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Judith Swann (Brugger)

Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Short answer: Writing, dancing, working, farming, making art, mothering, gettin’ degrees, riding my bicycle!! I have been car-free for 11 years and counting. I live in bliss.
Comment: Anybody wants to visit us in New York’s beautiful FingerLakes region, let me know!

Bryon Brunkow

Sandy Popelka (Bunce)

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired- Administrative Assistant
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Hi Classmates!

Can you believe it has been 50 years since we graduated! David and I will be married for 47 years this November. Since the 40th reunion, David and I have moved to a newer house - still in Ames. When we became empty-nesters we decided we needed a larger house - go figure! It actually ended up being a great decision, as our youngest moved back home for a couple of years with his 2 dogs! We enjoyed the time in having Kraig with us while he reassessed his career options. We have enjoyed making renovations to this house.



During the last 10 years our family has grown to include 4 grandkids (3 boys and 1 girl). Kris and Dawn live in Clinton, IA and are the parents to all the grandkids. While they still live in Iowa (barely), we don't see them as often as we would like. Kris works for ADM and Dawn works for Edward Jones. Our younger son, Kraig is now working as a web-developer in the Minneapolis area.



In 2019, both David's and my father passed away. David's mom is the only surviving parent and lives in a nursing home. During the pandemic, our second grandson was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. After excellent treatment at the University of Iowa Hospital, he is doing well and we continue to pray for no recurrence.



Last year, both David and I retired from Iowa State University after 43 (David) and 45 (Sandy) years of service. David and I are enjoying retirement and spending time with our family, our 3 dogs, biking and doing some traveling. Our favorite retirement activity is to sit in our backyard in the morning and eat breakfast around our fire-pit as we watch the neighbors go off to work!



We look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

Sandy and David Popelka

David Bunker

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: retired
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: After high school I graduated from ISU in 1978. That summer I married Janet Seim. My work history mostly consisted of serving in various roles in Facilities Management at ISU for 34 years. I retired in 2015 and currently work part-time for the Ames Parks Dept. mowing in city parks and Homewood Golf Course...a job that is more fun than work. Ironically, my first real paying job was in the summer of '68 when I made $1 an hour working for the Parks Dept.-$40 a week and living the dream at 13 years old! That job, as I recall, was not so fun.

I continue to pursue various outdoor endeavors with various degrees of success and failure. Hunting with my black lab, Tripp, and Canadian wilderness fishing trips are my favorite. I hope all of our wonderful classmates are happy and especially healthy. Looking forward to seeing friends at the reunion this summer!

Steve Burgason

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Self-employed - Filling Station/Burgie’s Coffee/Ansley Ames
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: After Iowa State University, Anne and I got married (1978) and moved to British Columbia to join the international ministry called Athletes in Action. Year 5 with AIA we moved to Vienna, Austria and among many things that happened there we fell in love with coffee and the Cafe culture. In 1983 we came up with the idea of opening up a cafe someday to create an environment where stories could be told, ideas discussed, matters debated around great coffee Burgie's Coffee was started in Ames in 1993 around the idea of promoting the lifelong pursuit of wisdom in all that we do...30 years later we are still in business. Our two sons, Andrew and Jordan and their wives have taken over Burgies Coffee and certainly are running them better then we did!:)



Anne and I also own and managed the Filling Station in Ames which is a farm to plate diner with a market place convenience store with gas. Our son in law, Spencer Cruise, runs the restaurant. Our daughter Casee is a designer in Ames and together with her we are developing our family farm into what is known as Ansley Ames. It is a new urbanist development. You can read about that at Ansleyames,com. We love to travel, enjoy friendships and meeting new people. I'm one of the pastors of a network of house churches called Kaleo. Anne and I are really looking forward to seeing you all at our reunion.

Joan Burnet Bruns (BURNET)

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Retired from the Baker Hughes Energy Innovation Center, OKC
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: I moved to Oklahoma in 1980 after completing my Masters in Geology at ISU. While at ISU I met, and married, Joe Bruns of Spirit Lake, IA. Aside from a short stint in Houston in the 1980s, Oklahoma has been our home. My career was energy related and provided me with a variety of experiences, from working field locations in various states to water management research at GE Global Research. Joe and I raised three sons and loved traveling with them to visit national parks. Now retired, we continue to enjoy the park system and exploring the US in general.



I am known as The Leaf Lady of Oklahoma. I create and market botanical artwork, donating profits to non-profits. It seem I can be found diving into new projects of one kind or another on a regular basis.



I am fortunate to have family in Ames, inspiring me to visit regularly. Sometimes I even get to connect with old friends. Family reunions at Lake Okoboji are a staple in our lives.



This review would not be complete without remembering Meg James Hobbs. Meg, AHS class of 1973, passed away from cancer roughly 10 years ago. I told Meg that she and I enjoyed the friendship of a lifetime and a lifetime of friendship. Having been friends since grade school we were inseparable in high school and remained close until her passing. Meg and Guy lived in Arkansas where Meg worked in pharmaceutical sales and was a well established eBay power seller. To our sons she was aunt Meg. Her passion for life, capacity for love, sense of devotion, quick wit and strong faith are forever imprinted on me and others who knew her.



I would like to express gratitude to those working to make our class reunion a reality. The ability to connect as we journey through life together is priceless. Thank you.
Comment: When visiting Ames I continue to feel a strong connection. I will be forever grateful to have spent my youth there.

Shari Paule (Byriel)

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Hair stylist
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Working, raised 2 children, married for 43 years, expecting our 6th grandchild in April, ages 4 & under. Lots of travel as our daughter Jessica & her family live in Maui, our son Austin & his family live in New Orleans. When not traveling we enjoy spending time on our farm in Madison County restoring the land.

Mary Neese (Calhoun)

Marital status: Single
Children: 2
Occupation: Branch Office Administrator / Edward Jones Investments
Comment: I am currently living outside of Chicago in Northwest Indiana. I am a Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones and am still enjoying my time working there. I have two children and six grandchildren, all who live in the area. I am blessed to be able to see them on a regular basis. ln my spare time I enjoy spending time outside on the water, going for walks, biking, and staying active. I also enjoy spending time away from the cold of winter in February by escaping for the month mostly to Florida where I have friends and family. Slowly becoming my home away from home. I also enjoy travel and cruising and am taking a trip in September to the Amalfi Coast. One more box checked off on my bucket list. I am looking forward to retirement during which time I hope to travel and experience a variety of new adventures! More importantly, I hope to spend more time with family and friends.



I look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!

Jane Brandt (Carlsen)

Marital status: Married
Children: 0
Occupation: Retired Nurse
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: I have been married for 33 years. I worked as a Nurse for 40 years in different areas of nursing. We love to go camping and the outdoors.

John Carlson

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: College Professor
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: The biggest surprise of the last 50 years for me was how much I've enjoyed having kids. I had no idea how much fun it would be to have little kids, and I still really enjoy being a Dad. One of my sons is in college here on the East Coast but likes to come home for dinner once a week or so. My other son is at school on the West Coast but we still talk all the time.



I'm very grateful to Ames High for providing an excellent education and a solid foundation for all that's followed since.
Comment: Thanks to the organizers!