Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Our class Christmas Tree

Thanks to Lynne, the MMHS class of 1957 again has a presence in the Mt. Morris Christmas festivities, which are so wonderful for a small town. As you recall, on behalf of the class Lynne also painted a fire hydrant in the summer contest. She also helped organize and select a tree that stands year around on the campus as a memorial for deceased classmates. Although she's not an "official" representative of the class at the local food pantry, I like to think of it that way as she is such an active volunteer there.

  Lynne writes in an e-mail: "Traditionally the village has done a Christmas in the village type thing with craft fairs, Santa visit, a breakfast, etc...the organization started loading up the band shell with different trees for anyone wishing to join in the fun several years ago...it is a beautiful site at night and a real spirit lifter when you walk or drive by and a good use of an empty band shell... Last year was our first attempt and it looked more like a bush than a tree. This years version is taller but awfully slim...and way too modern for my taste...Next year I am trying for a red and black tree with red lights...I would welcome help with finding black decorations! December 3rd is the day set aside for this years Christmas event...with a craft fair at Pinecrest,Letters to Santa,a village wide breakfast and the new art museum in the old Sandstone building which is something new and worth the visit. Our little village looks so much better dressed for the holidays.

Our village looks like a Christmas card,
Glistening, happy, bright:
For feathery, star like snowflakes
Have fallen through the night.
The bushes all wear lacy scarves:
The trees are cloaked I snow:
Winter's magic is everywhere
And hearts are aglow.
Just like a lovely Christmas card
The message this day brings
Is "Peace on earth,goodwill to men"
A thought that makes our hearts sing!
###
The old year passes softly
Unnoticed through the door...
Pausing on the threshold
To return no more.
The new year enters proudly
As welcome as can be,
But what lies in the future
Is yet for us to see.
The past is gone forever
Except in memory,
And we must live in the present
For the future's yet to be...
may it be with Peace and Love
We'll see.
c Lynne Fleming Wilburn

Instructions for submitting a tree 

Monday, December 05, 2016

Warren Burstrom died December 3

http://www.walkermortuary.com/book-of-memories/2783845/Burstrom-Warren/obituary.php

A favorite teacher of many in our class, Warren Burstrom, died on December 3, 2016. I can still see him giving the guys in the science classes a hard time. And he coached many in sports. His main career was in Freeport at the college, but we'll always remember him at MMHS. He attended some of our class reunions, most recently in 2014, or sent a humorous message. Re-reading the class blog I see he and his wife attended the town cantata in December 2009.
 
"Warren F. Burstrom, age 92 of Freeport, IL, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. He was born April 11, 1924 in Chicago, IL; son of the late Frank and Hattie (Schumann) Burstrom. He graduated from Portage Park and Schurz High Schools in Chicago, and attended Luther College until his call to serve his country. Warren served in the United States Navy during WWII, stationed at the end of the war at Treasure Island, CA. He holds the highest recorded score in navigation. While in the Navy he played on the Treasure Island baseball team. He completed his B.A. at Luther College after discharge. He pursued graduate education at the University of Minnesota in Philosophy, completed a Masters in Mathematics at Western Illinois University and continued post-graduate studies at Case Western and New Mexico State University.

Warren married Rosella Opsand on August 9, 1952 in Gunder, IA; she passed on April 30, 1981. He married Deloris (Smedstad) Womeldorf on June 19, 1983.

Teaching was Warren’s passion and he began his teaching career in Mt. Morris, IL where he also coached football, golf, and baseball. He then went on to teach at Highland Community College in Freeport beginning in 1963 and retiring in 1988. He served as chairman of the Mathematics and Science Department of Highland. He was also instrumental in the foundation of Highland’s School of Nursing. Warren was also a former president of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and of Golden “K” Kiwanis Club. He was also a member of the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society, the Jane Addamsland Park Foundation that supports the bike path, the Highland Community College Chorale, and served on the Board of Directors for the FACC. He also volunteered and supported the Salvation Army active with the Highland College Foundation. Warren was a member of First Lutheran Church of Freeport where he served on the church council. He loved playing tennis, baseball, and bicycling as well as woodworking. Warren was known as a “storyteller par excellence.”

He is survived by his wife, Deloris Burstrom of Freeport; daughters, Kathryn (Frank) Hall of Corvallis, OR and Ruth (Niels Chapman) Burstrom of Albuquerque, NM; son, Frank Burstrom of Tucson, AZ; step children; Vicki (Mark) Brunsvold of Edina, MN, Mark (Holly) Womeldorf of Plymouth, MN, Marti (Dan) Guetzlaff of Faribault, MN, Dale (Cathy) Womeldorf of Shakopee, MN, and Erik (Shala Cunningham) Womeldorf of Roanoke, VA; grandchildren, Eric Hall and Anika Hall of Portland, OR; step grandchildren: Amanda & Sydney Brunsvold of Edina, MN; Pieper (Ben) Lundell of Dubuque, IA; Aaron (Alexis) Guetzlaff of Lenexa, KS; Elliott Guetzlaff of Denver, CO; Abby Guetzlaff of Chicago, IL; Evan Guetzlaff of Lenexa, KS; Andrew, Jacob, Zachary & Samantha Womeldorf, Hannah & Tyler Birkholz of Minneapolis, MN; and Wynn & Noah Womeldorf of Roanoke, VA; step great grandchildren, Kylan & Brielle Guetzlaff, and Yeardley & Walker Lundell; nephew Greg Giles (Tracey Barrett) cousins, Barbara (Cornelius) Van Diggelen; Kim (Kathee) Stanke, and Kirk (Sue) Stanke; and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Rosella; brother, George (Eva) Giles; and cousin, Beth Stanke.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 6th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Walker Mortuary in Freeport. The funeral service will be Wednesday, December 7th at 11:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Freeport with visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Interment will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Freeport. A memorial fund has been established in his name with donations going to his favorite local charities listed above.