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Posted on: Jun 24, 2018 at 12:06 AM

In updating Paul Dennis Miller's Obituary, I am respectfully including a picture and article from the KCStar about Paul's accident. The picture may make some of our classmates uncomfortable in viewing, but I wanted to share with those who choose to visit Paul's In Memory. Thanks to Jim Walsh for researching and finding the KCStar story and picture.

Sorry to share, but we lost Craft Clark May 29, 2018, Tues to an aorta (heart) aneurysm. Don Woods had stopped over by to visit on Tuesday, but nobody was at home. Later his wife, Susan called to share the sad news. There will be a celebration of life at their townhouse CLUBHOUSE in Lenexa, Kansas on Saturday, June 2 from 12 to 4pm. Their address is 8824 Carriage near 87th and Gallery Road (66215). As more information is given, I will post in our In Memory section. Come join us in celebrating Craft's life.

Posted on: Mar 22, 2018 at 5:00 AM

This poem or whatever you want to call it, is for those that have reached that pinnacle or are about to enter that "Twilight Zone" of life.


Seventy


My last day of being young; no Birthday songs will be sung.
Now I’m old and almost dead or is this only in my head?
I am old and flabby and whole lot crabby and I am looking just a little shabby.
These old bones provide me aches and pains but I can still use my brains.

All of my memories and my scars will be added to my memoirs.
Old maybe but I’m not sure; maybe someone can come up with a cure.
From being young we have sprung or was this a slip of my tongue?
No slip but all I hear is; don’t fall or might break your hip.

Hey old man do you need a cane or some help; their humor I disdain.
These peacocks they prance and they strut; they forget that I can still kick their butt.
My funny side has been gone for some years and so it appears.
At my age and still at work; is it dedication or is it a quirk?

Seventy! I can’t believe; should I be happy or should I grieve?
Not too much that I can do unless science has a tremendous breakthrough.
Hell, I don’t care; all I can say is, what is fair is fair at least I still have some of my hair.
Wear and tear on this old boy but yes, I can still find some joy.

Depressed, probably not, I still find wisdom in my every thought.
Some twenty years back some black balloons I got; after all of these years I almost forgot.
So many candles on my cake; to put out the flame it would take a lake.
Who needs electricity when the candles will suffice but I will see that you get the first slice.

Well, old is old and it cannot be controlled and on this idea not everyone is sold.
Ready for the rocking chair, oh not quite, those words are often too trite; do you wanna fight?
Spirit alone can make or break; all of this talk is giving me a headache.
What’s the use, there is no sense in becoming a recluse and so what is my excuse.

Anyway, Happy Birthday some will yell but for me I have no time to dwell.
Too much work for me to complete and I had better hurry before I become obsolete!
I had better finish this in a hurry but don’t you worry it’s only my eyes that are getting blurry.
Much better now but I forgot what I was doing or what I happened to be pursuing.

Never mind, it wasn’t fundamental but with this old man you must be gentle.
I am frail and I am old with my teeth full of gold and maybe I am on the threshold.
Nope…you dope, I am not standing on that slippery slope.
I have a long life ahead and no rumors will you spread, because buddy I’m not dead.



Garth Jensen

2018

Posted on: Mar 21, 2018 at 6:41 AM

VIKING

Now that I look back, I have been a Viking, a Rebel, a Cougar and a Lumberjack.
A Griffin too and that I almost forgot; how can that be, just ask me!
The Viking was to my liking and his pose was very striking.
I missed seeing him a few years back but at the time, I had little slack.

The Rebels, traitors they became; now it is Brooks the Bison and that is not the same.
Bison were rare in that desert air; ask the natives that have always lived there.
Political correctness it overcame, so it was decided to change its name.
I do not much care to ever go back there; all of their pride they have tried to hide.

As for a Cougar that roams free in the mountains near; should we run in fear?
Probably not since, they didn’t change their name; for many years, they have been tame.
What can I say about this school, it was ok but not very cool; no party-time by the pool?
Rules and regulations this was a place with high expectations.

Lumberjack, a Paul Bunyan type; he is not your normal stereotype beyond all of the hype.
Among the canyons and the peaks and where the blowing wind speaks.
Geology abound and beauty all around and with lush forests that surround.
A great place to teach and learn and someday I want to return.

The Griffin a mighty beast but this place was way too liberal to say the least.
It fit my needs as a temporary source and it kept me on my course.
Use of the Griffin was not a good choice and when I left, I wanted to rejoice.
They wanted to change the way that I thought but I got the training that I sought.

I had some good teachers and some that would just tolerate me and most would agree.
Not all of my education came from school; I got some the hard way, which was cruel.
As a rule, I am still learning and I will keep trying as long as my mind will keep on turning.
The Viking was my beginning but now I am in my eighth inning.

As a Viking will I get one more fight; I don’t know I’ll try with all of my might.
I suppose adventure is out of sight but I can sit in my easy chair and continue to write.
I will need to think this all through because there is still much that I want to do.
Therefore, a Viking I am and adventure I do seek and to stop would be for the weak.




Garth Jensen
2018

VIKING

Now that I look back, I have been a Viking, a Rebel, a Cougar and a Lumberjack.
A Griffin too and that I almost forgot; how can that be, just ask me!
The Viking was to my liking and his pose was very striking.
I missed seeing him a few years back but at the time, I had little slack.

The Rebels, traitors they became; now it is Brooks the Bison and that is not the same.
Bison were rare in that desert air; ask the natives that have always lived there.
Political correctness it overcame, so it was decided to change its name.
I do not much care to ever go back there; all of their pride they have tried to hide.

As for a Cougar that roams free in the mountains near; should we run in fear?
Probably not since, they didn’t change their name; for many years, they have been tame.
What can I say about this school, it was ok but not very cool; no party-time by the pool?
Rules and regulations this was a place with high expectations.

Lumberjack, a Paul Bunyan type; he is not your normal stereotype beyond all of the hype.
Among the canyons and the peaks and where the blowing wind speaks.
Geology abound and beauty all around and with lush forests that surround.
A great place to teach and learn and someday I want to return.

The Griffin a mighty beast but this place was way too liberal to say the least.
It fit my needs as a temporary source and it kept me on my course.
Use of the Griffin was not a good choice and when I left, I wanted to rejoice.
They wanted to change the way that I thought but I got the training that I sought.

I had some good teachers and some that would just tolerate me and most would agree.
Not all of my education came from school; I got some the hard way, which was cruel.
As a rule, I am still learning and I will keep trying as long as my mind will keep on turning.
The Viking was my beginning but now I am in my eighth inning.

As a Viking will I get one more fight; I don’t know I’ll try with all of my might.
I suppose adventure is out of sight but I can sit in my easy chair and continue to write.
I will need to think this all through because there is still much that I want to do.
Therefore, a Viking I am and adventure I do seek and to stop would be for the weak.




Garth Jensen
2018

Happy birthday Viking classmate and dear friend. I am truly blessed to have you as my friend for a mere 50 some years, and I look forward to a continuing future as forever, loving friends!!!

This could be our HC Court in all their glory

Some may remember Donn and Donna Holmes sang folk songs together at a coffee house near the KU Med Center called the "Twelve Plus One". Donn played guitar and Donna sang mostly. They were pretty good judging by the crowds. 

Donn was a friend. The was a Phi Psi at KU and graduated with a degree in education. After graduation, he purchased the Radio Shack store in Lawrence. He later sold it to open a classical records store in Crown Center. When that failed, he went into the family business, Stevens Envelope Co., located at 20th & Mc Gee in Kansas City, MO.  When the family sold the company, he moved to Florida and opened a Firestone Tire store. He sold that business and moved to Tennessee to be closer to his wife, Shannon's parents. I remember playing poker at his house on Friday nights with his parents and the local priest. Good people. 

Strum on Larry...

Posted on: Oct 22, 2017 at 3:15 PM

Dear classmates,
I am posting the two wonderful thank yous we recently received from Shawnee Mission West staff. The first thank you is from Principal Steve Zoe representing the SMW Band and the Love Fund contributions. The second is from Cindy Neely, head counselor who is in charge of the Love Fund and will oversee our donation. Your generosity and support as a class over the years continues to shine brightly. Each and every one of you is deeply treasured, admired, respected, and appreciated for all your efforts on behalf of our SMW Class of 1966.

Posted on: Oct 21, 2017 at 5:18 PM

From Marsha Rhoads Killian as she explored the Johnson County Museum in Overland Park, Kansas

               A loving wife and mother      A soldier of the cross

David Lee Howard

Birth:	Jun. 15, 1948
Death:	Jan. 28, 1997
Inscription: MARRIED AUGUST 15, 1969 COL US ARMY CHAPLAIN
Burial: Greenlawn Memorial Gardens  Springfield Greene County Missouri, USA

Georgia Ann Harris, 61, of KCK, passed away Aug. 12, 2010, at her home. She leaves behind her husband, James Bruce, 2 daughters, Ada Harris, Eclectic, Ala., and Sandra Parker, Lincoln, Ill., 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandson. You will be so very much missed and always loved. Arr.: Marts Memorial...i