Beloit Memorial High School 1963

Timothy Matas

Then

Now

Occupation:recycling consultant Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2

From Timothy:

Local residents complete circle

Hersey leaves Beloit, founds Abilene

Carol leaves Abilene, teaches in Beloit;

marries Tim Matas, returns to Abilene

ABILENE, Kan. -- When Carol Stroede left for college she had never heard of Beloit, Wis. Upon graduation she was assigned to teach at St. John's Lutheran School, 1006 Bluff St. Tim Matas, returned home after earning a journalism degree at Whitewater, began working for "The Beloit Daily News" in 1968 and upon rejoining church choir he met Carol, 10 months later they were married.

They traveled to several states including Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Dodge City, Kan., and Nebraska before an illness brought them to the Stroede Family farm for six months and then to their own home in Abilene.

That's when Tim learned that atop the very site where Tim Hersey built a mud hut on Mudd Creek to begin Abilene, Kan., in 1857, was a huge mansion owned by Carol's cousin, Fred Vahsholtz. Tim Hersey, originally from Quincey, Ill., spent his teen years in Beloit, Wis.

Not long after founding it. Abilene got too big, there were too many Indian fights and the cowboys finishing the Chisholm trail were too much for him so he moved about 60 miles north and west and founded another town, Beloit, Kan.

The Matas family has resided in Abilene for about a quarter century which allowed their two children to attend school where their mother did. While Tim and Carol live in town, near the Vahsholtz mansion and within site of the Dwight D. Eisenhower boyhood home, they have a farm near where the John Cameron Swayze and the Bill Kurtis families are from -- Hope, Kan.

Shortly after they moved here Tim became owner of a shopper and two small newspapers but that was all sold to a larger paper in 1999. Since then Tim has operated the farm and run a recycling business while Carol is the social services designee for the Chapman Valley Manor Nursing home.

While the circle has been completed from Beloit to Abilene, from Abilene to Beloit and once more from Beloit to Abilene at one time Tim and Carol were thinking about one more spin -- from Abilene to Beloit, for retirement. But, as Tim points out, "With a son and daughter-in-law in Columbus, Neb., expecting their first baby in December and a daughter and son-in-law in Hays, Kan., raising their step grandchild, Kade Rittenhouse, 13, we would prefer to retire close to one of them and we just love eastern Nebraska and have become great Husker fans."

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Linnea Maxworthy (Norman)

Then

Birthday:February 10, 1945 Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2

From Linnea:

Graduated from UW-Madison in 1967 and moved to the suburbs of Detroit where my husband, Robert and I raised two children, Kristofor and Kirsten (yes, named after Kirsten Everson). Worked in the travel industry for some years and consequently travelled much through work and pleasure. We're now enjoying our four grandchildren and looking forward as to where our oldest granddaughter will be going to college. It's a full circlc!

David Meives

Then

Now

Birthday:January 26, 1945 Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:3

From David:

I lived in Beloit after graduation for a few years and went to Whitewater. I later moved to Fort Lauderdale. For two years I traveled the U.S.A. I sold blood and worked day jobs. I moved to New Jersey and worked for Regal Beloit. I married and had two boys. Rob is in North Port, FL, and works for a Cable Co, and Jeff is in Pell Lake, WI and is a high school biology teacher. After moving back to Beloit and finishing my degree at Whitewater, I moved back to Fort Lauderdale and worked as a purchasing agent for Bendix Avionics, a military production company. I remarried and have a third son David. He works for Disney in Orlando.

My father is 99 years old and lives in Beloit. I retired when I was 50, but started again a few months ago as a concierge at a local casino. My wife is a nurse and an attorney. We live in an apartment on the beach in Fort Lauderdale.

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Rita Miller (Berkshire)

Then

Now

Birthday:April 07, 1945 Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Widowed No. of Children:2

From Rita:

After graduation I attended Beauty School in Madison, WI. I hold current Cosmetology licenses in both Wisconsin and Illinois as well as a current Managing Cosmetologist license in Wisconsin. In 1987 I attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA. I hold a current Wisconsin Auctioneer License. I also studied Real Estate and hold a current Real Estate Sales as well as Real Estate Brokers license in both Wisconsin and Illinois. Over the years I practiced Cosmetology in Beloit and South Beloit and I, along with my husband, operated the Colonel's Auction as well as Berkshire Realty and Auction.

I married Gerald (Jerry) Berkshire (BMHS Class of '61) on December 27, 1963. We have two children - Brenda Daniels (48) and Terry Davies (44) both of Beloit, four grandchildren - Whitney Daniels (21) who works and resides in Beloit, Dalton Davies (19) who attends and plays football at Beloit College, Christian Daniels (18) who attends and swims at Olivet Nazarene, and Shelby Davies (16) a junior at Beloit Turner. Jerry and I spent our years together enjoying family, operating our businesses, and traveling to Ireland twice. Jerry suffered from MS for 25 years and eventually we both retired. He passed away in 2008.

I currently live in Beloit in the childhood home my father built. I also have a family home in Edgerton, Wisconsin where Jerry and I lived after his retirement. I spend my time these days taking care of the houses, going to Auctions, and with family.

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George Milligan

Then

Birthday:November 17, 1945 Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married

From George:Attended tech schools for computer programing. Worked as programmer/analyst and consultant until retiring in 2008. Married to Yevonne and have 2 children Scott and Cori.

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Bruce Mjaanes

Then

Birthday:August 16, 1945 Occupation:retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:3

From Bruce:

Editor's note: Bruce unfortunately has passed away since our 50th reunion.

After attending UW-Madison, I taught Social Studies at Madison West for

43 years. Meanwhile, my wife Cherie and I raised 3 boys who have now

blessed us with 8 grandchjldren. I've also nanaged to build our present

home in Madison and a cabin-home in north-central Wisconsin.

Kendra Mott (Heinze)

Then

Birthday:November 11, 1944 Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2

From Kendra:

We enjoy retirement and our time with family as well as travels to Arizona for a few months each winter.

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Thomas Nelson

Then

Now

Birthday:July 29, 1945 Occupation:PHARMACIST-RETIRED Marital Status:Married

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Richard ( Tom ) Nightingale

Then

Now

Birthday:January 14, 1945 Occupation:Retired Banker Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2

From Richard ( Tom ):

In the fall of 1963, I attended the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point where I spent one season as part of the football team. In 1965, with my sights set on a career in banking, I returned to UW-Stevens Point until the summer of 1966, when I was drafted into the military. I, ultimately, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for three years, spending 13 months in Vietnam. Kay and I were married on August 17, 1968. We spent the first year of our marriage at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where Kay taught 3rd grade on base under the Civil Service program. As my enlistment was ending, I was honored to be offered a commission at the rank of Captain as a Disbursing Officer. Rather than accept the commission, we returned to Wisconsin and I completed my undergraduate degree at UW Whitewater with a BBA in Finance.

I have enjoyed a wonderful career in banking as a Senior Vice-President with the Milwaukee-based Marshall and Isley Corporation. Kay had an exceptional career as, initially, a "stay-at-home" mom as well as becoming a consultant, trainer, and coordinator in the field of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Prevention.

The joy of our lives has been two magnificent children, Tim and Kim, and their spouses. And they have blessed us with four beautiful grandchildren...each couple having both a boy and a girl!

Over the years, we have established a mini-storage business consisting of multiple partnerships and it has grown from an initial 41 units to now in excess of 700.

We have been, truly, blessed in our lives, and will celebrate 45 years of marriage this summer. And for Kay and me, it all began with having a strong family foundation from our parents and a wonderful education in the School District of Beloit, and Beloit Memorial High School.

We are looking forward to seeing each of you at our 50th reunion and extend our very best to the great class of 1963!

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Sheila Niman (Schoenfeld)

Then

Birthday:October 16, 1945 Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Single No. of Children:2

From Sheila:

Enjoying retirement, my children and their families, friends and family.

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