Decatur, Illinois

Decatur, Illinois
Curve-In, Fairview Avenue

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Glad News, Not Just Sad News

There are good memories and there are so-so memories. There are bits of sad, bad, and glad news that come our way too.

Some talk has circulated among Mac 65 classmates about how it might be good to use this blog to share some happy happenings, weird wonders, and intriguing incidents that are occurring with some classmates.



Certainly life is more than celebrating its end via an obituary, although that is important to do. I do wish to keep folks up on the passings, but there are other things that transpire. Share some of them. I'm not talking just about grandkids being born or people moving from one town to another, but of the notable notables.


So I'll use myself as an example to point out a few bumps in the road taking place recently. I would encourage people to contact me with your news. Write me via the form you find here.



Here I am in Decatur, at about three years old.

In the realm of you are only as young as you feel, I'm going to get married for the third time on Halloween 2013 (see here).

Other recent Loren Coleman news...

Stackpole Books published my 30th book, Monsters of Massachusetts, on August 1st; my museum and I will be on the Travel Channel on television's Mysteries At The Museum on September 19; and I'm scheduled to be in the Tracy Torme (Mel's son) and James Fox film 701 soon.

So share something with me, for this blog, if you happen to be part of the Class of 1965. Write me here.

Thank you.

And remember. Our 50th Reunion is only two years away.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Mac 65's Valedictorian Barb Dyar Passes Away





MacArthur High School Class of 1965's Valedictorian has died.

Barbara Dyar (married name Fox), who worked as a teacher in Mesa, Arizona, in her pre-retirement years, passed away in Phoenix, on Wednesday, September 4, 2013.


On August 12th, Barb posted on Facebook that "Matt took me to Banner Baywood Hospital because I couldn't breathe. I was admitted for four days. They gave me some tests and diagnosed a paralyzed left diaphragm. (What?) There is no treatment. (What?) The richest and most militarized country in the world has no cure. I made it home late Thursday night, along with three oxygen tanks, which I needed to use just once so far. We got a Social Security check today -- I never thought one could look so good. Hold on to your medical insurance, folks!"

That was the last public message from Barb.

Besides being Mac 65's Valedictorian, Dyar was voted "Most Likely To Succeed Girl."

Barbara Diane Dyar was noted as being involved with Cadet Band 1; Concert Band 2, 3, 4, Secretary 3, 4; Girls Glee Club 1; Girls Choir 2; A Choir 2; A.F. S. Club 1, 2, 3, 4, Secretary 3, President 4; Orchestra 2, 3, 4; Senior Class Play; National Honor Society 3, 4.

For the reunion, Barb wrote in that her first car was a 1970 yellow Opel.

Fox, Barbara Dyar
66, of Mesa passed away on September 4, 2013. Valedictorian of her high school class at MacArthur High School in Decatur, Illinois in 1965, she then was an exchange student in Paris, France. After her year in France, she attended Eureka College in Illinois, graduating in 1970. Barbara was an outstanding teacher for 30 years in the Mesa Schools and chair of the Fremont Junior High Reading Department when she retired. Barbara is survived by Steve Fox, her loving husband of 32 years, her sons Michael Julian Perkins (Meghan Steptoe) and Matthew Fox, brother Gene Dyar, sister Jodie Dyar Rohrer, (David), and nephews Alex & Daniel (Becky) Rohrer & Lucien Dyar Smith (Jennifer). She was predeceased by her parents John & Betty Dyar & her sister Treva Dyar Smith. Funeral Services will be [given at] Angels Cremation and Burial, 422 W. McLellan Rd, Mesa [Arizona] on Monday. September 9 [2013] at 2:00 [p.m.]. Published in The Arizona Republic on September 8, 2013. (Thanks to Gary Blackburn for forwarding the newspaper obituary.)

Monday, June 24, 2013

Loren Reuler Has Passed Away



Loren Reuler was fun and friendly. At MacArthur High School, as his yearbook entry noted, he was involved in football, wrestling, track, Big Mac Day, and served on the Class Council as a senior. His first car was a 1964 Oldsmobile, he told me for the reunion booklet.

Loren went on to study at Michigan State University (he remained a big fan of the school's football team). He then started and was the owner of a small business in southern Colorado, a janitorial equipment supply and service company. Later, including in retirement, he lived in Rockwall and Heath, Texas.

Loren and I laughed about being the only two "Lorens" in the Class of 1965, at the 2011 reunion. 

Sad news comes to us that Loren passed away from cancer on June 23, 2013. He celebrated his 66th birthday on June 10th.

Loren was married to Maria. Maria, their children, and Loren's many relatives will miss him, as will his friends from MacArthur.


Loren's formal obituary is shared here:

Loren Fried Reuler, 66, passed away peacefully at home in Heath, TX on June 23, 2013 surrounded by members of his devoted family. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Fried Reuler, his father, Richard A. Reuler and older brother Robert. Loren is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Maria. Also surviving are his son, daughter-in-law and grandson, Michael, Martha and Aaron Reuler of Rockwall, TX, his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Warren House of Seattle, WA, his sister and her husband, Melanie and Tom Finn of Dallas, sister-in-law Barb Reuler of Peoria, Il. and niece Andrea Richardson of Tinley Park, Il. He is also survived by Dallas cousins Sharon Reuler, Judy Bazarsky and Gretchen Lewis and his Aunt, Sarah Reuler. During his working years, Loren and Maria owned Five Star Sanitary Products in Colorado Springs, CO from 1983-2006. He was a highly respected member of his profession and will be missed by his many friends and business associates in Colorado Springs. He was an active volunteer for Boy Scouts of America and a member of El Paso Masonic Lodge # 13 in Colorado Springs. Loren and Maria retired in 2006 and moved to Heath, TX to be closer to family. As a graduate of Michigan State University, Loren enjoyed following Spartan sports, especially basketball and football. The family asks that donations be made to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers. Graveside service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas Texas, on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.
Published in The Gazette of Colorado Springs, on June 25, 2013.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Paul Cutlip, Mac '65, Dies

Sadly, the MacArthur High School Class of 1965 for Decatur, Illinois, has lost another one of our own.

Involved, popular classmate Paul Cutlip has passed away.



Here is Paul in the Senior Class Play, and below pictured in the Senior Yearbook.




The following message has been forwarded from Paul's wife:
It is with a very sad heart that I tell you that Paul lost his battle with cancer on April 9th [2013]. I came across a book with lovely cards from you all when Paul was unable to make the 2011 reunion. It is apparent you all thought much of my husband. Paul was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer back in November 2010 and put up a brave fight for well over 2 years. During that time he discovered that he was quite talented at painting and took up a brush ~ creating many wonderful paintings for friends and family. Thank you again, for taking the time back in 2011, to let Paul know you missed his presence at the reunion and to reminisce with him over your past connections.
Regards,
Barb Cutlip and Family
As the compiler of the 2011 MacArthur HS Reunion Book, Paul sent the following to me to share with his classmates. I reproduce it here (along with his most recent Facebook profile photo), as a fitting tribute and celebration of a great life lived by Paul.
Pacific, MO ~ "Went to Illinois Wesleyan University where I got my BFA in Theater/Drama. I appeared in several plays and musicals and worked in summer stock for three years. In addition, I was shop foreman for three years plus Summer Stock, in charge of building all the sets as well as teaching the students which end of hammer hit the nail. I had planned on a theater career, being the next great song and dance man on Broadway, but blew out my voice singing in a college band.
"Got a job with Florsheim Shoe Company my senior year and started work there one week after graduation in the store design department. Spent 30 years there, ending my career as General Manager of Store Design and Construction. Over the years, I designed stores in every state, Canada, South and Central America, Australia, England, Italy, the Middle East and India. I had my own company from 1976-1981 in the middle of that 30 years, designing everything from doctors' offices to fur salons, advertising to corporate graphics, while continuing to do design work for Florsheim. My job at Florsheim was eliminated just prior to Florsheim going bankrupt in 2000 and I did consulting work for the next two years.
"I went to work for Famous Footwear, then located in Madison, WI, as Director of Store Design in 2002. The highlight, or low light, depending on your point of view, was being in Dubais on Business for Famous and scheduled to fly home the weekend of the terrorist arrests in London that shut down the airports. I was stranded in Dubais for an extra 24 hours and eventually flew home through Gatwick, working my way through customs six times and the hundreds of armed military covering every corridor of the airport. Seventy-two hours later I finally arrived back in Madison by way of Paris, London, Cleveland and Detroit. By the way, if you ever get a chance to go to Dubais, GO!; it is the most exciting place I have ever been (if you don't mind daytime temps in the 110s and higher).
"Famous offices in Madison were closed and relocated to Clayton, Mo in 2008. With the crash of the economy and the decision to not build anymore stores until it turned around, my position was once again eliminated and I was given the choice of looking for another job in a bad economy at my 'advanced age' or taking early retirement. I chose the latter.
"In the two years since, I have suffered a herniated disc and discovered I have stage four colon cancer which spread to my liver. I have been undergoing chemo for six months and will continue for the foreseeable future, which is why I will not/did not make the reunion. So far I am handling it well; to look at me you wouldn't know I was ill.
"For the last year I have taken up painting (pictures, not houses); something I have wanted to do since I was at Mac, and have found I'm actually pretty good at it. I have sold a few pieces and have several commissions I'm working on. I have also been doing wood carving and small furniture pieces for friends for the past several years so I keep as busy as my strength allows.
"I have been very happily married since 1977 to my wife Barbara, whom I met on a blind date in Sheboygan, WI; have two children, a daughter (27), who went to Wesleyan for two years and then transferred to and graduated Suma Cum Laude from UW Whitewater, who is now living with us until she finds her own place, having just moved here from Wisconsin, and a son (21), who will be starting his Senior year at UW Stevens Point, majoring in psychology."

First car: "My first car was a 1950 Chrysler Imperial straight eight, which I only had for a few weeks before totaling it in a head-on collision with a semi on the highway on the way to work at Larkdale swim club the summer before my senior year. (I was a lifeguard that summer, hence the very dark skin and almost no hair in my senior picture.) The car was built like a tank; allowing for my survival to write this; I walked away without a bruise."

It looks like Heaven just got a painter with a sense of humor who can also help design everything from lobbies and offices to showrooms and salons. We'll all miss you Paul.