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Susan Verhulst (Herbert)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Like most of you, a majority of the last 50 years have been spent working. I retired in 2018 after 42 years of teaching including 21 years at Southeast Polk High School, 16 at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and two years part-time at Grand View University. I have co-written or written five textbooks on Human Resource Management. Mom thought I’d really made it when she could see my books on Amazon!
Our home has been in Urbandale for the last 40 years. Our daughter Katie and son-in-law Aaron live in Minneapolis with grandsons Arlo and Hayes.
John and I have always traveled as often as we could. In the last few years, we’ve been able to add many other countries to our passports including Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. In March 2023 we spent time in Argentina and took a cruise to Antarctica, our 7th continent.
We love to sail and currently keep a sailboat on Lake Pepin in Minnesota. Probably our favorite vacation is renting sailboats in the British Virgin Islands and sailing the islands for a week or so.
I’m so excited to see you all at our reunion in August. The committee has put together many great activities and I hope you can participate in as many as possible.

Sara (Ellen) Crosby (Herrnstadt)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Clinical Social Worker
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: BFA in theatre from Stephens College. Worked as an Actor, TV and stage work my home base was in NYC for 8 years. Graduate school of Social Work at Loyola, Chicago. Married Daniel Crosby, 1985. Clinic and Private psychotherapy practice in Chicago and Madison, WI. Twin boys born 1989 and daughter born 1993. Moved to Iowa City from Madison, then Minneapolis and have been in Sioux Falls since 1999. Here I began Dakota Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) which over the past 20+ years has become the premiere performing arts training organization for youth in the area. I developed DAPA Plays for Living Theatre Company which comprises 30 high school acting students touring 5 different plays on human issues to the schools the adolescent unit at the Behavioral Health Hospital, followed up by facilitated discussion.
I give workshops and talks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues through my work as a social justice advocate. On the addiction front, I run a therapy group using SMART Recovery tools for families and friends who have loved ones struggling with addiction.
6 years ago I was coaxed out of acting retirement and since that time I have been in 3 plays and several new play staged readings. I am beginning rehearsals for Independence , a play by Lee Blessing a story that actually takes place in Iowa, and last summer I shot a short film which is being distributed to film festivals. I published my book of poetry, "The Deep Dive" during covid at age 65. Between the lines are many things, travel, graduations, weddings, death of both parents, and the ups and downs that accompany all that it means to be human. I am grateful.

Terra Kovener (Holland)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired Dance Teacher/Choreographer
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: So where did life take me?

Well, I have danced since I was 5 years old and have continued having dance as an influence throughout my life. After high school I went onto Butler University where I received my BA in Fine Arts with High Honors in Dance in 1977. Eight years later, after much soul searching and a nasty, emotional divorce, I returned to Butler U. and attained my MA in Dance.
I have taught dance from ages 4 through adult at many studios for many years in the Indianapolis, Indiana area.

Luckily, along the way, I meet a wonderful man, Richard (Rick), who has been a great companion for me and wonderful father for our two children.

After receiving my master's degree and getting married to Rick, I began teaching Ballet and Jazz dance at the University of Indianapolis for several years. There I was also the sponsor for the cheerleaders and Crimson Steppers for football and basketball seasons.

Later, I opened my own dance studio, taught, choreographed and started a ballet company. The dance studio continued to grow from 1 night a week to 6 nights and I then added two other teachers to teach in a second room. We taught, ballet, pointe, tap, and jazz, had company classes plus company rehearsals. During my teaching years I also choreographed many musicals on the elementary, high school and collegiate levels. I also choreographed all original dances for my student recitals, and for the company, not one dance was borrowed from someone else's studio or purchased from another source. I also began a local dance company for students from other studios to benefit from being involved in the ballet classics, like the Nutcracker ballet and also an original ballet "The Dancing Princesses".

As life changed and my children came along, I gave up my studio and dance teaching to raise my children as a stay-at-home mother.

Eventually, the children grew up and began school, when my neighbor asked whether I would be interested helping to teaching reading at the elementary school where my children attended. Well of course, I said yes, since I love working with children. I helped start the "no child left behind" reading at their elementary school. I continued on as a teaching assistant there for 10 plus years.

Once my children had grown and gone off to college, I found a calling to teach dancing once again and taught at several private schools close to my home. I eventually found it difficult to continue teaching with my husband's medical needs, so I stopped and became a caregiver for him for several years. I am blessed to still have him here, for his doctor says he is a "miracle man". So, we are both lucky to have each other and are enjoying what life brings us through our children and friends' lives.
Comment: A big thank you to the organizers! It takes a lot to bring this event all together and to see it through. Much appreciated!!

Bill Hotchkiss

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Retired
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: I graduated from Iowa State with degrees in Entomology and Pest Management in 1980. While at Iowa State I met and married Robin Kelly (from Northeast Iowa) and have been married since 1980. We have three children and three grandchildren.

I have worked in the field of agriculture as an Agricultural Manufacturer Representative, Sales Manager, and prior to retirement, the Agronomy Compliance Manager for a large cooperative in Nebraska.

When I retired, we moved to Redfield Iowa (30 minutes west of Wakuee) and now enjoy the slower pace of this community. We enjoy the yard, the deck and the quite of the small town.

In retirement I have found that I am very much like my Dad - enjoy working in the garden, playing cribbage with the guys, riding bicycles with my family (on the Raccoon River Trail out of Redfield), and serving the community (through the Lion's club).

Now that we are settled, Robin and I look forward to doing some traveling abroad. We just got back from a two week visit with our son/daughter in-law in Germany and look forward to visiting him in Japan (he has taken a job working for the Japanese government).

Life is good!

Tricia Paulsen (Ingraham)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: retired pediatrician
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Since leaving my beloved Ames, I have lived in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Denver, and finally Los Angeles. After 30 years of pediatrics, I am now retired and enjoying life with husband Tom. All three children are successfully launched and living relatively near us( this is LA..). We are so enjoying our two grandchildren. My second career is in the works( besides baby-sitting grandchildren and assorted pets). I'm studying to be a Certified Musical Practitioner. Using either piano or my new love, the hammered dulcimer, I plan to play therapeutic music for patients, one on one, at the bedside, in hospitals and nursing homes. I loved my time in Ames and looking forward tossing everyone!

Steven Janssen

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Widowed
Children: 2
Occupation: Lawyer
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Hanging loose; representing real people in their trial and tribulations; staying in touch with my higher power and generally living the deluxe life.

Barbara Huisman (Ketcham)

Jan Frank (Kiser)

Now Now
Marital status: Divorced
Children: 2
Occupation: Work at Nordstrom
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: After graduating from AHS, I attended ISU and majored in Textiles and Clothing Merchandising. My first job was in Chicago, as a manager/buyer at Marshall Field’s. Nine years later, I spent a short time in Detroit and then moved to Boston. During the 3 1/2 years there, I lived in the Back Bay and worked briefly for the Harvard Coop and then as a buyer for Talbots.

My next adventure took me to Heidelberg, Germany. I began studying German at a private school and then was able to attend the University. I began a masters degree program studying Deutsch als Fremdesprache. After 3 1/2 years it was time to move back to the United States and Indianapolis became my new home.

I have lived in Indianapolis since 1992, and have raised my two children here. My daughter, Abigail, went to college in Boston and now lives in Atlanta. Evan, my son, played sports through college and beyond, and is now finishing a masters degree abroad. I also worked through the years as a merchandiser, sales rep and still work for Nordstrom. I have an LLC with my sister Kathy, (AHS ‘72), managing our family farms in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

For fun these days, I travel, play on a couple of tennis teams, do volunteer work and enjoy time with my family and friends.
Comment: Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 50th class reunion this summer!

Dennis Knutson

Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Tool Maker for 32 years. Retired to day trading and having fun in the mountains. Woodworking hobbies and projects.

Gabriele Wilbourn (Koschorreck )

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Widowed
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired
So, what have you been doing for the last 50 years?: Having had enough credits, instead of being a Senior at AHS I took a year at ISU. I then enlisted in US Army Europe working for the Judge Advocate in Heidelberg, Germany. There I met & married my husband, Brian who played for the US Army Band. After our tour we settled in the Dallas Ft.Worth area where I finished my B.A. at U of Arlington. I then worked closely with artists at several western & wildlife art galleries in Dallas. I remained home for a few years after my daughter was born, then signed up as a substitute teacher. My son was born 7 years later & I resumed with teaching. I have a 19 yr old grandson & a 4 yr old granddaughter. I would be married 48 yrs but our lives changed forever when Brian died of the brain tumor Glioblastoma last year. I am blessed that my family lives minutes away & that I’m very close to my mom & sister in Ames & Gilbert.