Groth, Lee C.
31/08/1945 - 05/01/2016

One of the best persons you could ever want to call Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend was taken home to be with the Lord on Jan 5th, 2016. Lee loved his family and his friends completely. He was born August 31, 1945, in Sturgeon Bay, to the late Erwin and Lydia

(Strothoff ) Groth. Lee attended Sturgeon Bay High School graduating in 1963. On May 15, 1965, Lee married the love of his life, the former Sandra Sperber at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.

He was a printer by trade and owned and operated his own business, Q Print, for 30 some years. Over the years he built many lasting personal relationships with his customers. Although bowling and golf were at one time among his favorite past times he found cutting the lawn to bring him more satisfaction and happiness these past years. Lee was known for his generous heart and his willingness to help anyone in need. He was known for his quiet demeanor and quick smile. He was an active and faithful member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church for 48 years. And of course, we can't forget his famous Old Fashioned's!

One of his greatest joys the past 7 years has been going to Tucson, AZ to spend the winter. Although lawn cutting was a joy to him, snow blowing certainly was not. He would tell people, his Tucson friends took him and Sandy under their wings. Ironically, bowling became part of his enjoyment once again and he would bowl on Tuesdays with a group from Tucson Meadows where we stayed for the winter. Bowling on January 5th was where he suffered a heart attack. He died doing something he enjoyed.

Lee will be deeply missed by his wife of 50 years, Sandra; their son, Todd (Jill) Groth; daughters, JoElle (David) Bitters and Heather Groth ; eight grandchildren: Joshua, Krista and Levi Groth; Tyler Bitters; Justin Groth-Rose, Dominic, Dayton and Kaitlyn Dillenburg; three brothers: Bill (Myrna) Groth; Bob (Dee) Groth and Steve (Kathy) Groth; his in-laws, Willard and Verna Sperber; brother-in-law, Scott (Suzanne) Sperber; sister-in-law, Sue DeGrave; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister and brother-in-law, Jean (Roger) Radzinski; sister-in-law, Sherry Beschta and future son-in-law, Shane Dillenburg.

Friends may call at the Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St., from 4:00-7:00 pm Tuesday. Visitation will continue on Wednesday after 9:00 am at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 120 S. Henry St., until time of service. Funeral service 11:00 am Wednesday at the church with Rev. David Hatch officiating. On-line condolences may be sent to the Groth family at www.prokowall.com. In lieu of floral expressions a memorial fund has been established at Green Bay Trinity School, 120 S. Henry St. Green Bay, WI 54302.

Helen Conlon Ploor 1945 - 2017

Ploor, Helen A.

Helen Ann Ploor, 71 years of Sturgeon Bay, Town of Sevastopol, was called to eternal rest on Friday morning, January 6, 2017 at her home, following complications after her open heart-surgery.

She was born May 1, 1945 in Sturgeon Bay the daughter of the late Henry and Mildred (Writt) Conlon. She was graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1963. On August 8, 1964 she married Daniel L. Ploor at St. Joseph Catholic Church. She and Dan farmed the Ploor family farm in Institute where they raised their seven children. 

Helen was a member of S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute and their choir, and the Institute Band. Helen was also a member of the Wisconsin FFA Alumni. 

Helen enjoyed baking for family and friends. She was known for her famous cookies which were sold at Welsing's in Valmy for many years. She also volunteered as a Reading Buddy at St. John Bosco Catholic School for more than 18 years. 

Survivors include her husband, Dan; seven children and their families, Lisa (John) Mueller of Forestville (and their children, Sara and Sam), Abe (Kristi) Ploor of Institute (and their children, Darin (Amanda), Kimberly (Jeff) Dart and their son, Ian, Mark), Nick (fiancé', Suzy Corroy) Ploor of Sturgeon Bay (and his children, Kyle (fiancé', Ashley Wessel), Cynde and Alex), Wendy (Brian) Gerndt of Freedom (and their children, Megan, Natalie, and Richard LeClair, and Nathan and Jaxson Gerndt), Aaron (Michele) Ploor of Brussels (and their children, Dillon and Michaela), Chuck (Betsy) Ploor of Sturgeon Bay (and their children, Madi, Austin, Emily, Ida), and Becky (Chad) Williams of Brussels (and their children, Abi and Teagan); two brothers, Pat (Anita) Conlon of Sister Bay and Phil (Sue) Conlon of Columbia, South Carolina; two brothers-in-law, Ronnie (Jeanne) Ploor of Sturgeon Bay and David (Yolanda) Ploor of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with Rev. Robert Stegmann and Rev. Anthony Birdsall, celebrants. 

Friends may call from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Huehns Funeral Home Tuesday evening and at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. A parish wake service will be prayed at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening at Huehns Funeral Home with Deacon Ray Ambrosius. 

Memorials may be given in her memory to St. John Bosco Catholic School, S.S. Peter and Paul Church Choir, or Zion Lutheran School in West Jacksonport. 

SBHS Alumni Initiate Planning for Association

Larry Maples of the Class of 1964 lead an organizational meeting recently to determine interest in an Alumni Association and what it might look like.  Attendees at the last two Men's Half Century gathering were asked to identify if they were interested in pursuing the development of an Alumni Association followed by an invitation to attend a "Kick off" meeting on September 9, 2015.

The proposed agenda included the following:

• Should an association be formed?
• What purpose should it adopt?
• Should the association include SBHS
• Men and women?
• All graduates or those that graduated 10, 25, 50 years ago
• Should we form a steering committee?
• Who will volunteer to be on the first committee?
• Other issues?

Click on this link to view the minutes of this meeting. SBHS Alumni Association Minutes 09-09-2015

A special thanks to Larry Maples for his Leadership.

Annual Class Party

SBHS Class of 63

invites classmates and friends to the

2015 Class of '63 Gathering

 Sat. August 22nd from 1 to 7 at 

Gippers Sports Bar

University Ave. Green Bay

4 different choices of meals at 4pm. 

Come for the day or to eat with us or however long you can stay. 

Hope to see you there

Jerry Jacobe

Jerry Jacobe, (10/22/1944 to 08/06/2015) 
Jerry was 70 years old and lived most recently in Middleton, Wis., and formerly in Orlando, Fla. Jerry died Aug. 6, at St. Marys Hospital, Madison, Wis., of a heart attack. He was born Oct. 22, 1944, in Sturgeon, Bay, Wis., to Anton and Mamie (Johns) Jacobe. He graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Barbara, Middleton, Wis.; son, Nicholas and Amanda Jacobe, Reedsburg, Wis.; grandson, Vincent; sisters, Sally Warwick, Sturgeon Bay; Mary Vertz, Pensacola, Fla.; brothers, Steve Jacobe, Sturgeon Bay; Mike and Deb Jacobe, Stillwater, Minn.; many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Kenneth "Ken" John Meyer

Kenneth John Meyer, 69, of Sturgeon Bay passed away at home on July 25, 2014, after a brave battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie (Keller); son, Matthew, daughter, Michelle and her husband Eric Christensen; grandchildren Calvin and Claudia Meacham. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Lorraine (Paschke) Meyer.

Ken was born June 12, 1945, in Sturgeon Bay, and graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1963. He worked as a radio dispatcher & jailer for the Door County Sheriff's Department for 23 years, and was the founder and owner of Door Cablevision, the first cable television company in Northern Door County.

He was an active member of the Door County Amateur Radio Club, and the Door County Emergency Communication Committee. Ken was an avid hobbyist and collector, with far too many interests to list, but some of which included restoring old cars and military vehicles, homesteading, and hunting for bargains.

Visitation will be held at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay on Monday, July 28, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a service of remembrance at 6:30 p.m. and the Rev. Dr. Matthew R. Knapp officiating.

The family would like to express sincere appreciation to Dr. Winkler and Green Bay Oncology Staff for their knowledgeable and caring support over the past year, and to Unity Hospice for their timely and compassionate assistance in the last days of Ken's life.

Sign online guestbook and offer condolences and memories at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com

50th Reunion Photo

Here's the gang at the 

50th Reunion

Saturday, September 7, 2013 

outside the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club

Celebrating the 3 R's: 

Reconnecting, Recollecting, and Reminiscing

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Row 1

Gerry Lyons,Mary Eickelberg, Jeanne Foelske, Janet Nell,  Lynn Zimmerman, Pat Tess, Luanne Krueger, Candy Dexheimer, Sandy Sperber, Jim Smith, Dave DeMelle, Jim Peterson, Marilyn Hein, Ann Knaapen, Val May, Gerry Berg,  Virgi Gosser, Steve Aznoe, Susie Gigstead, Ken Anscshutz, Lee Groth, Elaine Bowen, Gary May, Helen  Conlon, Sherry Suess, Jim Hodge

Row 2

Judy Dickenson, Lynn Walker, Candy Bonner, Sharon Goodwin, Jean Weber, Kay Arndt, Georgianne Walker, David Stanek, DD Peichel, Dean Gigstead, Sandy Boes, Ken Meyer, Jane Knaapen, Dan Gordon, Mike Chisholm, Tom Grota, Dennis Spaete, Rick Zirble, Roger Haskel, Gary Fehl, Bill Polster, Ken Mcdonald

  

Row 3

Phil Johnson, Faye Arndt, Kenn Weist, Margy Stuth, Bill Fleishman, Sharon Potier, Pat Raye, Donn Weist, Dan Ripp, Dan Jome, Henry Isackson, Bill Haen, Bob Fuller, Gary Poehls, John Kellner, Jim Pragetz, Lynn Wolfgram

Reunion Dinner and Program

On a beautiful Saturday evening, September 7, 2013, attendees gathered for the reunion dinner and program. Thanks to Jean Weber Austad for being the program MC.  Thanks also to Donn Weist for helping us recall some of those special moments from our high school years. ...and a Huge THANH YOU to the Reunion Committee who spent over a year working on all the details to make the entire weekend one to remember. A new committee has formed to continue bringing classmates together annually. To contact them, send an email to sbhs63@gmail.com.

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SBHS 63 Reunion Dinner

50th - Saturday Trolley Tour

On Saturday, September 7, at 10 am, 27 enthusiastic classmates, friends and family boarded a Door County Trolley for a 3.5 hour tour under the able guidance of John Berns. Here are some photos from our tour.  If anyone else has photos they'd be willing to share send them to sbhs63@gmail.com and we'll post them.  thanks to Jean Isaksen, Harold Isaksen, and Bob Fuller for the pictures below. Special thanks to John Scheisser and Sherry Suesse Peterson for making this Trolley ride possible.

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Trolley Tour

Click on photos below to see them larger.

Starting at the High School, we traveled through the east and west side of Sturgeon Bay, passing many places from the 1960's. We learned that Corpus Christy was $1000 short from having the Rolling Stones at a dance in the 60s.  We drove along Bay Shore Drive noting many new homes and, of course, the beautiful scenery. A visit at the stone quarry was followed by travel toward Egg Harbor, making a right turn to Carlsville and a stop at the Door Peninsula Winery.  

From there we headed to Cave Point where we noted how low the waters of Lake Michigan have become and all the fun times we had in this area. No one felt like jumping in during our visit.  

Click on photos to see them larger.

A brief drive took us to Portage Park and then to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal.

Click on photos to see them larger.

Then the Trolley headed back along Memorial Drive for the completion of our tour.

Sunday Picnic

On Sunday, September 8, 2013, John Scheisser hosted a picnic at his home on Sturgeon Bay.  Lots of good food and conversation.  Thanks John.

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Scheisser Picnic - Sunday

Friday at the JC's Clubroom

The initial opportunity for classmates to reconnect was on Friday evening at the JC's clubroom in Sturgeon Bay.

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Friday JCs

Reunion Banners

A number of banners were created for the 50th Reunion. They included a "Welcome", Seniors,  High School Years, Pre High School, previous reunion group photos, and 1963 Events,They ranged in size from 3'x6' to 3'x 12'.

 Click on each banner to see them larger

Senior Portraits

Pre High School

High School Years

Our Home Town

Panoramas from Our Home Town...
All panoramas Copyright 09-11-2013 by Bob Fuller

Click on picture to see it larger

The Steel Bridge

Stone Harbor & Steel Bridge

Oregon St. Bridge

Railroad bridge spur

Bay Ship

Pot Park to the Quarry

Canal Breakwater

The Canal looking toward Sturgeon Bay

Hwy 42/57 Bridge in Sturgeon bay

50th Reunion Attendees

Here's a list of registrants for the 50th Reunion

**Mike Chisholm

**Jeanne Foelske Van Den Elzen

**DD Peichel Knutson

Helen Conlon Ploor

Sandy Boes Johnson

Ann Knaapen Krumrich

**Bob Fuller

Dave DeMelle

**Virgi Gosser Gigstead

Dean Gigstead

Elaine Bowen May

Gary May

Candy Bonner Conard

Rick Zirbel

Gerry Lyons Nelson

**Louanne Krueger Fredrickson

Lynn Walker Vandertie

**John Schiesser

**Sherry Suess Peterson

Val May Jursnick

Gary Poehls

Janet Nell Esler

Candy Dexheimer Colombo

Bill Haen

Phil Johnson

Dan Ripp

Margaret Stuth Richard

Gerry Berg

Dennis Spaete

Bill Polster

Suzie Gigstead Simon

Tom Grota

Steve Aznoe

Faye Arndt Okranski

Marilyn Hein

Jim Hodge   

**Ken Anschutz

**Sharon Goodwin Sullivan

Kay Arndt Piontek

Lee Groth

Dan Jome
Paul Leasum

Sandy Sperber Groth

Jim Peterson

Frank May

**Donn Wiest
Kenn Wiest    

Henry Isakson 

Jim Haskell

Mary Eickelberg Mueller

Pat Tess Wolfgram

Lynn Wolfgram

Pat Raye

Bill Fleischman

Jane Knaapen Cole

John Kellner

Dan Gordon

Judy Dickinson

MJ Cordier

Georgeanne Walker Kodanko

Jim Pragatz

Ken Meyer

David Stanek

Sharon Potier Fehl

Gary Fehl

**Jean Austad Weber

**Lynn Zimmerman Corcoran
Jim Smith

**=Committee

Reprinted with permission of the Door County Advocate

Rekindling memories of earlier racing

Written by
Jon Gast, Door County Advocate

 American Motorcycle Association flat-track racing has a rich history on dirt tracks throughout the upper Midwest. It returns to the Door County Fair Saturday night. “That old rickety grandstand was packed, and people lined the track,” remembers John Schiesser of Sturgeon Bay. Schiesser was one of the most accomplished homegrown riders, getting his start at the fair in 1960 at the tender age of 14. A year later he was a state champion.

The fair circuit was just the beginning of a professional career that had him running tracks from Ohio to St. Louis, Chicago to Daytona. It was a career that would tragically end with the death of his teammate and his own career-ending broken neck within a week of each other in 1969.

Even after what racing has done to him, Schiesser isn’t planning on missing Saturday night’s motorcycle racing at the fair. “I’m going to take my grandkids and show them just how foolish I was,” said Schiesser with a chuckle. But, even after all these years, the passion seemingly drips from his recollection of a professional career that at one time included an amazing 42 wins in a span of 47 races.

After being rained out last year, the return of motorcycle racing rekindles memories for some of when the races were the hottest ticket at the fair. Schiesser was part of a pack of Sturgeon Bay riders whose talent was matched by the type of fearless daring that would make most mothers cringe. Guys like brothers Phil and Joe Peterson, and Johnny Wiesner. “They made me sit in the back of the pickup truck,” remembers Schiesser. “I was on a Triumph and they were Harley guys.”  But that pickup went to lots of other fairs and “we barely had room for all the trophies on the ride home,” he said.

The Door County Fair was no exception. Schiesser remembers one night “when I won on the last lap and looking up and thinking, ‘Boy, there are a lot of people here!’”  Schiesser was particularly fond of the short-track racing at the fair, racing so tightly bunched that he still remembers the tire rubber on his racing leathers and the gnarly knuckles he said still remain from tangling with too many handle bars from other bikes.

Scrambles also proved to be popular with riders and fans alike. A precursor to today’s motocross, Schiesser said they normally included a jump. But they also incorporated speed — reaching 90 mph on some tracks.

Because the Door County Fair was a lot like other tracks on the fair circuit, which were primarily horse tracks, the kind of speed these cycles were producing created a recipe for danger. “Our bikes back then had no brakes and shocks,” said Schiesser. “It was just a frame and a big engine.”

But Schiesser had the derring-do this type of racing required, and it took him to bigger cities and bigger fields. Still, Schiesser said the popularity of the fair races shouldn’t be underestimated as it regularly brought in some of the country’s top riders.

Saturday provides a rare opportunity to see a sport that at one time was a regular on Door County’s summer schedule. Today stock car racing continues to fill that motorsport void and Schiesser is glad it does. “I was just there a couple weeks ago, and there were families cheering on their favorite driver,” he said. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s done on two wheels or four.

Lynn Van Dreese

24 Dec 1944 - 31 Jul 2013

Lynn M. Van Dreese Christenson, age 68 , formerly of Sturgeon Bay, passed away on July 31, 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay.  She was born on December 24, 1944, daughter of the late Robert and Myrtle (Peterson) Van Dreese.  Lynn enjoyed reading, baking, spending time with her granddaughters, family and friends and  working at her job as a benefit specialist for Door County.  She is survived by,  a son, Jason (Melissa) Christenson of Peshtigo; 3 grandchildren, Mikayla, Vanessa and Julia;a brother, Jon Van Dreese of Sturgeon Bay: 3 nephews, John Steve and Robert: a niece, Wendy and a sister-in-law, Faye Van Dreese.

Lynn was a devoted, loving and proud mother,  grandmother, sister, aunt and confidante.  She will always be remembered for her warm, compassionate  and generous  heart.   Many fond memories of Lynn’s giving nature, sunny disposition and famous baked goods will be with her loved ones forever.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, August 3, at Zion Lutheran Church in Peshtigo from 9:00 am until time of memorial service at 11:00 am. with Pastor Luke Myslik officiating.   Berth & Rosenthal Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

It's Official - The Celebration is Scheduled

Click on info pages to make them larger

Contact/email SBHS Class of 1963 for more information

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Our SBHS 63 - 50th Class Reunion

 

10.  You've not thought about getting into shape since the last reunion.

9.   You want to try to dance one more time before your next hip replacement.

8.   You want to squash 50 years of rumors about you...and possibly start new and better ones.

7.   The reunion committee will NOT stop contacting you until you do show.

6.   You don't have to ask for the keys to the family car or sneak out a window to be with your friends.

5.   You can feel better knowing you're not the only who's been married, divorced, married, divorced...

4.  To see what color the girls' hair is now and to see how many of the guys still have hair.

3.  There will be no swimsuit competition.

2.  You don't have to lie about your age. We know how old you are.

 

And the NUMBER ONE reason to attend our SBHS 63 - 50th class reunion is:

 

1.  You can reconnect with old friends, recall the good old days, and reminisce the joys of youth. The reunion won't be the same without you.

 

PM Kindergarten: "Ring Around the Rosie..."

 

Click on the photo to enlarge

EG Paul sent in this PM Kindergarten, Class of '63, photo that was taken the same day as the already posted PM Kindergarten group photo. Leading the line is Jim Smith, then Gerry Berg, Gary Weber, David Bingham, E.G. Paul, Dean Gigstad, and Bill Polster.  On the floor in front is Donn Wiest and Jean Weber Austad. The girl on the floor between Polster and Gigstad is Judy Park LeMere. Between Gigstad and Paul is Dave Stanek?

Sturgeon Bay High School

Class of 1963

50th Reunion

 

It's time to re-mark your calendars for the 50th.

Due to unforseen circumstances we have a

 

NEW DATE - CHANGE OF DATE

September 7, 2013

Formerly September 14, 2013

Watch for more information in the Spring
 

Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club

 

Cherry School 1956

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This  1956 Cherry School photo of grades 5 through 8 was furnished by Mike Chisholm. Mrs Schinktgen is the teacher and our classmates are 5th graders in the first three rows from the left.
Far Left - Front to Back:  Chuck Hagmann, Judy Dickenson, Bruce Miller, Lawrence Iverson (Sevastopol), Bob Ballo, Linda Weber (Sevastopol)
Second Row - Front to Back: Gerald Nelson (Sevastopol), Margaret Stuth, David Bingham, Possibly Suzie Roberts?, Kathy Arnold (6th Grader), John Hanson (bowtie) (6th Grader), 
Third Row - Front to Back: Barbara Rusche, Helen Nebel, Gary Rasperson (Sevastopol), Andrea Miller, Sue Asher (6th grade), Unknown (6th grade)

Corpus Christi 1954

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This photo of the 3rd and 4th grade classes at Corpus Christi was recently furnished by Kathy Ploor Robillard.  It was taken in 1954. 4th graders are the left two rows and last 2 kids in next row.  If you know any of the folks let us know and we'll post the names.

From the Door County Advocate news of 50 years ago...

"Barbara Rusche, a blue-eyed, blond, Sturgeon Bay High School senior, won the annual cherry pie baking contest. She went to Cherry School, lives on Cherry Road, and her father is a cherry grower."

Glen Peotter

Classmate Glen F. Peotter, 68, De Pere, died on Sunday, December 9, 2012, following a gallant battle with pleural mesothelioma. 

He was born on May 28, 1944 to the late Walter John and Freda (Maass) Peotter in Sturgeon Bay. A 1963 SBHS graduate,  he married Nancy Roscoe, April 24, 1965 in Sturgeon Bay. Glen found his church home with Nancy in 1999 through learning and studying the Bible at the Green Bay Seventh Day Adventist Church where he chose to be baptized and follow Jesus. 
Glen is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Kathy Peotter; nieces, nephews, family and friends.