Alumni get reacqainted during reunion activities

    There were a lot of hugs and smiles on Saturday as Chase County High School (CCHS) alumni returned for the annual reunion activities.
    Following an afternoon bus tour of the community and honor class photos at the school, 208 alumni and guests were served at the banquet held at the new fairgrounds expo building.
    Sitting at a special table near the front were two men who marked their 75th reunion this year—John Osler of Imperial and Jerry Weiss of Colorado Springs. They were Class of 1944 graduates.
    There were also five who returned for their 70th reunion, all members of the Class of 1949.
    Marlon Kunnemann, alumni committee president, presided at the program and introduced the alumni present who were members of CCHS classes ending in “9,” as well as other former students of the school.
    He extended special thanks to the class directors.
    Since it was Memorial Day weekend, Kunnemann acknowledged those who have served in the U.S. military, and asked veterans present to stand for recognition.
    “We recognize and thank those who lost loved ones,” and the families who still have someone in the military, he said.
    Candace Elder Schilke, a Class of 1999 member, gave the prayer before the meal.
    Carol Johnson Kunnemann read the necrology, which included the names of 31 alumni whose deaths were recorded the past year.
    Earlier in the day, 20 people took in the community bus tour. Lori Pankonin, co-publisher of Johnson Publications, Inc. and an Imperial Community Foundation Fund advisory community member, emceed the tour.
    Coordinating the alumni banquet and events each year with Kunnemann are other members of the CCHS alumni committee including Arlys Cox Cupp, Jacque Harms Banks, Nancy Heskett Terryberry, Becky Bernard, Jeanette Sughroue Munger and Kelsey Cupp Steinkraus.