2026 Spring/Summer Post-Sentinel

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Class of 1986

Class of 1971 Aug. 28-29

Aug. 14-15

Aug. 7-8 Contact: Melinda Aldrich 507-460-8744

Class of 1960

Class of 1976

Class of 1991

Sept. 18-19 Contact: Marie Anhorn Cano 507-219-2286

July 25

Sept. 25-26

Class of 1964

Class of 2006

80th birthday party Aug. 29 at American Legion Contact: Terry Placek terryplacek@yahoo.com

20th reunion Aug. 15

Class of 1981 45th reunion - Aug. 15 Contact: Chris Carroll 480-734-1041

Sometimes, the Alumni Association is asked to find out things about a loved one; when there might be a class reunion; and details on class sizes and officers.

This winter, three such inquiries came to my attention. It was time to put on my Sherlock Holmes hat.

The first was about a class ring found buried in dirt in Minot, N.D. I am still working on that one!

A second inquiry was about yet another class ring found by someone. This was posted on social media. The sleuth in me came out again. We narrowed it down to a person who graduated in the 1940s.

Lastly, another inquiry came from a family whose loved one was in hospice; they wanted to add anything related to Ausitn High School that we could find for an obituary.

I went to work taking pictures of him in the Austinian yearbooks, AHS Athletics Hall of Fame and All-State sports information. Some of the pictures I sent had never seen by them.

What made this so poignant was that my husband was the gentleman’s boss while we were in Fremont, Neb. The family was more than thankful for our kind words, photos and information.

Sadly, the gentleman, who graduated in the 1950s, passed away.

AHS Alumni Association tries to provide information when we can. We like getting to the “bottom” of things. If you need one of us to put on the Sherlock Holmes hat, feel free to reach out to us.

jeni.lindberg@austin.k12.mn.us

AHS Alumni & Friends Committee Jeni Beckel Lindberg (1973) — Chair David Simonson (1970) — Vice Chair Matt Bartholomew (2006) Marie Anhorn Cano (1960) Katie Raso Carter (1996) Edwina Ersland Harder (1983) Jeff Hovland (1989) Cece Stratton Kroc (1977) Tim Ruzek (1999) Katie Nelson Ulwelling (1969)

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In summer 2024, the AHS Class of 1960 scholarship project began when several classmates started talking about how fortunate they were to attend Austin High.

They felt AHS provided a strong foundation for future success and life in general.

These 1960 alumni also wondered how they could “pay it forward” and leave a legacy that honored AHS teachers, administrators, staff, coaches, classmates and parents.

After several other classmates joined the group, they decided to “pay it forward” by raising money for a scholarship fund to benefit present and future AHS graduates.

AHS Class of 1960 leaders hope to raise $15,000 to enable the annual scholarship to be paid by interest accrued with the principal remaining in perpetuity for future AHS student scholarships.

Members of the AHS Class of 1960 scholarship committee include Marie (Anhorn) Cano; Barb (Berven) Miller; Rob Burton; Gene Johnson; and Clayton Reed.

Checks can be made out to “Austin Public Education Foundation” with a note it is for the “Class of 1960 Scholarship Fund.” Donations can be mailed to APEF, P.O. Box 878, Austin, MN, 55912.

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2025-26 AHS Music Hall of Fame

Timothy Augustin Class of 1987

Christian Paulson Class of 1980

Debra Borton-McDonough Class of 1975

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Austin Packer Dance Team alumni

Austin is getting an outdoor pickleball complex hopefully by late summer thanks to a group led by AHS alumni.

In April, the Austin Minnesota Area Pickleball Association (AMAPA) joined leaders from the City of Austin and The Hormel Foundation in breaking ground at Rotary Centennial Park, north of Marcusen Park baseball stadium.

Weather permitting, construction of the $580,000, eight-court complex should take eight weeks. AMAPA — led by AHS alum Bob Rosel, Craig Jones, Dixie (DeVries) Gilbertson and Greg Thorsheim — raised $110,000; the city funded $150,000 and The Hormel Foundation provided $250,000.

With about 80 active members of different ages and skill levels, AMAPA plans to offer pickleball lessons, leagues and tournaments at the outdoor complex.

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AHS alumni

Logan Kelly

Class of 2021

Class of 1990

Carissa Wyant Class of 1998 yant made her Twin Cities theater debut in late 2025 by playing Dr. Nicole Durand in the production of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Links.” Shows were at Minnapolis’ Theatre In The Round. Wyant was involved in Austin High theater.

A year ago, Morem and his wife Betsy became the new owners of Austin’s legendary Tendermaid Sandwich Shop, which first opened in 1938 to serve its loose-meat burgers. The Morems purchased the business from Sara (Sandeen) White Nauman, an AHS Class of 1980 alum. Last fall, Zach Morem’s childhood friend Dan Goettsch, an AHS Class of 2002 alum, also designed a new mascot for Tendermaid meant to have a vintage, classic look while appealing to younger and older generations. In February, the Morems reopened indoor seating at the Tendermaid for the first time in six years.

AHS pep band’s alumni night

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AHS crest as decals on vehicle windows or posted on a refrigerator are for sale at $5 each.

AHS Alumni & Friends Association is selling the crest stickers and will mail them after payment.

Postage will be covered unless the order of stickers is too large for a regular postal envelope.

Money can be mailed to the AHS Alumni & Friends, P.O. Box 878, Austin, MN, 55912.

These crest stickers originated several years ago from former Alumni board member Deedee (Dugan) Marx, Class of 1968. To place an order, contact: Jeni Lindberg (jeni.lindberg@austin.k12.mn.us) or Tim Ruzek (tim.ruzek@austin.k12.mn.us).

Sitting in storage at the AHS Museum, a framed Honor Roll for Austin servicemen in World War I needed a better home.

AHS Alumni & Friends Association decided to give the WWI relic a more appropriate home by donating it to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1216 clubroom in downtown Austin.

AHS Alumni board member Tim Ruzek is shown (at right) giving the WWI Honor Roll this spring to VFW Club leader Scott Wiechmann.

By spring 1919, Austin High had compiled an honor roll of “all the boys in military and naval service who have ever attended high school,” the Austin Daily Herald wrote. The article still requested help with creating a full record. Jay C. Hormel was one of them.

AHS Alumni & Friends typically gets offers a few times during the year to accept donated items related to Austin High School.

Earlier this year, the Alumni Association received a 1941 white sweater vest with an A letter sewn on it from the family of the late Lois Stowell.

Still in great condition, the sweater will be added to the AHS Museum on Austin High’s first floor west side.

This museum can be viewed by appointment but the Alumni Association is working on offering an open house to the public.

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Phyllis Jorgensen, teacher, died Jan. 19.

Karen Olson, teacher, died Jan. 15.

Robert Schreiner, teacher, died Nov. 22.

apef.betterworld.org

AHS Alumni & Friends Association

P.O. Box 878 ∙ Austin, MN 55912-0878 ∙ (507) 460-1938 email: jeni.lindberg@austin.k12.mn.us

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