Douglas Jones

Happy Birthday Sandra!

Have a great birthday!

Posted on: Jul 27, 2023 at 3:33 AM

Posted on: Jul 13, 2023 at 2:44 PM

So what the hell happened with the website being down? Each year we have two subscription fees that are due for our website. The first is the cost that Class Creator charges us for an ad free website.This is paid automatically each year by a charge to my credit card. The second is a charge for the use of our domain name which is a separate charge to the keeper of such things, whom I know not. The first payment went to Class Creator without a problem by auto pay. But the second didn’t know where to go and therefore did not get paid. BOOM! they shut down the site. What to do? I tried to call Class Creator but with the Crazy 4th holiday week it was hard to find a real person to talk to. Finally got a text message from Class Creator, sent them more money and Wall La we are back in business. More than you needed to know probably but there are those who wonder. Thanks to those that donated to help pay these costs. We are almost there and the donation link will drop off when this year’s expenses are met. Thanks for your patience.

Well it took a while but we are back Sorry about that Thanks for your patience BTW We still need donation See link at the left side of home page

Posted on: Jun 22, 2023 at 12:11 PM

Dues are due. Please donate what you can on the front page

Posted on: Mar 18, 2023 at 9:03 PM

I have just received word that our friend and classmate Will Steffen pasted away in January of this year in Canberra Australia. I am posting an email from his wife to classmate Jo Schar and an article from the Canberra paper

I am Will's wife, Carrie. I am fiddling on his computer and came across a "draft" email that he apparently intended to respond to you last year. I do not have his contacts from Spencer, though I know he was in contact with a number of you over the years. I would be grateful if you would let them all know that Will passed away on 29 January. He had surgery for his pancreatic cancer, but there were complications following it. There has been a huge outpouring of grief from his scientific colleagues, friends, climbing buddies and family. We are having a "celebration of life" on 28 March. I am copying myself into this email so that you will have my personal email address, as it is really hit and miss whether I can access his computer or emails.

Kind regards

Carrie Steffen

Globally renowned Australian climate scientist Prof Will Steffen has died, aged 75, with former colleagues and family remembering him as an inspiring, courageous and gentle human.

Steffen died in Canberra hospital on Sunday evening after almost a year of treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Colleagues from around the world described him as a scientific giant whohad spent a career studying and communicating the risks of climate change.

Steffen was known for his studies on the rate humans were driving changes to the planet and the risks of irreversible “tipping points” that could push the world to “hothouse” conditions.
He was known as a skilled communicator, delivering countless public talks and interviews to the media, and was a trusted adviser to the Gillard government.

The director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, Prof Johan Rockström, said: “Such a loss for humanity. There is no better friend and colleague for humanity and a livable planet.”

Steffen moved to Australia from the US in 1977, taking a post-doc position at the Australian National University. He was a pivotal figure and leader in coordinating international research collaborations.

• Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
In Australia he was a highly respected adviser on climate change policy and worked on a multiparty committee around 2010 that helped devise a mechanism to put a price on carbon.

Steffen was part of a group of scientists including Rockström who described nine “planetary boundaries” that regulate the planet and formed the basis for a Netflix documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough.


Will Steffen in 2008. Photograph: Supplied
His wife of 51 years, Carrie Steffen, said: “He was a wonderful, kind and passionate man and he was the same as a husband.

“He was the most marvellous companion and the best dinner companion I would ever have, and ever will have. He brought the world to me.”

She said Steffen had been determined to fight the cancer and had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy in readiness for surgery.

“He fought this to the end,” she said.

After complications from an initial surgery, he did not regain consciousness from a second operation and died peacefully with Carrie and his daughter, Sonja, 36, by his side.

Carrie said in later years, Steffen had been particularly proud of his work supporting young climate activists, including providing expert testimony in court cases.

Arrangements were still being made for a private funeral ceremony, but Carrie said she also hoped for a larger “knees up” to celebrate his life.

The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said “very few people around the world could claim to have done more to tackle climate change” than Steffen.

“He was a first class scientist and a world class communicator,” he said in a tweet.

Prof Lesley Hughes, a board member of the government’s Climate Change Authority, said the world had lost “someone truly special” and she had lost “a wonderful friend”.

Dr Pep Canadell, a climate scientist at CSIRO, said one of Steffen’s biggest contributions was as a pioneer in developing a role that combined scientific expertise with coordinating international networks that, he said, had influenced the scientific agenda and governments around the world.

Canadell said: “I was incredibly sad when I heard – no matter how much I knew it was coming. He has impacted so many people, programs, research agendas and governments.”

Former Australian chief scientist Penny Sackett said Steffen was an “irreplaceable scientist, world citizen and friend” who was “courageous in his truth telling”.

“We’ve lost a truly leading thinker on climate change, someone who made a difference in how the world understands it,” said Prof Frank Jotzo, a climate economist at ANU.

Steffen was a member of the government-backed independent climate commission launched in 2011 by the then Labor government, that was closed down in 2013 only to re-emerge as the not-for-profit Climate Council.

The chief executive of the Climate Council, Amanda McKenzie, said: “Our dear colleague Will Steffen contributed enormously to climate science, climate communications and putting the issue on the agenda here and around the world. He helped to build the Climate Council, like many other institutions, from the ground up.

“We will always remember his bravery, his optimism, his kindness, his energy and his determination. We are devastated that he is gone, but determined that his legacy will live on every day in our work.”

In a hand-written letter in 2020 for a project that asked climate scientists how they felt about the future, Steffen wrote: “I’m angry because the lack of effective action on climate change, despite the wealth not only of scientific information but also of solutions to reduce emissions, has now created a climate emergency.
“The students are right. Their future is now being threatening by the greed of the wealthy fossil fuel elite, the lies of the Murdoch press, and the weakness of our political leaders. These people have no right to destroy my daughter’s future and that of her generation.”

Posted on: Jan 05, 2023 at 12:18 PM

Please notice the survey for a 60th Class Reunion on the left just under “In Memory. Pick one of the five responses and list that number in the comment box. Thanks

Posted on: Aug 19, 2022 at 2:13 PM

Bruce Townsend’s brother Roy passed way today. He was a member of the SHS Class of 59 I think. Our condolences to Bruce and all Roy’s family. There will be no public services.

Posted on: Aug 12, 2022 at 4:43 PM

Well we’re having a bad run here, Dave Meyer passed a way this morning More details to come

Posted on: Aug 05, 2022 at 4:27 AM

We learned yesterday of the passing of classmate Denny Evans as the result of a bee sting. Frank Fitzloff has confirmed this with Dennys daughter Meredith. More info as available. Our condolences to Dennys family.

Well that didn’t take long. We have met our goal for
this year I will take the donate button, thanks to all who donates this year!

Posted on: Jul 20, 2022 at 6:03 PM

Boy I know gas prices are high but, donations this year are dragging. We can’t all be destitute, help the class out!

Posted on: Jun 30, 2022 at 7:16 PM

Hoo Ray we have our first donation! It’s a bit awkward but I know you can do it too. Be sure to use the Donation 3 choice. For some reason I could not get the first choice to work nor could I remove it. I will continue to try to stream line the process. Thanks for your generous donations to our class!

We’re back! Sorry for the interruption. Now to get the donate button working. Stand down and Stand by.

Well classmates, it’s that time of year. I have renewed our ad free website and domain name for another year. As before I ask for your support in this endeavor. I’ll post the donate button on the front page. Thanks Doug

In regard to services for Tim Clifford, we understand that there was a lengthy delay getting Tim from Prescott to Phoenix to fly to Omaha and then by hearse to Spencer The family now expects( hopes) that graveside services
will be held on June 2 at the cemetery in Armstrong with burial to follow. I’ll let you know more definitive details when we have them.

From Warners Funeral Home website
Timothy James Clifford, 75, of Prescott, AZ., departed this life Sunday May 22, 2022 in Prescott. He was born December 9, 1946 in Spencer, Iowa to Mark and Catherine Clifford. Timothy grew up in Spencer. He attended Iowa State and the University of Wisconsin. He served in the Army National Guard and worked as a Postal Inspector and Treasury Agent. Tim enjoyed walking, golfing, travel and landscaping. In 2015 he was diagnosed with dementia and spent his final years at the Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott.

He is preceded in death by his parents; he is survived by his friend, Jeffrey Soltis.

In lieu of flowers please send contributions to “People For Pets” Spencer, Iowa or the Yavapai County Humane Society.

SERVICES
Graveside services will be held 9:30 A.M., Thursday, June 2, 2022 at the Armstrong Grove Cemetery in Rural Armstrong, Iowa.
OFFICIATING
Father Paul Kelly
VISITATION
Visitation will be held from 4 to 6:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer.
INTERMENT
Armstrong Grove Cemetery
Armstrong, Iowa

Posted on: May 23, 2022 at 4:16 PM

I received word today of the passing of fellow classmate Diane Odland
last fall. Below is her obituary from the Hendersonville, TN paper. Our condolences to her family




Diane Odland Duncan was born and grew up in Spencer, Iowa. Her only sister, Marie Stoffer continues to live in her family’s three generation home.

Diane attended Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa 1965 – 1967 where she met her beloved husband, John. She completed her BA in Social Work at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa in 1969.

She worked as a child protective case worker; an adult protective case worker and a case manager in three Iowa counties and as a case manager for the Dept. of Urban Development while living in Des Moines, Iowa.

John and Diane married in 1971 shortly after his discharge from the Army.

The greatest joy in Diane’s life was her three children. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, John; son, Neil (fiancé Jessica Arrasmith) Duncan; daughter Elizabeth (Eric) Petersen, and daughter Christine (Dan) Frost. Four grandchildren have blessed her family, Mary Caroline, Jack, Carson and Colin.

Her greatest loves were Jesus Christ, her family, her home, church and pets. She taught Sunday School and served as a Stephen Minister and leader for ten years. She also loved working in two area nursing homes as a Social Worker.

In 2007 the blessing of a kidney transplant required her retirement. She also survived pancreatic cancer in 2011.

Other interests included United Methodist Women, Young at Heart, Bible Study and the Seniors Exercise Class.
A Celebration of Life was held at the First United Methodist in Hendersonville, on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 1 P.M.