Public retirees group to meet

Submitted information

The Van Wert County Chapter of PERI (Public Employee Retirees, Inc) will hold its next meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the Van Wert County Board of Elections, 1362 E. Ervin Rd., Van Wert.

Merrill Asher, Vice Chair of the PERI Board of Trustees, will present the program about updates and changes pertinent to PERI retirees.  Public employees and their guests are invited to come. Refreshments and fellowship begin at 9:45 a.m.

Central retirees enjoy luncheon meeting

Submitted information

Central Insurance retirees met on June 26 at Pizza Hut with the following in attendance: Phil Steinen, Chuck White, Viv Langhals, Dewaine Johnson, Sharon Baer, Ruth Ricker, Dorothy Helmke, Annette Hirschy, Lori Klinger, Karen Morris, Liz Hoerstin, Barb Brinkman, Marcella Shinabery,and Paula Giessler-Scott.

The next Central Insurance retirees luncheon will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, at Pizza Hut in Van Wert. All Central retirees are invited to meet monthly at Pizza Hut for lunch, conversation and to keep in touch and keep up with everyone’s life activities. 

Retired teachers group to meet

Submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will meet for its summer luncheon program at 12 p.m. Friday, July 12, at Willow Bend Country Club in Van Wert. The luncheon meal cost is $11 and includes BBQ chicken breast, loaded mashed potatoes, green beans, gelatin salad, dinner roll, ice cream sundaes, and coffee or tea. Meal reservations are needed by 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, and can be made by contacting Jean Minnig at 419.203.0642, or via email (jaminnig@hotmail.com).

The featured program speaker that day will be Seth Baker, Executive Director of the Van Wert County Foundation, who will address the topic of making public spaces accessible for all needs and abilities of a diverse population. He will also address questions regarding any current Van Wert County Foundation projects.

The VWARTA business session will follow the program. Several items of interest will be shared on the current state of the pension system administered by the STRS Board, as well as other local VWARTA business. Members are encouraged to attend and to stay informed about their benefits and the current state of public education.

For more information about ORTA (Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association) or the Van Wert Retired Teachers Association (the local area group), contact President Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283.

100th Schumm family reunion planned

VW independent staff/submitted information

The John George Schumm family will celebrate 100 years of Schumm reunions on August 4. 

As part of the celebration, the massive genealogy book will be updated, with updated printed copies available at the reunion along with flash drive versions. To be as up-to-date as possible,   send family updates if it haven’t been done in the past.  Births, deaths, marriages or other family changes should include names and dates along with names of parents or grandparents. The  deadline for submissions is Monday, June 30. Updates can be emailed to  to schummfamilyreunion@gmail.com or mailed to Karen Bennett, 8664 Now Road, Rockford, 45882.

In celebration of 100 years of Schumm reunions, one of the family activities will include a gathering at the Fort Wayne Tincaps on Saturday evening, August 3. A catered picnic meal will begin at 5 p.m. at the Home Run Patio, followed by the game the Tincaps vs. West Michigan Whitecaps game.  The Schumm family will be recognized on the big screen during the game. To purchase tickets, which include both the meal and the game, contact Al Schumm at 260.414.3285 by Friday, July 12.

Retired teachers group meeting Friday

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association will hold its spring luncheon meeting and program at 12 p.m. this Friday, April 12, at Willow Bend Country Club in Van Wert. The luncheon meal includes glazed ham, twice-baked potato, green beans, gelatin salad, roll and fluffy lemon cheesecake, along with coffee or tea.

The meal cost is $11 per person and reservations must be made by this Wednesday, April 10, and can be made by contacting Jean Minnig at 419.203.0642, or via email at jaminnig@hotmail.com.

The featured program speaker will be Rachel Hoverman, 4-H/Youth Program and Master Gardener Program Coordinator for the Van Wert County Extension Office. She will speak on the development of the Extension Office in Ohio and the educational programs offered for all ages and various interests through the extension office.

A business session will follow the speaker’s presentation and several informational items regarding STRS will be shared. Retired educators and persons who are interested in the public education system are welcome to come and find out more about the ORTA organization which promotes public education and looks to protect the pension system of Ohio’s retired educators.

Please contact Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283 if you are interested in attending this luncheon meeting or becoming a member.

Class of 63 meets

The Van Wert High School Class of 1963 continues to have monthly get togethers. They recently met for lunch at Beer Barrel Pizza and Grill. Those attending were: Lois Harrow, Mike Long, Denny and Joan Wilhelm, Dave and Angie Watkins, Karen Gilliland, Karen Madison, Jim Brickner, Carol and Gary Mohr, and Bev and Gary Profit. The next gathering will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 8, at Pizza Hut in Van Wert. All classmates are welcome. Photo submitted

Local retired teachers group to meet

Submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association will meet for a holiday luncheon program at 12 p.m. Friday, December 8, at Willow Bend Country Club.

The festive luncheon menu will include roast turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, gelatin salad, dinner roll with butter, and a peppermint mousse dessert, along with coffee and tea. The meal cost is $11 per person and a reservation is required by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 6. Meal reservations can be made by calling Jean Minnig at 419.203.0642 or by email, jaminnig@hotmail.com.

A Christmas message will be shared, followed by a brief business session. VWARTA dues of $10 can be paid at this meeting, if not already submitted. VWARTA members are requested to submit their volunteer hours total to this meeting for collection. STRS pension news will be shared along with other ORTA updates/business.

For more information on membership in the Ohio Retirement for Teachers (ORTA), or the local Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association, contact Acting President Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283.

Retired teachers to hold fall meeting

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will host a fall luncheon and program at 12 p.m. Friday, October 20, at Willow Bend Country Club. Members are encouraged to attend as the group will welcome newly retired educators to the event. Local VWARTA dues of $10 for 2024 will be accepted at this meeting.

The luncheon menu includes meatloaf, potatoes, broccoli, Jello salad, dinner roll, and apple crisp, along with coffee or tea. The meal cost remains at $11 per person. Meal reservations can be made to Jean Minnig by 6 p.m. October 18, by calling 419.203.0642 or by email, jaminnig@hotmail.com.

The program topic will be alternative educational programs used by local educators as they strive to meet the needs of nontraditional learners. The featured speakers will be Rhonda Cunningham, Director of the Van Wert School at The Goedde, along with Van Wert City Schools Assistant Superintendent Bob Priest. They will share the school mission and some of the strategies applied to helping their students to be successful learners.

A brief business session will follow the presentation including STRS pension updates and STRS board concerns.

For more information about the local Van Wert ORTA chapter (Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association), contact Deb Kleinhenz, Acting Van Wert President at 419.203.2283.

VWHS Class of 1963 holds reunion

VW independent staff/submitted information

Members of the Van Wert High School Class of 1963 met on Saturday, August 26, to celebrate their 60th reunion. The gathering was held at Willow Bend Country Club and 28 members and guests were able to attend.

Classmate Reverend Jim McDowell offered prayer which was followed by the evening meal. After dinner, sharing time started off with singing of the alma mater and the fight song led by Larry Schaufelberger.

Information covering the outstanding life achievements of classmate Gary (Gerhardt) Zimmermann (who passed away June 10, 2023) was shared by Beverlee Profit.

Following his courageous comeback from polio at the age of seven, which caused paralyzation from the neck down, and through being involved with band in high school and college, Gary achieved his dream of becoming a symphony orchestra director. As Maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann, he directed symphony orchestras around the USA and the world. At the time of his death, he was the director of the Canton Symphony Orchestra where he had directed for over 20 years. He’d brought them to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in 2017.

Upon his death, the Gerhardt Zimmermann Endowment Fund was set up by the Canton Symphony Orchestra. It will be used to support their MasterWorks Series. Class members and guests attending were given the opportunity to donate to this fund and they raised $650. Information on how to donate can be found at cantonsymphony.org.

Dave Watkins presented awards to Paul Herring who was the first to send in a reservation (and also, unfortunately the last to cancel) and to Linda Shimp who traveled the furthest (coming from Rio Vista, California). He also presented a floral arrangement he had brought for the memorial table to Beverlee Profit who headed up reunion planning. She extended her thanks to the monthly meeting group for their input and support.

Members in attendance spent the rest of the evening reliving special moments from school and catching up on years since.

Parkway Class of ’66 to hold reunion

Submitted information

ROCKFORD — The Parkway High School Class of 1966 is hosting an informal reunion from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 16, in the Community Room at Parkway High School. All class members are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will include finger foods and soft drinks.

Registration is $10 per person and checks should be sent to Dennis Hinkle, 9360 U.S. 127, Celina, 45822. The registration deadline is August 1.

For more information or any questions, contact Dennis or Lynn Hinkle at dlynnhinkle11@gmail.com, or Steve Graham at SGraham925@aol.com.