Ralph Dollinger, husband of Pat

Although I haven’t found an obituary, Marion Dollinger Walkner noted on Facebook that her brother Ralph “Tommy” Dollinger, husband of our classmate Pat, has died. He graduated from Mt. Morris High in 1956 and married Pat and they had 3 children plus grandchildren and great grand children. I will add more as I find it. I’ve looked through the candid shots from my 1957 file, and found one of Pat and Tom at the 2009 class get together at Moe and Nancy’s place, but only a partial of his face. Perhaps someone else has a better shot.

Update from Restland Funeral home.

Ralph William “Tommy” Dollinger, age 79, died of lung cancer on September  9th, 2017, in his home in Rockwall, Texas.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patricia Ann Bryant Dollinger of Rockwall, Texas, daughter Susan Mase, son-in-law Rob Mase, daughter Tonya Burns and son-in-law Lee Burns, sisters Marion Walkner of Dallas, Linda Baumblatt of California and Brenda Warren of Tennessee, four granddaughters and five great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother Victor Dollinger and Thelma Hibbs Dollinger, in-laws Eddie and Alda Bryant, sisters Martha Hosier and Carol Zellers and his son Steven Scott Dollinger.

Tommy was born on January 15, 1938, in Rockford, Illinois.  He graduated from Mt. Morris High School in Mt. Morris, Illinois and then joined the United States Army and was honorably discharged 1963.  He also attended DCCCD in Richardson, Texas.  He worked at Blue Cross Insurance, Hartford Insurance and Continental Emsco working in data processing.  He then left the corporate world and opened The Quick Print Shop in Rockwall, Texas.

Tommy was a Rotarian, won the Paul Harris award and was Rotarian of the year, a 4^th degree Knights of Columbus and active and involved in the ping pong group at The Senior Center in Rockwall, Texas.  He enjoyed carving realistic waterfowl and walking his dog, Carlie.

Tommy was a founding member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Rockwall, Texas and remained a faithful member until his death.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, from 6-8 pm at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas, TX.

The funeral is scheduled for 11 am on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic church, 1305 Damascus Rd, in Rockwall, Texas.

Burial will be at Restland Dallas following a reception at the church.  The funeral Mass will be officiated by Father George Monaghan and Deacon Jim Daniels.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tommy’s life. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Lady of the Lake Building Fund or Patriot Paws Rockwall, Texas.

Lola Duncan, Marion's mom

Lola Duncan, Marion’s mother,  passed away on September 11, 2017. Many in our class remember this sweet, quiet woman, and we send our sympathy to all the family, including Marion’s sisters Barbara and Linda, and her brother Steve.  Lola was born November 3, 1917 in Leaf River, IL the daughter of Galen & Carrie (Fisher) Blake. She graduated from Mt. Morris High School class of 1932. Lola married Robert L. Duncan in February 1937 in Mt. Morris, IL. She was a member of Disciples United Methodist Church, Mt. Morris, IL. Services were  held Saturday September 16, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. in Disciples United Methodist Church, Mt. Morris, IL with Rev. Julie Bunt officiating.  http://finchfuneral.com/2017/09/lola-j-duncan-99/

Don Falzone, friend of the class

The class of 1957 has lost a a good friend—the husband of Nancy Snodgrass.  He was well known to us all, and for the last 30 years had frequently attended our reunions and class breakfasts.  Nancy and Don met as children in 1951—on horseback, of course.  Later as teens they dated a few times, but both married someone else.  Some time later when both were single again, they started dating and were married in Trinity Lutheran Church in Mt. Morris in 1985. He will certainly be missed and the class sends Nancy our prayers and thoughts.

Duane, Dave, and Don, class breakfast Nov. 2015

(Ogle County Life)  MOUNT MORRIS – Donald A. Falzone, age 79, died Sunday Sept. 10, 2017 in KSB Hospital, Dixon, IL. Don was born June 16, 1938 in Rockford, IL,  the son of Joseph and Anna (Hall) Falzone.

Don served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1965 serving in Korea. Don married Nancy Snodgrass on July 20, 1985 in Mount Morris. He worked for Barber Coleman and Vensys Technologies. Don was involved with many things; his favorite pass time was racing homing pigeons.

Don is survived by his wife: Nancy Falzone, Oregon; sons: Brian (Julie) Falzone and John Falzone both of Rockford; Step-sons: Bob (Esther) Mongan, Oregon, and Joe ( Debbie) Mongan, Rockford; grandchildren, great grandchildren; brother: John (Kathy) Falzone, Cherry Valley, and Jeff Warren, Rockford; sister: Mary Ellen (Robert) Crowell, Rockford; many nieces and nephews. Don is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Joe and Sonny.

A memorial service and burial service were held Friday, September 15, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in Oakwood Cemetery, Mount Morris.  A luncheon followed the memorial service in The Disciples United Methodist Church, Mount Morris.

Memorials may be sent to the American Pigeon Museum and Library, 2300 N.E. 63rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
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Dalene Holverson Nelson, 1939-2017

Class members were shocked to learn by e-mail of the death of Darlene.  Her daughter, Kathy Blair, asked for some remembrances of her mother to use in planning the service for her. If class members have additional thoughts you shared with Kathy, I can add them here.

Lynne Wilburn:  Darlene was gifted at the piano and often would go to music contest as accompanying other soloists. She had very good musical taste. We shared that as early as 7th grade. She was a spirit lifter that always knew how to make her friends feel good about themselves. She also had excellent taste in clothes, as she always looked like a model, tall, thin with her long hair...she was stunning. She always reminded me of Suzy Parker, the super model of the 50's.  She was a loyal member of our Pep club, played in MMHS band and sang in school musical groups and acting in school plays.  I helped at her wedding to her first husband, Jim Appelgren, and she was a lovely bride. She was to the end, a good friend to her classmates. If I would use a short to the point profile of our Darlene it would be loyal, elegant and capable (she could type like the wind and run every type of business equipment.

 

I hope to meet you again, you were a toddler when last I saw you!  Your mom called me when Cassidy was born-she was so thrilled...  My heartfelt sympathy to you and your brother and families. 

Norma Bruce: You mentioned her love of music; yes, she played cornet in the band (4 years) and went to district contest. Band was a busy, competitive group—played for ball games and had concerts during the year.  She was also in the Girls Chorus and Mixed Chorus, and you know she played the piano and was the accompanist for several groups and also for soloists who performed for various events and for contests. I was in a group called Treble Clef and she was the accompanist—we sang for things like PTA and assemblies.  Your mom was in the school pep club, called Pepsters (we wore black skirts, white blouses and red long sleeve sweaters and supported the guys’ teams since Illinois didn’t have competitive women’s sports). We did get to have some “organized” sports as young women, and she was in the Girls Athletic Association (GAA) all 4 years. It sticks in my mind that as freshmen and maybe sophomores we wore horrid pea green baggy onesies, but graduated to white blouses and navy shorts.  Your mom was in the senior class play, “The Red House Mystery.” Her thespian talents were also used for school assemblies where students did little sketches about school happenings.  I recall she was a very good, honor roll student, and she put some skills to use working on the Hilltopper, our school newspaper we all eagerly read when it came out.  Then there was the unofficial activities like stuffing millions of napkins into chicken wire for our class Homecoming floats in freezing weather, and drinking a gazillion chocolate and cherry cokes at the local drug store after school with other screeching, giggling girls.

 I remember your mom as a young girl—tall, graceful, slender, thoughtful and often sober as she pondered life’s problems, and. . . perhaps important then. . . with style and flair. It’s sort of a silly memory, but when we were in 7^th or 8^th grade, long dangling necklaces came into style, and she was one of the first to wear them!  I’m sure I had a bit of envy which is why I remember it.

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(Finch Funeral Home, Mt. Morris) Rockford, IL, Darlene Nelson, age 78, Nee: Holverson, passed away at Swedish American Hospital on September 3, 2017 after a brief illness.

 Darlene grew up in Mt. Morris, IL and was a proud and beloved graduate of the Mt. Morris High School Class of 1957. Classmates describe Darlene as uplifting, loyal, and elegant. She had a love of music that she expressed over a lifetime through multiple bands, piano accompaniment, teaching piano, church choirs, bell choirs, and ushering at the Mendelssohn Center. Part of her adult life was spent in Lake County, IL and she eventually returned to the Rockford area. Darlene’s family will miss her and is thankful for the friends and family who helped her during some difficult times.
Darlene is survived by her children: Jon Appelgren, Rockford, IL; Kathy (Troy) Blair, Gurnee, IL; grandchildren: Cassidy (Daniel) Gerber, Jersey City, NJ; and Kevin Blair, Chicago, IL.
Darlene is preceded in death by her parents: Harold “Slim” and Bertha Holverson; and son: Michael Appelgren.

Memorial service was held Friday, September 8, 2017 at 12:00 P.M. in The Disciples United Methodist Church in Mt. Morris, IL. She was buried in Franklin Grove Cemetery, Franklin Grove, IL. Visitation was held Friday September 8, 2017 from 11:00 A.M. until service time in the church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Darlene’s name to a charity of your choosing.

Can you spot Darlene? Front row center, white shorts, hands on knees