For 2016 

11/14/2016 Brian Porath

I was informed by Nancy Knight that Brian Porath passed away yesterday, November 13th, 2016.
Brian L. Porath
Brian L. Porath
BORN: June 10, 1958
DIED: November 13, 2016
LOCATION: Grinnell, Iowa

Brian L. Porath, 58, of Grinnell, died on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 18, 2016, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Rev. Ron Hodges, pastor of the church, officiating. Music will be provided by Marilyn Kriegel, organist and St. Mary's Choir. Casket Bearers will be Colman Ditzler, Geoff Dietz, Dirk Lloyd, Nate Minnaert, Scott Schmidt and Trevor White. Interment will be at a later date at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

A rosary will be recited by the Knights of Columbus at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, November 17, 2016, at the church. The family will be present at the church from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Memorials may be directed to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.

Brian was born on June 10, 1958, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Richard and Carol Starkey Porath. The family moved to Carroll, Iowa, where he attended schools and he later graduated with the Class of 1976 from Wheeling High School in Wheeling, IL. Following his education, he served with the U. S. Navy on the U.S.S. Macdonough.

On October 1, 1988, he was united in marriage to Rachel Holder at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell. The couple made their home in Grinnell and he worked for the Frito Lay Company for several years. He also assisted Scott Schmidt with farming and Jim Buffum at the Grinnell Bowladrome. Recently, he worked as a truck driver for the Manatt Corporation.

Brian was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs. His hobbies included camping, bowling, attending movies, playing poker and caring for his neighbor's driveways and lawns. He will be remembered by his family as a very devout husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel; two daughters, Leslee Porath of Grinnell and Sallie (Colman) Ditzler of Holiday Lake near Brooklyn, IA; four grandchildren, Boston, Nolan, Eva and Eli; his parents, Richard and Carol Porath of Mesa, AZ; two sisters, Vicki (Jim) Dietz of Lake Zurich, IL and Cheryl (Dan) Ritter of Des Moines, IA; as well as his brothers and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.

http://www.smithfh.com/obituaries.aspx?turl=http://hosting-25447.tributes.com/obituary/show/Brian-Porath-104128536
Rest in Peace Brian

 

 
10/16/2016
After doing some additional post reunion digging, the Class of 1976's 40th reunion organizer, Nancy Knight discovered that Kathy Haslop Van Puyenbroeck '76 passed away on April 15th, 2014.
NORTHPORT | Kathy Van Puyenbroeck, of Northport, died April 15, 2014, at home. Memorial Services will be 10 a.m. Sunday, May 11, 2014, at the Tuscaloosa RiverWalk.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert; and her brother, Michael.
Survivors include her husband, Roger; daughter, Cheryl (Jace); sons, Jason and Lucas (Diana); sister, Kelly; brother, Kevin; mother, Mona; and granddaughter, Haley.
Kathy was born October 20, 1957. She was a loving wife, mother and had a special place in her heart for her granddaughter. She was loved by many and loved all her friends. She loved working in the gardens and took great joy in her roses. She will be greatly missed and will miss all her friends at Kangaroo Express.
Kathy Haslop Van Puyenbroeck
Rest In Peace Kathy

Kathy did not have a senior picture in the '76 yearbook and also was not listed in the '76 commencement program.
05/27/2016 David M. Nelson Through the efforts of the 50th reunion committee it was sadly discovered that David M. Nelson passed away back on August 19th, 2012.
David M. Nelson of Antioch David M. Nelson, 54, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, at Centegra Northern Illinoi Medical Center, McHenry, IL. He was born Dec. 13, 1957, in Evanston, IL, the son of the late Frederick and Marilyn (nee Gassmann) Nelson, living in Wheeling, IL for many years before settling in Antioch over 35 years ago. For the past 30+ years, Dave had owned and operated Adams Northfield Electric, Northfield, IL. David loved NASCAR, motorcycling, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, and being at his home in northern Wisconsin. Survivors include a son, Michael Nelson of Volo, IL; his loving companion of over 20 years, Sharon Wright; two brothers, John (Tamy) Nelson of Cape Coral, FL and Jim Nelson of Round Lake, IL; four nieces, Dawn Gauger, Leslie Nelson, Maggie Nelson and Destiny Law; great-nieces and -nephews, Dylan Gauger, Jenna Gauger and Landon Nelson; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at the Strang Funeral Home of Antioch, 1055 Main St. (Route 83), Antioch, IL 60002. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, IL. Visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home. Please sign the online guest book for David at www.strangfh.com. For information, 847-395-4000.
Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on Aug. 21, 2012 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?pid=159318339#sthash.R6hIfM7A.dpuf
David M. Nelson of Antioch David M. Nelson, 54, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, at Centegra Northern Illinoi Medical Center, McHenry, IL. He was born Dec. 13, 1957, in Evanston, IL, the son of the late Frederick and Marilyn (nee Gassmann) Nelson, living in Wheeling, IL for many years before settling in Antioch over 35 years ago. For the past 30+ years, Dave had owned and operated Adams Northfield Electric, Northfield, IL. David loved NASCAR, motorcycling, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, and being at his home in northern Wisconsin. Survivors include a son, Michael Nelson of Volo, IL; his loving companion of over 20 years, Sharon Wright; two brothers, John (Tamy) Nelson of Cape Coral, FL and Jim Nelson of Round Lake, IL; four nieces, Dawn Gauger, Leslie Nelson, Maggie Nelson and Destiny Law; great-nieces and -nephews, Dylan Gauger, Jenna Gauger and Landon Nelson; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at the Strang Funeral Home of Antioch, 1055 Main St. (Route 83), Antioch, IL 60002. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, IL. Visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home. Please sign the online guest book for David at www.strangfh.com. For information, 847-395-4000.
Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on Aug. 21, 2012 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?pid=159318339#sthash.R6hIfM7A.dpuf
Rest in Peace David
02/07/2016 Ronald Chmielewski

I’m sorry to have to report that Ronald Chmielewski passed away on 12/08/2015.  Here is Ron’s obituary from the Chicago Tribune:

Ronald S. Chmielewski, 57, of Oswego, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora. He was born June 6, 1958, the son of Edward and Arlene (Korytowski) Chmielewski. Ronald married Susan Steinhoff on June 13, 1981 in Wheeling, IL. He is survived by his parents; wife Susan; children Kristyn (Fiancée Andrew Heitzman) Chmielewski and Matthew (Jennifer) Chmielewski; and a brother Edward (Donna) Chmielewski. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 4:00 PM until time of service at 8:00 PM at DUNN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME with CREMATORY, 1801 S. Douglas Road, Oswego, Illinois 60543. For more information: 630-554-3888, or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com

Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Dec. 9, 2015 –

See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?pid=176821785#sthash.M5tMNIiq.dpuf

Ron’s wife, Susan Steinhoff Chmielewski, is also a member of the class of 1976.  Ron’s older brother, Ed, is a Class of 1974 alumni.

 Rest in Peace Ron.
02/05/2016   Created the Class of 1976 40th Reunion page on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1680050848932463/
01/01/2016   Happy New Year!  There are still 163 Members of the Class of 1976 missing.  Important Note: This year is your 40th Reunion!

This Page Last Updated On: Monday, January 08, 2024