Big Rapids High School Alumni
Big Rapids, Michigan (MI)
Recent Members
| Bo Slendak | 1971 |
| Bruce Everitt | 1965 |
| Jennifer Ostrander | 2006 |
| Leigh Elliott | 1975 |
| Leroy Robindon | 1970 |
| Mary Morris | 1960 |
| Richard Kraas | 1971 |
| Robert Dever Robert Dever | 1974 |
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 Big Rapids High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Cardinals lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Alan Jack Freiberg
Class of 1961
Army, 20+ Years
US Army Special Forces
Vietnam Veteran
Class of 1961
Army, 20+ Years
US Army Special Forces
Vietnam Veteran
Albert (Bill) Thorp
Class of 1964
Navy, 20+ Years
1964-1990; Retired Sr. Chief Machinist Mate; Served on destroyers to aircraft carriers.
Class of 1964
Navy, 20+ Years
1964-1990; Retired Sr. Chief Machinist Mate; Served on destroyers to aircraft carriers.
Connie Kaye Baumgardner
Class of 1964
Navy, 3 Years
Ltjg
Stationed at Kingsville, TX; squardron V21
Communications officer, administration officer to CO/XO, personnel officer
Class of 1964
Navy, 3 Years
Ltjg
Stationed at Kingsville, TX; squardron V21
Communications officer, administration officer to CO/XO, personnel officer
Craig Lee Whipple
Class of 1978
Navy, 20+ Years
Served on nuclear power submarines as Nuclear Trained Machinist Mate (MMN) and then the aircraft carrier "USS Enterprise (CVN-65)". Earned many honors and retired with the rank of Chief.
(The picture was taken in post-retirement and I could not get him to shave! AJ Williams)
Class of 1978
Navy, 20+ Years
Served on nuclear power submarines as Nuclear Trained Machinist Mate (MMN) and then the aircraft carrier "USS Enterprise (CVN-65)". Earned many honors and retired with the rank of Chief.
(The picture was taken in post-retirement and I could not get him to shave! AJ Williams)
Dan Reed
Class of 1965
Army, 9 Years
US Army; Airborne-Ranger Recon Team Leader, 173d Airborne Brigade, Viet Nam
Michigan National Guard
Tennessee National Guard
Class of 1965
Army, 9 Years
US Army; Airborne-Ranger Recon Team Leader, 173d Airborne Brigade, Viet Nam
Michigan National Guard
Tennessee National Guard
David P. Jones
Class of 1977
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired at TSgt. Did 22 years active duty, most of it oversea.
Class of 1977
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired at TSgt. Did 22 years active duty, most of it oversea.
John Hirsch
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired E-7/Master Sergeant.
Aircraft Maintenance/Flying Crew Chief.
Last duty station:
89th Maintenance Group
Andrews AFB, MD
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Retired E-7/Master Sergeant.
Aircraft Maintenance/Flying Crew Chief.
Last duty station:
89th Maintenance Group
Andrews AFB, MD
John Hirsch
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Aircraft Maintenance, worked on tankers(KC-135A), stationed in Dayton, OH working on the ARIA aircraft, it has a BIG funny radome on it, my last assignment was Andrews AFB here in Washington DC working and flying with our nations leaders.
Class of 1980
Air Force, 20+ Years
Aircraft Maintenance, worked on tankers(KC-135A), stationed in Dayton, OH working on the ARIA aircraft, it has a BIG funny radome on it, my last assignment was Andrews AFB here in Washington DC working and flying with our nations leaders.
John Shoberg
Class of 1961
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a Clinical Psychologist for over 24 years, including as Director, Cadet Counseling Center, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. as my final posting. Now Colonel, U.S.A., (retired). Spent 9 1/2 years in Europe and as Psychology Consultant, U.S.Army, Europe and 7th Army was reponsible for psychological care of approximently 729,000 troops and their families. Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University with residency at Letterman Army Medical Center during the Vietnam War. Later, after a fellowship in Child Psychology headed a residency program at Fort Ord, California on the Monterey Penninsula. Organized mental health support for Operation Desert Shield/Storm for roughly the 7th Corps area when they were sent to Southwest Asia leaving their families behind in Europe using the motto "What we cannot do alone, we can do together". Much more to say, yet that's enough for now.
Class of 1961
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a Clinical Psychologist for over 24 years, including as Director, Cadet Counseling Center, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. as my final posting. Now Colonel, U.S.A., (retired). Spent 9 1/2 years in Europe and as Psychology Consultant, U.S.Army, Europe and 7th Army was reponsible for psychological care of approximently 729,000 troops and their families. Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University with residency at Letterman Army Medical Center during the Vietnam War. Later, after a fellowship in Child Psychology headed a residency program at Fort Ord, California on the Monterey Penninsula. Organized mental health support for Operation Desert Shield/Storm for roughly the 7th Corps area when they were sent to Southwest Asia leaving their families behind in Europe using the motto "What we cannot do alone, we can do together". Much more to say, yet that's enough for now.
Kimberly Ferrante
Class of 1990
Army, 18 Years
U.S. Army both active and reserve service. Still in service today. Am full-time support for 338th Army Band in Liconia, MI.
Class of 1990
Army, 18 Years
U.S. Army both active and reserve service. Still in service today. Am full-time support for 338th Army Band in Liconia, MI.
Oren Hoffman
Class of 1948
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served in France, Germany, Phillipines, Japan, US Retiring in 1972.
Class of 1948
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served in France, Germany, Phillipines, Japan, US Retiring in 1972.
Steve Bowen
Class of 1971
Air Force, 20+ Years
Vietnam Veteran
Persian Gulf Veteran
Class of 1971
Air Force, 20+ Years
Vietnam Veteran
Persian Gulf Veteran
Tambra M. Shafer (Downey)
Class of 1984
Air Force, 20+ Years
Joined the Air Force in 1985 and retired after 24 years in 2010. I was in Security Forces, like Military Police, the entire time. I was stationed in New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Wyoming and the United Kingdom. I had temporary duty assignments in Saudi Arabia and Scotland. I had a great career.
Class of 1984
Air Force, 20+ Years
Joined the Air Force in 1985 and retired after 24 years in 2010. I was in Security Forces, like Military Police, the entire time. I was stationed in New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Wyoming and the United Kingdom. I had temporary duty assignments in Saudi Arabia and Scotland. I had a great career.
Thomas Bowen
Class of 1969
Navy, 20+ Years
Spent 20 years, six as a CT and 14 as a personnelman. Retired as a PNC.
Class of 1969
Navy, 20+ Years
Spent 20 years, six as a CT and 14 as a personnelman. Retired as a PNC.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Big Rapids High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Cardinals.
School News
Do you have any news to share? Keep our classmates informed on news and current events! Please post all reunion information in the reunion area.
Our Big Rapids 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 Big Rapids High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Big Rapids are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!