Messmer Today - Summer 2017

MESSMER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

MESSMERTODAY SUMMER 2017

CLASSMATES. FRIENDS.

FAMILY. A group of women met in homeroom at Messmer High School in 1951. Nearly 70 years later, they still meet for lunch every month.

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table of contents

BOARD OF DIRECTORS John Scheid Chair William Otto, MHS ‘74 Vice Chair Patrick Byrne Secretary Kathy-Ann Edwards Treasurer Hon. David Borowski, MHS ‘84 Mikel Holt Dr. William Hughes Bob Monday Carmella Garza Payne, St. Rose ‘71 Lisa Pendergast Rev. Warren Sazama, SJ Conrad York

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Letter from the President The Messmer Family

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STEM in Action Robotics Team Takes Fun Approach to Engineering

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Encouraging Readers. Forming Leaders.

Messmer Students Read with the Golden Eagles High School Student Honored as Peacemaker

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Community Collaboration with Milwaukee Catholic Home Intergenerational Friendships

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Messmer Athletics Take Messmer Out to the Ballgame Teams Play in Padre Serra Basketball Tournament

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Messmer Friendships Last for Life The Breakfast Lunch Club

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Faith in Action Fine Arts Night Brings Communities, Faiths Together for Cause

10 MESSMERTODAY is published for and about the Messmer Catholic Schools’ community.

For more news and updates, please visit

www.messmerschools.org

Comments/questions about MESSMERTODAY may be directed to our Advancement Office at advancement@messmerschools.org

Teacher + Donor Dedication STEM Programs Enhanced by Teacher Achievement Messmer Saint Rose Reading Room Dedicated

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Special Events Save the Date: Portraits in Leadership Dinner 90th Anniversary All-School Reunion

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In Memoriam Rest in Peace

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

the messmer family Ninety years later, the Messmer family continues to grow, and our mission is stronger than ever

When Messmer was founded in 1926, who could have imagined what the school would become, and what it would represent, 90 years later?

Who could have imagined the thousands of graduates who would walk across the stage, or how many of them would marry each other and send their own children to Messmer? Who could have imagined the closing and re-opening of Messmer, which led to the birth of a national parental school voucher program and a whole new generation of Messmer students. Who could have imagined that, 90 years later, Messmer would be a three-campus system serving nearly 1,700 K-12 students?

It's a special place for each of us for different reasons.

From students to teachers, parents to bishops, alumni to community partners, we are all part of the evolving Messmer story, and all part of an interconnected family.

For some of us, the notion of family is more literal than others. Our cover story, "The Breakfast Lunch Club," follows a group of women, all graduates of the Messmer High School class of 1951, who have been

gathering for lunch each month for nearly 70 years.

Many of them married men who were also their Messmer classmates. They are godmothers to each other's children and, truly, family.

As we always do at this time of year, we look forward to seeing our Messmer Saint Mary and Messmer Saint Rose eighth grade graduates at Messmer High School next year, and we welcome our high school graduates to our alumni family.

I thank each one of you for being part of this providential story. As we culminate the celebration of our 90th anniversary in June, we are enthused about building the "fourth generation" of our Messmer family. You remain in our prayers. Have a blessed summer.

Jim Piatt President, Messmer Catholic Schools

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STEM in action

ROBOTICS TEAM TAKES FUN APPROACH TO ENGINEERING Messmer science teachers partner with dedicated volunteer to teach practical STEM skills At Messmer, educators and volunteers often work together to help students reach their educational goals. Justin Spaeth, a science teacher at Messmer High School, recently recognized the need for additional extracurricular opportunities for students to build their skills and abilities in the STEM fields.

Together with teachers Mark Zachar and John Balestreri, he re-established Messmer’s after-school robotics club. The group is supported in their work

by Messmer volunteer Robert Krause. A recent graduate from Marquette University’s Computer Engineering program and the grandson of two Messmer alums (Meljay and Art Krause, Class of 1959), Krause was looking for a volunteer opportunity and found “a perfect match” at Messmer.

The Messmer robotics club operates in tandem with Messmer’s Principles of Engineering class, giving students a chance to apply the knowledge and skills they develop in class. Student participants in the program research, plan, and build robots which are then entered into competitions with other schools through a national program called VEX Robotics.

“I started robotics at Messmer High School because I wanted students to experience the design process that engineers, builders, and crafters go through each day.

The design process requires students to think and plan before they construct and build in order to ensure that they are arriving at the best design,” Spaeth said.

“Mostly, students are learning to solve problems on their own which as a teacher, I love to see!”

Krause agrees. “The robotics program is the perfect tool to teach students about engineering! The students

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have to come up with the best strategy to play the game, figure out how to build it, and then test their design,” he said. “And it’s robots! Everyone gets excited about robots!”

Messmer students entered their first VEX Robotics competition in November 2016. Each competitive event is an opportunity for students to learn, problem-solve, and determine what improvements can be made to each robot to prepare for the next one.

When asked what he values most about volunteering for the program, Krause said, “Seeing the students grow. At the beginning of the year we only had one robot that could drive. At the end of year they had two robots that could not only play the game, but do it well. An amazing feat their first year of competition.

Messmer has some amazing kids!”

ENCOURAGING READERS. FORMING LEADERS.

MESSMER STUDENTS READ WITH THE GOLDEN EAGLES Marquette University men’s basketball players encourage early literacy Messmer grade school students recently had the chance to read with some of their heroes: players from the Marquette University Golden Eagles men’s basketball team. The event took place through Messmer’s participation in SHARP (Student Historical Art Resource Program) Literacy, an organization that works to engage urban children as confident, capable scholars and lifelong learners through literacy and the arts.

The team members read to students and talked with them about the importance of reading, education, and setting goals. Students had a chance to ask questions and take photos with the players, and each received a “Reading with the Golden Eagles” t-shirt. There was also a visit from the Marquette University mascot and opportunities to earn prizes such as tickets to Marquette games and player autographs.

Check out more photos at

facebook.com/messmercatholicschools

MESSMER STUDENTS HONORED AS PEACEMAKERS Gesu Parish in Milwaukee names three Messmer students among 13 winners of annual award Messmer High School senior Jamario Walker, Messmer Saint Mary student Sophia Brooks and Messmer Saint Rose student Madysen Brown were among 13 Milwaukee students to receive the Rev. Robert F. Purcell, S.J., Peacemaker Award this year. Award recipients are chosen for demonstrating “outstanding leadership in conflict resolution, advocacy for justice, and peacemaking in their schools or the larger community.”

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COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

intergenerational friendships Messmer partners with Milwaukee Catholic Home This fall, Messmer entered into a new partnership with Milwaukee Catholic Home (MCH), a retirement community on Milwaukee’s east side. Messmer had the opportunity to take part in the Intergenerational Education Initiative, MCH’s groundbreaking program seeking to enrich students’ understanding of aging while allowing older adults to contribute to the educational process.

The program, funded by Bader Philanthropies, brought together a group of older adult residents from Milwaukee Catholic Home with a group of 5th grade students from Messmer Saint Mary. MCH’s recreation therapy team worked with Messmer’s teaching staff to design a custom six-week program of facilitated weekly sessions, designed around Messmer’s curriculum and each older adult participant’s unique strengths and expertise. Program activities included: using pizza-making to teach fractions and other math concepts, learning about adaptive technologies used by older adults with disabilities, and participating in an interactive presentation on beekeeping and environmental stewardship. Students were also asked

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to interview their older adult partners and to present the stories of their lives as part of a public-speaking unit.

The Intergenerational Education Initiative is receiving positive attention in the aging services industry. Program creator Bridget McNair has been invited to speak about the program at the 2017 Global Intergenerational Conference, taking place in Milwaukee in June.

“Messmer was so interested, open and engaged in the idea. From the minute the kids walked in for the first session, it was obvious that this was going to be a successful partnership,” said McNair. “In bringing together two generations, the greatest impact I saw was the individual relationships that developed between the student and older adult partners.

It allowed them to have a socially engaging experience with an elder, while learning in a non-traditional fashion.”

MESSMER Athletics

take messmer out to the ballgame

Messmer friends and family members gathered in the stands and watched the Messmer Bishops battle valiantly. Despite the team’s 11-5 loss, the players and coaches viewed the event as a victory.

High school baseball team plays Brookfield Academy on “the big stage”

“The significance of playing at a venue such as Miller Park is really to give the students an awesome experience,” said Ken Klatkiewicz, Athletic Director at Messmer High School. “This isn’t an opportunity that is available for everyone and thanks to the generosity of Brookfield Academy parent Rick Star, it will be a Messmer memory our student athletes can carry with them throughout their lives.”

In May, the Messmer High School baseball team had a unique opportunity, the kind that Disney sports movies are made of: to play a game at Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. The idea came about through the generosity of a parent of a player on the Brookfield Academy team, Messmer’s opponent in the game.

TEAMS PLAY IN PADRE SERRA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Boys’ and girls’ teams from Messmer Saint Mary and Messmer Saint Rose compete in annual archdiocesan tournament The Messmer Saint Mary boys’ basketball team won sixth place (out of 39 teams) at the annual Padre Serra basketball tournament.

The Messmer Saint Rose boys’ team took 15th place, and the Messmer Saint Mary girls’ team took 16th out of 24 teams.

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messmer friendships last for life

THE BREAKFAST

LUNCH CLUB

A group of women from Messmer High School class of 1951 have been meeting monthly for nearly 70 years

“You are responsible for each other.”

Monsignor Louis Riedel

Former Messmer High School Principal

For a group of women who met in the same Messmer High School homeroom class in the late 1940’s, this was not a suggestion; it was a directive.

In this instance and in others, when Monsignor Riedel spoke, the students listened.

But none of those students knew then how seriously they would take their principal’s message. Nearly 70 years later, they still live their lives by his words of wisdom. They have become each other’s confidants, neighbors, even godmothers to each other’s children.

Those original women meet for lunch every single month, and JoAnn Touchett is quick to extend an invitation - with an asterisk. “Anyone is invited!” she says, adding, “as long as they graduated from Messmer High School in 1951!”

MEET THE LUNCH CLUB The lunch club group has evolved throughout the years. The core group often included: *Arlene (Geiger), *Marilyn (Paul), *Joyce (Pusch), *Alice (Sochurek)(deceased), *Judy (Heimerl), *JoAnn (Fink), *Ellen (Gleason), *Nancy (Treutel) (deceased), *Fran (Slagle), *Carol (Wiesner), *Carol (Kallas), Marlene (Murphy), Carol (Gussert), Mary Louise (Haug), Elsa (Ziegler), Marilyn (Duero) (deceased), Marjean Czerwinski (deceased), Jean (Tikalsky) (deceased) *Married Messmer graduates

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Since graduating in 1951, this group of ladies has come together at each other’s weddings, dinner parties, pool parties, and baby showers. In 2003, 13 of them gathered in Boca Grande, Florida, at the home of JoAnn Touchett to collectively celebrate their 70th birthdays. They sat around the pool, laughing, chatting, and reminiscing about high school dances, and giggling about who went to prom with whom, and the boys they dated (including each other’s now-husbands!). JoAnn, the group’s unofficial

messmer friendships last for life

photographer, has captured the memories of their gatherings and celebrations since their prom.

After all this time, they continue to gather monthly for lunch at Alioto’s in Wauwatosa.

“The conversations have changed from talking about dating, marriage and having children to discussing each other’s aches and pains,” jokes one of the women.

Over the years they have supported one another through life’s happiest and saddest moments.

They have celebrated the births of children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, their children’s weddings and graduations. They have been there at times when illness and death demanded sensitivity, comfort, and the warmth of the presence of a dear friend.

One of the original group members, Marjean Czerwinski, passed away several years ago. The Lunch Club remembers her fondly at their monthly lunches, often discussing her role as the state of Wisconsin’s first ‘Alice in Dairyland.’

What binds these women together in such a deep friendship? They will point to their shared memories of Messmer and their love of Msgr. Riedel.

they blessed each other with holy water and prayed together. They continue to try to live their lives with the character and virtues that were instilled in them at Messmer, especially by Msgr. Riedel and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Shares one of the group members, “There is something so special about sharing friendships with people whom you have known nearly your entire life.

We care deeply for one another.”

Not surprisingly, most of these ladies married Messmer graduates. Many of the men went into the military after graduation and their wives were left at home, forging relationships with one another as they helped raise each other’s families. The shared experiences and memories of this time bonded them together even more. They laughed a lot, and they cried a lot, and they did it all together.

“We have been together through good and bad and we have each had our share of joys and heartbreaks.

What started with the highs and lows of high school dances carried us through our lives including the challenging times of the losing of parents, spouses, and even children. “But we got through them all because we had each other.”

“Fr. Riedel taught us to pray for each other and to cherish each other,” says one of the women.

For 70 years, that has been the foundation of their friendship. At their shared 70th birthday celebration,

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FAITH IN ACTION

fine arts night brings communities, faiths together for cause Serve2Unite raises funds for Veteran’s Outreach of Wisconsin alongside interfaith partners

“We desire that men and women of different religions may everywhere gather and promote harmony, especially where there is conflict. Our future consists in living together. For this reason we are called to free ourselves from the heavy burdens of distrust, fundamentalism and hate.

Believers should be artisans of peace in their prayers to God and in their actions for humanity!”

Pope Francis

World Day of Prayer for Peace 2017

Check out more photos at

facebook.com/messmercatholicschools

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Messmer students participating in the Serve2Unite program are putting Pope Francis’ words into practice, reaching out to those of different faiths to pursue a shared mission of peace.

The group’s recent peacemaking efforts are focused on serving veterans. Students had an opportunity to visit the Veteran’s Outreach of Wisconsin (VOW), learning from its founder Jeff Gustin about the organization’s mission to help veterans struggling with PTSD and homelessness.

Recognizing that Messmer’s commitment to Catholic service includes a responsibility to reach out to those of other faiths, student participants contacted various churches, mosques and synagogues to ask them to participate in a donation drive of food and toiletry items to benefit VOW. One result of this outreach was an invitation to visit the Masjid Al-Quran, a Muslim faith community on

FAITH IN ACTION

Messmer’s Fine Arts Night featured band and choral performances as well as paintings, ceramics, drawings and more student artwork.

Attendees worked on a community art piece, organized by Serve2Unite, to donate to the Veteran’s Outreach of Wisconsin.

Brown Deer Road. Serve2Unite students accepted the invitation and were warmly welcomed, participating in interfaith conversation and gaining new insight into what different faiths share in common.

“It was noted how many values and stories are common to our faith traditions, and how we all seek to build a more peace-filled, just, and loving society,” said Laura Hancock, Campus Minister at Messmer High School. “It has been our hope from the beginning of this project that the walls of distrust would be broken down and that the Milwaukee community at large would see ALL of the partners – Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Veterans – as working for peace.”

As another part of its ministry to veterans, Serve2Unite facilitated the creation of a community art piece at Messmer’s springtime Fine Arts Night. Attendees had the opportunity to contribute to the art piece, which is being donated to VOW for display in their community room.

PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO CIVIL RIGHTS sites After a successful trip to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in LaCrosse, a pilgrimage called “Our Shared History” is being developed in partnership with four other Catholic high schools in the Milwaukee area. The partnership schools “are committed to delve into the exploration of a chapter of our shared American history, that of the Civil Rights movement, through the lens of faith and prayer, and the impact this history has on our current life together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”

The pilgrimage will include shared formation and education in preparation for a prayerful trip to key Civil Rights sites such as Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma.

If you would like to contribute to this pilgrimage, please contact our campus minister, Laura Hancock: lhancock@messmerschools.org.

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teacher + donor dedication

STEM Programs Enhanced By Teacher Achievement

mathematics and the way this educational approach can reduce the achievement gap for African-American students. The “Flipped Classroom” model reverses the focus of in-class learning as opposed to at-home work, giving students video lectures to view as homework assignments and engaging them in exercises, projects and discussion in the classroom setting.

High school math teacher receives PhD

Sowinski is enthusiastic about applying her advanced studies to her work as a Messmer educator, and appreciates the focus Messmer places on STEM.

Messmer High School math teacher Dr. Vanessa Sowinski is the latest example of the standard of excellence set by Messmer faculty, who strive to continue their own learning in order to enhance their students’ learning.

Sowinski recently received her Doctorate of Education in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service in Higher Education from Cardinal Stritch University. Her particular research focus was the use of the “Flipped Classroom” method of teaching

“STEM is so important for students because it connects the math and sciences together to show the students when and how we use these subjects in engineering and technology in the real world,” Sowinski said. “So often the students say, ‘When are we ever going to use this?’ and STEM programs do exactly that – showing the students how important math and science is in our world and opening their eyes to different opportunities and occupations they may never had heard of or thought about before.”

messmer saint rose reading room dedicated Dr. Sue Ewens, President Jim Piatt celebrate with students

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Dr. Sue Ewens spent time with our Messmer Saint Rose students during the dedication of a reading room named in her honor. Dr. Ewens and her family have been generous benefactors to the Messmer Saint Rose literacy program and the current building construction project.

special events

SAVE THE DATE!

PORTRAITS IN

Katherine Gehl Keynote Speaker

LEADERSHIP MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017 WISCONSIN CLUB

Join us for our annual signature event, a dinner reception to honor individuals in Milwaukee who have made a positive impact on the community.

We will present our 2017 Cornerstone Award and Builder Awards.

All event details coming soon!

Will we see you there?

MESSMER’S

All-School Reunion Sponsored by

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 MASS OF THANKSGIVING 10:00 a.m.

MESSMER HIGH SCHOOL

Rally your friends and join us at our 90th Anniversary celebration!

742 W. Capitol Drive | Milwaukee

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

FAMILY NIGHT

PRIVATE DECK @ LAKESHORE CHINOOKS BASEBALL GAME

REUNION CELEBRATION

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. ‒ 10:00 p.m.

THE BAVARIAN BIERHAUS

Tours to follow!

School building is accessible.

KAPCO PARK/CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive | Mequon

700 W. Lexington Blvd. | Glendale

$25/adults a $20 discount! | $10/children 8 and under

$15/person

Includes preferred seating in the Full Service Fan Deck with private bar, fire pit and excellent view + all you can eat bbq, chips, slaw, cookies + all you can drink soda and lemonade + 2 beer/wine tickets (21+)

Includes 1 brat + 1 beer (21+) or soda

Register today at www.messmerschools.org/90threunion or call 414-264-5440 x1200.

Registration for Saturday, June 10, celebration at the Bavarian Bierhaus not required but strongly encouraged.

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in memoriam 1930 s

Carl Blend ’35 on January 1, 2017 Hattie Clancy (nee Czaja) ’39 on January 12, 2017

rest in peace MESSMER EXTENDS ITS CONDOLENCES TO THOSE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

Lenore Deerr (nee Jeannotte) ’39 on December 16, 2016

1940 s

Helene Cook (nee Gesell) ’40 on February 7, 2017 Robert Kelm ’41 on April 4, 2017 Dolores Knueppel (nee Hetzel) ’41 on April 8, 2017 Margaret Blaubach (nee Boehnlein) ’42 on February 2, 2017 Jean Arnold (nee Collins) ’43 on January 10, 2017 Florence Kortsch (nee Brenner) ’43 on January 23, 2017 Margaret Schwacher ’43 on September 26, 2016 Dorothy Arata (nee Makarewicz) ’44 on April 5, 2017 William Laidig ’44 on October 22, 2016 Ruth Little (nee Stockhausen) ’44 on February 2, 2017 Rosemary Protz (nee Singer) ’44 on January 5, 2017 Margaret Stieber (nee Krauss) ’44 on January 26, 2017 Jane Nazaretian (nee Gaydos) ’45 on July 10, 2016 Mary Friday (nee Primus) ’46 on January 11, 2017 Fred Krema ’46 on October 31, 2016 Phyllis Mirr (nee Smykacz) ’46 on October 29, 2016 Marylou Shanahan (nee Lenken) ’46 on March 27, 2017 Ellen Stewart (nee Walsh) ’46 on March 12, 2017

Margaret Biller (nee Derse) ’47 on October 28, 2016

Frank Tarantino ’49 on December 17, 2016

Jane Bongard (nee Hickok) ’47 on November 16, 2016

Joyce Wawrzyn (nee Mackett) ’49 on February 28, 2017

Rosmary Brown (nee McCrank) ’47 on December 10, 2016

1950 s

Harold Burkhardt ’47 on March 21, 2017 Maxine Gvora (nee Berg) ’47 on March 26, 2017 John Haley ’47 on November 17, 2016 Donald Nimtz ’47 on November 12, 2016 Donald O’Dwyer ’47 on April 24, 2017 Sr. Carol Schmitz, SSND ’47 on December 28, 2016 Alfred Smaxwill ’47 on January 13, 2017 Mary Ann Coffey (nee Burke) ’48 on April 4, 2017 Patricia Enslow (nee Gleason) ’48 on February 22, 2017 Mary Grunwaldt (nee Hauser) ’48 on October 30, 2016 Robert Nerad ’48 on November 17, 2016 John Schilz ’48 on December 10, 2016 Doris Ulicki (nee Toman) ’48 on February 5, 2017 Ralph Kohn ’49 on March 12, 2017 Edward Martineau ’49 on September 20, 2016 Doris New (nee Lehman) ’49 on October 24, 2016 Charles O’Dwyer ’49 on March 15, 2017

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Maryann Burghaus ’53 on January 12, 2017 Helen Coates (nee Arnold) ’53 on November 18, 2016 Marlene Drillsam (nee Ebli) ’53 on February 26, 2017 Donald Herbst ’53 on February 26, 2017 Donna Lindert (nee Yunk) ’53 on February 8, 2017 Albert Ring ’53 on October 28, 2016

Jean Collins (nee Lipperer) ’50 on December 10, 2016

Kathleen Stelter (nee Stuesse) ’53 on November 21, 2016

Jerome Fuchs ’50 on November 29, 2016

Yvonne Armbruster (nee Hoerig) ’54 on March 18, 2017

Joan Hettenbach (nee Gressman) ’50 on February 2, 2016

Mary Bayer (nee Schultz) ’54 on December 3, 2016

Catherine Polchert ’50 on December 27, 2016

Dolores Ehleiter (nee Drews) ’54 on December 30, 2016

Shirley Scholzen (nee Barrett) ’50 on March 10, 2017

Robert Filo ’54 on February 7, 2017

Clemence Arend ’51 on November 16, 2016

Edward Folger ’54 on November 23, 2016

Lois Boos (nee Janzer) ’51 on April 27, 2017

Barbara Hanstad (nee Hennecke) ’54 on April 29, 2017

Kathryn Forsgren (nee Oliver) ’51 on July 17, 2016

Robert Lesch ’54 on December 7, 2016

Thomas Kelley ’51 on November 10, 2016

Lawrence Serchen ’54 on February 12, 2017

Leonard Krueger ’51 on March 12, 2017

Gerald Zens ’54 on February 28, 2017

Helen Kreuser (nee Neu) ’51 on December 6, 2016

Barbara Baudhuin (nee Laubach) ’55 on April 7, 2017

Jeanette Repetowski (nee Merz) ’51 on January 26, 2017

Nancy Pikalek (nee Gilman) ’55 on November 14, 2016

Charles Schommer ’51 on September 9, 2016

Robert Rutchik ’55 on February 6, 2017

Norma Janz (nee Zang) ’52 on February 20, 2017

Mary Welch (nee De Sio) ’55 on March 3, 2017

Doris Smith (nee Giersch) ’52 on December 11, 2016

Richard Moran ’56 on April 6, 2017

Peter Bayer ’53 on November 17, 2016

Frank Kowalczyk ’56 on January 17, 2017

Mary Beck (nee Amrhein) ’53 on April 1, 2017

Richard Pups ’57 on December 29, 2016 Ronald Wambach ’57 on March 3, 2017

James Willer ’57 on December 12, 2016 Michael P. Wolf ’59 on November 6, 2016

1960 s

Jerome Connolly ’60 on November 5, 2016 Christine Klein (nee Mikorski) ’60 on April 6, 2017 Carol Knudsen (nee Kucharik) ’62 on February 14, 2017 William Picciolo ’62 on March 27, 2017 Therese Spielvogel (nee Berres) ’62 on April 27, 2017 Janet Zawicki (nee Macht) ’62 on October 14, 2016 Kenneth Schwaerzler ’63 on March 5, 2017 Kathleen Solomon (nee Andrews) ’63 on December 4, 2016 Michael Gest ’65 on March 26, 2017 Dennis Neugent ’65 on November 11, 2016 John Holmes ’66 on November 13, 2016 Charles Jones ’66 on February 14, 2017 Dennis Kowalewski ’66 on January 25, 2017 Anthony Malzewski ’66 on February 21, 2017 Karen Ludin (nee Mucha) ’69 on January 24, 2017

1970 s

Kelly McGrath ’70 on April 10, 2017 Kirk Vernon ’70 on January 27, 2017

1980 s

Todd Frohwirth ’80 on March 26, 2017

1990 s

Henry Smith ’92 on March 2, 2017

Congratulations Messmer Catholic Schools

2017 class of

MESSMER SAINT MARY MESSMER SAINT ROSE

MESSMER HIGH SCHOOL

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MILWAUKEE, WI PERMIT NO. 4764

messmer's 90th anniversary brings out the bishops Students, faculty and alumni welcome cardinal, archbishop and bishops for celebratory events The 2016-17 school year saw several special guests walking the Messmer hallways. Last August, James Cardinal Harvey celebrated Mass for alumni at Messmer High School, to begin Messmer’s 90th anniversary celebration. In October, Messmer hosted Bishop Don Hying of Gary, Indiana (former auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee), at our Portraits in Leadership dinner. This spring, we welcomed Bishop Richard Sklba (Milwaukee's retired auxiliary bishop) and Bishop Jeff Haines (one of Milwaukee's new auxiliary bishops) for student Masses. In April, Archbishop Jerome Listecki celebrated Mass at Messmer High School to celebrate the “close” of our 90th anniversary year.