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.
 

Karsten Boerger

Garry,

The Detroit coaching was terrible and thus they lost the game. But they will also be back next year

Karsten

Jim Cejka

Hope The CCC (Custer California Contingent) is all ok out there. If they are, they can be thankful - and shower and flush for a year or so without feeling guilty.

Jim Cejka

Love conquers all (and 49ers)- even in Super Bowl games.

Garry Sellers

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Oh, dear Patricia - so sorry to hear this news. Both Jon and I, but especially Jon, enjoyed meeting Russ at the reunion, and I know Jon stayed in touch with him afterward, and had great admiration for him. Please accept my sincere condolences and some hugs across the miles, from California!

Jim Cejka

Patti,

So many poets and people have said it so much better than I ever could, but you have my sympathy and my heart.

Marilyn Griffith (Bauer)

Gary,

I don't know if this helps re: Ted Giencke, because this is was too easy to find, but here is what I found on the the web

Ted William Giencke:

Saint Cloud, MN

Marilyn Bauer

Garry Sellers

Bonnie Buck (Walter)

As I was quite behind in reading our website (sorry Garry), it took a while for me to catch up.  Garry I also attended an Evangelical United Brethern church, but mine was on Center Street.

Pat - it is so hard to lose a life partner, please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

Whoever wrote that long poem, it was thoroughly enjoyable!  Thanks Marilyn.  Garry, your addition fit perfectly.

Mel - glad you are still with us with that great fighting spirit.

As part of the California Contingent, I'm happy to say that my roof leaks are all repaired and walls are finally repainted, and I didn't have to shovel the rain.  

Jim Cejka

Another Californian heard from.

Hey California - I heard a rumor that come the next gubernatorial election you people are not going to pay attention to party affiliations or platforms, but vote for anyone named NOAH. 

Any truth to that rumor?

Kenneth Pallaske

Winter has returned to Michigan. Greetings!

Pat, my sincerest condolences at the loss of your husband.

I hope it is well with all of you. I know many of us are pushing 80 (in June for me), or have already crossed that threshhold. Is anyone older?

Gar(r)y. I want to thank your for your dedication to this site. Of course, not having anythiong else to do.....helps. I listened to the In Memory song again. A real tear jerker. 

God bless you, classmates. And may you have a long life.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

We are so sorry, Pat, that you have lost your true love, and we hope that many wonderful memories are helping to take away some of the sadness. The longer and sunnier days of spring may help a little as well.

Our biggest harbinger of spring came early this year - the breakup of the ice on the lake, which usually comes around mid-April. Shortly before that we had great entertainment to view from our living room, as our neighbor and his dog managed to fall through the ice on his ATV. Karsten saw him go down, but didn't call 911 because the hapless driver (and dog) managed to hop right out onto the ice. The next four hours brought a collection of neighborhood trucks to our driveway, carrying all the "advisors" who came to assess the situation and offer support. Many helpers, lots of ropes, and a chain saw to remove ice resulted in rescuing the vehicle and saving the DNR the trouble of fining our neighbor. Silly fellow, he grew up on this lake and should have known better. Every swimmer in our family knows there's a spring right there, which - of course - means thinner ice.

We're both recovering from winter ailments (influenza A for me, Covid for Karsten) and looking forward to getting back to the garden, boats, and arrival of the kids. Some warm weather lulled us into complacency, but not enough to take the plow off of the John Deere and replace it with blades for summer (good job, Karsten). One more big snow dump made that a wise choice.

We hope all of our classmates are well and enjoying life in the peaceful and quiet way we find so appealing these days.

Jim Cejka

R.I.P Randy

Randy was my seatmate/"buddy" on the CONNtinentals trip to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. We had a "buddy" system on the buses (6 Greyhounds), so we didn't get lost or something, and no hanky-panky if you sat with a girl. We spent days and nights on the busses, stopping only for meals, potty breaks, and driver changes. The adult chaperones would call ahead to whatever city we'd be hitting at lunch or dinner time, and offer them a parade or concert by "The National Champion Milwaukee CONNtinental Youth Band," if they would feed us. It worked too. I remember marching around places like Missoula, Montana, a rodeo in Spearfish, South Dakota, Cheyenne, Wyoming, oh, and the Multnomah County Fair in Oregon. The band, at about 120 marchers, often outnumbered the spectators. In Seattle, we stayed in a dorm at the University of Washington, but on the road, we slept in the buses, in our seats, so Randy and I got pretty "close." 

I agree with Garry, another Custerite well worth knowing and remembering. 

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

RIP, Randy - a classmate since Congress School and a really smart guy! Intersting history of th CONNtinentals, Jim. Hate to be saying "good-bye" to so many these days. Garry, I enjoyed the Home Page, and why do those t-shirt slogans ALWAYS make me laugh! Every one of them! Kind of sad, huh?

Jim Cejka

Some many years ago I was sitting and pondering my mortality. At that time, I thought I might like to make it to 80. Nice round number, and nobody on either side of my family, especially the men, ever got close. 

Well, apparently I made it. The cake in the dining room is a 4 alarm fire. 

Now what?

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Happy Birthday, Jim! Congratulations for making it to the BIg Eight-O!

William Nelson

Mostly for Jim,

Congratulations on hitting another milestone. We share the same date, but I'm a year older than you. What really makes me feel old is our daughter will hit a milestone in a couple of weeks; She was born when I was 21. Yesterday, she posted a Facebook Memory picture of the two of us hugging, with a caption, "You were 8-years younger on this picture than I am now. How can that be?" What made us laugh was Mary noticed I was wearing the same shirt yesterday as on that picture!

My 81st was much more subdued than my 80th, when the entire family and lots of friends appeared out of nowhere to yell, "Surprise!" It surely was. My dad died at 75 and his last few years were pretty rough. Never thought I'd get beyond that, but here we are!

Our eldest son retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve about 4 years ago after 20+years, and then retiried from the Mukwonago Police department a year later. He had heart valve surgery a couple of weeks ago, so he's taking it easy these days but doesn't like it. He told us, years ago, that he probably wouldn't reach 65, but we hope he's wrong. His little grandsons keep him entertained now. 
Our niece and nephew were in the Conntinentals several years ago; Dori Jo and Sven Nelson. They're younger than us and lived in Sun Prairie back then. They loved the experience. She's now a music teacher in Idaho and also has a crafting vlog.( Is that the proper term?)

Enjoy your 81st year and many more. You keep us all entertained.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Congratulations Jim! We hope your cake didn't burn down the house.

You ask,"Now what? ". Good news - there is life after 80. Karsten hits 83 this Christmas Day, and people are amazed when they learn how old he is. Having survived bombs in Germany, revolutions in Venezuela, some close calls in 3rd world countries involving plane crashes (missed that flight, thank goodness!) and assasinations (RIP, Indira), he's still alive and kicking. Okay, maybe a little slower than 50 years ago, but hey.....

Loved  your reminiscences about the Continental band. How I would have loved playing music in a group, although orchestra would have been the first choice. Somehow, my music lessons were on the accordion - played a mean "Lady of Spain".

Enjoy your  80's. We hope to be congratulating you on your 90th.

Garry Sellers

Not sure where else to write this but I was contacted recently by Patty O'Connor Taylor, one of our classmates who only recently stumbled across this website.  I'm sure all the craziness of the website might be a bit much for somebody who hasn't heard from us in 62 years!  In any case, Patty was nice enough to point out that we have Judy "Holbing" down as a missing classmates.  She points out it is most likely Judy Halbling, who Patty knew passed away many years ago during child birth.  Sorry.  Had to write it someplace.  But let's welcome Patty to the party!  Jump in Patty ... the water is ... probably poluted!!!

Jim Cejka

Yawnnnn

Ho Hummm

March Insanity (aka Madness) lasted until April, but it's finally over. . . 

The Sun/Moon thing is over. . . 

Things are quiet. 

Ahhhhhh.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

And hopefully, if not over yet, TAXES will be over! What will we do with all this new-found freedom? Garry, thanks for posting about Judy Halbing - I remember her and was wondering what she was doing. So sad to hear that report.

Jim Cejka

Terri,

Bonnie Buck (Walter)

Enjoyed catching up on the message forum!  

Garry - Thanks for keeping the Custer website going.  I thoroughly enjoyed the t-shirt sayings, you are clever and funny as always.  And yes, you did a good job with mine.

Jim - I am a Swiftee, but what I liked best about the Super Bowl was the ad where a man was looking at a portrait of Taylor Swift and saying he adored her, that he was a Swiftee.  But then he stated this is the Super Bowl and I'm a 49er fan, dumping the picture into the wastebasket!!

What I am encountering as we age, is 4 close girlfriends/relatives having dementia or Alzheimers.  Losing them bit by bit is so sad.and difficult.  I attended a wedding in Wisconsin in early April and sat next to Ken's sister at dinner.  Usually we chat up a storm, but she barely said a word.  

Jim Cejka

While were all agog over this being 80 thing, I noticed the other day that it brings with it a few other milestones, which I haven’t decided are good or not.

I had a couple of doctor appointments last Thursday (That in itself is a new milestone - more of those.), and both of them, when going over tests and planning ahead, remarked that “at your age, we don’t do those any more.” Should I be happy - fewer needle sticks, or OMG, why, what’s the use?

Is a puzzlement.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

How can I be sad about no more mammoograms or colonoscopies? I guess we're at the age where "something's going to get us"! I replace those tests with meditation/prayer, tai-chi and exercise and hope for the best.