School: Pine Valley--St. John's (1940)
Poster: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: eldolken@potc.net
 

The air was filled with trouble. These eighth grade students read the newspapers, heard Edward R. Murrow over the radio and listened to their parents talk about Neville Chambelain, Adolph Hitler and FDR. War appeared to be on the horizon. For many of the students, their older brothers and sisters would soon be off to battle.

The students were members of the eighth grade graduation class at St. John's Lutheran School in Neillsville. Taken in May of 1940 on the steps of the old St. John's Church, the students were set up for the photo session by teacher Erich Sievert and the Rev. William Bauman.

In the group were:

1) Alice Bayer 2) Eunice Payne 3) Lucille Mueller 4) Elaine Wachholz 5) Lois Tramm 6) Elaine Marg 7) Pearl Griep 8) Lorraine Stiemke 9) Janet May 10) Florence Stiemke 11) Hermina Meier 12) Norbert Kluhsman 13) Clarence Meier 14) Arvid Watenpuhl 15) Clarence Krause 16) Eugene Diercks 17) Everett Dux 18) Billy Tock 19) Myron Payne 20) Robert Jacob 21) Charles Meier

The photo was loaned to the Clark Co. Press by Mrs. Robert (Lorraine) Stiemke Gaylard of Homosassa, FL.

Source: Clark County Press, 1983

Note: This Lorraine Stiemke is the one who was married first to Ralph Gottschalk and after their divorce she married Robert Gaylard. Lorraine died in 2002.