I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been working with David Matzen on this Class of ‘58 Alumni Giving Campaign. He definitely has your best interest at heart- He grilled me with questions on the Grand Haven Schools Foundation and the Alumni Giving Campaign. The Foundation passed his test and so, from the Grand Haven Schools Foundation, congratulations on 50 years and welcome to the Class of 1958 Alumni Giving Webpage!

Here is what the first three donors from your class are up to:

Marcia (Scott) Witherell
Marcia's gift to the Class of '58 Alumni Giving campaign was the 1st that we received!
 
Marcia taught school for four years after she and Gerry were married. She then stayed home with their three children for 17 years until the oldest went to college.  One more teaching stint of six years and then she decided to call it quits because her first of seven grandchildren came along.
 
In 2001, Marcia and Gerry moved from their home of 22 years into their present abode downtown.  They live in the building that was once the Cutler Hotel, built in the late 1800's. Marcia said that it was their dream to make the building 'lovely' once again..  Now, it is called the Cutler House and has 9 beautiful and unique condos in it. 
 
'Gerry and I, both, feel very strongly about family, church and the community that we live in, and have thus been quite involved in these over the years.' Their children call it, 'saving the whales'. Marcia says, 'Whatever, it's been fun.'
 
Marcia, thank you for honoring your 50 year mark with a donation to the Class of '58 Alumni Giving Campaign-helping at risk children in our Buccaneer community.

David Matzen
David and his wife, Mary Lou, have four grandchildren. David has been retired since 1997 and has taught part-time at Ivy Tech Community College for the past 10 years.

He’s been active with various Church responsibilities and with searching and writing his family’s genealogy. David says, “I’m just trying to stay as active as I can in a variety of things.” Thank you so much David for your gift of time with the reunion and your donation that will help those at-risk children in your hometown.

Barbara M. (Harz) Bonny
Barbara has been living in Naples, Florida for eleven years and has been employed at the Ritz Carlton for over ten years.  The driving force for her move to Naples was to spend time with her only grandchild, Adrian, who is eleven years old and really into sports.

When Barbara isn’t working or attending her grandson’s sporting events, she is doing her favorite things-reading, going to the beach, and spending time with dear friends.  Barbara will be attending the 50^th reunion celebration and is excited to see her GHHS classmates!

While in-town, she’ll be helping out at her sister’s restaurant, “Stacks”, which sells Chicago-style food. Go on down to 1050 Jackson during reunion week to say hello to Barbara and to try out a menu item or two.

Thank you Barbara for your support!

John H. Martin
John is a retired estate planning attorney in Ada, Ohio.  Presently, he teaches classes in the area of estates and trusts at Ohio Northern University. He has 6 grandchildren. 
Three months of the year are spent in Spring Lake and 9 months in Ohio. You'll see John at Reunion #50!  Probably doesn't look any older than in the picture of the "Blue Notes Band" that graces the 1st page of your class letter.
John, The Grand Haven School Foundation thanks you for your gift!

Reunion '58
The Reunion Committee calls their $400. donation a “Reunion Surplus”.  The Foundation calls it “Generosity Overstock” and asks you to accept our untold gratitude!

Jan (Miller) Rohrs
Jan Rohrs has worked for The Longaberger Company, which sells handcrafted baskets, pottery and a number of other wonderful gift items, for 21 years. Jan and husband, John, spend as much time as possible with their family. Jan loves taking trips with her 11 grandchildren. She also enjoys playing golf and knitting. Thank You, Jan!

John Helmers
John serves on the board of his condominium association and is associated with the Life Center, a Christian counseling organization.  He is retired from Amway’s Human Resource Department and now works as a starter/ranger for the Meadow Golf Course.  He and his wife, Marilyn, have 8 grandchildren. Thanks, John!

Judie (Thoma) Elenbaas
Judie and husband, Ron enjoy bringing their family (4 children, 10 grandchildren) back to Grand Haven for visits.  They live 30 miles west of Chicago. Judie retired 3 years ago after teaching physics at Naperville North High School.  She still teaches on the side, PSAT and ACT prep classes and, bless her for this, as a tutor for hospitalized adolescents. A 50 yr. volunteer for the Red Cross, she also teaches CPR and First Aid.

Here is what Judie has to say about the 5o year Reunion, “We had a wonderful time being part of the planning for our 50th reunion and are especially grateful for those who spent so much time on all of the details!  What fun it was to visit with high school friends.  It was a special time of remembering past years but also of learning bits and pieces of how others have spent the past 50 years of their lives! “  
Thank you, Judie for your donation to the Class of ’58 gift to the GHSF!

If you haven't heard about the establishment of the GHHS Hall of Fame by the Grand Haven Schools Foundation in cooperation with the Grand Haven Area Public Schools, please view the page on this website.  Names of the 1st inductees have just been released and are posted with short biographical sketches. Because of the time involvment in helping to set up the Hall of Fame Program, I haven't followed up with some of you. Please disconnect your caller i.d. - I will be checking back with you this week and next! Can't wait to say, "Hello!"

Contact Information
Grand Haven Schools Foundation
1415 Beechtree St.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone: 616.850.5066
Fax: 616.850.2010

Webmaster:  John Siemion

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