Ivan Opperman (FB center) senior year
Jane Opperman MHS 1955
Jane Opperman - Prom junior year
On the stage of the old gym September 25, 1941
Here you'll see a number of different schoolmates of the Opperman family.
Note that the Kusels were a neighboring family and we grew up with/around the Oppermans over
several generations, so you'll see several pix with Oppermans & Kusels.
One day I was visiting with Ivan Opperman in the Plaza. We were talking about all kinds of Manning history and then Orland Fara's name came up. Ivan & Orland worked together on several
projects in Manning so I knew it would be good to visit with Ivan about Orland. At this point in time Orland had already passed away. I told Ivan how
I was visiting with a younger person in Manning and when I mentioned Orland Fara he
was perplexed and asked WHO? which caught me off-guard, since Orland had only been deceased for a couple of years...so I told that person that he needs to learn the local history
better because if it weren't for people like Orland, Manning wouldn't be the excellent community it is today.
Then I told Ivan that even though people will not remember us when
we are gone - ALL they will have to do is look in "David Kusel's" historical database and they'll be able to see pictures of us and read about us...Ivan smiled.
Jane Opperman MHS 1955
Jane Opperman - Prom junior year
On the stage of the old gym September 25, 1941
A representative crowd estimated at between five and six hundred attended the Inter-County Fire School held Monday of this week. Chief Harry "Friday" Rostermundt and his men, left nothing undone to make the school one of the biggest held anywhere this year and one to be long remembered.
The evening crowd, made up for the most part of visiting firemen, represented nearly every town in this section of the state within a radius of 50 miles.
One of the chief features of the school was the Iron Lung demonstration by Captains Ben Meister and Eugene Fields of Omaha. The men brought the iron resuscitator and an inhalator from Omaha in their special red truck, early Monday morning. During the day these men gave a demonstration at the high school auditorium to members of the grade and high school and to students and teachers from surrounding rural schools. Students, as you may see from the picture, took a part in the work.
The Omaha Captains explained the use of the apparatus and showed how the hung would breath for an individual stricken with paralysis and unable to do so through his own efforts.
The iron lung, weighing nearly six hundred pounds, can be operated by hand if power should be cut off for some reason. At the evening demonstration Mr. Fields gave a demonstration in artificial respiration, corresponding to the mechanical lung, a practice which may save a life while waiting for a doctor to arrive.
The lung is so constructed that nurses are able to care for the patient as though he were on a bed. The apparatus may be tilted to accommodate the patient. Port-holes on the army attendants to care the lung patient.
Leo "Biz" Miller of Denison, resident of the latter county group, opened the meeting with Harold Grundmeier acting as secretary. The assembly joined in singing "God Bless America" led by the Falstaff entertainers of Omaha who were present to entertain. Mr. Arthur Rix, President of the Chamber of Commerce, gave the address of Welcome. Short talks were also given by Mr. Rostermundt, local fire chief and by Harry C. Reinholdt of Manning, recently elected Secretary-Treasurer of the State Firemen's Association. Acknowledgement was given to M. McCallam of Eagle Grove and Mr. W. Hedges of the Atlantic department, vice presidents of the organization.
Mr. Edward K. Johnson of Manning, one of the oldest if not the oldest volunteer fireman in the state of Iowa, was given recognition.
In an hour long demonstration, Captain Meister gave an interesting and worthwhile talk on how the iron lung was obtained in Omaha, the work of the rescue
squad and told of many cases on which the men were called on to work.
He commented on the work of the local department in the interest shown and complimented the rural farm fire truck committees for their activity in obtaining the
equipment they now have and their interest and willingness to start a drive for an iron lung for this vicinity. The men on the farm fire truck committee are Otto Popp,
Hans Musfeldt, J.W. Anthony, Herman Lamp, George H. Struve and August Nulle.
At the conclusion of the demonstration, Captain Fields gave a talk on National Defense and the part Iowa Firemen have to play will have a duty to perform, should Everyone, according to Mr. Field, this nation take up arms.
At the close of the business meeting an invitation was issued for all to visit the basement of the opera house where the "eats" committee had a real banquet of chicken and all the rest on hand for everyone present. Several hours of sociability were enjoyed before the meeting closed.
The committee in charge of the school included Chris Schmidt, Ed Jensen, Howard Dau, Everett Dau and Harry Rostermundt.
1946
1948
Back: Gaillard Frank, Chuck Fielweber, Willis Kruse, Orren Kuhn, Irwin Grau, Allen Joens, Charles Frank, Bill Anderson
Third: Bill Steneker, Norbert Sextro, Dean Vollstedt, John Pratt, Stan Frahm, Benjamin Ress, Leonard Ramsey, Leland Kienast
Second: Bob Johnson, Dan Peters, Lou Bohnsack, Dean Stribe, Jerry Knaack, Don Mohr, Lyle Fuss
Front: Melvin Clothier, Gene Dales, Hugo Ress, Bill Opperman, Leo "Shotgun" Rostermundt, Bob Genzen, Leroy Kienast
Ivan Opperman & Wade "Bud" Mohr
Back: ??, ??, Bill Opperman, ??
Front: Rosie Muhlbauer, Leland Kienast, ??
1947-48 school year
Back: Marilyn Schroeder, Marilyn Godiksen,
Bill Opperman, Stanley Nissen
Front: Rose Ann Muhlbauer, Leland Kienast, Marian Kasperbauer
1947 on the 2nd school football field just south of 141 next to the ball diamond
The first football field
was south across the road to the sewer plant.
1946
Back: Coach C.W. Steneker, Glenn Kuhse, Gene Dales, Dean Vollstedt, Norbert Sextro, Gaillard Frank, Hugo Ress,
Richard Clark, Bob Johnson, Jerry Knaack, Dean Stribe, Bill Opperman, Coach W.G. Anderson
Middle: Bob Koch, Allen Wegner, Leonard Sextro, Billy Strathman, Donn Kelsey, Virgil Rowedder, Harvey Hargens, Michael Kasperbauer, Melvin Clothier, Earl West, Royce Rowedder
Front: Frank Wegner; Bill Sibbel, Merlin Rostermundt, Bob Wegner, Wilbur Karsten, Charles Schumann, Louis Muhlbauer, Paul Behrens, Louis Bohnsack, Willis Lohmeier
1945 just south of the hospital
1 Charles "Tuffy" Schumann, 2 Wilbur Karsten, 3 LeRoy Kienast, 4 Frank Wegner, 5 Gaillard Frank, 6 Lou Bohnsack,
7 Jerry Knaack, 8 Harvey "Spider" Hargens, 9 John Keane, 10 Norman Arp, 11 Melvin Clothier, 12 Willis Lohmeier, 13 Earl West, 14 Coach Bill Steneker, 15 Paul Behrens,
16 Virgil Rowedder, 17 Glen Kuhse, 18 Delton Gruhn, 19 ?Hugo Ress?, 20 Merlin Rostermundt, 21 Leonard Sextro, 22 Robert Wegner,
23 Bill Opperman, 24 Allen Wegner, 25 Dan Peters, 26 slight possibly Louis Schwiesow
Louis Muhlbauer, Royce Rowedder, and Bill Sibbel should be in this picture
