Randy Swenson Died a day after his 79th Birthday
(posted 6/20/20) SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — Classmate Randall Stewart Swenson died June 4, 2020 at the age of 79 with his wife JoAnn at his side. He died of Lewy Body Dementia a disease that is a combination of Parkinson's and Dementia that affects the motor skills making it difficult to control body movements. The first hint that Randy was having dementia problems was just before the 55th reunion which he attended with his wife in August of 2014. Recently he had been living in a memory care facility in San Diego.
Randy is shown with his wife JoAnn in the photo at the right at the 50th class reunion
He attended Roosevelt Junior High and graduated from West High where he played violin in the orchestra at both schools.
Because of the current pandemic situation, services will likely be held at a later date.
See his obituary for photos and more information.
Sharon Hanson has Passed 2 months after Husband
(posted 6/14/20) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Classmate Sharon Lee (Hanson) Bare died June 12, 2020 at the age of 78. She had Stage 4 Lung Cancer diagnosed in October 2018.
 Bare at Mini Sep 2016.jpg)
Sharon attended Roosevelt Junior High and Graduated from West in 1959.
She is shown with her husband Ronald in the photo at the right during the 52nd mini-reunion at Linos in September 2016. Ronald also just died this year in April at the age of 79 - he is a graduate of West High Class of 58. They would have celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary June 3, 2020. See Ronald's obituary for more information.
Private Services to be held. Memorial may be made to Swedish American Cancer Center, 3535 N Bell School Rd., Rockford, IL 61114, Attn: Pam Lunde, or the VA, 705 Rote Rd., Suite 105, Rockford, IL 61107, or the YMCA Retired Men’s Club Pool Hall, ID Pennock YMCA, 200 Y Boulevard, Rockford, IL 61107, Attn: Kim Lape.
See her full obituary for more details.
Roger Anderson has died at 78
(posted 6/6/20) CHEROKEE, IOWA - Classmate Roger Charles Anderson died February 12, 2020 at the age of 78.
He attended Washington Junior High and then Sophomore and Junior years at West after which his family moved to Iowa where he completed his senior year in a small school with a group less than a tenth the size of our senior class.
Roger was living with his wife Joan in Cheokee a small town of just over 5000 in northwest Iowa. He was in the Navy and worked as a carpenter until he retired after a vehicle accident in 2003.
See his obituary for more information.
Husband of Carol Keig Passed Away at Age 73
(posted 6/6/20) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Valentine Chevchuc, husband of classmate Carol Louise (Keig) Chevchuc, died Saturday August 6, 2019. Valentine "John" was an Auburn High graduate. They were married for 44 years.
Funeral Service was Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Online condolences may be submitted at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.
See his obituary for more information.
Classmate Howard Partch Comments on Covid-19
(posted 4/8/20) ANACORTES, WASHINGTON -
To Class of 1959
Since we probably are all hunkered down, wearing face masks when we venture our
and generally worried about this Covid-19 virus surrounding us all, thought I would mention a few things circulating around in what’s left of my 79 year old brain.
I sincerely hope we all get through this pandemic with nothing more than a cold
or two. Both Serena & I have been recently fighting off colds. Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I self-medicate with the green & orange gel Cold/flu capsules you find @ Walgreens or CVS. They seem to work-probably all in my head.
The thing so troubling about all this misery
is so many who pass, pass on alone. No chance for husbands, wives, kids, grandkids, grandparents & friends to stop by to share and give comfort. And I understand it is so hard for the caregivers with all their PPE gear on to assist relatives via FaceTime or whatever to actually see or talk to the patient. And then the noise in the crowded ICU’s is so very loud that grieving relatives can’t always hear.
I like this Chris Cuomo guy on CNN who is
sharing his Covid-19 experience w/ listeners. He mentioned the other night it is so important to breath deeply when you have tested positive for the virus and are isolated @ home, even though it hurts to do it. Also, he says it is equally important to exercise, even in your sequestered space and to get some sunlight, IE: Vitamin D.
The idea is to fight it, never give in!
So even though I am not a Covid positive guy, I have been proactively exercising, breathing deeply and working in the yard which is always waiting for me!
For me, keeping active even while separated from our neighbors, and friends is still a good thing.
And if by chance I do contract the virus, I am preparing myself for the additional isolation that will be necessary. And I will use part of that isolation to remember all the great memories I have of these past 79 years. I have always felt it is our memories that help get us thru the hard times of life.
So I encourage everyone to face our future with hope, and courage. What is the mantra being voiced these days? IE: separate but together!
Take special care.
Howard Partch
Chuck Pernacciaro Gone at 80
(posted 3/20/20) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS - Classmate Charles Alec Pernacciaro died March 18, 2020 at the age of 80. This follows the death of his wife Rosile (Mangiaracina) Pernacciaro October 26, 2018 as posted previously below on October 28, 2018. Rosile was from the west High Class of 58. They were sweathearts since 8th grade and married September 17, 1960.
Chuck attended Washington Junior High, and then all three years at West graduating in 1959. During High school he was a member of the Baseball and Basketball teams.
In the words of classmate Howard Partch: "Chuck was a quality guy. He was a kind, fellow student with a big smile and I just know he exemplified that strength throughout his life. He will be missed."
See his obituary for more information.
What Ever Happened to Candy Carter?
(posted 1/19/20) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — It was so nice to hear from classmate Candy Carter who is alive and well living in Rockford with her husband Allen Long. They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary September 15th, 2019.
Candace (Carter) Long, as she is formally known, has been following all of the class activity via the website and news emails. She is very appreciative of the way the website is structured and maintained and enjoys reading new class postings.
For the past 10 years Candy and Allen have been living at the Cloisters condo community between Alpine and Forest Hills roads. It so happens their next door neighbor is also from our class - Nancy Conrads. In the same community they have met Sandy Campbell who is the younger sister of two of our 59 classmates Bette Alexander and the late Connie Alexander who were childhood friends of the Carters playing many hands of Canasta together - what a small world.
Candy and Allen still have the same three kids who have produced 11 grandchildren. These grandkids will soon add one more to their number, giving them an 8th great-granddaughter!
The Allens want to express their warmest wishes to all of our classmates for a happy and healthy 2020.
John Delia has Died at Age 78
(posted 1/8/20) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Classmate John Ralph Delia died January 4, 2020 at the age of 78.
John attended Barbour Elementary School, Washington Junior High and Graduated from West in 1959. He is shown with his wife Diana in the photo at the right during the recent 60th reunion. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in November 2019.
Memorial Mass will be at 1:00pm Saturday, January 11, 2020 in St Bridget Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Avenue, Loves Park. Memorial Visitation from 12pm until service time, Saturday in the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Rockford Firefighters Relief Association 204 South First Street, Rockford, IL 61104 or Noah’s Ark 111 N. 1st St Rockford, IL 61107.
See his full obituary for more details.