Grandparents Gifts Foundation

Grandparents Gifts Foundation
4072 325th Street
Shelby, IA 51570
ph: 712-483-2406

Old News

The Omaha World Herald has a series of articles about towns making large changes to enhance their communities.  Click the link below to read one of the articles.
Patricia (Bargenquest) Henderson - (class of 57) made a donation to the project.
Caroline (McLaughlin) Schmitz - (class of 66)- she writes - Thank you all for saving our school!!  (I have driven by it often when visiting mom.)  made a donation to the project.
Susan (Kiesel) Parker - Class of 71- made a donation to the project.
Bob (class of 46) and Dottie Hoeppner - Casper, Wyoming - made a donation to the project.
Dean Klindt (class of 81) and Julie (Behrens) Klindt (class of 87)- made a donation to the project.
Ritch and Sheila Rihner- made a donation to the project.
Phyllis (Sorensen) Musich - Westphalia, Iowa -  made a donation to the project.
Madeline (Hansen) Bordner- Omaha, Nebraska- made a donation to the project.
Dale Ploen - Pella, Iowa  (class of 39)- made a donation to the project.
Mary Campbell - Jamestown, New Jersey - In honor of Calvin Campbell and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Carl Campbell
Anonymous donor - made a donation to the project.
Joan (Dittmer) Halverson - Sioux City, Iowa  (class of  70)- made a donation to the project.
Mrs. Lois (Stamer)  Stelpflug -(class of 42) Ankeny, Iowa  she writes: a good way to connect the past with the future - My dad and mom both graduated from there - although in another building across the street - as well as Grace Evsling - my sister - hopefully a new life for the old brick and mortar!! 
Wyonne Knudson -  Shelby, Iowa- made a donation to the project.
Avis Mortensen - Atlantic, Iowa (Class of 48) - made a donation to the project.
Dale Klindt - Harlan, Iowa - (Class of 76)- made a donation to the project.
Carole (Harris) Fiesman, East Dundee, Illinois - (Class of 85)- made a donation to the project.
Allan Shill - Shelby, Iowa- made a donation to the project.
Robert Martens - Walnut, Iowa (class of 46) and Mariann (Green) Martens (class of 47) Walnut, Iowa -
Congratulations on your acquisition of the Shelby School Building.  We hope it can become a useful building again.  It would be a shame to have to demolished such a building.  Good luck in your endeavors. Bob and Mariann
Barbara Jeanie Owen (Jeanie Boettger) class of 1971  Omaha, Nebraska-  made a donation to the project.
Lori (Rihner) Andersen (class of 79) Council Bluffs, Iowa- She says - Thanks to all of you who formed this foundation and are working on the committees.. All of us have fond memories of the school, our teachers and the life-long friendships we made there.  It will be exciting to watch the progress and see what the "next chapter" hold for our school.  Good Luck!!    (If you hold any work days in the future,I will try to be available to help.
Genevieve Madsen - Omaha, Nebraska  (class of 47) - made a donation to the project.
Marvin and Dixie Messerschmidt  (both class of 50)- Cedar Falls, Iowa- made a donation to the project.
Melvin Sick - Grantsburg, Wisconsin  (class of 53)  -He wrote - heres my donation towards the renovation of the Shelby school. I hope many others will donate!!!
Kenneth (class of 1950) and Eva Frazier - Runnels, Iowa- Made a donation to the project.
Robert and Frances (Simon) Johnson (Class of 56) - Chimacum, Washington - Made a donation to the project.
Patricia (McLaughlin) Stafford - (Class of  73)   Harlan, Iowa- Made a donation to the project.
Eugene (Class of 55) and June Kingery - Columbia, Missouri- Made a donation to the project.
David (Class of 69) and Leora Dittmer - Minden, Iowa- Made a donation to the project.
Virginia (Chipman) Class of 70  Cheney  and Robert Cheney - Milton, Florida
She writes:  I'm so glad that you have started this foundation.  I'm starting out with a rather modest gift, but I'm sure this won't happen overnight so I'll send more as time goes by.    I thoroughly enjoyed the website and pictures.  I'ts been many years since I've been inside the old school.  A lot of memories came back as I scrolled through.  Thanks to whoever did that.   Keep us updated from time to time and remind us to keep those cards and letters coming in!!!
Jimmy Constable -(Class of 67) - Golden, Colorado
Donation in memory of my close friend Jeff Rihner
Donation in memory of my mother Christina (Wiese) Constable -( Class of 40)
Donation in memory of his aunt Marie (Wiese) Overgaard
Donation in memory of his aunt Margaret Wiese
Gaylene (Watson) Searcy - (class of 58)- Council Bluffs, Iowa in memory of my father Slim Watson
Marcella Watson- donates in memory of my husband Slim Watson
Esther M. Dea -( Class of 1935) - Avoca, Iowa is in memory of RIchard (Dick) Dea  (Class of 1933.)  He started school across the street in the "old" school and so loved the "new" school building.  
Dorothy Hall - Persia, Iowa (class of 43)- made a donation to the project.
Laurae (Coffman) Kingsbury - Omaha, Nebraska - (class of 65)-  Hope this helps - what a great Idea!!! 
Miriam (McLaughlin) Haseltine (class 62) and Dan Haseltine    Harlan, Iowa - made a donation to the project.
Scott and Tami ( Haseltine ) Arkfeld  (class of 88)  La Vista, Nebraska- made a donation to the project.
Anonymous donor (by request) - I am glad to hear a group is interested in saving it and I want to be a part as much as I can. 
Richard Moore  (class of  61)   Council Bluffs, Iowa    made a donation to the project.
Grace (Eble) Beck - (class of  1930 ) Omaha, Nebraska  - I hope you get a good reply from your mailing about saving the Shelby-Tennant school - keep up the good work. 
John Evans in memory of John Evans Sr. and Eunice Evans
Kathy (Kern) Pierce -(class of 66) Norwalk, Iowa   Dear committee members, Please accept my contribution for the shelby school renovation project.  I wish you the best of luck as you pursue this endeavor. 
Mary Owings - Ames, Iowa  (Class of 35)- made a donation to the project.
Linda Bond -  sending for Berdine Bond - (class of 32)  Arcadia, Nebraska 
  I'm sending this for mom - Berdine bond class of 1932.  Hopefully we can make it to the next reunion in the old Shelby School!!!!

John Parham  Sr.  Anamosa, Iowa - made a donation to the project.

Lucille (Shriver) Miller -Persia, IA class of 44- made a donation to the project.

David Burmeister Harlan, Iowa - class of 75- made a donation to the project.

Arlene (Lyke) Mayberry Thousand Oaks, CA - class of 1937- made a donation to the project.

Dale and Cheryl Moore (class of  65)  Cedar Rapids, Iowa - they write, Dear Friends, we read and heard about your project.  While this will be a challenging project, we are faithful that solutions will be formed for both the short term needs and long term sustainability. 

Twyla and Marvin Sorensen -  Arvada, Colorado -  They write, May you all have a blessed christmas and a happy new year!! May the plans you have work well.  Will reserve a lot of history.  We hope to get back there sometime next year - In Christian Love, Marvin and Twyla

Jacquetta Tucker  - Cedar Rapids, Iowa- made a donation to the project.

Mary Jane and Keith Peterson (class of 1950)- Shelby, IA made a donation to the project.

Gail Christiansen- Class of 1966- made a donation to the project.

Bob and Catherine Thoms- in memory of Dale Messerschmidt, class of 1953, Lindy Krohn class of 1979, and Irwin Andersen class of 1948

Gene and Peg (Ehlers) McCool- Class of 1968 and 1970- made a donation to the project.

Sharon (Paul) Nelson- Class of 1959- made a donation to the project.  This was made in memory of Ivan Nelson- Class of 1957

Phyllis Evan- made a donation to the project. 

Bernd and Sharon Kammer of Fullerton, CA- made a donation to the project.

Dorlin and Jessie Frazier of Iowa Falls, IA-  "Hi - saw the article in Des Moines Register about "our school". Hope it helps" sent a donation to the project.

Doug and Marcie Robinson- made a donation to the project.

 

 

Gerald and Joy Christiansen- made a donation to the project.

Becky (Martens) Rasmussen- made a donation and sent along this- Enclosed is my donation to what I believe to be a very worthwhile cause - saving the Shelby school building.  Even though we moved away a couple of years before I graduated, I have always thought the building had something special about it, and I can't even imagine the town of Shelby without it.  So many of my family got their education there: both of my parents, my sibling, all of my fathers siblings, and some of their children, as well as numerous other cousins.  I would have been in the class of 1969 - but graduated from Walnut that year instead.    I hope to be able to join you, too, for some of the workdays when that phase begins.  Thanks to those of you who are still in the community who have taken on the challenge of saving this siginificant building!!!

Becky also had a great photo that I have to add to this post...Now this is school pride!!!!

1956 Birthday Cake

Rod and Margaret Robinson- Class of 1960 and 1961  have made a donation to support the Shelby/Tennant school renovation project.   They challenge anyone from their classes to donate to this project also.
Donated in honor of their English teacher Edna May Pike, who celebrated her 100th birthday this past year.
Eldon Hildebrandt- Class of 1954- Falls Church, VA
made a donation and sent some ideas for the school.

Lester and Dorothy Alff-

made a donation and sent along this-Enclosed is my donation to save the school from being crushed by the wrecking ball or bulldozers.  Being born in 1932 that school was relatively new when I started there.  We moved the 1st of March into the avoca school district and I graduated from there in 1950, but I still have fond memories of those few months of attending school there and even remember some of the names of the students in my class.  Miss Drake was my teacher and I have very vivid memories of her as well.  When our daughter Dr. Marcia Alff bought Mrs. Ploens house, it was always nice to be able to view that beautiful Shelby School from afar. Wishing you well with your plans for the school.

Thomas and Joyce Rihner- made a donation to the Shelby/Tennant School renovation.  

Allyson, Kaitlyn, Cassidy and Keegan Cunningham- have made a donation to the project.

 

Jim and Lana Cunningham- Cushing Iowa have made a donation and wish our community all the best on this project.

Marsha Hursey made several wonderful donations to GGF- she challenges anyone who has lost a classmate, a family member, or a friend to donate in their honor.

A donation was made in Memory of

Wade Hursey- Class of 1988

A donation was made in Memory of

Alan Pittman- Class of 1963

A donation was made to help defer the cost of the website.

Sandy Schnoor- Class of 1974 made a donation and passed along these thoughts- To all the poeple who are working towards saving the shelby school,  nothing but "good " can come from all of us working towards the goal of saving our school.   It has already brought so many people together working towards a common goal.  It gives one a warm feeling of "goodwill towards men" at this holiday time.

Dennis Nielsen- Class of 1965 made a donation to GGF and challenges the class of 1965 to all donate to help renovate the school.

Story in the Des Moines Register today features our project and quotes from the web site.  Here is the link-  http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812140327 

 

**To everyone in the Tennant community.  My sincere apologies, as I am new to Shelby and I inadvertently omitted Tennant in the name of the school.  This oversight has been corrected on the website.**

Colonel Dennis Nielsen, USAF (ret.) 

First of all, I want to thank Dennis for allowing me to put this on the web site. Dennis e-mailed in his support of the project early on.  After talking with him a few times, I learned that a statue that I am very familiar with in Sioux City Iowa is actually a likeness of him. See photo below.  I was going to tell a bit about what happened, but then all of the e-mails I received from Dennis seemed to show exactly what I was hoping to get across to everyone.  So, here are a few lines from his e-mails and some from his website. 

His image was captured by a photographer during his rescue of a small child after the crash of United Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa. Additionally, the story of his bravery and leadership was later depicted in a docudrama Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232, 1992.

232 Statue"I did nothing anyone else would not have done.  In fact many did a lot more than I did.  ...I think the likeness is of all who risked their lives that day to help others, not any one person."

"The news media reported I said, " God saved the child I just carried him." This inscription is on a plaque by the statue.  ...I was just the vehicle to carry a small child and place him in a waiting ambulance that was my small part. Many others did so much more. "

"I continue to be proud of where I was born and where I was educated.  The heart of America resides in the Heartland and all of you that were born and/or live there should be very proud of who you are. "

 

As you can see, Dennis credits his upbringing and schooling here in Shelby for who he is today.  I called Dennis a hero, and he quickly corrected me saying "I did was I had to do when the situation warranted action, nothing more nothing less." His selfless attitude and recognition for all involved tell me what a great person he is.  I hope that should a difficult situation arise in our lives each one of us could handle it as well as Dennis. 

I am proud to have talked with him via e-mail and very proud that such a great person came from my new home town, Shelby.  I commend Dennis and all involved that day for their bravery and quick decisions that saved lives.  I also commend him and all veterans reading this for their service to the greatest country in the world.  The United States of America.- Jim Cunningham

Ken and Betty Berg- Shelby Iowa make a donation

The Berg's have long been a champion for the Shelby community.  Always willing to help make our community a better place in any way they can.  This donation once again shows their commitment to making our community a better place for all of us.  If you see Ken or Betty, thank them for their generous contribution to this project.

Bob Simons- Urbandale Iowa makes a donation

Bob Simons from Urbandale Iowa donated to GGF today in support of the Shelby School project.  We can not thank him enough for this generous gift.  Bob is also the person that started a change of heart on the city council by coming to the council meeting and talking about his own vote to demolish the school in Urbandale.  Something he has regretted ever since.  His continued support of the Shelby school project is very much appreciated.

He also has a great story about the Abe Lincoln Statue bought by the class of 1936.  I'll try to get all the details and add it on the website soon.

He asked one thing and that is for everyone to get involved and help fund this very worthy project.  It is going to take very large amount of money to get the school back in shape and every single dollar counts.  Please give whatever you are able now.  The sooner we get the roof fixed the less money it will take to do the work on the inside.

Please tell your friends, coworkers, neighbors, anyone about the project.  You never know where help might come from.  If your work has any type of grants for the communities that their employee's live in, please let us know also.

 The GGF Alumni Contact Committee met to draft a letter asking for donation from the Alumni of Shelby/Tennant, community members, and friends.  This letter will be sent out to the alumni lists of Shelby-Tennant and the community.  Although the first step has been taken, we can not realize the dream of bringing the school back without your donations.  All donations to our non-profit are tax deductible and every possible cent will be used to renovate the school and its property. Please donate what you can to this just cause.  Also, please let friends and family that may not have gone to the school know about the project.  You never know who might be able to assist us in getting the school back in shape. A copy of this letter below

 

We’ve saved the Shelby-Tennant School

 

from the wrecking ball!!!!!!!!!!

 

Dear members of the Shelby-Tennant community, alumni and friends-


We are currently working on a project to renovate the Shelby-Tennant school.  This project can not be done without the support and assistance of our entire community, Shelby-Tennant alumni, and friends. 

The roof is the most pressing issue.  It is in very poor condition and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.  We will need donations, grants, and many volunteers to either repair or replace the roof.  After this project is completed we will also need to renovate the rest of the building to be potentially used for a museum, community center, offices, library or daycare…..the possibilities are endless.

If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see done with the school, please let us know.  We are definitely open to any and all ideas. 

Please visit us on the web at www.grandparentsgiftsfoundation.org  for the latest information on the project, photos of the school, e-mails from other supporters and a message board to post anything you’d like about the project.

We need your e-mail addresses to help save the money we spend on mailings that can be better used to repair the school.  If you currently have an e-mail address please e-mail us at jcunningham@grandparentsgiftsfoundation.org

Grandparents Gifts Foundation is a non-profit organization formed of Shelby-Tennant Alumni that came together to save the school from demolition. In fact, the officers and board of Grandparents Gifts Foundation are all Shelby-Tennant alumni.  Because the alumni leadership strongly supports this project they have allowed Grandparents Gifts Foundation use of the alumni list.

We need monetary support to make this renovation project a reality.  All donations to Grandparents Gifts Foundation will be applied directly to the renovation of the school buildings and are tax deductible.  Please send whatever you are able to assist with this, every dollar is important.

Grandparents Gifts Foundation Alumni Contact Committee-

Lee & Audrey McKnabb,

Keith & Mary Jane Peterson,

LuGene Johnson-Behrens,

Joyce Rihner-Eggerss,

Connie Havick-Paul,

Miriam McLaughlin-Hazeltine,

Bonnie Messerschmidt-Eggerss,

Joy Best-Christiansen,

Patty McLaughlin-Stafford

Paul and Merry Lee Peterson

Vivian Chipman-Dau

 

 

Top News Story in the Harlan Tribune this week 

Click this link to read it

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20216713&BRD=901&PAG=461&dept_id=130069&rfi=6

First Hurdle Cleared

12-2-2008- The Shelby City Council voted Unanimously to support our plan to save the Shelby-Tennant School 

Notes from Dec. 7, 2008 Meeting

With several members of the community present a public meeting was held Dec. 7th at 7:00 p.m. 

Gene McCool gave an overview of where we are currently. 

Dave Robinson provided information on insurance for the building.

Jim Cunningham provided an update on the web site.

Frank Paul discussed the plans for the new roof on the building.

Doug Robinson asked for everyones assistance once we begin cleaning up the building.

Lee McKnabb will be in charge of contacting the alumni for assistance and donations.

Peg McCool provided more information on the plan for grants and National historic registry.

Patty Stafford will lead the fund raising and event planning for the school.  She presented many great ideas.  Eveyone keep them coming.

Dave Robinson volunteered to assist the group as a treasurer.  Thanks Dave!

 

    Grandparents Gifts Foundation
    4072 325th Street
    Shelby, IA 51570
    ph: 712-483-2406