SPHS Class Reunites Exactly 65 Years After May 18, 1956, Graduation.
ST. PAUL HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1956.
First row, from left: Alberta (Kennedy) Westhoff; Jane (Schettler) Lancaster; Ruth Ann (Lancaster) Schoenhofer; Cora Lou (Kennedy) Kennedy; Ruth (McMains) Gordon.
Middle row, from left: Mary Catherine (Paulie) Casida; Jane Anne Beachner; Ruby (Bergmann) Westhoff; Maxine (Dean) Pinnell; Mary Jo (Kennedy) Hurst.
Back row, from left: Dorothy (Vitt) Volmer; Owen O’Brien; Paul Kennedy; Harold Kennedy.
First row, from left: Alberta (Kennedy) Westhoff; Jane (Schettler) Lancaster; Ruth Ann (Lancaster) Schoenhofer; Cora Lou (Kennedy) Kennedy; Ruth (McMains) Gordon.
Middle row, from left: Mary Catherine (Paulie) Casida; Jane Anne Beachner; Ruby (Bergmann) Westhoff; Maxine (Dean) Pinnell; Mary Jo (Kennedy) Hurst.
Back row, from left: Dorothy (Vitt) Volmer; Owen O’Brien; Paul Kennedy; Harold Kennedy.
Fourteen Members of the St. Paul High School Class of 1956 Reunite.
By Alberta Westhoff [1]
The class that graduated from St. Paul High School on May 18, 1956, gathered exactly 65 years later for a reunion on May 18, 2021, at Osage Hills Country Club near St. Paul. The celebration started with a noon luncheon. Fourteen of the 18 living members of the class attended.
Classmates present were Jane Anne Beachner of St. Paul; Mary Catherine (Paulie) Casida of Prairie Village, Kansas; Ruth (McMains) Gordon and husband Tom of Bellevue, Nebraska; Mary Jo (Kennedy) Hurst of Grove, Oklahoma; Cora Lou (Kennedy) Kennedy and Tom of Springfield, Missouri; Harold Kennedy of Gardner, Kansas; Paul Kennedy and Sharon of St. Paul; Jane (Schettler) Lancaster and Jack of Wichita; Owen O’Brien of St. Paul; Maxine (Dean) Pinnell and Steve of Clifton, Kansas; Ruth Ann (Lancaster) Schoenhofer and Joe of St. Paul; Dorothy (Vitt) Volmer of Grove, Oklahoma; Alberta (Kennedy) Westhoff of St. Paul; and Ruby (Bergmann) Westhoff of Walnut.
Other guests were Marlene Clark and Don Kennedy, Suzie Diskin, Richard Ewan, Judy Fager, Cathy Henderson, Cindy Trotnic, and Clara Whelan.
Harold Kennedy, senior class president, was the master of ceremonies. Sister Catherine Therese Paulie, guest of her sister Mary Casida, offered a blessing before the meal.
Marilyn (Crager) McClure, assisted by Dan Vitt, spoke to the group about the St. Paul Schools Alumni and Friends Association. They told about the history, achievements, and goals of the organization and invited everyone to join it. Mrs. McClure is a 1970 graduate of St. Paul High School and a retired faculty member. While teaching there she started the popular annual Veterans Day program, which continues to this day. Mr. Vitt is a 1984 graduate and is the current president of the alumni and friends association.
Decorations provided by Sharon Kennedy, Dorothy Volmer, and their team of volunteers made the occasion a memorable one. Mary Casida, Cora Lou Kennedy, Sharon Kennedy, Jane Lancaster, Alberta Westhoff, and others won door prizes donated by Sharon Kennedy and handmade wood creations from Harold Kennedy’s home workshop.
Several class members and guests also attended a special tour of the Osage Mission-Neosho County Historical Museum in St. Paul, which was conducted by Ed Born. Each year, for St. Paul’s annual Mission Days, the museum creates exhibits featuring St. Paul High School classes celebrating landmark reunions that year.
Classmates unable to attend the reunion were Jerry Beachner, Mary Anne (Walker) Dougherty, Barbara Jean La Forge, and Barbara (Fager) Whitworth. All sent regrets and extended best wishes for a successful reunion.
Deceased members of the class are Eddie Beachner, Kenneth Begey, Kathleen (Davied) Ewan, Judith Ann (Groner) Kinney, Carole Ann (Smith) La Forge, John Madl, Doris Jean (Bradshaw) Moses, Clara Mae (Standfast) O’Hanlon, Alice (Beller) Phillips, Larry Smith, Ray Vitt, Dick Volmer, and Betty (Van Leeuwen) Westhoff.
By Alberta Westhoff [1]
The class that graduated from St. Paul High School on May 18, 1956, gathered exactly 65 years later for a reunion on May 18, 2021, at Osage Hills Country Club near St. Paul. The celebration started with a noon luncheon. Fourteen of the 18 living members of the class attended.
Classmates present were Jane Anne Beachner of St. Paul; Mary Catherine (Paulie) Casida of Prairie Village, Kansas; Ruth (McMains) Gordon and husband Tom of Bellevue, Nebraska; Mary Jo (Kennedy) Hurst of Grove, Oklahoma; Cora Lou (Kennedy) Kennedy and Tom of Springfield, Missouri; Harold Kennedy of Gardner, Kansas; Paul Kennedy and Sharon of St. Paul; Jane (Schettler) Lancaster and Jack of Wichita; Owen O’Brien of St. Paul; Maxine (Dean) Pinnell and Steve of Clifton, Kansas; Ruth Ann (Lancaster) Schoenhofer and Joe of St. Paul; Dorothy (Vitt) Volmer of Grove, Oklahoma; Alberta (Kennedy) Westhoff of St. Paul; and Ruby (Bergmann) Westhoff of Walnut.
Other guests were Marlene Clark and Don Kennedy, Suzie Diskin, Richard Ewan, Judy Fager, Cathy Henderson, Cindy Trotnic, and Clara Whelan.
Harold Kennedy, senior class president, was the master of ceremonies. Sister Catherine Therese Paulie, guest of her sister Mary Casida, offered a blessing before the meal.
Marilyn (Crager) McClure, assisted by Dan Vitt, spoke to the group about the St. Paul Schools Alumni and Friends Association. They told about the history, achievements, and goals of the organization and invited everyone to join it. Mrs. McClure is a 1970 graduate of St. Paul High School and a retired faculty member. While teaching there she started the popular annual Veterans Day program, which continues to this day. Mr. Vitt is a 1984 graduate and is the current president of the alumni and friends association.
Decorations provided by Sharon Kennedy, Dorothy Volmer, and their team of volunteers made the occasion a memorable one. Mary Casida, Cora Lou Kennedy, Sharon Kennedy, Jane Lancaster, Alberta Westhoff, and others won door prizes donated by Sharon Kennedy and handmade wood creations from Harold Kennedy’s home workshop.
Several class members and guests also attended a special tour of the Osage Mission-Neosho County Historical Museum in St. Paul, which was conducted by Ed Born. Each year, for St. Paul’s annual Mission Days, the museum creates exhibits featuring St. Paul High School classes celebrating landmark reunions that year.
Classmates unable to attend the reunion were Jerry Beachner, Mary Anne (Walker) Dougherty, Barbara Jean La Forge, and Barbara (Fager) Whitworth. All sent regrets and extended best wishes for a successful reunion.
Deceased members of the class are Eddie Beachner, Kenneth Begey, Kathleen (Davied) Ewan, Judith Ann (Groner) Kinney, Carole Ann (Smith) La Forge, John Madl, Doris Jean (Bradshaw) Moses, Clara Mae (Standfast) O’Hanlon, Alice (Beller) Phillips, Larry Smith, Ray Vitt, Dick Volmer, and Betty (Van Leeuwen) Westhoff.
ST. PAUL HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1956, CLASS PHOTO.
Top row from left: Alberta Kennedy; Alice Beller; Barbara Fager; Barbara Jean La Forge; Carole Ann Smith; Clara Mae Standfast; Cora Lou Kennedy; Kathleen Davied.
Second row from left: Dick Volmer; Dorothy Vitt; Doris Jean Bradshaw; Eddie Beachner; Betty Van Leeuwen; Harold Kennedy; Jane Anne Beachner; Kenneth Begey.
Third row from left: Jerry Beachner; Jane Schettler; John Madl; Mary Anne Walker; Mary Catherine Paulie; Mary Jo Kennedy; Maxine Dean; Larry Smith.
Bottom row from left: Owen O’Brien; Paul Kennedy; Ray Vitt; Ruby Bergmann; Ruth Ann Lancaster; Ruth McMains; Judith Ann Groner.
Top row from left: Alberta Kennedy; Alice Beller; Barbara Fager; Barbara Jean La Forge; Carole Ann Smith; Clara Mae Standfast; Cora Lou Kennedy; Kathleen Davied.
Second row from left: Dick Volmer; Dorothy Vitt; Doris Jean Bradshaw; Eddie Beachner; Betty Van Leeuwen; Harold Kennedy; Jane Anne Beachner; Kenneth Begey.
Third row from left: Jerry Beachner; Jane Schettler; John Madl; Mary Anne Walker; Mary Catherine Paulie; Mary Jo Kennedy; Maxine Dean; Larry Smith.
Bottom row from left: Owen O’Brien; Paul Kennedy; Ray Vitt; Ruby Bergmann; Ruth Ann Lancaster; Ruth McMains; Judith Ann Groner.
1. The content of this article originally appeared in the Thursday, June 3, 2021, issue of The Erie Record. The article was written by Alberta Westhoff and Jane Anne Beachner.
2. Photo Credits:
2. Photo Credits:
- Header and background photo of the St. Paul Middle School building, (originally the St. Paul High School) — Ron Brogan, acatholicmission.org.
- Color photo of the Class of 1956 — Gail Welden/G.W. Photography (2021).
- SPHS Class of 1956 composite photograph was prepared by Linda Wintjen, daughter of classmates Dick and Dorothy Volmer.
