still at TREND and still loving it. I enjoy the focus on education and a like the variety of stuff I work on. Our daughter Alyssa is entering 11th grade, has her driver's license and we're also starting to feel the first pangs of "empty nest" syndrome (Hi Dawn! I know how you feel!). Eric is heading into 8th grade this fall and he's now bigger than I am (with no sign of stopping)! All in all, I have absolutely no complaints. I am an astoundingly lucky man. Good to hear from all of you.
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Post by Simone Pepper on Aug 22, 2007 16:56:38 GMT -5
Hi Mark, You know that I check out the sites from time to time and glad to see the new and improved site. Thanks for linking to the 86 site, we appreciate it even though its not as nice as yours. It's the thought that counts right? take care, Simone
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Post by Rick Campbell on Oct 24, 2007 14:08:50 GMT -5
Hey Dave Beauclair!
Holy crap! I just saw your post and noticed you live out here (Seattle). We've been here for 11 years now and would never think of leaving. We actually live in the Kent-Covington area, but we're thinking about building another house, or just moving, to Bellevue or Issaquah. Let me know where you're at.
I too was going to climb Rainier, when suddenly, I needed my ACL repaired. Looks like I'll be climbing next year.
Get a hold of me at campbellr1@comcast.net
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Post by Michele on Dec 11, 2007 16:57:58 GMT -5
Hi Everyone!! Merry CHRISTMAS!! I can't believe its that time of year AGAIN!! Yearly News Update! We are not going to Minnesota this year, we are helping our daughter move into her first apartment!! <HOLY CRUD> Yes, Aly has finished her first semester at college and is moving into her first apartment. Some of you may already know we adopted Aly's bestfriend this year. So we now have TWO 18 year old daughters! Trisha is finishing up her senior year in HS, and will be attending Georgia Military College next year!! (Proud Mommy Look) Casey, is a Junior... enough said? He's in some kind of scream band LOL yeah, he gets that from me. And is gainfully employed, what more can I ask for? Mom and Dad are still doing GREAT! We were in MN for Dad's 70th Birtday in August for a week. Got to see Bob, Rich, Tina and all the kids. First Villones family reunion in about 8 years. Hope everyone is happy, healthy and blessed for yet another year
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Post by Mark Engblom on Dec 15, 2007 1:34:25 GMT -5
Wow....I can't believe "your" Alyssa is out on her own already! "Our" Alyssa is in her junior year of high school, and I'm sure she'll be graduating before I know it. We're now trying to wade through all of the college, SAT, etc. stuff. Confusing!
I hope you have a great Christmas in Duluth, Michele...and everyone else for that matter!
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Post by Mark Engblom on Dec 15, 2007 1:38:01 GMT -5
I hate to buzz-kill the Christmas wishes, but Tiz sent me the news that our classmate Pam Andler passed away on December 11th. Here's the link to her obituary in the Duluth News Tribune: www.legacy.com/duluthsuperior/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=99566658I've also posted the news on our website/blog (which includes some photos of Pam) as well as updated our Memorial Page. Pam is our first female classmate to pass away.
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Post by Scot Kelley on Dec 15, 2007 22:49:07 GMT -5
As much as I hate to hear thins kind of news, I appreciate you taking the effort to keep us all in the loop.
My prayers and well-wishes go out to her friends and family as well.
Scot
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Post by jeffreyltucker on Dec 29, 2007 11:22:01 GMT -5
Hi folks,
I had bookmarked this site but never took the time to review it like I should've. Sitting here this morning I decided to look at it. Mark - this is wonderful! What a great thing you're doing on our class' behalf.
I guess what pushed me to write a post on here was the news of Pam Andler's passing. Wow. We're too young to die, aren't we? I had a slight crush on her in high school. I ran into her years later and told her and we laughed. I told her I was going to ask her to prom but never built up the nerve. She said I should have, she would have said "yes." Regrets of a shy youth I guess. Now I figure no guts, no glory - I'd rather make mistakes and live through them, than wonder what if...
Nowadays I live the best I can. I'm divorced and have three kids. My son Jordan is the oldest, he's 17 with one year left of high school. I see him rarely unfortunately, something I suspect he'll regret as much as I do when he gets older but I've tried to get him to visit and he's just too busy. My girls, Amanda and Breanna, are here every other weekend though that's begun to slide as well as they get busier and busier. They're 15 and 13. They're all very talented in their unique ways. Of all I've done or accomplished in my life they are what I am the proudest of - and really had the least to do with given that God has the biggest hand in all that.
A couple years ago I finally gave up trying to live my life around theirs - I had a house in Cloquet near them but found it didn't lead to me seeing them more so I finally decided to pursue my own dreams. I'd always said I wanted "a place in the country." I finally put dreams to paper, mapped out a plan and now I type this from my farm outside of Superior, WI. 40 acres atop a hill overlooking Lake Superior and Duluth's twinkling lights. 18 Tennessee Walking Horses keep me busy along with the 4 barn cats, kitten and an australian shepherd puppy named Walker. Walker replaced my two working collies who died two years ago. I have a small website design/hosting business that allows me to be creative, mostly I do that for fun.
My day job that supports my night job of running this farm is in healthcare. Amazingly I've been in healthcare now over 22 years. It culminated in being appointed CEO of the network of clinics in 2005. You know, 10 years ago I would've probably proudly proclaimed that in some self-important way. Today I think what God has given He can take away and that I'm serving in some small way according to His will. I don't have that 'holier than thou' belief, quite the opposite. I'm probably the worst example of what a christian can be and am rarely seen without a cigar and my cowboy hat. The job keeps me busy and ironically has forced me to overcome my inherent shyness with press conferences, public speaking, flying here or there to speak or participate in various crap and running board and other meetings. I guess that's a long-winded way to say my title isn't who I am to paraphase Colin Powell. I'm a weird hybrid of city and country boy. I sit in meetings and wonder am I growed up enough for this? How'd I get here? Other times wondering what took so long and was it worth it. My misguided belief during high school that working kind-of hard gets you to the top easily was wrong. Ascension means when you arrive wherever you're going you've got battle scars.
I don't really know why I'm putting this diatribe out there to people who have become strangers over the years. I think it comes back to having people our age die that we actually know. And perhaps the melancholy wish that I had invested more of myself in getting to know all of you more at such a great time in our lives. I've been reading through your posts and I'm really glad for you, glad to hear you're happily married, that you've had wonderful kids and that you have jobs you love. I'm glad that I get a chance to know you a bit more now than maybe I did then. I hope you all had a great Christmas with your families and I hope that 2008 is all that you hope for and more.
Your Fellow Class of '84 Trojan & Friend,
Jeff Tucker
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Post by Scot Kelley on Jan 2, 2008 9:39:24 GMT -5
Very nice post Jeff.
One of the last things my dad said to me before he passed away was that time will sneak up on you if you are not paying attention. And it does.
Your post about the title not equaling the man, made me smile. I am a school superintendent. I have lots of employees and lots of people who look to me for direction. I was elected to a position as a state level representative for school administrators. It flat out cracks me up. I wasn't popular in high school. I went to the HS reunion and over half the folks there didn't even remember me. I didn't participate in anything other than lunch trips to Taco John's. There are times today that I am either leading staff development or sitting in a board meeting just hoping that everyone there doesn't figure out that I'm faking it. Inside I think I'm still the kid who drove a 67 Ambassador to school that would occasionally burst into flames; but only occasionally.
It was Tim Korpi's death that hit me the way you are being hit now. I didn't even know him that well. We ran in completely different circles. I was caught off guard and I can't even explain why.
It sounds as if you have become pretty grounded, though. The land overlooking the city and lake would be wonderful. For me, it's my woodshop and lumber mill. I'm just as likely to be found covered in sawdust on nights and weekends as I am in a tie during the week.
I sincerely hope you post every once in a while and I also hope that 2008 brings you everything you could have hoped for.
Let's not let another year slip by without paying attention to what we have been given. Here's to health and happiness for all of our friends and families for the upcoming year!
Scot
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Post by Chris Schauer on Jan 3, 2008 20:42:19 GMT -5
Hi everyone~ What a shocker. It's funny, I still picture Pam in her suede jacket and that pretty Princess Diana smile. What a sweet soul. I still remember "Corpi" and holding "far out" conversations with him..his were quite far out..mine were plain ditzty-what a mind on that guy! Thanks Mark for keeping this site up-it's bitter..and sweet. Jeff, I am divorced as well now. Well mostly. It is going on three years of hell and God has certainly been my strength and refuge. It was not long after our 20th reunion that I realized life is too short to be so unhappy. I hung up my "alpaca farmers" hat for nursing and am enjoying the adventure though I miss all of the animals sometimes. Keep the faith everyone..and stay healthy!!
Chris
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Post by Mark Engblom on Jan 8, 2008 23:24:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the compliments, folks...but it really is a pleasure keeping this kind of thing rolling. Whether you leave a quick update on what you're up to, or prefer to go for deeper stuff (great letter, Jeff!), the good thing to know is that you're always among friends. Old friends, and friends who've moved far beyond a Duluth high school from the early 80's, but friends nonetheless.
The first death that hit me was Ron Erickson's, whom I was close to during high school and actually roomed with during our college years in the Twin Cities (along with a mess of other guys). It was shortly after my daughter was born in 1991, and I remember how shocking it was that Ron would never become an older adult like we are now. He just....stopped. That was pretty harsh.
Take care, everyone...and keep posting your news and updates! We love to hear from you.
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Post by Tiz Becker on Jan 15, 2008 14:34:36 GMT -5
Possible Reunion News. East is having a 25 year reunion this summer and has entertained the idea of combining it one night with Central and Denfeld. Ideas have already been surfacing and a call for interest is out there. Jeff, I too am living south of Superior, but not looking over Lake Superior. I turned down a well-paying, over 40 a week position as a marketing director. I opted for family over career. Who ever grows old and says "Gee - I wish I would have worked more"? Not alot of animals, Just a husband, a kid and a dog. We have been thinking about chickens...it's a start! It was nice to hear from you on this board! Anyways, I am not sure who, if anyone, has taken lead and will plan for a 25 year reunion...Mark? ??
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Post by Mark Engblom on Jan 16, 2008 13:01:15 GMT -5
Who, ME? Yikes.
As for a possible 25th reunion, it's in the very VERY early planning stages...with the tentative date now set for August 8th of 2009 (not this summer, as Tiz had thought). I only found out about East and Denfeld's plans over the weekend, and there hasn't been any real contact with their planning committee yet.
I expect to put something on the website soon giving the Class of 84 a long-range "heads up" on the dates...as well as ask for any volunteers who'd be willing to serve on a planning committee when the date gets closer.
That's all I know for now....but I'll post more into as I get it. Better yet, I'll probably just start another thread devoted to a 25th reunion.
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Post by Tiz B on Jan 17, 2008 9:45:19 GMT -5
Thanks Mark, for setting me straight (2009).....I was already not going, due to other plans.....Well, I guess that settles that....Sorry also, for making it seem as thought I put you on the spot as far as planning. That was not my intention. I meant it for you to be a point of contact, that's all. Hope to see everyone in 2009!
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Post by Mark Engblom on Jan 17, 2008 11:17:28 GMT -5
Not a problem, Tiz. I don't mind being the "contact guy"...as long as other people come along to help out when the time comes. ;D
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