West High School - Davenport, Iowa
   
 
 

Class of 1968

With Fond Memories - 2018
Our prayers go out to these families.

December 16, 2018
Kristin Deborah Hoff Trom
Kristin Deborah Trom (nee Hoff) passed away on December 16, 2018, at 10:22 PM, after a five-month struggle with cancer. 

Kristin was born in Davenport, Iowa, on December 14, 1950. She was an attentive and resourceful student, graduating with honors from both high school and the University of Iowa

She paid for her college education herself. As a teacher, Kristin helped create the IEP (Individual Education Plan) that is now standard teaching practice for disabled children. 

In 1980 she married Bradley Trom, a pharmacist and store manager for a national drug store firm. 

She designed and supervised the construction of their new home in a suburb of Chicago. 

At her urging her husband accepted an assignment to open a new west coast territory for his firm, and Kristin researched and recommended the locations of many of the new stores. 

She also designed and supervised the construction of a new family home on Lake Mission Viejo in Orange County, California.

Bradley Trom's corporate career took off, but new strains on the marriage caused it to end in 1996. 

The couple shared custody of their two children and enrolled them in private schools to assure the quality of their education. 

Bradley helped finance another home for Kristin in Orange County's prestigious Coto de Caza gated community and paid for her post-graduate education in law at Western State University (including study overseas at Cambridge, England) when she wanted to become a lawyer. 

Kristin graduated with honors, passed the difficult California Bar Examination, and soon acquired a reputation for deep and thorough research in case law as well as clear and persuasive expository writing in the preparation of legal briefs. 

One of her briefs was used to help California's Native Americans win the right to expand gaming operations on Native American Reservations (including building Casinos) so that the tribes could break the cycle of poverty and dependence on government handouts that had limited their prosperity for many generations. Kristin's legal career flourished because of such victories. She bought a beach house in Rosario, Mexico, to relax with her kids on the weekends when she had them, and after they graduated from college she made plans for an early retirement in Panama City, Panama. 

She loved the serene tropical climate and delightful cultural potpourri of retirees living there, mostly American and European engineers and professional people who had worked on the ten-year canal-widening project. 

But that sunny final chapter in Kristin's life was not to be. On a house-hunting trip to Panama City she was struck by a service truck while walking on the grounds of the resort hotel where she was staying. At a stroke she was made an invalid. Multiple surgeries and months-long convalescence at a nursing home only prolonged her agony. 

She lost her law career because of brain damage that took away her talent for critical thinking. 

Ultimately, she lost her retirement savings, her house in Coto de Caza, her income, her health, and all her plans for the final chapter of her life. 

But Kristin always had a will of iron (her kids called her the ""mama bear"") and now she rose once again, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of her former expectations to pursue a new set of goals.

She moved to a rental house in Lake Forest, refurbished it, started a home-based business, accepted a seat on the board of directors at Cal-Optima where her legal advice was in demand, and quadrupled the income of one of her favorite local charities just to prove that she still had ""the right stuff"" to pull it off. 

She made longer-term plans, too, to take an extended cross-country road trip to visit the scenes of her youth and to attend her high school fiftieth class reunion in Davenport, Iowa, in September 2018. But fate intervened in these plans as well. In July of that year she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Treatment came too late and the disease spread. 

For five months Kristin descended into a deepening maelstrom of unremitting pain with no exit strategy. Still she remained defiant to the end. 

She died looking at the face of the only man she said she ever loved.

Kristin's roller-coaster life, however, with all its tumults, triumphs, and tragedies, was never lived in vain. 

The ripples of her influence continue to spread today. Every disabled student seeking an education, every spouse seeking respect and fidelity, every Native American seeking a path to prosperity, every parent seeking parenting skills, every lawyer seeking justice, every charity seeking to fund a good cause, every teacher seeking inspiration, and every cancer victim seeking courage to fight on to the end, can find in Kristin's work and experience the inspiration of a purpose-driven life. God bless your pure and noble soul, sweetheart; you made a difference in this world. 

May flights of angels sing you to your rest until we meet again.

Published in Orange County Register on Dec. 25, 2018
Kristin Hoff Trom 2018
Kristin Hoff Trom
2018

Kristin Hoff 1968
Kristin Hoff
1968

 

December 12, 2012
Millage, Steven

Steven Millage



May 2, 2018
Roger Thomas

Roger Thomas, 68, passed away May 2, 2018
He was born March 11, 1950, in Davenport, Iowa, and was a U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran.
Roger was a 1968 graduate of Davenport West High School. He met and married his wife of 44 years in Thailand.
Roger retired from Laramie County Community College as a security officer after 20-plus years.
He lived in Cheyenne since 1974, and moved to Minnesota in the summer of 2016 to be near his grandchildren.
Roger is survived by his wife, Preeya in MN;
stepchildren, TJ (David) Nelson and Oye (Mark) Masterson;
three grandchildren;
siblings, Dick (Clarissa Martel) Thomas,
Rodney (Lisa Gray) Nolan,
Bryan (Cindie) Nolan,
Tim (Jackie) Nolan and Jeff (Jane) Nolan;
many nieces and nephews; and his beloved dogs.
He was preceded in death by mother and stepfather, Irma and Harry Nolan;
father, Richard Thomas Sr.;
and a sister, Nancy Jones.
He will be missed by many.
Roger Thomas 2018
Roger Thomas
2018

Roger Thomas 1968
Roger Thomas
1968

May 1, 2018
Classmate Kirby Rogers

Kirby Charles Rogers, 67, of Davenport, Iowa passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2018. There will be no services scheduled.

Kirby was born on July 28, 1950 to William and Rosemary (Ward) Rogers in Davenport, Iowa. During his life he worked in manufacturing. He moved to Colorado and enjoyed many years there. He eventually moved back to Iowa to live out the rest of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

If you would like to send a card, message of condolence or memories of Kirby Charles Rogers, WHS1968 graduate...write Krista @ Runge  838 East Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52807 and they will pass the messages on to family. Runge. Phone is 563 391 6202.

Kirby Rogers 1968
Kirby Rogers
1968

 

April 16, 2018
Donald Orcutt

Funeral services for Donald L. Orcutt, 68, of Davenport will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Cunnick-Collins Mortuary Chapel in Davenport. A private burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2018. Mr. Orcutt died on Monday, April 16, 2018 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

Donald Lee Orcutt was born on September 5, 1949 in Davenport, IA, the son of Donald and Beverly (Forgie) Orcutt. After graduating with the West High School class of 1968 he began work with Mid-American Energy as a lead mechanic. He retired in January of 2010 after 43 years of service. On March 11, 1989 he married Kristine Harris in Davenport.

Don bowled in many area tournaments and with many area leagues through the years. He was an avid Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos fan and loved camping and especially enjoyed cooking over the open fire. He was also an avid hunter and loved spending time with his brother hunting elk in Colorado.

Surviving members of the family include – his Wife: Kristine; 2 Daughters: Kayleigh Orcutt of DeWitt, IA and Alexis Orcutt of Davenport; his Mother Beverly of Davenport, IA; 2- Sisters: Jill Orcutt and Glenda (Dennis) Bowrey both of Davenport; and 3- Brothers: Daniel (Sharon) Orcutt of Walcott, Dennis (Kathy) Orcutt of Nevada, IA, and Paul (Pamela) Orcutt of Castle Rock, CO; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald.

Memorials may be made to the family.
Donald Orcutt 2018
Donald Orcutt
2018

Roger Thomas 1968
Donald Orcutt
1968

March 27, 2018
John Wade

John W Wade, 68, of Colorado Springs, passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 surrounded by family and friends.
John, was born August 18, 1949 in Davenport, Iowa, to Darrell R. and Arlene J. (Johnson) Wade.

As a boy, John loved to travel and see many wonderful places with his dad, step mom and brothers.  You would always find John and the boys out fishing or fighting off the bears from the camp site.  Fishing was a way of life for the Wade boys!

John was a graduate of West High School alongside with his high school sweetheart Mary.  Following high school, he worked his way through college as a welder.  After graduating from Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, he moved his family to Colorado where he soon earned his nickname “Doc”.  He had visited Colorado on one of the family adventures and knew he always wanted to live there.  In 1975 he did just that!

Doc enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, snow skiing, riding motorcycles, home improvements and becoming a pilot.  He raised llamas for many years (and countless other animals) and those who knew him well knew of his beloved Albert and the other one - Frosty.  He loved to travel and enjoyed teaching his daughter Gwendy to enjoy any new adventure that would come their way. 

Doc worked as a self-employed Chiropractor for about 37 years before retiring in 2012. During the later years of his career and after retirement there was nothing he enjoyed more than taking care of his granddaughter Jemma and teaching her anything she wanted to learn about.  He had the pleasure of being an active part of her life.

Survivors include his best friend Mary Wade; daughter Gwendy Hartsell; granddaughter Jemma Hartsell;  his brother and sister in law Steve & Becky Wade; sister in law Cathy Wade; sister Robin Dettman; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Darrell and Rosanna (Ozzie) Wade and brother Charles Wade.
John Wade 1968
John Wade
1968

John Wade 2004
John Wade
2004

March 14, 2018
Classmate Lee Simmons's mother Lois Simmons

DAVENPORT — Lois Irene Simmons, 99, of Davenport, passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Funeral services will be at noon Monday, March 19, 2018, at St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, Davenport. Visitation will be from 2 to 5: p.m. Sunday at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com.

Lois was born March 12, 1919, in Davenport to Louis F. and Johanna E. (Schroeder) Burmeister. Lois graduated from Davenport High School in 1936 and from Brown's Business College in 1938. She was united in marriage to Lenvil C. Simmons on July 14, 1940 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Davenport. He preceded her in death on October 10, 2007. Before her retirement in 1981, Lois was a secretary for the Inland Steel Company in Moline.

A loyal, lifelong member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lois participated in Sunday school and youth organizations. She loved volunteering at the church, including teaching and serving as director of Sunday school and providing office support after her retirement. Over the years, she was a member of the church choir, adult bell choir and church council. Lois also served as president of the Johnson Elementary School PTA.

Those left cherishing her memory include her daughter, Ellen L. Simmons; son, Lee C. Simmons; grandchildren, Anne K. Discher, Mallory L. Simmons, Rachel L. Simmons and Christopher L. Simmons; great-grandchildren, Anders David, Hans David and Ingrid David; sister-in-law, Frances Huff; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Lois was preceded in death by her sister, Janet E. Cowden.
Lois Simmons 2018
Lois Simmons
2018

Lee Simmons 1968
Son
Lee Simmons
1968