John F Kennedy High School Alumni
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (IA)

Recent Members
Caden Witter Caden Witter | 1982 |
Cindy Walker | 1975 |
Gregory Conderman | 1975 |
John Woosley | 1979 |
Johnnie Behrens Johnnie Behrens | 1993 |
Laurie Brown | 1975 |
Lisa Harkness | 1987 |
Sandy Pohlmann | 1977 |
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 John F Kennedy High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Cougars lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni


Chris Danielsen
Class of 1975
Marine Corps, 4 Years
3rd Marine Air Wing 1 1/2 years. FMF Pac headquarters 2 1/2 years
Class of 1975
Marine Corps, 4 Years
3rd Marine Air Wing 1 1/2 years. FMF Pac headquarters 2 1/2 years


Craig Zehrbach
Class of 2004
Air Force, 11 Years
Served in the United States Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician and Team Leader. Deployed to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice. Earned the Master EOD Badge.
Class of 2004
Air Force, 11 Years
Served in the United States Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician and Team Leader. Deployed to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice. Earned the Master EOD Badge.

Daniel Eckstrom
Class of 1985
Air Force, 20+ Years
23 yrs Active Duty
Retired 2013
KC-135 Pilot
Class of 1985
Air Force, 20+ Years
23 yrs Active Duty
Retired 2013
KC-135 Pilot



Dianne Decker Manley
Class of 1971
Navy, 4 Years
DP2 Stationed at BUPERS Washington D.C.
Class of 1971
Navy, 4 Years
DP2 Stationed at BUPERS Washington D.C.

Doug Trostel
Class of 1980
Marine Corps, 20 Years
Loved my Marine Corps and miss it.
Class of 1980
Marine Corps, 20 Years
Loved my Marine Corps and miss it.

Emil Polashek
Class of 1978
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Four years USMC reserve, 1 year Montana ARNG, 4 years Wisconsin ARNG active duty, 12 years Iowa ARNG personnel sergeant
Class of 1978
Marine Corps, 20+ Years
Four years USMC reserve, 1 year Montana ARNG, 4 years Wisconsin ARNG active duty, 12 years Iowa ARNG personnel sergeant

Greg Bickal
Class of 1986
Army, 3 Years
Personnel Administration Specialiast for 1st Battallion 68th Armor in Wildflecken Germany.
Class of 1986
Army, 3 Years
Personnel Administration Specialiast for 1st Battallion 68th Armor in Wildflecken Germany.


Jeff Steadman
Class of 1988
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Military Police 1991-1995
Was part of the L.A. riots security force, from the Rodney King verdict.
Served in Kuwait, went to Iraq border in show of force.
Served in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope.
Spent last year in Okinawa, Japan.
Class of 1988
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Military Police 1991-1995
Was part of the L.A. riots security force, from the Rodney King verdict.
Served in Kuwait, went to Iraq border in show of force.
Served in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope.
Spent last year in Okinawa, Japan.


Lorie Gilbertson
Class of 1974
National Guard, 2 Years
234thSignal Battalion Iowa National Guard/teletype specialist
Class of 1974
National Guard, 2 Years
234thSignal Battalion Iowa National Guard/teletype specialist

Mark Raley
Class of 1983
Air Force, 10 Years
Left CR in Dec. 1983, Spent most of my time in the European theate,one tour in Guam and 2 in the States residing in Spokane Wa. Where I now live.
Class of 1983
Air Force, 10 Years
Left CR in Dec. 1983, Spent most of my time in the European theate,one tour in Guam and 2 in the States residing in Spokane Wa. Where I now live.


Michael Douthit
Class of 1987
Army, 1 Years
served with the 4th Battalion 14th Field Artillery in Bamberg Germany released from active service due to injury
Class of 1987
Army, 1 Years
served with the 4th Battalion 14th Field Artillery in Bamberg Germany released from active service due to injury


Roger W Bir
Class of 1969
Air Force, 38 Years
Served in the Navy from 1973 to 1980 and the Air Force from 1986 to 2011
Class of 1969
Air Force, 38 Years
Served in the Navy from 1973 to 1980 and the Air Force from 1986 to 2011

Roy Dean Kolar
Class of 1973
Navy, 15 Years
Lieutenant Commander, Medical Service Corps, USN-Retired
Class of 1973
Navy, 15 Years
Lieutenant Commander, Medical Service Corps, USN-Retired

Russell Houk
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years
Deployed two tours in Iraq. Also called to active duty for one year in Oklahoma, to work with Opertaion Enduring Freedom.
Class of 1987
Army, 20+ Years
Deployed two tours in Iraq. Also called to active duty for one year in Oklahoma, to work with Opertaion Enduring Freedom.

Sally (Ratliff)Tripp
Class of 1974
Air Force, 4 Years
Sgt Passenger Service Specialist. Bergstrom AFB, Austin .Texas and Rhein Main AFB, Germany
Class of 1974
Air Force, 4 Years
Sgt Passenger Service Specialist. Bergstrom AFB, Austin .Texas and Rhein Main AFB, Germany

Scott Donohue
Class of 1977
National Guard, 20+ Years
10 Years Active Duty Air Force, 1984-1994,
18+ Years Wisconsin Air National Guard, 1994-2012
Personnel Information Systems Manager
Class of 1977
National Guard, 20+ Years
10 Years Active Duty Air Force, 1984-1994,
18+ Years Wisconsin Air National Guard, 1994-2012
Personnel Information Systems Manager

Shawn Pierce
Class of 1985
Army, 6 Years
Served in the US Army Corps of Engineers as a Photolithographer.
Class of 1985
Army, 6 Years
Served in the US Army Corps of Engineers as a Photolithographer.


Todd Wolfe
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
U.S. Air Force; aircraft crew chief. (SAC, TAC, USAFE, ACC).
Class of 1979
Air Force, 20+ Years
U.S. Air Force; aircraft crew chief. (SAC, TAC, USAFE, ACC).
Alumni Stories

Read and submit stories about our classmates from John F Kennedy High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Cougars.
School News
Please support the Kennedy High School Backstop Campaign
Hello Kennedy Alumni,
The Kennedy Baseball Parent Support Group has kicked off a campaign to replace the ...
Read More »
Our John F Kennedy 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 John F Kennedy High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Cedar Rapids are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!