Barb was one of the most courageous people I have ever known. She battled brain cancer for many years and she did not "go gently into the night". She once told me that the two things she was most proud of were her red hair and her mind. She said that cancer took both from her. But cancer could not take her brave heart.

I remember Barb and her yellow buick ferrying us around town in high school, those were happy days. I hope that God had her yellow buick waiting for her when she made it to the other side.

Save me a wine cooler Barb.

To honor those who have completed their time here and has went on to meet in Odin's home in heaven for the chose fallen Viking Warriors. We all will someday be taken by the Valkyrie back to await for Ragnarok which is the ultimate battle between the Ice Giants (our rivals) and the Viking Gods. Which we will obtain when our time comes. This is why Odin chooses the strongest and bravest dead warriors to await in readiness for the final battle in the vain hope to change the Viking Gods destiny. SO LET US CELEBRATE AUGUST 16 IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO MANY OF US HAVE KNOWN. For I knew these names and prepare to place mine along with them when my time is up and I GO TO VALHALLA AND SAY "FIGHT FIGHT VIKING " See you than Kenny, Tony, Diane, Zoe, Bobby, Joe, Steve, and all my other friends and classmates.

3/25/08

Just got the word that Marsha passed away last week. Marsha suffered from a very rare form of Parkinsons Disease. She died at home cared for by her husband Paul. Her extended family held a beautiful memorial for her here in Omaha to celebrate her life.

Anthony Kidd (see story below), Jerry Beavens, Kenneth Davis, and Aaron Hall

Kathy passed away in 2004 after a ten year battle with heart disease. Her husband of many years was Bruce Scovill. They had three children, and four grandchildren. Family was her greatest joy in life. I have many special memories of Kathy, and I will always be proud to call her my friend. I know she will be with us in spirit on August 16th along with our other classmates who have passed on. Lucille Koch (Smith)

class of 68

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class of 68 and one of the "B" boys

class of 68

class of 68

Warren died serving his country in Vietnam. 

class of 68

class of 68

One night shortly after Marsha passed away I was drifting off to sleep when I was thinking of all the crazy, fun times we shared and how I will miss her.

I thought about the time when we had a basketball game against Columbus Scotus and had invited the players to the sock hop at the Y afterwards. We had a great time and they asked if we could come by and see them at the Shamrock Hotel on 120th & Dodge Street later that night. Cathy Boand, Karen Oberg and myself were spending the night at Marsha’s that night. So we thought, what the heck! We waited until Marsha’s parents went to bed (quite late I might add) and decided to take their car out for our tryst with the cute guys we had just met. We decided to take her mom’s car, a great big ol’ Oldsmobile that was parked in the driveway.

One problem, we didn’t want the engine to wake her parents so we pushed it out of the driveway and coasted down the street.
Nearly to my house on 39th. Cathy was the only one with a license so she was the driver.

Here we were in the middle of Grand Avenue and we couldn’t get the car to start…Cathy kept trying to fit the keys in the ignition but no luck! All of a sudden a cop appeared with his flashlight blaring in our faces asking what was the problem. We said we couldn’t get the car to start so he got in the driver’s seat and one by one looked over the keys and told us that NONE of them were for this car! Gee, how could that be? We asked innocently, still wearing our cheerleading uniforms. We must have grabbed the wrong set in our hasty getaway.

So the nice officer escorted Marsha back up the street with his high beam flash light and waited while she crept back into her parent’s bedroom to retrieve the right set of keys.

So Cathy started the engine (with the right keys this time) and off we went on our “adventure”. Remember, we were coming from 36th and Grand all the way to 120th & Dodge. In those days that seemed FOREVER.

Well we met with the boys finally and got home around 3AM and all was well… at least we thought….I met up with Mrs. Engen in the morning and was asked “you girl’s out joy riding last night”? I gulped and replied “ask Marsha” and made a quick exit. It seems the car’s gas gauge didn’t work and they kept track of the mileage so they’d know when to get gas. BUSTED!!

Marsha was grounded AGAIN.

I will always remember that wonderful laugh, that twinkle in her eye and great smile.

Marsha…..we love you and we’ll never forget you.
Patty Vondra

Class of 68

After more than 28 years living overseas (Peace Corps, followed by CARE and other international organizations), I took some time off and stayed with a friend outside of New York City back in 2001.  Fortunately, the Google Age had arrived, so I looked up the names of some of the most influential people in my life who I had lost track of, and Sid Case was one of the first I searched for:  And there was his address, in Ridgefield, Connecticut!  I rang him up, and within a week, we got together at a restaurant outside of NYC.  He brought pictures of the previous madrigal groups with him, and we had a fabulous time catching up. He had kept in touch with quite a few North HS classmates.

A couple of months later, he invited me to Ridgefield where I stayed with his wife, Donna and their 3 children (high school and college age) for a couple of nights.  He was in charge of all music programs in the county where Ridgefield was located--had pretty much been doing that since he left NHS in '69, and enjoyed it immensely...I told his daughters about Sid's pulling me in front of all the Madrigals, telling them that girls in the choir should not EVER wear the white lipstick that I was wearing as it drained all color out of one's face!

We kept in touch at least twice a year after that, until Donna told me that he died of melanoma in '05, I believe. 

I went to the first Broadway revival (since '49!) of South Pacific a couple of months ago, and thought about how wonderful it would have been to experience it with Sid (It was fantastic, by the way:  If any of you can get to NYC and finagle a ticket, DO see it!...although I hear that they're now going for about $1,000 on e-bay...).

Meanwhile...I'm heading shortly for my second consultancy to North Korea next month.  Will probably be there around 4 months or so.  Love the people (NOT the government, particularly!!).  As of last year, I finally own a house in Fairfax, Virginia, so I just completed the 25th move in my life!  I'll be sticking around the US for a bit, but still traveling overseas as a part of my work.

Have a wonderful reunion!  I'm looking forward to attending the Class of 69's rouser next year.

Chris(ty) Gavitt

I did not meet Anthony until we went to Horace Mann Junior High School. We became great friends along with many others who went to North from Horace Mann. We were all inseperable and went everywhere together in groups of about 25 . We even made walking home from school a great event stopping by Goodrich Dairy and each others homes until the last person was dropped off and it was ladies first. When I think about it all, I know that was kind of unusual but says a lot for who we were then and who we are now. We were all and still remain great friends. We gave each other a nickname and Anthony's was Peter ..I still don't remember why. He fought it for a while and then just decided to go along with the program. Anthony was brilliant, a scholar and a great in just about all sports he participated in. He also had an absolutely Beautiful SMILE!!!

We were all devasted when Anthony was called home however I smile when I think about him being with his buddies for life...Wesley, Tony, Willie etc...and they were playing basketball I believe.  I think we all would agree Anthony's short life was well lived !!!!

CLASS OF 68

Another great scholar and friend ...who could forget those beautiful hazel eyes??? Linda was a cheerleader to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was proud of her school, family and friends and did not let a day go by without letting everyone know it. I remember Linda being instrumental in organizing a "Powder Puff Football Game" at the school. It was the Seniors (class of 68) against the Juniors (class of 69) and an awesome event!!!! Its significant to note that it was not lady like for girls to play football at the time ...I think that was her point in organizing it...and boy did we have an audiance . People came from everywhere not knowing what to expect. I can honestly say I think we exceeded their expectations. Of course we made it clear that we were not interested in going out for the team that year....

We were coached of course by the awesome varisty players. My recollection of the game ...the seniors won and Linda played quarter back...boy could she throw a football. Linda kept that kind of spirit going through out her life even as she fought her breast cancer. She was an amazing mother, daughter, sister,  and friend to us all 

Class of 68

Class of 68

Class of 68

Class of 68

Shirley (Gray) Lauritsen was a good friend of mine at North High. After many years I lost track of her. I searched and asked around to see where she was. Nobody seemed to know. I just got news today that she passed away this year on November 29, 2009. This is so sad because I never had a chance to talk to her. This is why it is so important that we connect with each other and stay in touch. I will remember Shirley as a fellow Artisan at North High and a dear friend of mine when I lived at Ft. Omaha. She would hang out at the swimming pool with me.

Bette Griswold Kunkle

Ann and Tom Greder

After a long and determined battle with cancer, Tom succumbed to other complications, ironically, on his sixtieth birthday, August 8, 2010.  He is survived by his wife, Ann Morris Greder, his son Jake, his grandson Emery, and his brother, Mac Greder.

Tom moved to California 37 years ago.  He created, owned, and operated TAG (Thomas Alan Greder) Motor Company and was a respected member of his community.

Ann and Tom rekindled their love when they met at North High's 30th reunion.  They have lived at 1143 Spring Street, Oak View, CA 93022, since then.  Ann was a classmate of many North High grads during grade school and junior high.  She attended Burke High when her family moved, but she has remained close to many old classmates.  She and Tom attended North's 40th reunion in 2008.

Tom will be dearly missed by his many friends and his family.

Jarold Hamon died in a accident March 1986 at Hastings, Nebr., from injuries suffered from a fall while trimming a tree

Submitted by:

Melvin Hamon

Mels61chevy@yahoo.com

Date:  Sunday, May 09, 2010 1:04:18 PM

Donald Petrick has passed away.

Submitted by Dick Buzbee 1/30/2011

MY BEST FRIEND LUCILLE SMITH (KOCH) PASSED AWAY ON SEPT. 26 2012 .WE BECAME FRIENDS IN 3RD GRADE WHEN WE WENT TO FLORENCE SCHOOL AND MCMILLAN JUNIOR AND THEN OMAHA NORTH.  I WILL MISS HER SO MUCH. WE COULD TALK ABOUT  EVERYTHING.  ESPECIALLY THE GOOD OLD DAYS IN SCHOOL. LOUIE I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER  YOU.               DONNA (ELLIOTT) CAMPBELL

Margie lost her battle with cancer in July of this year. (2013)

Sent by Rick Brown 11/02/2017

Sent by Rick Brown 11/02/2017

Sent by Rick Brown 11/02/2017

Sent by Rick Brown 11/02/2017

Alan was a resident of the Dallas area for the last several years. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last Fall. Following a surgery in mid-January of this year, he suffered a heart attack, which led to a chain of other health challenges. He was never able to return home. Alan passed away on May 28,

Sent by Jim Crouch 06/08/2016

Not in our yearbook but authenticated anyway.

Lynda passed.

sent by Jerry Lyon class of 1975 on February 25, 2015

Not found in our yearbook but authenticated anyway.

Nancy was such a sweet and good hearted person.  We had so many good times but not sure her mom felt the same. 

This was submitted by Sandy Jankowski from our class.

Donn died on November 8, 2014. His wife Genevieve let us know.

Randy Anderson died of AIDS sometime before 1986. I got the information from his ex-wife Ruth Abels in '86.

Sent by Barbara Seidl

Donna Abdouch Lett heard from someone that Harold died in August 2017.

Karl Pitschmann died Dec 21, 2017
from an obit in the World Herald

Notified by the Post Office of his passing.  I looked it up on the web and found a post.

John was born on December 9, 1948 and passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2011. He was a resident of Carter Lake, IA.

I am writing in for my sister Cheryl Lindquist Jensen, who passed away May 2, 1989.  I went to the 2008 reunion where I was able to see many, many old and dear friends we grew up with.  I am so sorry to be unable to be at this reunion, as I am going to my husband's 50th reunion in Illinois.  Hello to everyone!

Sue Lindquist Gerding

I was notified by the Post Office of Gail's passing. I looked in up on the web and found a short article.

Gail was born December 5, 1949 and passed away August 4, 2011. Memorials were to American Cancer Society. 

Bernie Bickels died January 24, 2015 while attempting to rescue his two black labrador dogs from the partially frozen North Platte River near his home in Buffalo, Wyoming.  Bernie was married 42 years to his wife Nancy and they had three daughters.  He was a combat veteran having served in VietNam with the U.S. Marines. 

March 23, 1949 - December 17, 2017 Originally from Columbus, NE had one son and three daughters. 

Passed August 2013.

Jack passed away Sept. 26^th 2018 at home in Hemet, CA. He was receiving hospice care due to complications from cardio vascular disease.

A good friend and fellow Atheist.

Nancy passed away July 24, 2020. She was a Central Park friend and classmate. She married her high school sweetheart John Graham JR class of '67. They had two daughters and 3 grandchldren. Nursing was her profession for many years but her family was her priority. Nancy loved being a homemaker, traveling, reading, pets, and creating photo histories. One of the highlights in her life was a trip to Sweden where she learned to cook many wonderful Swedish dishes. She was compasionate and loved by many.

Russ passed September 23, 2020. Russ was an accomplished TV engineer. Russ was living  in Bartlett, TN.

Rick was my cousin.  When his sister, Drew, died in May 2016 he was listed in the obituary as “preceded her in death” Lila doesn't know who this cousin is, but Richard was a classmate. 

1968 Grad      

Passed Away Septembe 10, 2022

Class of 1968

Passed Away December 10, 2021

Class of 1968

Passed Away May 26, 2011

Desta passed away in Central NY, surrounded by her loving daughters on July 6, 2020.  -Betty Gage

Mary Lu was born March 9, 1950 and passed away December 14, 2022. There was a celebration of life for Mary December 28, 2022.