Classmate Profiles
Instructions: Hello, Classmate! Our once-in-a-lifetime GOLDEN class reunion is coming soon, and your classmates hope to see you in August! Even if you aren't able to join us, please share below about your after-high school life (~350 words), favorite high school memory/ies, and include a current photo of just you, with your face and hair - or lack thereof. And although your contact information won't be visible on this website, your classmates can contact you via email by clicking on "send [name] a message" link at the bottom of each classmate's profile. Enjoy reading the profiles!
One classmate per profile. To change your profile click Log in. Username = your email.
Kevin Green
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Dated my wife Kim from September 1973 to May 1976. Lived together from 1976 to 1982. Married on July 1, 1982 and 'honeymooned' in London and Paris. Son Johnathan born August 1983. Daughter Jennifer born February 1988. I have returned to my hometown in England 27 times since graduation. Kim has been on many of those return trips. Employment: Hy-Vee, Ames, from 1973 to 1980. Save-U-More, Ames, from 1980 to 1982. Hach Company, Ames from 1983 to 2010. Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames from 2011 to 2016. Advanced Analytical Technologies, Ankeny from 2016 to 2020. Retired February 2020. |
| Share a high school memory: | It's all a blur. |
Len Griffen
| State / Province: | VA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Physician |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Married to Susan for 45 years. Have three amazing children (Katie, Chaz, and Jeffry). Practiced cardiology for 35 years. |
| Share a high school memory: | Movies with Mark Homer Penny ante poker Bridge at lunch |
Betty Grinde (Thompson)
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Pharmacist (mostly retired) |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I'll try to summarize 50 years in a couple paragraphs. I started at ISU, because I always wanted to go there (as apparently 110 other classmates I saw on campus that year did to.) Transfered to Iowa in '75 to attend Pharmacy School. My first job was in Iowa Falls at a community pharmacy. I met my future husband there. Clark and I were married in 1987. We spent 1990 in the Des Moines area, then moved to Story City. I worked for Nucara Pharmacy for 30+ year and continue to work about 3 days per month, which is a perfect schedule for now. We have 2 'kids'. Emma is a Lutheran Pastor near LaCrosse, WI. She is engaged to Heather and will be married in April '24. Heather has a daughter, Margo, so we will gain a cute 3 year old granddaughter in a few months. John is a chemical engineer in Milwaukee, WI. He married Ash in August of '23. Since all are in Wisconsin, we are toying with the idea of moving that direction in a year or two. In the mean time, our new hobby is getting rid of stuff. We also enjoy travel, mostly state side, but we're getting our passports renewed so we can go overseas. My main hobby is quilting. I give most of my quilts away, which allows me to keep buying fabric to feed my habit. Looking forward to seeing everyone in August! |
| Share a high school memory: | On days that Student Council met in the morning, resulting in a late start for the rest of us, a group of girls would get together for breakfast in one of the City parks. Everyone brought something, and we'd cook over a campfire. Mary Skarshaug and Kathy Schlunz would impersonate Euell Gibbons from the Grapenuts commercials (one playing Euell and the other Gibbons). They'd pick up miscellaneous things off the ground, explaining the nutritional benefits of whatever they found. Needless to say, we did not eat anything they recommended. |
Mark Grover
| State / Province: | MN |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Single again |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired Sales & Maintenence |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | The last 50 years: Attended Mankato State. Married in 1976, divorced in 1996. My greatest accomplishments are my two sons, Mike, who is assistant County Attorney for Roseau County, MN, and Matt, orthopedic representative for Stryker Medical, Lake Havasu City, AZ. Also my grandchildren, Evan, Liam, and Aleaha. I spent 20+ years in outside sales for three companies, Cope plastics, Jeld-Wen, and AB Electrolux, covering five states, MN, ND, SD,MT and WY. Finished up to retirement with thirteen years doing maintenance for a Hilton property on Lake Bemidji, MN. I have stayed in touch with classmates Bruce Beckley, Steve Buck and Randy Parrish. Bruce and Steve both have properties close to where I live. I still live in the log home that I built in 1977 on east Crooked Lake, near Nevis MN. I live with my two canines, Molly and Rosco. God Bless the Class of AHS 1974. |
todd Gutmann (Gutmann)
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired Artist |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | 1975 Forestry at UW Stevens Point (Smokey Bear training) 1975 Moved to Canon City, Colorado, worked on the Royal Gorge (making slaw in the restaurant but then many stories going over the gorge in tram) 1976 Ad Design at Iowa State (was under Home Ec, finally design branched off!) 1979 Graduated, moved to Dallas waiter TGI Fridays, almost bartender. 1982 Moved to San Diego, worked as mech artist on San Diego Magazine and Texas Liquor on the beach at La Jolla. Broke even basically. 1984-1991 Worked at printers, graphic departments, marketing in Dallas 1991 -Started at Richards Group for next 31 years in print production. 2022 - retired out of advertising, on to "Second Wind" doing art fairs, coffee shops, wineries and teaching how to paint house portraits IG: homes_for_home and neverblendin17 and sharing techniques at coffee shops group gatherings paijnting coffee mugs with theme "Still having coffee with my dad...." My father passed away from Alzheimer's in 2000. Enjoying life and playing senior golf every Monday with old guys at Sherrill Park, most of the guys playing with are in their 70's and 80's and 90's. Still bike and swim alot, can't run anymore! |
| Share a high school memory: | Sophmore year driving to McDonalds to get a cheesburger/fries/coke for under a buck. Should of played more hockey and broomball in preparation of moving to Minneapolis and hockey nuts senior year. |
John Hansen (Hansen)
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired Teacher |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | After graduation I went to Iowa State like so many others. I even roomed with Greg Dougal and Dan Lambert a couple of years. My time at ISU is a whole another highlight . After graduation I spent 3 years teaching math at Clay Central schools in Royal Iowa. Fortunately I was close to all that Okoboji had to offer. I met the love of my life at The Down Under in Ames and we were were married in 1981. From there we went to Cedar Falls where I got my masters degree and taught at the junior and senior high schools. From there we reached our final destination back in central Iowa in Indianola. I taught there for 28 years teaching math the whole time. Karla and I are the proud parents of two wonderful children. Adam is 37 and is married. He lives in Polk City. Adam teaches math at North Polk. Yeah, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Adam and wife Megan are expecting their first child in April so I will finally be a grandpa by reunion time. Amy is 36 and works at American Equity in West Des Moines where she also lives. We are fortunate that both our kids live so close. Since retiring in 2015 I have subbed at various schools around Indianola until last May. Karla and I love to travel and are also involved in church activities. This past year we have started volunteering at our local animal shelter. We walk the dogs and get some exercise at the same time. We do get attached to them. The biggest change in our lives was leaving our house of 34 years and downsizing to a town home in Indianola. We will continue to travel but always enjoy getting back home for a while. I look forward to our upcoming reunion. |
| Share a high school memory: | First memory: UN Trip. I don't need to say anything else. Second memory: Putting Vicki Sims VW bug in the band room. Third memory: My time spent making movies for Dim Jim Films. aka Mark Homer films |
Andrew Haviland
| State / Province: | VA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | diplomat-retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Over the last 50 years I have lived in ten different countries (in Africa, Europe, and South Asia), moving 23 times. My wife (of 42 years) Patricia and I now live in Northern Virginia, near Washington DC and the headquarters for my last employer, the Department of State. Retiring three years ago, we are enjoying a more settled life and being near our three adult children as they pursue their own professional lives nearby. We were a typical Foreign Service family (much like the military), moving every few years to far flung spots around the world. As my career advanced, circumstances too often forced us to live apart, either because of an assignment that took me to a place unsafe for families or my kids’ educational needs. Leaving Ames High, I did not imagine I would lead the nomadic life of a diplomat, but a chance to study in France for a semester in my second year of college, followed by a three-month walkabout around Western Europe with AHS classmate Roger Landers, got me started down that path. I ended up graduating from college (’78, U of Iowa) as a French major and spent the next two years living in a village in Senegal, West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Somehow, that led to a job with the Social Security Administration in Iowa and then New York City for eight years. Graduate studies in international relations and economics eventually got me on track to an international career. I joined the Foreign Service in 1991 and served mainly as an economic officer in the developing world. For my last assignment, I had the privilege of leading the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development which allowed me to live in Paris for three years. “La vie est belle.” |
| Share a high school memory: | I reflect fondly on my exploits on the stage. The Thespian gang (aka: drama freaks) was a fun group. The skills I learned in theatre served me well in my diplomatic career. |
Dawn Heaberlin (Jolly)
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Certified Nurse Midwife / Nurse Practioner (Retired) |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I started college at Iowa State in the fall of 1974, majoring in pre-nursing; attending for one year. I married Dennis Heaberlin in 1975; we had met working part-time at Hy-Vee while both were going to school, he at ISU and I at AHS. I began the DMACC nursing program, graduating in 1978. I worked as an RN in Eldora and Muscatine, Iowa before moving back to Ames. I then worked at Mary Greeley Medical Center from 1982 to 1994. Though I worked in many different areas as a nurse; my passion was always Obstetrics. I returned to school, completing my BSN in 1992 from Graceland University, then my midwifery certification from Frontier School of Midwifery along with my MSN from Case Western Reserve University in 1994. A fellow RN friend, who went to midwifery school the same time I did, joined me in starting the McFarland Clinic Nurse Midwifery practice. I worked for McFarland Clinic as a certified nurse-midwife and nurse-practitioner, attending births at Mary Greeley Medical Center for 26 years. I "caught" over 2800 babies during that time, retiring in January 2021. Dennis and I have three children; our 2 sons and their families live in Ames and our daughter and her family live in Dover, Delaware. We are blessed to have 11 grandchildren. We live on 14 acres, 7 miles outside of Ames and have enjoyed planting many trees, gardens for flowers and vegetables and caring for the land. There always seems to be work to do on the acreage! When not outside I enjoy serving on the board and volunteering at Food at First, being active in our church, cooking/baking, quilting and attending our grandchildren's activities. |
| Share a high school memory: | My favorite high school memory: AHS marching band. |
John Healey
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Divorced |
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Retired Hydrogeologist |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Hard to believe it has been half a century since graduating from Ames High. I’m retired and back in Iowa part-time after a 30-year hiatus. I recently purchased a house in Windsor Heights and am working on renovations. It’s nice to be back and close to family. Reflecting on the last fifty years, I’ve realized that much of my life has been consumed by my career as a Field Hydrogeologist. I graduated from ISU with a BS in Geology in 79. Graduation was followed by employment as a sales engineer in Indianapolis Indiana. I quickly found out I wasn’t cutout for sales. So, I returned to Iowa State and obtained my MS in Geology. While finishing my masters, our fellow classmate, Jerry Herrick, found a geologist job listing in the KC Star. I applied for the job, and I persevered over 90 applicants. I moved to Lawrence and worked as a hydrogeologist for the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS). It was the most rewarding position of my career. Great research flexibility coupled with an outstanding class of people made work enjoyable. This phase of my career lasted 18 years. From there I moved to Newport, Rhode Island for a year then onto Las Vegas, Nevada. I worked from 2006 to 2019 as a hydrogeologist for the Desert Research Institute (DRI). It was a very interesting job where work took me to extraordinary places like the DOE Nevada Test Site, and various DOD sites. I’m currently working in Monument Valley, AZ on a part-time basis with DRI. As retirement allows, I work whenever the project suits me. Of all the wonderful things, nothing shines more brightly than my son, John Nicholas (Nick). Nick and his family live four blocks from me in Windsor Heights. He’s married to Yuki and they have a son Lincoln (6) and a daughter Yui (2). Nick waited to have kids. It seems strange to have such a son that’s 40 something and to be called Grandpa when I feel just forty myself. |
| Share a high school memory: | Trips to Canada with Jerry Herrick and Kirk Farrar and to San Antonio,TX with Kirk Farrar, Johnny Walker and Kurt Fischer. I have many other fond memories |
Ed Hendrickson
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Single again |
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Real Estate Investments and Software Engineer |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Hello Classmates!! Wow 50 years, half a century. I am so looking forward to seeing all of you August 2024. The best thing in my last 50 years was my 3 kids, Blake, Jennifer and Grant. I can't believe I have a 3 children over 35 years old and one 41 !! And the bestest thing ever is having a 10 year old grandchild, Alana, and if you met her you would have to agree she is adorable and very talented. She writes her own music and plays the piano, guitar and Ukulele and she sings too and is an artist and a budding fashion designer. I was married in 1978 and divorced 25 years later in 2003. I started biking a ton in 2008 and have not stopped since, doing 11 RAGBRAI bike rides across Iowa. I did every inch of the 485 miles in 2022 at the tender age of 65. I started hiking in 2005 and have been to 80 National Parks since, and hiked many miles in those parks. I resided part time in CA for 9.5 years with classmate Tracey Stoll and loved every minute in L.A., well maybe not traffic jams, moving back to Ames full time in 2013 to be closer to family. I am currently very single and love that also. I discovered Tango dance in 2018 and have been taking Tango lessons ever since as well as Bachata and Swing dance. I started volunteering at the local Ames non-profit Food at First in 2013 and have been volunteering regularly ever since. I head chef and make nice hot delicious dinner for up to 150 providing meals to the hungry in Ames !! Baby Back Ribs are my specialty. Career wise I worked for Shelter Insurance for 3 years, did not really like that one, went back to ISU in 1985 and got a 2nd degree in Computer Science (1st degree was Engineering from ISU) and worked at Ames Lab for 13 years until 1998 when I switched to an internet startup e-Markets for 3 years until the internet bubble broke in 2000. Then worked 6 years as a Software Engineer at Engineering Animation which soon was purchased and became Unigraphics, then EDS then UGS and then PLM. I didn't make it to the 6th buyer and was let go in a big layoff in 2006 and have not worked for anyone except myself, in my rental Real Estate business since. I work hard and I play hard. BTW: https://ameshigh.org/reunion/2024/1974/ <-- more info for the 50-year reunion is here. |
| Share a high school memory: | Do you remember Bill Ripp? He was Vice Principal and also taught Latin. He has become a good friend as I have been volunteering with Bill on the AHS Alumni Assoc. for 23 years. I used to be scared of Bill way back in the day. Had to go see Bill one time. I was sooo worried, I didn't know what it was about. An AHS junior stole my gym shoes when I was a sophomore and I had written my name on the side of my shoes (I still write my name on lots of my stuff) and they caught him wearing shoes with Ed Hendrickson written on them in big letters. I was sitting next to this Junior in Bill Ripps office and I saw my name on this guys shoes and I thought, why is that loser wearing my shoes (YUCK). Bill walked in and asked if those were my shoes and I said, well, my name is on them. LOL. In a pretty loud voice Bill told him to "take off those shoes", which he did but he was mad and he stood up next to me and told me, I'll see you after school". I stood up and to my surprise, I was taller. LOL. He walked out into the main AHS hallway in his socks and never bothered me again. One of my favorite highlights from AHS days was playing full court, during school hours, with "The Students", the winning AHS 1974 super underdog intramural basketball championship team with fellow Seniors Dan Williams, Ben Duvall and (Greg) Goga Bal and Junior Jeff Brown. click https://flic.kr/p/2nZAuc4 Click here for page 146 Spirit Yearbook https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahs/52503750289/in/album-72177720303719226/ 1974 Classmate Ken Malaby and I are bottom right photo putting on Hole #1 at Veenker Golf course for an AHS golf meet. I remember someone taking this photo. Can't remember who though? Maybe Jeff Brown? Notice the cool bell bottoms, pants are long gone, but I sill have that putter 50 years later !! And click here https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahs/52503480221/in/album-72177720303719226/ for page 25 of the 1974 Spirit Yearbook showing me and Boy's Foods cooking partner Chris Perrin AHS 1975. I loved that class (and you can't call it that anymore). |