Be aware, the "Message Forum" is NOT password protected.  Unlike profiles that are password protected, anybody who gets to this webpage can see what is written here.  Nobody can contact you directly based on this forum unless you reveal your personal contact information.  Use the "Message Center" for sharing personal contact information with another classmate.

This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

Jim Cejka

Hey, I got a basket once, in an intramural game.

Woos'd out on sweatshirt day way back then, might as well keep the streak going.

That wasn't an air ball. That was a lob pass for somebody to slam dunk.

Ray Thompson

John--I remember basketball all too well. Garry Sellers threw bricks and I was next to him throwing swishes. Coach says Ray ya get your hair cut and your on the team. Ray says my hair is not in my eyes and let me play. Coach says these are the rules--stupid me says good bye--Ran track with the same stupid hair and still have my little gold medals to this day--Wow how we made stupid decisions back in those days

Garry Sellers

How long have you been harboring this anger Ray?  Get it out.  That's what reunions are for, isn't it!!!  Got any other unfinished business?  Teeheehee!!!  I'll be watching you and making a full report!  (And I'll have you know that my shots were very graceful bricks!)

Ray Thompson

Finally gotcha ya Garry--Ha--I'm older & grayer but still have my warped sense of humor--see ya at the reunion.

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Visitation and Mass will be held at The Cathedral Church of All Saints, 818 East Juneau Avenue, Milwaukee, 53202. Memorials may also be sent to this address.

Garry Sellers

Ray ... one small reminder about who is the "getter" and who is the "gotten" ... I'll be the guy standing in front of the group with a microphone in my hand.  Not that I would ever say an unkind word or make anybody the subject of retribution in front of 220 people ... but it is a possibility you may want to contemplate.  At the same time you might also want to check the actual balance in your so-called depleted bank account.  You may have a sudden need for cash.  Another possibility is to consider what you might say in the form of a public apology to one of your favorite and closest Browning alumni.

Kenneth Walter

Gary:

More idle threats, you could not intimidate a 5’-0” forward on the basketball court.  Fortunately, words are easier to develop than a jump shoot or courage to hit the paint for a rebound.  Even Ron Willman, the stick man, got one or two rebounds per game.  Hopefully, your stammer will not surface again while you have the mic in your hand, if it does hit the music button.  Enough, time to say thanks to a gracious lady, Nancy Davison Boerger.   

Nancy:

After all these years I finally have an opportunity to tell you how much I appreciated your impeccable minutes during our Student Council meetings.  Accomplishing such appeared to come so natural to you and of course your persistence toward implementing each action item, regardless of how small and insignificant, helped our Council become one of the most impacting ever.  I am not sure if you were aware, but the Council actually fostered numerous changes in Custer’s ultra conservative policies.  Several times the teachers and principal were agitated with our unique requests, if they only knew how dramatic things would evolve years thereafter.  Thank you very much for sharing your refined literary and communication talent with the student body, hopefully you have continued to capitalize on such.  I am looking forward to meeting you in person. .

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Ken, thank  you for your kind words. Either you have a fabulous memory, or you have mistaken me for someone else. Regretfully, I have no memory of those minutes. (Given the addled and agitated state of mind I was in during those years, due to difficulties at home, it isn't surprising). However, it could have been I, as I've done writing for several volunteer organizations and grad school without too much stress. Any facility in that area should be credited to Mr. Marino's Latin class, which I've always maintained was the best way to learn grammar.

BTW, does anyone remember diagramming sentences? Given the horrific errors we read in our local newpaper (grammar/syntax/semantics/spelling - you name it), that kind of attention to detail isn't common now.

In a less curmudgeonly vein, I'm so looking forward to seeing you and all our other former classmates.  Now we're counting the days, not the weeks or months, to the reunion. (Does this mean it's too late to lose 25 pounds and shop for a new dress?) We've all had our struggles, our triumphs, and our disappointments....but here we are - survivors. Somehow it makes all the gray hair, extra pounds, and wrinkles seem less important.

Can't wait..............

Marian Schopp (Bringe)

WOW!!  Garry was kind enough to let me be part of the reunion even though I only signed on yesterday. Thought we were going to be in Washington for September and when that got postponed I came crawling on my knees asking if it is too late to still attend.  Yay - I'm gonna be there.  I started to read all the posts that I haven't been privy to before.  It will take me until I fly out next week to catch up. I went to Browning.  I went to Edison. I lived in the town of Granville. I went to Kopp's Custard.  For our daughter Jeannie's birthday last year we had ten pints of different flavors flown to Arizona from Kopps.  She could not believe it.  If I can, I'll post a picture of her face :)  I hope my muddled memory will reignite at the reunion.  Since Allen was two years ahead of us, most of my friends were also two years older :( So happy I'm coming and can't wait to see you. XOXO  Marian

Meribeth Hodges (Engelfried)

Marion..I am so glad that you will there next week end.  I was a long time coming, but finally it is going to happen.  See you soon!!

Karen Krause

First time on this site -- where have I been!! Like studying for finals in high school and college, I always waited til the night before.  Well, almost..  Anyway, reading these posts is an education in its own right.  It does make me wonder -- did I really attend THIS Custer??!?!? Or is my aging mind really THAT sorry/scary/bad!!!

While most of this site is just for fun, I'm shocked to hear the very sad news about Tom Winslow and wish his family God's help in making it through the tough transitions ahead.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Marian and Karen, so nice to see you on the Forum - in color!  There is still time to add to our great messaging before the reunion - and does it keep on after? I hope people can use it like a Facebook and keep in touch about what's happening and memories that pop up later (doesn't that happen more often these days? the delayed memories?)   When I watch Jeopardy nowadays, instead of popping up with the correct answer, my response is "I KNEW that once!" (Did I mention this already on the Forum :-(?) Nancy, I do remember diagramming sentences and when I took English Grammar in college I was the class genius on that, from my excellent training at Custer. Apparently it was a foreign language to most California kids. It always seemed to me that the best teachers at our school were from the Midwest (not to sound too braggy) - but we had a teacher from Muscoday (sp.?) and Shorewood at my school in Cupertino and they were awesome.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Hi Terry, Want to start a new group with me and Jeanne Zinser? "Nerdy Old Ladies Who Loved Diagramming Sentences" would be a catchy name, don't you think? Anyone else?

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

I'm in!! There's something satisfying about making sense out of an English sentence. The same satisfaction as ironing wrinkles out of fabric.

Garry Sellers

Ken - Speak big now OLD man.  I may not be able to intimidate a 5'0' forward but I can intimidate an OG (Old Guy)  who needs help walking 10 feet!  I'd challenge you and Willman to a game of H.O.R.S.E. but you guys can't stand on your feet long enough for a game of P.I.G.!  And anybody can get a rebound if you're willing to mame, decapitate, or neuter other players.  Hey, now that I think about it ... that's your same approach to business, marriage, Sheepshead, tennis, or driving cars.  We're starting to see a pattern here!  I think maybe we'll discuss this further a week from Saturday ... brave man.

Warren De Smidt

Hey, watch the elbows! ;-}

Margaret Pawlowski (Finch)

I was looking at our year book and thinking about the teachers and classes that had an impact on me over the years.  Like many of you, teen years were not always easy but I prefer to remember all the good times. I do believe we were so lucky to have grown up when we did.  Can't remember who my bookkeeping teacher was but who ever it was taught me well and it has served me well in several positions I have had over the years.  I loved Mr. Fullam's art classes and learned to appreciate a lot of different mediums.  Do you remember his miniature circus?  I learned a lot from Grant Boltz in the acappella choir.  Enough that many years later it served me well in our church choir.  Margaret Berg made Algebra and geometry real for me.  Without her I would have been lost.  She was also a good counselor when I needed one.  Mr. Hagopian, great teacher and always there when you needed advice or someone to listen.  Mr. Harris made history class interesting but you best take good notes because it may not be in the text book but it would be on the test.  I enjoyed Makeup club, one semester in drama club, Senior Class play and the friendships we had.  Having moved away at the end of 1964 I lost touch with all but a few classmates.  Look forward to seeing some of you at the reunion.

Karen Krause

Finally met Tom Winslow's wife, Peg, and his daughters & tearful grandson -- at Tom's memorable funeral gathering and mass Tuesday night in DT Milw.  Learned so much about this fine man who I hadn't seen in 50 years.  Most of the Episcopal clergy of SE WI were in attendance.  The organ music & large choir sounded beautiful.  It ended with the Milwaukee Police and Fire Bagpipes. Tom also worked with the Salvation Army and they were represented as well.  He gave so much to so many -- and no doubt he'll share his spirit with us at the reunion. 

Karen Gerstl (LeDuke)

Karen Krause,

I am glad that you attended the memorial service, I wish I could have also, but not in town yet.  Thanks for representing his Custer classmates.

Karen

Jim Cejka

Golfers

Here is something you should have in your golf bag. I won't tell Gordy.

A "Rescue" Golf Club - for those times when you may be just a bit off the fairway and into some unfairly tall grass. Teeing back up when nobody's looking is so gauche. Try this - click the link. (Hope it works)

The Big Daddy Rescue Club

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Dear Garry, Thank you for the thoughts on the home page - yes, recent photos will certainly help us surmount the inevitable challenge of figuring out who the heck everyone is. And relax - I think I can safely speak for the other nerdy sentence-diagrammers in saying "your dangling thingamajig is pardoned". (let 'em all process that one!) 

Marilyn Griffith (Bauer)

OMG - enough of diagramming sentences!!! I remember when I was teaching English several years ago. One of the most challenging classes I had was titled "Terminal English" - don't know if they were referring to me or the dunderheads. On a whim I put a sentence on the board and started to diagram it. I heard a shout from the back of the room, "Hey, we're going to play Hangman!" 

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Marilyn, That's priceless!

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Okay guys, we need to get our act together.

September 14th is NOT Saturday. So, the tour is........................?

Garry Sellers

What are you talking about out there in Michigan?  Must be an international dateline near you!