Kaukauna High School Alumni
Kaukauna, Wisconsin (WI)
Recent Members
| Dianne Dan A Genske | 1973 |
| Jade Juedes | 2012 |
| Jay Vanderwyst Jay Vanderwyst | 1973 |
| Linda Vandehey Vanzeeland | 1971 |
| Margaret Strutz | 1965 |
| Sandra Genslak | 1969 |
| Stacey Stacey Lynn May | 2005 |
| Susan Jansen | 1971 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Kaukauna High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Galloping Ghosts lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Dale R. Nagan
Class of 1969
Army, 20+ Years
Joined for 3 yrs to get college money. 24 yrs later retired as Chief Warrent Officer. On & off 12.5 yrs in Germany, 2 tours in Korea- 25 months, and rest Mo, TN and VA. work for Army exchange for 15 Mo's and 6 yrs as Army Civilian.
Class of 1969
Army, 20+ Years
Joined for 3 yrs to get college money. 24 yrs later retired as Chief Warrent Officer. On & off 12.5 yrs in Germany, 2 tours in Korea- 25 months, and rest Mo, TN and VA. work for Army exchange for 15 Mo's and 6 yrs as Army Civilian.
Dennis (Squirrel) Kiffe
Class of 1964
Army, 2 Years
Stationed in Germany during Vietnam war. Discharged as a Staff Sargent in June, 1968
Class of 1964
Army, 2 Years
Stationed in Germany during Vietnam war. Discharged as a Staff Sargent in June, 1968
Erin (Mooney) Nielsen
Class of 1999
Army, 4 Years
Joined the MN ARNG in 2001, participated in ROTC from Sept 2001 thru May 2004. Active Duty (Germany) Finance Corps 2004-2005.
Class of 1999
Army, 4 Years
Joined the MN ARNG in 2001, participated in ROTC from Sept 2001 thru May 2004. Active Duty (Germany) Finance Corps 2004-2005.
Fran Nelson
Class of 1962
Army Reserves, 20+ Years
USAR LtC, Retired. 6 months in Europe during Desert Storm, 1991
Class of 1962
Army Reserves, 20+ Years
USAR LtC, Retired. 6 months in Europe during Desert Storm, 1991
George Louie Gast
Class of 1966
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Went to Vietnam in January of 1968. Did 2 tours with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at the An Hoa Combat Base and MAG-16 at Marble Mountain. While there I went to see Royal Nelsen at the Navy Pier in Da Nang and childhood friend Tim Hardke at Fire Base Tomahawk in northern I Corps. Both were short but loaded with memories. I was on the first ever Vietnam Veterans Honor flight in the United States with several of my former classmates from KHS. That day all of us will always remember.
Class of 1966
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Went to Vietnam in January of 1968. Did 2 tours with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at the An Hoa Combat Base and MAG-16 at Marble Mountain. While there I went to see Royal Nelsen at the Navy Pier in Da Nang and childhood friend Tim Hardke at Fire Base Tomahawk in northern I Corps. Both were short but loaded with memories. I was on the first ever Vietnam Veterans Honor flight in the United States with several of my former classmates from KHS. That day all of us will always remember.
Heather Pingel
Class of 1996
Navy, 4 Years
Was stationed aboard the USS Bataan (LHD-5)
Quartermaster, 2nd Class Petty Officer, Surface Warfare, Master Helmsman
Class of 1996
Navy, 4 Years
Was stationed aboard the USS Bataan (LHD-5)
Quartermaster, 2nd Class Petty Officer, Surface Warfare, Master Helmsman
Jerrold P Dakins
Class of 1967
Navy, 20+ Years
Served aboard the USS Bronstein during the Vietnam War, served three years at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, the USS Camden and USS Edward McDonnell. Made numerous deployments to the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Carabean and Central America. Served in Washington DC. Also served in a staff position at NROTC Auburn Alabama. Retired as a Senior Chief Storekeeper in 1988.
Class of 1967
Navy, 20+ Years
Served aboard the USS Bronstein during the Vietnam War, served three years at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, the USS Camden and USS Edward McDonnell. Made numerous deployments to the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Carabean and Central America. Served in Washington DC. Also served in a staff position at NROTC Auburn Alabama. Retired as a Senior Chief Storekeeper in 1988.
Joel W. Smith
Class of 1988
Army, 20+ Years
Currently Commands HHC, USACAPOC(Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
Class of 1988
Army, 20+ Years
Currently Commands HHC, USACAPOC(Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
John Mooney
Class of 1966
Navy, 17 Years
Served as an Aviation Ordnanceman for 17 years. Fixed & loaded a lot of aircraft guns & loaded a lot of bombs and missiles. Made two Vietnam cruises and several others to the Med and WESTPAC. Met a lot of wonderful people all over this little planet.
Class of 1966
Navy, 17 Years
Served as an Aviation Ordnanceman for 17 years. Fixed & loaded a lot of aircraft guns & loaded a lot of bombs and missiles. Made two Vietnam cruises and several others to the Med and WESTPAC. Met a lot of wonderful people all over this little planet.
karl broeren
Class of 1970
Air Force, 20+ Years
4 years Air Force- 20 years North Dakota ANG retired as Operations Superintendant-CMSgt
Class of 1970
Air Force, 20+ Years
4 years Air Force- 20 years North Dakota ANG retired as Operations Superintendant-CMSgt
MaryBeth Lauer
Class of 1979
Army, 4 Years
EW/SIGINT Voice Interceptor
Russian Language
Class of 1979
Army, 4 Years
EW/SIGINT Voice Interceptor
Russian Language
Melissa (Geiger) Dykstra
Class of 1998
Army, 8 Years
Served 8 years with the Army Reserve and was deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom at the end of my career.
Class of 1998
Army, 8 Years
Served 8 years with the Army Reserve and was deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom at the end of my career.
Phil Kessler
Class of 1979
Navy, 20+ Years
Currently: Navy Captain - Professor of Naval Science University of Utah
Past: * N7 - Assistant Chief of Staff for Theater Security Cooperation and Exercises at Commander SEVENTH Fleet
* Deputy Political Advisor at United States Northern Command
* Commanding Officer at Navy Recruiting District Seattle
Class of 1979
Navy, 20+ Years
Currently: Navy Captain - Professor of Naval Science University of Utah
Past: * N7 - Assistant Chief of Staff for Theater Security Cooperation and Exercises at Commander SEVENTH Fleet
* Deputy Political Advisor at United States Northern Command
* Commanding Officer at Navy Recruiting District Seattle
Scott Olesen
Class of 1984
Air Force, 20+ Years
Maxwell/Gunter AFB,AL 1985-2001 Finance systems Programmer/Oracle DBA
Keesler AFB, MS 2001-2005 Oracle Instructor
Randolph AFB,TX 2005-pre Stan/Eval Rep
Class of 1984
Air Force, 20+ Years
Maxwell/Gunter AFB,AL 1985-2001 Finance systems Programmer/Oracle DBA
Keesler AFB, MS 2001-2005 Oracle Instructor
Randolph AFB,TX 2005-pre Stan/Eval Rep
Timothy S. Hetherington
Class of 1993
Marine Corps, 6 Years
United States Marine Corps 1994-2000
Aircraft Mechanic: EA-6B Prowler
Squadron: VMAQ-2
Home Base: MCAS Cherry Point, NC
Deployed to Aviano AB, Italy (95-97)Operation Joint Endeavor, Decisive Endeavor, Decisive Edge in support of Bosnia.
Deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey Operation Northern Watch 1998 (Patroling Northern no fly zone before we owned Iraq)
Deployed to Aviano AB Italy for Operation Allied Force for Kosovo Air Campaign1999 (Dropped bombs for 6 months)
Got to visit dozens of other military bases in many countries during my time on active duty.
Class of 1993
Marine Corps, 6 Years
United States Marine Corps 1994-2000
Aircraft Mechanic: EA-6B Prowler
Squadron: VMAQ-2
Home Base: MCAS Cherry Point, NC
Deployed to Aviano AB, Italy (95-97)Operation Joint Endeavor, Decisive Endeavor, Decisive Edge in support of Bosnia.
Deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey Operation Northern Watch 1998 (Patroling Northern no fly zone before we owned Iraq)
Deployed to Aviano AB Italy for Operation Allied Force for Kosovo Air Campaign1999 (Dropped bombs for 6 months)
Got to visit dozens of other military bases in many countries during my time on active duty.
Wes Brill
Class of 1966
Army, 20+ Years
I was in the Navy, joining the reserves as a Junior in high school. Left active duty as a Machinist Mate 3. Used my GI Bill and enrolled in college Army ROTC. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Medical Department. Stationed in Germany for almost 5 years, returning to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for advanced schooling with assignments to Walter Reed, The Pentagon, Fort Belvoir Virginia and returned to Walter Reed. Left active duty as a Major and entered civil service at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as their Accountable Officer/asset manager. Accepted a promotion to work at the Army Human Resources Command in Alexandria Virginia as the Chief of Logistics/ G-4. Transferred under Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) to Fort Knox Kentucky as advanced party to supervise the construction and establish support relationships. Retired as a GS-14 in 2010.
Class of 1966
Army, 20+ Years
I was in the Navy, joining the reserves as a Junior in high school. Left active duty as a Machinist Mate 3. Used my GI Bill and enrolled in college Army ROTC. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Medical Department. Stationed in Germany for almost 5 years, returning to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for advanced schooling with assignments to Walter Reed, The Pentagon, Fort Belvoir Virginia and returned to Walter Reed. Left active duty as a Major and entered civil service at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as their Accountable Officer/asset manager. Accepted a promotion to work at the Army Human Resources Command in Alexandria Virginia as the Chief of Logistics/ G-4. Transferred under Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) to Fort Knox Kentucky as advanced party to supervise the construction and establish support relationships. Retired as a GS-14 in 2010.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Kaukauna High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Galloping Ghosts.
School News
Class of 1983
Can you tell me if the reunion has been planned yet for the class of 83? I have a family member that will be traveling ...
Read More »
Our Kaukauna High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Kaukauna High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Kaukauna are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!