Wishek Alumni

   The 17th-annual Wishek All-School Reunion, held June 18, could not have been more perfect — starting with the weather.
   The thirty-two golfers who participated in the Alumni Golf Tournament at Lloyd E. Rigler Golf Course and the 84 athletes who took part in the Wishek Community 5K Walk/Run enjoyed a beautiful morning.
   Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams as well as four individual challenges at the golf tournament. Winners were: First place — Nate Wolf, Chuck Wolf, Mike Bergeron and Nate Hoover; Second place — Troy Boschee (1986), Joey Kaseman (1986), Bruce Dalke (1985) and Mike Wanner (1982); Third place — Chad Benson (1990), Brian Leifer, Chris Lobsinger (1990) and Pat Wanner (1990); Longest putt — Joey Kaseman; Closest to the Pin — Chad Benson; Longest drive (male) — Mike Bergeron; and Longest drive (female)— Mary Wald (1994).
   Top finishers and award winners in the 5K Walk/Run were: First place running (men) — Bryan Schumacher (faculty); First place running (women) — Brenda Dohn; First place walking (men) — Perry Turner (faculty); First place walking (women) — Mary Ann Weber; Farthest Away — Gene Lambrecht (1981); Craziest Attire — Sandra Fiechtner (1973); Oldest — Lorrene Rudolf Hochhalter (1950); and Youngest — Madison Deile, Jan Deile’s (1981) daughter.
   A social was held in conjunction with registration, with Barry Mueller (1988) of Lariat Lounge selling the beverages. Tours of the school were once again a popular Saturday afternoon event for the alumni and their families.
   Later in the day, 173 alums and guests attended the evening banquet at the Wishek Civic Center.
   Gary (1959) and Pat (Rath) Ritter (1959), Bev (Welk) Vilhauer (1977) and Arlen Herr (1961) served as hosts, while Audrey (Just) Boschee (1950) and Kathy (Rieger) Welder (1965) managed the refreshment table. Bonnie (Kautz) Wiskus (1957), Sue (Slama) Wolff (faculty), Mary Wald (1994), and Carol (Hagel) Burnside (1963) registered the alumni. Larry Wald (1976) provided the invocation.
   Honored classes of 1941, 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 were recognized. Members were given their choice of chokecherry jelly, purchased from Earl and Vivian (1951) (Sayler) Zimmerman, or honey donated by Bryan Dohn (1981) of Danzig Honey Co. Sue Wolff designed and made special placemats for each of the honored classmates. The placemats highlighted important people and events that were popular on their graduation day. The Reunion Committee also provided each alumni household with a reusable Badger logo bag.
   Frances (Hoff) Hoffman, Class of 1941, was honored for being the most senior alumnus in attendance.
   The Class of 1961 won $25 in Wishek Booster Bucks for having 60 percent of the class registered by the early deadline and the Class of 1981 won $25 in Wishek Booster Bucks for having the most members (14) registered.
   Lisa Case of Home Plate Café in Fredonia served a delicious German meal, featuring creamed chicken and dumplings. Kuchen was made by Violette Kaseman. Larry Wald led the Memorial Service and also served as emcee for the evening. James Eiseman (1970), superintendent at Wishek Public School, was guest speaker. Melissa Rooke entertained the alumni with three vocal selections. Ethel “Da Afon Lady” (aka Yvonne Engelhart, Wishek Senior High School principal) got the audience involved by having several alumni take part in trips down memory lane.
   President Gary Ritter conducted the annual meeting. Bev Vilhauer presented the secretary’s minutes and Mary Wald gave the treasurer’s report, along with an update on Dollars for Scholars. Wald also reported there are 444 alumni signed up to receive their Badger Bulletin by email. Denise (Rau) Piatz (1994) will be the Alumni Association president for 2011-12. Gary Ritter was elected as vice-president and Bev Vilhauer as secretary. Meetings for the association are held at 7 p.m., every third Thursday, in the Wishek City Hall. Alumni and faculty — past or present — are welcome to attend.
   ‘Busta Groove’ DJ Service from Strasburg provided tunes for the evening dance that concluded the reunion. Alumni were welcome to stay and visit or just enjoy the music.
   Next year’s Wishek All-School Reunion will be held on June 16, 2012.