Sycamore High School

When our classmates were asked what information was most important to have included in the website, the most frequently requested was "Memorials". Thirteen members of our graduating class have passed away, at much too early an age. Eventually, all of us will join them, but for now we want to be sure that none of them is forgotten.

In the beginning, we'll have only a picture and the name of our classmate. As we progress, we hope to have a few paragraphs about each of their lives.

Pat Coultrip (Mar 16, 1939-Mar 23, 1989)

The following is from a letter I received from Pat in 1988, a year before her death. It tells us a bit about who Pat was:

"Hello Larry,

......Everyone has kids except me. I guess I accomplished what I thought I wanted out of life which, unless I'd married a very rich man, would have precluded children. As a teacher, I did have them and got rid of them by 3:00. Having retired in 1985 after 21 years of it, I love running into them here and there (Harvard Square last week, the airport in April) now that we've all graduated from the classroom. Interspersed in the summers, I usually traveled to Europe or Africa, even Israel. I was in Portugal in January studying Portuguese architecture with a group from Boston. All my travels, 14 trips to Europe, have enhanced my choices in reading matter over the years.

I've been temping for several years to have time off to travel and take life easy. I still camp summers, ski and sail, and follow politics avidly. As I write this, I'm rather quaking over the shooting of our ships in the Med. And the Democratic antics this year are highly amusing. I'm still and ardent Republican. Not Massachusetts or the Kennedys have altered my basic views.

I might drive back to Illinois after a camping trip in northern Europe and Moscow. 45 days of daily bus travel and campsites at night, all the way to Helsinke. Can you imagine saying that you camped in Moscow?

I love thinking back to our class, now so long ago. I've almost come full circle: I had to go very far to want to come back home".

Pat was born on March 16, 1939 and died of cancer in Boston, MA on March 23, 1989. She was fifty years of age.

Dan Garland (Apr 14, 1939-Aug 23, 2000)

Dave Gould (Feb 12, 1939-Mar 3, 1979)

Dave was born on February 12, 1939 and passed away on March 3, 1979. He was 40 years of age at the time of his death. His obituary follows:

"David L. Gould, 40, Genoa, died March 3, 1979 at the Swedish American Hospital, Rockford.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy; his parents, Archie and Eleanor Gould, Broadhead, Wis.; one daughter, Lynn, at home; one sister, Janet Matson, England.

He was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church and a past president of the Jaycees in Holly Springs. He served on the board of directors of the Transportation Club, Memphis, Tenn. He was a farm equipment salesman for the Sheahan Equipment Co. and Pierson Brothers.

Services were held today at the Salem Lutheran Church with the Rev. William Kmet officiating. Burial was in the Elmwood Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were made by the Van Natta Funeral Home, Sycamore."

Gerald Loescher

Pat (Craigen) Pollett (Sep 15, 1939-Dec 25, 2002)

Pat was born on September 15, 1939 and passed away on December 25, 2002. She was 63 years of age. Her obituary follows:

"Patricia Joan Pollett, 63, of Sycamore, Ill., died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2002, at her home.

Born Sept. 15, 1939, in Sycamore, she was the daughter of William and Wilmuth (Rosene) Craigen. She married Dale E. Pollett in 1976 in Sycamore. She retired from Northern Illinois University as the secretary for men's basketball, the Immanuel Lutheran Church in DeKalb, and as a tailor for 17 years at Johnson's Men's Wear in Sycamore.

She was a member of Sycamore United Methodist Church and a member of the church choir. She was also a member of Kishwaukee Valley Art League and enjoyed painting, sewing and crafts.

She is survived by her husband, Dale E. Pollett of Sycamore; three daughters, Theresa (Robert) Paulson of Creston, Lisa (Greg) Akers of DeKalb and Jennifer (Thomas) Slater of Rockford; three sons, Craig (Sharon) Lalley of Albany, Ore., Todd Pollett of Rockford and Tim (Chelley) Pollett of Eldon, Mo.; a sister, Carol (husband, Arnold Edwards) Johnson of Sycamore; 15 grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, William Johnson.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Avenue, with the Rev. William Landis and the Rev. Nance Weingartner officiating. Interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Quiram-Sycamore Funeral Home.

A memorial fund is established for the DeKalb County Hospice in care of Quiram-Sycamore Funeral Home, 1245 Somonauk St., Sycamore, IL 60178"

Barb (Tucker) Meador (Jan 29, 1939-Apr 11, 1988)

Barb was born on January 29, 1939 and passed away on April 11, 1988 at the age of 49. Her obituary is shown below:

"Barbara A. Meador, 49, of Sycamore, died Monday, April 11, 1988 at her home.

She was born January 29, 1939 in Sycamore, the daughter of Evert and Vera (Fredricks) Tucker. She married Ralph Meador June 27, 1958 in Sycamore.

She was a life-long resident of Sycamore and a member of the Sycamore Baptist Church.

She was employed by Ideal Industries in Sycamore for 23 years, working in the packing department.

She is survived by her father, Evert, of Sycamore; her husband, Ralph, of Sycamore; two daughters, Sherry (Patrick) Lewis of Loves Park and Kathy Meador of Sycamore; one son, Steven Meador of DeKalb; two brothers, William (Patricia) Tucker of Sycamore and Terry (Karen) Tucker of Broadview Heights, Ohio; one granddaughter, Michelle, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her mother, her grandmother and several aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Sycamore Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dan Stovall officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Butala-Van Natta Funeral Home of Sycamore."

Judy Pulliam

Wanda (Collins) Reingardt

Betty (Reinken) Masters (May 11, 1939-Oct 11, 1999)

The following was written by Betty's cousin, Sharon (Sibley) Carlson and provides a look into Betty's life.

After graduation, Betty met and married Jim Masters. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Arizona where they lived for several years and where two of their four children were born - one boy and one girl. Later, they moved to the DeKalb, IL area where two more boys were born.

Betty enjoyed being a mother and also worked in sales. With her good communication skills she became quite successful in this field. Among her favorite hobbies were reading, cooking, baking, traveling and socializing with friends. Her church family was also very important to her.

Being a grandmother of eight was especially fulfilling for Betty as she actively participated in their activities. Their interests were always a top priority. She took them to many places of interest and celebrated many birthdays and holidays with them. She especially enjoyed preparations for Halloween and Christmas.

Betty courageously fought cancer during the last years of her life. With the determination to win this difficult battle, she set a strong example by demonstrating her strong faith in God, showing her love of life and giving purpose to those around her.

Marge (Read) Ross (Mar 29, 1939-Apr 8, 1997)

Marge passed away at the age of 58. She was born on March 29, 1939 and died on April 8, 1997. Her obituary appears below:

"Margery E. Ross, 58, of Sycamore, died Tuesday, April 8, 1997 at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb.

She was born March 29, 1939 in Sycamore, the daughter of Donald "Doc" and Helen (Hoffman) Read. She married David "Tuffy" Ross on September 24, 1962 in Norfolk, Va. She worked for Duplex Products for 24 years and was a graduate of Sycamore High School, Class of 1957.

She is survived by her husband, David "Tuffy" Ross of Sycamore; three daughters: Debbie (Jeff) Nelson of Sterling, Linda (Dave) Emberson of Rockford and Julie Fleming of Sycamore; one son, Steven Ross of Chicago; her mother, Helen Read of Sycamore; two brothers, retired Lt. Col. Richard (Marlis) Read of Tampa, Fla. and William (Kay) Read of Austin, Texas; seven grandchildren: Jason, Brian and Brent Nelson; Matthew, Tyler and Allison Emberson, and Samantha Fleming; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father and one brother, Charles "Jack" Read.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 12, 1997 at 10:30 a.m. at Quiram-Sycamore Funeral Home, 1245 Somonauk St., Sycamore, IL 60178 with Rev. Frank J. Timar, MSC, officiating. Visitation will be Friday, April 11, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Sycamore.

A memorial has been established for the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home."

Rod Robinson

Bruce Smith

Jerry Williams (Nov 27, 1938-Oct 21, 1997)

Gerald M. Williams, 58, of Rialto, CA, formerly of Sycamore, died Tuesday, October 21, 1997 at home. Williams, a native of Illinois, lived in Rialto for ten years. He worked as a production technician at AFG Glass Paint for five years in Victorville. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Colton.

Survivors include his wife Linda, his daughter April (Ron) Tellez, one granddaughter Alyssa Tellez, two brothers, Tom (Barbara) Williams of Rockford and Gordon (Thelma) Williams of Wilmington, NC, one sister, Carol Johnson, of Maple Park and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Andrew, mother, Florence Williams Rebhorn, and one brother, John Williams.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 28, 1997 at First Assembly of God Church in Colton, CA. Interment followed at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.