Wheeling High School Class of 1967 News for 2022

12/27/2022

I'm regret to have to report that David R. Stanowski '67, passed away from heart failure on 11/02/2022. David's younger brother Dan Stanowski '70 provided this sad news.

Rest In Peace David.

09/10/2022

I'm sorry to have to report the passing of another member of the WHS Class of 1967. Alice DeJarlais Cason, passed away on Saturday September 10, 2022. This information was sent to me by Debbie Wheat McCormick.

Alice was married to William Cason '67.

Alice Cason, 72, beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother was called to her eternal resting place on September 10, 2022. She entered this world on November 3, 1949, in Chicago born to Allan and Frances DeJarlais. Alice is survived by her husband William Cason; daughters Sarah (Marlon) Butler and Angela Cason (Tyler-Blair Sheppard); son Andy Cason, who was her world; sisters Shirley Hamann and Karen DeJarlais; grandsons Jeffrey Jennings, Landon Butler, Sterling Butler, and Parker Sheppard; granddaughters Kwai Butler, Paige Butler, Hailey Butler and Ainsley Sheppard. Memorial Visitation

If yyou would like will be held 12:00 pm, September 19, 2022, until the 12:30 pm Memorial Service at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 111 West Olive Street, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Per Alice's wishes, in lieu of flowers please send them to a loved one who is here to enjoy and appreciate them or to consider a donation to SLSF in her name at https://www.slsf.me/ which supports her son Andy and other children and adults with disabilities.

https://www.glueckertfuneralhome.com/.../Alice-Mary-Cason...

If you would like to leave condolences and memories you have of Alice, please post them on her Facebook page so her family will see them:

https://www.facebook.com/alice.d.cason

Rest in Peace Alice.

08/22/2022

I'm back and it's not good news. I was informed today from Pat Lambert Lough through her younger sister Tami, that Janet S. Belzer '67 passed away yesterday 08/21/2022. No other details are available at this time. If you would like to leave condolences or some memories of Janet, please do so on her Facebook page so her family and friends can see your comments: https://www.facebook.com/jan.belzer

Rest in Peace Janet

06/26/2022

Today I received a phone call from Deb Singleton, the younger sister by 8 years of Dale Williamson, AKA Jean Zyla. 67 Because of the pandemic Jean's Celebration of life had to be postponed until this year. Deb sent me a copy of Jean's obituary with information about Jean's Celebration of life.

"Obituary for Jean Rose Zyla

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is success.”

Jean Rose Zyla, aka “Willie” and “Scooter” the clown, known to loved ones as “Jeannie”, “Gentle Flower”, and “Beautiful Lady”, was born July 31, 1949, in Chicago, IL, as Dale Leslie Williamson. She passed away peacefully at home May 18, 2021 after a brave cancer journey.

Jean was a vibrant, classy, intelligent, loving, generous, creative, playful spirit who made the world a kinder, more loving, more fun place. Among the many who cherished her warm hugs, radiant smile, bubbling laughter, sparkling eyes, and sense of adventure are her parents Marjorie Virginia (nee Pitt) and Wesley Ross Williamson (pre-deceased), sister and brother-in-law Debra and Andrew Singleton, niece and nephew Alexis and Sean Singleton, great-niece Harley, and beloved partner Dean DePew.

Jean offered safe haven for many a ‘wayward’ being, ‘leaned in’ compassionately, and listened deeply. She savored being alive and lived fully - enjoying and loving her family, friends, her cats, clowning, hugs, laughter, puns, swing dancing, Nature, playgrounds, creativity, making beautiful and functional things (woodworking, sewing, stained glass), world travel, gardening, real estate, personal growth, community volunteering, deep connections, and adventures – from skydiving to scuba diving (and lots in between).

A member of Cousin Otto’s Clown Alley for over 30 years, Jean loved volunteer clowning in parades, church functions, clown ministry, burn camps, and other venues. She delighted many with her Hug Coupons, silly jokes, rainbow costumes, rainbow scooter, and her “Zyla-phone”.

Jean believed every experience is an opportunity to grow and she loved to learn. After graduating Wheeling High School (IL, 1967), she attended Beloit College, Blackhawk Technical College (AA, computer programming, 1983), Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (MBA, 1995), as well as countless (!) investment, real estate, and personal-development courses.

Jean had many suitors and several significant long-term relationships in her life. Through each of them, she learned, grew, and became stronger. Jean and her fiancé Dean DePew met in late 2018, cherished each other deeply, and learned much from each other in her last two years.

Having started her career as a USPS supervisor for 12 years, she then re-invented herself as a computer programmer, technical writer, and IT project manager for much of her career. On her cancer journey, she was amazed that she herself had written or edited technical manuals for many medical machines used in her diagnosis and treatment!

In recent years, Jean was a real estate investor (Homes for Life LLC), specializing in rehabbing and flipping houses to create affordable homes. Her own beautiful home in Milwaukee was one she gutted, re-designed herself, renovated from the studs out to be ADA accessible, planned to sell, but instead moved into and enjoyed herself. She was well-loved in every neighborhood she lived.

Jean was loved and is deeply missed by so many. Per her wishes, Jean’s body was donated for science to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Jean’s Celebration of Life, delayed by the pandemic, will be at 1:00 PM, July 10, 2022 (rain or shine) at Root River Parkway Shelter/Picnic Area #2, Greendale, WI, surrounded by the beauty and peace of nature, where Jean loved to be.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jean’s name may be made to Running Rebels Community Association, WUWM public radio, Second Hand Purrs, or Environmental Defense Fund. Also consider giving the gift of life by noting on your driver’s license that you will be an organ donor.

For more information, see Eventbrite - Jean Zyla

URL = https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jean-zylas-celebration-of-life-tickets-358279081377

Rest in peace Dale/Jean

01/01/2022

Happy New Year! There are 154 members of the Class of 1967 still missing.