West Bend, Wi – In September 2014 neighbors sent in their memories for the 75th anniversary of McLane School. With a new school year upon us and McLane now 87 years… the memories still carry treasured time spent at school on Chestnut Street in West Bend, Wi.
Carol Strack Roecker, 80, was in the first class to graduate McLane. “My kindergarten teacher was Miss Berg and I remember we had a bluish light or an ultraviolet light in front of the classroom that was supposed to kill germs,” she said.
Roecker recalled walking home from school for lunch, referring to the Ottmer house as the ‘haunted house’ on the hill, and the dances put on by each class. “We had a May festival,” Roecker said. “The gym teacher would help organize a program for our parents. Each classroom performed an ethnic dance from different countries.”
Marolyn Kell was also in the class from 1941. She remembered the school-wide celebration in May, the skits and “taking hold of ribbons and dancing around the May pole in the gym.”
“In kindergarten we would sleep on rugs for afternoon naps when we only went to school half a day. I guess kindergarten needed more rest in 1941 than now,” Kell said. “I also remember our principal, Mr. Peterson, distributed match books with his name on the match book. Tom Oelhafen still has one.”
Nancy Slinde was a substitute elementary teacher and classroom aide in the early 1990s. “My children also went to McLane and my son had Al Pauli as his kindergarten teacher,” she said. “The thing I always loved about working at McLane was it was always a community of learning; it was always a beautiful flow of commitment to the kids and the environment was always respected and protected so it stays that way.”
Slinde recalled principal Toni Baumann and how she always had an inspiring theme each school year like the All Stars or ‘Putting your best foot forward.’ “The classrooms that really were stellar that week got a gold, spray-painted tennis shoe that was on this little pedestal,” said Slinde. “They really worked hard for that.”
Slinde also recalled secretary Mary Riffel who was efficient, firm, gracious and had a good sense of humor to keep things flowing. “She was an important part of the life of the school,” Slinde said.
Miss Inez Muehl’s first grade class
Today’s 1965-66 photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, features Miss Inez Muehl’s first-grade class from McLane School. If you can identify anybody in the picture forward your answers to Judy Steffes at 334-4526 or judy@washingtoncountyinsider.com
Here’s a start to the list.
Elvera Voss and daughter Denise Voss Kenworthy responded. “Boy was I surprised to see my first grade class! I am in the top row to the right of the tall boy in the center with the striped shirt. His name is Jim Wagner. Thanks for making my day!”
Debbie Lemke Mantz also recognized her classmates. “Oh man I had so many boyfriends in first grade, even with my cowlick short hair,” Mantz said. “Kevin Neese and I used to play ‘Lost in Space’ at recess.”
Mantz recalled Miss Muehl was one of her favorite teachers. “I had her for first and second grade. Miss Muehl had a piano in her room and she would play it sometimes. One day Randy Simon kept getting up from his chair when she was working with us individually and the rest of the class was working independently on something. She told Randy if you get up one more time she was going to get the jump rope from the closed and tie him up. Well Randy did get up one more time and she actually tied him to the chair. Can’t do that anymore!”
The most complete list of students included left top row: Julie Freeman, Kerry Larson, Bobby Shermacher, Kim McCartney, Jim Wagner, Denise Voss, Patty Hafeman, Billy Kocher, David Fellenz and Mike McMillian. Second row; Kevin Neese, Nancy Sanders, David Lynch, Cheryl Sullivan, Mike ?, Debbie Lemke, Michele Eisen, Jimmy Schulke and Linda Endlich. Front row: Brian Gray, Dick Herriges, Randy Simon, Tim Potter, Cindy Wade, Mark Thomas and Chris Gruenwald.
