West Aurora Class of 60

George Brock

George Brock died at his home in Topeka, Kansas on January 1st, 2001. Mr Brock was born in Hays, Kansas on January 22nd,
1908. He attended a series of one-room schools before graduating from Ruskin Heights High School in Missouri. He went on to
graduate from Missouri Valley College and was a successful football, basketball, and track coach during the Great Depression.

During World War II, he served as an officer in the Navy. He then served in Illinois as principal of Edwardsville High School for
seven years before becoming the first principal in what was then the new West Aurora High School building from 1953 to 1964.
After leaving West High, he served as academic dean and then principal of his alma mater, Missouri Valley College. He retired to
Harrisonville, Missouri, the birthplace of his first wife, Elinore, who preceded him in death.

He leaves his wife, Mary, one son, John, a grand-daughter, and a great-grandson.
Obituary found in the Aurora Beacon News

Harriet Grandy

Harriet Grandy died January 23rd, 2001 at the age of 89.
She was born March 25, 1911 in Pontiac, IL, the daughter of Henry Grandy and Tillie Hill. Harriet graduated from Pontiac Township
High School in 1929, received her Bachelors Degree in 1933 from Illinois Wesleyan University, then earned a Masters Degree at
the University of Illinois in 1941. She was a math and English teacher at Downs, El Paso, Tonica, IL, and lastly at West Aurora High
School for forty years.

She was baptized in First Baptist Church of Pontiac. She joined Aurora Baptist Church in 1950 where she was active in church
groups and also as a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was president of West Aurora Teachers Association for one
year; chairman of Junior Red Cross and helped in many faculty events; and was active in the American Association of University
of Women and the Wayside Mission program of Aurora.

She is survived by two nieces, Marian and Doris, and a nephew, Lee.
Obituary found in the Aurora Beacon News

Sten G Halfvarson

Musician, teacher and composer, Sten G. Halfvarson, 88, of Aurora died on September 1, 2003 while on vacation near Hayward,
Wisconsin. Born in Wilkinsburg, Pa. on February 11, 1915, Mr. Halfvarson was the son of Swedish immigrant parents. His father's
work as a mechanical engineer for Westinghouse Corporation brought the family to Chicago, Illinois in 1929.

Sten attended Senn High School, where his musical education really took root under the leadership of composer-director, Noble
Cain, who became his true mentor. As a high school baritone, Sten was invited to sing in the Chicago A Cappella Choir directed by
Noble Cain. He sang with this choir from 1929-1936 in concerts, on radio and on tours. He attended North Park College for two
years and completed his music degree at Northwestern University (1939) from which he earned a Masters Degree in 1947. In
between, he served his country in the Army Air Force as a B17 Gunnery Instructor from 1942-1945.

High School Choral Music teaching was Sten Halfvarson's forte. He strongly believed in the potential of each student, convinced
that the school schedule needed to provide a place for every student who wants to sing without regard to ability. He began in
Menominee, Michigan, in 1937-38 and went on to Aurora, Illinois, teaching at West High School from 1938-1979.

In 1946, he married Lucille Robertson, a choral director teaching at Galesburg, Illinois. They made their home in Aurora and raised
a family of four children while remaining active choral directors in school, church and community. Their four children were imbued
with a love of the arts as is evident in their professional lives as music teachers, singers, and visual artist. Concurrently,
throughout these years, both Sten and Lucille directed church choirs of many denominations. Sten was on the faculty of Summer
Music Camps in 9 universities from Illinois to Maine. A master choral director, Sten supervised 106 student teachers from 9
midwest universities in his teaching career and directed many music festivals.

Sten Halfvarson served the Illinois Music Education Association as a Board Member from 1954-1966. During his double term as
President, he organized Illinois into 6 districts to promote festival exposure and contest activity for all students in each musical
area - band, orchestra, choirs, solos and ensembles. Each district became autonomous with its own elected staff to plot
schedules and had a member on the State IMEA board. In 1968, Sten Halfvarson directed the Illinois All-State Choir of 100 voices
for the ISME World Conference in Dijon, France. All tolled, he conducted over 50 festivals in the midwest.

In 1960, Sten formed the Aurora Festival Chorus which performed major works at the end of each season such as the Brahm's
Requiem. Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Haydn's Creation. This community venture continued for fifteen years.

From 1979-1993, Sten and his wife faithfully drove to Chicago on Saturdays to participate in teaching music fundamentals to
young students in the merit program. Sten served as Director of Music at New England Congregational Church, where he was a
member, for 42 years retiring in 1994. In 2000, Sten and Lucille, both life-long professional choral directors and teachers in
schools, churches and community, were awarded Honorary Doctoral Degrees from Aurora University for community service.

Sten Halfvarson throughout his teaching career often wrote music for his own use with his choirs. It was a source of great joy
and satisfaction that in 2002, these works achieved publication. According to his publisher, his compositions represent "the fruit
of his life's work among and for musicians who love to sing filling the world with the beauty of song.

Mr. Halfvarson is survived by: His loving wife of 57 years Lucille of Aurora, 4 children, Eric, Linnea, Laura Jump and Mary Covelli,
six grandchildren and one great grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday September 6, 2003 at New England Congregational Church 406 W. Galena
Blvd. Aurora. Rev. Gary McCann and Mr. Joe Dunham will officiate. Interment will take place at Lincoln Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 4-8P.M. on Friday September 5, 2003 at The Healy Chapel 332 W. Downer Pl. Aurora. In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be directed to New England Congregational Church or to the West Aurora High School Choral
Department. For further information, please call (630)897-9291 or visit our website at www.healychapel.com.
Obituary found in The Aurora Beacon News

Richard S Zuege

Richard S. Zuege, 75, of Aurora passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at his home with his family by his side. For several
years he fought a courageous battle against cancer.

He was born July 16, 1928 in Ottawa, Illinois to the late Harold and the late Ruth (Seymour) Zuege
After graduating from Illinois State University in 1950 he went to teach at Manlius High School in Manlius, Illinois.

After teaching for a year he was drafted into the Army where he received a field commission from private to 2nd Lieutenant and
was stationed in France. He returned to the States and taught at Bremen Community High School in Midlothian, Illinois for three
years. He moved to Aurora in 1958 where he taught, coached, and was Athletic Director at West Aurora High School until he
retired in 1984.

Richard is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lois (Sanden) Zuege; his son, Craig (Lynda) Zuege of Sandwich, IL; two daughters,
Lynn (Jeff) Girls of Aurora and Cindy Lusk of Aurora; a brother, Burt (Claudia) Zuege of Fowler, IN; and five grandchildren, Carl
Lusk, Jacob Lusk, Sarah Zuege, Jessica Zuege and Emily Zuege.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ruth Zuege and a brother, Dr. Robert Zuege.
Obituary found in the Aurora Beacon News

Luise G Lane

Louise G. Lane, 96, of Aurora passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2003 at Provena Mercy Center Hospital.

She was born on June 12, 1907 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin the daughter of Dr. William and Margaret (Kipp) Lane.

Louise was a graduate of University of Illinois where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. She then attained her Master's Degree
at Northwestern University before performing post-graduate work in counseling at Northern Illinois University.

Louise taught for the West Aurora School District for 43 years at Greenman and Freeman elementary schools as well as at West
Aurora High School until her retirement in 1972. She was a longtime member of New England Congregational Church. She was also
a member of the American Association of University Women, the Aurora Area, State and National Retired Teachers Associations,
Conimur Reading Club and the Aurora Women's Club.

Louise is survived by her cousins and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Lane in 1993.

Miriam Burckhard

Miriam Burckhard, 88, of Kalispell, Montana, formerly of Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Aurora, IL, passed away on December 28,
2004 at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. She was born on September 27, 1916 to Frederick and Ella Pearl Feldman in York,
Nebraska.

Miriam graduated from Iowa State Teacher's College and it was there she met her future husband, Wendlen "Burke" Burckhard.
They were married in Crookston, Minnesota in 1940. Shortly thereafter they settled in Aurora, IL. Together they raised five
children. Both she and Burke taught for many years at West Aurora High School and were active members of the First Christian
Church.

Upon retirement they moved to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There Miriam spent time enjoying her many hobbies; traveling,
gardening, reading, art and volunteering. She and Burke were again active members of the First Christian Church where Miriam
belonged to several church groups and sang in the choir.

Miriam is survived by her husband of 64 years, Wendlen "Burke" Burckhard of kalispell, Montana and her five children, Paul
(Muriel) Burckhard of Bellevue, Washington, Judy (Bob) Windauer of Kila, Montana, Joan (Ron) Tutt of Nashville, Michigan, Mike
Burckhard of New River, Arizona and Beth (Will) Nelson of Batavia, IL. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great
grandchildren.

Miriam was preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Lou Duncan and Ruth Gordon and her brother, Frederick Feldman, III.
A memorial service will be held January 7, 2005 in Kalispell, Montana.

Warren A. Felts

Warren A. Felts, 87, of Aurora, passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2006 at Rush-Copley Medical Center.

He was born August 14, 1918 in Harrisburg, IL, the son of the late Loren and Ida (Duncan) Felts.
Warren was raised in the hills of southern Illinois. He graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1936 and from the University of
Illinois in 1940. He spent the first two years of his teaching career at Flora High School. In 1942, he moved his young family to
Aurora where he taught instrumental music at West High School for the next 35 years. During those same years he served as
choir director at Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia and was active in Musician's Union Local 181.

He served two years in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the inaugural class of the American School Band
Directors Association. In 1946, he discovered the north woods of Minnesota and thereafter enjoyed every summer "up north"
with family and friends.
A fixture at musical events throughout the Fox Valley, Warren retired in 1977 to pursue his love of playing Dixieland in New
Orleans, and many other venues.

Warren is survived by Sue his wife of 65 years; his son, Jim (Jan) Felts of Oswego; daughters, Nancy Gwinn of Champaign and
Sara Felts (Larry Karnitz) of Rochester, MN; his daughter-in-law, Jo Felts; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Warren ws preceded in death by his son, Rich Felts.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Pl., Aurora, with the
Rev. Gary McCann officiating. Interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3-7 PM on Tuesday, March 28,
2006 at the funeral home. Contributions in Mr. Felts' memory may be made to the Warren Felts Scholarship Fund in care of the
West Aurora High School band. For further

information, please call (630) 8979291 or visit our website at www.healychapel.com
Obituary found in The Aurora Beacon News