Wheeling High School Class of 1972 News for 2020

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For the year 2022

This page last updated: Tuesday, January 02, 2024

07/27/2022 Dale R. Royster
I regret to inform the Class of 1972 that another one of their classmates has passed away. Dale R. Royster passed away recently. The exact date was not available on his Facebook page.
Dale was a retired Southwest Airlines mechanic, living in Conroe, Texas.
Dale R. Royster Dale R. Royster
Rest in Peace Dale.


It would be wonderful if you would each visit his facebook page to leave condolences and memories of Dale. https://www.facebook.com/dale.royster.3
06/27/2022 Larry Alan Cartwright Lawrence "Larry" Alan Cartwright, 68, of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and spent his years traveling between Chicago, Denver, and the last 20 years in Roanoke.

Lawrence was a skilled carpenter and spent his life creating with his hands; from custom cabinets to finished basements, to landscape masterpieces- his talent was well known and loved. His hobbies included golf, bowling, swimming in the pool, and he even spent his early years rebuilding cars and small model aircraft. He is lovingly remembered by his family as a stubborn, yet determined man who worked hard all his life, one who never knew a stranger, who knew all the “shortcuts” around town, and one with an amazing amount of natural talent in the ways of carpentry, cars, and sports.

He is preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Cartwright, Sr., and his daughter, Danielle Cartwright.

He is survived by his mother, Roberta Schaefer; his siblings, Bob Cartwright (Terri), Rick Cartwright, and Dorothy Turek (Fred); his daughters, Lisa Cartwright (Jaime), Heather Vogel, and Jessica Dunbar (David); and his 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

The family will hold a memorial service at a later date.

https://www.valleyfuneralserviceva.com/obituary/lawrence-cartwright
Larry Alan Cartwright
Rest in Peace Larry
04/25/2022

Susan Mary Claeys
 
 
As part of the WHS Class of 1972 Reunion search and verify process, it was discovered that Susan Claeys '72 passed away April,25, 2022. Her obituary follows:
-----------------------------------
Susan Claeys
April 25, 2022
Obituary
Susan Mary Claeys
Age 68, of St. Paul, MN
Susan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, in the home and city she loved, on Monday, April 25, 2022. She was preceded in death by her father, Marvin. Susan will be deeply missed by her children, Gina, Leslie, Louis, Jeffrey, Nathan (Alexia) Garrett; grandchildren, Kayla and Damian Garrett; Mother, Margaret Claeys; siblings, Peter (Karen) Claeys, Claudia (Bob) Landolfi, Diane (Doug Jones) Claeys, Eric (Susan Weber) Claeys, and Tom (Jeanne Steinback) Claeys; and many other family members and friends.
Susan was a woman of many talents, who brought her joyful playfulness, her sense of curiosity, and her strong moral compass to everything she did in life. Her belief in the beauty and value of all people, and in the possibility for redemption and healing in everyone, brought her into community with an amazing collection of people throughout the various chapters of her life. Susan was a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, mentor, sponsor, and treasured friend.

She was a trailblazing feminist in the workplace, as one of the first women in leadership in male dominated corporations in Minnesota. She became a highly respected project manager working for a number of Minnesota’s largest corporations, eventually merging her love for managing complex projects with her passion for community by applying her talents to work with local nonprofits and community groups. Susan earned two bachelor’s degrees as a graduate of Mankato State (Now MN State, Mankato) in elementary education, and of Bemidji State (MN) in accounting.

Susan was a devoted, working mother of five children. Her love for her children, and her passion for cultivating their own joy and genius could be seen in how she helped them each find a love for reading stories. In trips to the local public library, and through story time on her lap, Susan ensured they found joy in the wonder and imagination of books. Susan was a fierce advocate for a fair and equitable education for her own children, and for all kids. She donated her time, money, and resources to volunteer at their schools, to serve on numerous committees, to coordinate charitable gift giving, and to support student literacy in schools across the country.

Susan felt a profound sense of commitment to her community, which showed in her efforts to support local nonprofits. Through her own donations, support for fundraising campaigns, and by giving her time, she found ways to connect with causes that ranged from food insecurity, to helping those coming out of homelessness secure and maintain employment, to the performing arts.

In more recent chapters of her life, many friends came to know Susan as a prolific writer and poet. She kept private journals, but also shared her writings publicly as both an offering of her spirit, and a tool for coping with the struggles of her own recovery and the hurdles of living with cancer. She wore her humanity on her sleeve, and wasn’t afraid to share the essence of her being, which endeared her to so many.

At her core, Susan was a joyful person. She worked to find beauty and pleasure in all things, simple and profound. In her many walks around Como Lake, in her tireless work in her garden, and in her passion for floral design, she literally loved to touch and smell and see the beauty of the natural world. Susan’s drive to complete as many of her bucket list items as she could came not only from a desire to enjoy things like visiting all 50 US States, or seeing the Louvre in person, or enjoying the wonders of Tuscany, but from an insatiable desire to live a full and joyful life.

Susan’s journey of recovery was also a critical part of her life. The Al Anon and OA recovery communities were, in many ways, the places where she reconnected with herself and in turn those around her. She found communities that helped her find courage, balance, purpose, and healing. She served as a sponsor, a mentor and confidant to many who would become friends, and a source of inspiration to others who also walked this path of growth and discovery. She loved working and being with people in recovery, as there she found hope and tangible connection with her higher power.

Susan left a powerful legacy that will live on in those whom she has touched. Her family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and loved ones will hold in our hearts the gifts that she gave us, and find ways to keep her spirit alive. We will miss her deeply, and we know we are not alone.
Farewell Mom.
- Gina, Leslie, Louis, Jeffrey, and Nathan (Susan’s kids)

Susan had several siblings that graduated from WHS:
Brother Peter Claeys (68). Sister Claudia Claeys (70). Sister Diane Claeys (74)

Rest in Peace Susan.
     
02/19/2022
Sadly another '72 classmate has been discovered to have passed away a few years back as part of the search & verification process by the 50th Reunion committee. Nicholas A. Pittatsis passed away on 12/01/2016 in his home. He had been living in Suring,WI.
Nicholas did not have a Senior or a Junior year picture in the yearbook. Nickolas's older sister Diane L. Pittatsis Suwalski was a 1968 alumni who is on the missing list.
I have no other details.

Rest in Peace Nicholas.
01/30/2022 Pamela J. Deal
I'm sorry to convey that the first 50th reunion committee discovery of a '72 classmate who passed away. In the process of validating contact information it was discovered that Pamela J. Deal passed away on September 17th, 2019. No other details are available. A very brief obituary was found through Legacy.com.
Pam didn't have a senior year or junior year picture. Pam's freshman year (1969) and sophomore year picture (1970) are shown below.
Pamela J. Deal Pamela J. Deal
Pamela J. Deal Pamela J. Deal
Pamela J. Deal
Rest in Peace Pam.
Rest in Peace Pam.
01/06/2022 Ron Curtis Knight The first passing of a WHS Class of 1972 in 2022.  Ronald Curtis Knight passed way today in the hospital, Thursday January 6, 2022. The information was provided by Ron's younger sister Nancy Knight '76.  Nancy said that Ron died of covid. Service on Sunday in Fox Lake. Exact time and place has not yet been announced.


Ronald C. Knight
September 29, 1954 ~ January 6, 2022 (age 67)

Ronald C. Knight, 67, of Fox Lake, IL went home to be with the Lord January 6, 2022, at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. He was born September 29, 1954, in Elgin, IL to the late Fulton and Estelle (nee Topar) Knight. Ron is survived by his loving wife, Karen; four children, Dawnann (Bill) Little, Dawn (Andy) Dow, Rhonda Rhodes, and Nathan (Rebekah) Knight; one son-in-law, Jim Parker; eleven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; two sisters, Nancy (David Young) Knight and Pam (Don) Springer; and many friends who loved him dearly. In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Carol Knight; one sister, Claudette Urban; and one daughter, Jennifer Parker.

Ron worked at Acuity Lighting for over 30 years in both Northbrook, and later as the Maintenance Project Manager in their plant in Crawfordsville, IN.

Ron became a believer in Jesus Christ in his 20s, and loved to serve the Lord in many ways. He married Carole shortly afterwards and was her caregiver for five years before she passed away in 2013. He served at Christian Life Church in Mt. Prospect and Eastside Assembly of God in Lafayette, IN, where he served on the Elder Board as well as a variety of other ministries. Ron always wanted to do short term missions, and after Carole died, he was able to fulfill that dream. He went to Togo, Africa, The Netherlands, and Haiti a couple times. He loved the Lord, and most of all was a praying man.

A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, January 9, 2022, at 4pm, with visitation from 3pm-4pm, at CrossPoint Church, 27430 W. Nippersink Road, Ingleside, IL. Burial will take place on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 2pm, at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens, 1718 W. 350 N, West Lafayette, IN.

Arrangements entrusted to Hamsher Lakeside Funerals & Cremations, 12 N. Pistakee Lake Road, Fox Lake, IL. You may leave online condolences at HamsherLakeside.com; 847-587-2100.

https://www.hamsherlakeside.com/obituary/Ronald-Knight
Ronald Curtis Knight Ronald Curtis Knight
Rest in Peace Ron.
01/01/2022   Happy New Year!  There are still 127 member of the Class of 1972 missing.
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This Page Last Updated On: Tuesday, January 02, 2024