Christmas with Santa - And Moline's Homegrown Santa, Mike Collins

 Jorja Hepner, MHS 66

 Kris Streed, MHS 66

 Moline's homegrown Santa - Mike Collins, MHS 68

 Kathleen Wilcox, MHS 66

 Bethany Jackson's Christmas dress, MHS 66, once removed

Thank You - Moliners - For Welcoming Christina Ellenberger Jackson

My wife Christina always enjoyed going to Moline reunions. Her high school was closed in South Bend. 

She was welcomed by everyone from MHS. Kris Streed was very helpful in regards to cancer treatments. Christina and Jorja Hepner Beert had a great time talking. Jorja wrote to me, "SO wish I could have  hugged  her   one more  time ! it  was   the first hug  she gave me  that  calmed me  and  gave  me  strength.   THAT day (  first day met her in person) will  stay with me  always .."

We were asked to dinner with Linda Nelson Pearson and her late husband Dave.

We had a personal tour of Perryville (LCMS' Holy Land) with Mayor Debbie Mitchell Gahan.

Ranger Bob says, "Live every day like it's your last day on earth."

When Larry Easter visited us in Phoenix, we did not realize it was the last time we would see him.

Santa's Clients - And Moline's Own Santa Featured Above

 Jorja Hepner, MHS 66

 Kris Streed, MHS 66

 Moline's homegrown Santa - Mike Collins, MHS 68

 Kathleen Wilcox, MHS 66

 Bethany Jackson's Christmas dress, MHS 66, once removed

Christmas with Santa Claus - And Santa Claus Himself!

 Jorja Hepner, MHS 66

 Kris Streed, MHS 66

 Moline's homegrown Santa - Mike Collins, MHS 68

 Kathleen Wilcox, MHS 66

 Bethany Jackson's Christmas dress, MHS 66, once removed

Christmas Past and Present

 Jorja Hepner, MHS 66

 Kris Streed, MHS 66

 Moline's homegrown Santa - Mike Collins, MHS 68

 Kathleen Wilcox, MHS 66

 Bethany Jackson's Christmas dress, MHS 66, once removed

Navigation - Golden Wedding Anniversaries Will Be Linked Here and Posted in the Left Column

Sometimes one spouse does not live to the 50th wedding anniversary, but the date is still the golden anniversary, even in this grief-denying society of ours. I am listing all golden anniversary posts here and also putting this post in the left column with the rings graphic.

In the unlikely event of an oversight, please let the overworked and underpaid blogger know. I am adding the label Golden Wedding Anniversary to the ones previously posted. Click on the label list and see if you were included, or look on your post and see if the label is there.

Golden Wedding Anniversary labeled posts - linked here.

Significant anniversaries are also posted if one spouse belongs to The Class the Stars Fell On - MHS 66. That can be 10, 20, 24, 36, or any other year.

Honoris Causa - William Daniels & Bonnie Bartlett

Barbara Dodd & Daniel Hawotte

Jim & Jorja Hepner Beert

Barbara Stevens & Dan Lear

Jeff & Patty Puck Hall

Steve & Susan Ogle Quick

Rex & LaWanda Mae Bullock

Jeannine Lawson & Jay McFadyen

John & Diana Robeson

Gregory & Christina Ellenberger Jackson

Tim & Joyce Ballard

Jack & Debborah Anderson Clow

George & Kathleen Wilcox Kapetenakis

Al & Lucia Biorn Bofinger

Donald & Mary Parsons Caisley

Steve & Liz Morgan Kilgard

Tom & Jane Gramkow

Garry & Barbara Temple Black - 51st!

Rex and LaWanda Mae Bullock - 55th!

Jay & Rita Delmar - 53rd!

Ron & Marilyn Lindberg - 50th!

Dirk and Karen Ekdahl Sauer - 50th! Hannibal, Missouri, 3 PM.k

John Jackson and Jane Rosborough - 50th!

Howard Lindstrom and Beckie McFarland - 56th! 

Jorja Hepher - MHS 66 - and James Beert: September 21, 1968

James and Jorja, September 21, 1968.

Jim passed on to eternal life in 2014.

Christmas Album - Past and Present

 Jorja Hepner, MHS 66

 Kris Streed, MHS 66

 Moline's homegrown Santa - Mike Collins, MHS 68

 Kathleen Wilcox, MHS 66

 Bethany Jackson's Christmas dress, MHS 66, once removed

Santa and the Moline Cuties - Kathy Wilcox and Jorja Beert

Santa and Kathy Wilcox.
Notice the mittens attached through the sleeves.

 Kathy Wilcox

Jorja Hepner

Recent MHS 66 Ladies Gathering

 Linda DeLathower, Jorja Hepner Beert, Kathy Colberg-Holmgren, Ruth Durham Harrison, Beverly Epplin Wagner (her sister/ Val) , Sonja Ingram Hanneman, Ruth Stewart, Barbara Hawotte, Sherry Perrine Brummet, and Linda Nelson Pearson.

Rest in Peace, James Beert

Jim and Jorja Beert

Obituary for James J. Beert
Coal Valley, Illinois

James J. Beert, 70, of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Friday, September 26, 2014, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, Iowa.

Services are 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Coal Valley, with The Reverend Jim DeBisschop officiating. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery, where the Moline American Legion Post #246 will present military honors. Visitation is 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley, where there will be a Prayer Service at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Robert R. Jones Library in Coal Valley.

James Joseph Beert was born October 27, 1943, in Moline, Illinois, the son of Albert David and Bertha (Wulffaert) Beert. He served in the United States Army, and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. He married Jorja L. Hepner on September 21, 1968, in Moline. 

Jim worked for Coal Valley State Bank, starting in 1971 when it was just a trailer in the corn fields. He worked for the bank for 17 years until it was sold. He then worked as a mail carrier for the Bettendorf Post Office for 16 years, retiring in 2010. After retirement, he enjoyed working part time for Milan Auto Auction. 

He was a member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, Coal Valley, was Past-President and served on the board of the Robert R. Jones Library for over 28 years, and had been a member of the Coal Valley Lion’s Club and coached softball for Dad’s Club.

Jim collected 1950’s and 1960’s die cast classic and muscle cars, and memorabilia. He also loved his chow-chow dogs over the years.

He is survived by his wife, Jorja, of Coal Valley; a daughter, Jamie Beert of Salt Lake City, Utah; a son, Jason Beert of Rapid City, South Dakota; grandsons, Logan and Hudson Beert; his mother, Bertha Beert of East Moline, Illinois; a son-in-law, Brad Garrison of Salt Lake City; one nephew; and five nieces including Amy Beert of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who donated a kidney to Jim in 2007. He was preceded in death by his father, and brothers, Ronald and Gerald Beert.

Visit Jim’s personal tribute page at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com to share stories and condolences, and light a free candle in his memory.

Honored for his service to the library.

Forty-seven years of marriage.

Jim Beert - Husband of Jorja Hepner Beert - Had Extensive Surgery Today.

Jorja's Facebook Page

From Jorja Hepher Beert, MHS66 - Ok everyone here is the news. Jim's surgery DID last like 13 hours . he did well as far as B/P pulse and all that. They did a great job getting his head cleared off, al around his ear, and down into the neck. Can only hope they got all the cancer cells, But are sure there are still some floating around and hoping the radiation (once he is healed for I it, enough , wil take care of those. Now is the dreaded "but". The one bad spot on his head that they knew had invaded the bone in his scalp had progressed AL the way into the lining of the brain. 

They called in the neurologist and the 3 surgeons discussed IF they should go into th brain to see if they could get that small piece and lose time on the rest of his head lumps they needed to do. Time would be taken to restrict the part on the brain.SO they decided not to. would have greatly increased Jim's chances of getting meningitis. So besides the radiation, they feel he will need chemo now., too. Worry with that is it causing him to (possibly) lose his transplanted kidney from the chemo. 

Forgive me for not replying to all you FANTASTIC people .. I am reading your kind and caring words ! Well, some anyhow. Sorry if I don't quite make sense here, or explain well. Was late time we got to see him and then got back to hotel. Took awhile to wind down and still didn't sleep well. thanks ALL.

***

GJ - Jorja, Jim, and their family members are in our prayers, individually and in various congregations.

May God continue to guide Jim's physicians and nurses, to give Jim and Jorja strength and comfort, and to give him healing from this dread disease. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary - Jorja and Jim Beert

Jorja's caption -
Caption - My grandmothers ( Georgia Crose and Ruth Falconer).
Jim's grandmothers, Johanna Wulffaert and Mary Beert.

Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary -
Jorja Hepner and Jim Beert.

We Thanked Our Classmate and Vietnam Vet for His Service to the Country

Dennis McGimpsey and Family

Dennis McGimpsey
Today is a very special day for me. Through the amazing generosity of my class of `66 classmates, friends, family, and I understand, even strangers, I have had a brand new full sized bed, (mattress, boxsprings, and frame), delivered to my apartment today. I am humbled and pretty much overwhelmed by this act of kindness by so many people who have donated their time and hard earned monies. I don`t know of all that has contributed, but I do know of one person that has done so much in getting me this bed, and her name is, Jorja Hepner Beert. She`s a Moline classmate of mine who organized all of this. So to her and all the rest of you folks, I would like to say, Thank You so much for showing love and compassion toward me and I will never, ever forget this. Only one last thing to say... no more sleeping in the recliner, YES! Love you ALL. Dennis

To tell the truth, Princess Kym ordered us into action
threatening that she would come to Moline and kick some butt.

Dinner Theatre Discussion

MHS 66 Ladies Will Gather in June for Several Events.They Had a Great Time Previously.

Kym Dennhardt Whatley:

Attention! Attention! MHS '66 ladies lunch will be June 11th 2013 at the Windmill Restaurant East Moline 12:00 (noon). We have the back room so we can "do our thing! 

And, they have a bar! Don't miss, sign up today, we are going to rock the house! We are Moliners and True Dee will lead the singing!

Jorja Hepner Beert:

Circa is Thursday June 13 - be there 11:30 for noon meal and 1 pm show !!

Contact Kym or Jorja, or one of the other leaders of this fandango, for reservations and information. 

They had a blast last time and many  classmates joined in the fun for the first time.