July 19, 2025
Local News | The Times
Local News

REUNION - Wedron Grade School

From the classes of 1958 and 1959, Wedron Grade School graduates (from left) Rhonda (Fessler) Wynn, Victor Hackler Sr., Janet (Hoxsey) Ratcliff, Bernita (Hubbartt) Armstrong, Cheri (Peterson) Hackler, Patricia (Moore) Hopkins, Connie (Baima) Malik and Bill Cates. (Contributed photo)

REUNION WEDRON GRADE SCHOOL

The fifth annual Wedron Grade School reunion was July 28 at Wilbur Thompson Park in Wedron with 95 in attendance.

Don “Mort” Brooks was host. A moment of silence was observed for classmates who have died since the 2017 picnic: Erma Dell (Debolt) Duffy, Jackson (Jack) Tyler, Pamela (Fuller) Ricci, William “Billy” Baima, Rory “Ike” Brooks, Karen (Alexander) Taylor, retired principal and teacher Esther Funk and former long time residents, Larry Lampson, Jack Malik and Dorothy Nelson.

Vic Hackler Sr. led the pledge and prayer before dinner. Door prizes and a set of self-authored childrens books donated by Patty Moore Hopkins were awarded to Connie (Baima) Malik, Kathy (Deckard) Broadus, Marla (Martin) Housby, Patty (Moore) Hopkins, Norma (McKee) Dyer, Jerry Haff, Barb (Deckard) Woodward, Dawn Anderson, Cheryl (Despain) Vatland, Karen (Vatland) Reibel, Sylvia (Hoxsey) Vatland, Mary Johnson, Bernita (Hubbart) Armstrong, Terry Woodward, Rhonda (Fessler) Wynn, Maria (Juchniewicz) Durdan and Janet (McKee) Scott.

Guests came from all over Illinois; Mary (Despain) Gruben, Indiana; Diane (Scott) Rowley, Michigan; and Norma (McKee) Dyer, Virginia.

Graduates attending were Fred Frisch, 1946; Roger Armstrong, Sr., 1950; Jeanette (Vatland) Leslie,1951; Wendell Vatland, 1954; Lee McCullough, 1956; James McKee, 1957; Connie (Baima) Malik, Bill Cates, Victor Hackler, Bernita (Hubbart) Armstrong, Patricia (Moore) Hopkins, 1958; Rhonda (Fessler) Wynn, Cheri (Peterson) Hackler, 1959; Karlene (Brooks) Malik,1960; Vernon Kueteman, Karen (Vatland) Reibel, Terry Woodward,1961; Mark Jonassen, Nellie (Thomas) Anderson,1962; Diane (Scott) Rowley, Joe Gregory, Charles Johnson,1963; June (Chandler) Wilcoxen, James Johnson, 1965; Debbie (Stone) Kleckner, Peggy (Wright) Jonassen,1966; Paul Jonassen,1967; and others from 1968 to the closing of school in 1977. George R. Hanselmann, Mike Leslie, Maria (Juchniewicz) Durdan, Steve Hauger and Rosalyn (Fessler) Thompson, who moved away before graduating, also were in attendance.

Next year’s picnic will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27, at Wilbur Thompson Park in Wedron. Classmates are encouraged to bring anything related to Wedron and surrounding area.

For more information, contact Peggy (Wright) Jonassen, 815-434-0636; Cindy (Tyler) Eirhart, 815-434-0248; Diane (McKee) Hill, 815-228-4292; or Debbie (Saddler) Snook, 815-434-4920.