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Unbreakable bonds bring CHS/SHHS alumni home
 By Karin Emond
for Keweenaw Today
07/25/00
CALUMET - Seventeen hundred strong, the alumni of Calumet High School and Sacred Heart High School returned to
Calumet for the 2000 CHS/SHHS all school reunion. They traveled from homes in 33
states and Canada, as well as just across town. The oldest was 100. They came with husbands and wives and families in tow.
It was more than just a common alma mater that brought these people together for three days.
No slight to the 38 hard-working local alumni committee members who spent two years
planning and organizing this yearís event, but it wasnít the breakfasts or dinners that
brought them here. It wasnít the picnic. It wasnít the dancing or the music. It wasnít the
chance to walk down once familiar halls or see the many changes made after their graduation in both school and city. It wasnít even the parade.
Something stronger binds the alumni of Calumet and Sacred Heart high schools together - the bond of friendship.
Perhaps Virginia (Kump) Kohler, Calumet High School Class of 1947, now living in
Clinton Township, Wis., summed up it up best when she said, "Calumet people have a bond with each other. They have bonds forever."
Calumet residents, former classmates and longtime friends Mary Zunich, 91, and
Mercedes LaBonte, 90, both members of the CHS Class of 1927, share more than
eight decades of friendship. Their friendship gives credence to Kohlerís statement about
lifelong bonds. The pair attend every reunion and say their favorite activities at the
reunion are "seeing all the different class members and visiting with people." As far as
reunion activities go, they say they enjoy the picnic, opening ceremonies and memorial
service and always look forward to the parade. They used to enjoy the dances, but note they are a little too old for them now.
Manitowoc, Wis., resident and Calumet High School Class of 1945 alumna Janet
(Secor) Kobelt, said her main reasons for attending are enjoying fellowship with friends
and counting her many blessings. She recalls fondly her first job after finishing her nursesí
training at Suomi College at the Calumet Public Hospital under Head Nurse Manila
Gipp, also a CHS graduate. Korbelt also takes advantage of reunion time to visit her two brothers still living in the area.
Says Kobelt of her return at reunion time, "My family, roots and heart are here."
For Peggy Miller of Lombard, Ill., CHS Class of 1951, this yearís reunion will be
remembered as the honeymoon reunion. She was accompanied by her new husband of
one month, Randall, who, she insisted, had received the complete guided tour of the
Copper Country. Peggy says just being back in the old Copper Country area and seeing
friends was her impetus for attending the reunion. She was unable to attend the 1997
reunion and therefore hasnít been to the area for several years. She and her husband
found all the boarded-up buildings downtown depressing, but "the people are still
wonderful." The couple also praised the local restaurants. Peggy remembered sitting in
the Calumet Theatre and eating popcorn and was looking forward to attending the production of "Sh-Boom" Friday night.
No doubt the alumni who attended this yearís reunion will agree with CHS/SHHS all
school reunion committee chairperson Janet Fredrickson when she describes the event
as a tremendous success. The proceeds from the event go to support future alumni of the
schools. Proceeds from past reunions have been used to fund an annual $1,000
scholarship, purchase new display cases for the school library, provide start-up money
for the student-run Kingís Korner in-school store, help with the annual alcohol-free
graduation party and renovate the locker rooms and showers at Agissiz Field.
Kohler says she keeps returning because "I canít get the Calumet out of me." We suspect the same is true for many returning graduates.
As life in Calumet returns to normal and alumni return to their points of origin, there is no
doubt they will return. The reunion is evidence that bonds of friendship forged at
Calumet and Sacred Heart high schools are stronger those of time or distance.
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From far right, CHS-SHHS all
school reunion committee chairperson Janet (Ruonavaara) Fredrickson, Calumet High School students Mandi Hattula and
Wayne Johnson, committee co-chairman Ken Thompson and committee member Eugene LaRochelle prepare for the opening
ceremony at Agassiz field.
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Former Calumet High School
band members under the direction of former history teacher Henry "Hank" Ilenich, drum major, march onto the
field.
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The Calumet High School
Marching Band joins in the parade playing the high school fight song, "Cheer, Cheer for Old Calumet! That is the
school we'll never forget!"
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Grand Marshal of the parade,
Manilla Gipp, celebrated her 98th birthday in style. She was formerly head nurse and administrator of the
Calumet Public Hospital, better known today as Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center. She and Peter Baudino, who will be 97
years young in September, were honored guests at the reunion. Escorts are Janet Fredrickson, reunion committee
chairperson, and Jim Pintar, former owner of Thurnerís Bakery in Calumet.
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From far left, Manilla Gipp,
Dr. Gilbert, Pete Baudino, and other honored guests - including members of area veterans organizations - wait for
Master of Ceremonies David Crowley to begin the ceremonies.
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Sealing the time capsule,
students Mandi Hattula and Wayne Johnson assist the Kindergarten class of 2000. These same students will be
called on to open the capsule during the Reunion 2025.
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Charlene (Stefanec) Pearce,
standing, and Janie Bjorn were busy selling caps and t-shirts at the reunion.
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Clarence & Yvonne
(Wuolakka) Fisher, both graduates of the class of '58, take time out for coffee during reunion
festivities. Clarence is president of the Upper Peninsula Power Company. They reside in Eagle Harbor during the
summer months.
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Members of the
hardworking registration committee take time out for a photo. From left, standing, Carol Patrick, LaVerne (Yowell)
Kytta, Janie (Luokkanen) Bjorn, and Joan (Buckett) Heikkila (seated) are accompanied by Paula (Erlandson) Simula, far
right, who composed and edited the reunion booklet.
Photos by Julia Simila, Ahmeek resident and Keweenaw Today columnist.
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