Northview High School Alumni
Grand Rapids, Michigan (MI)

Recent Members
Beth Miessen | 1970 |
Carey Klomparens | 1980 |
Gena Dieleman | 2003 |
Jody Fox | 1991 |
Peter Dudkih | 1966 |
Richard Lewis Devlieg Richard Lewis Devlieg | 1974 |
Russell Russell K Cairns | 1997 |
Susan Mellema | 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 Northview High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Wildcats lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni

Adam Campbell
Class of 1999
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Served for 4 years, honorably discharged. Served a 6 month tour on a WestPAC Float in 2003, and an 8 month tour in Iraq in 2004.
Class of 1999
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Served for 4 years, honorably discharged. Served a 6 month tour on a WestPAC Float in 2003, and an 8 month tour in Iraq in 2004.

Amber Blackler
Class of 1999
Marine Corps, 7 Years
1 tour Kuwait,2 tours Iraq. Stationed out of Camp Lejeune NC. 3051/Hazmat Supply. 2FSSG 2ND Supply Bn. Supply Co.
Class of 1999
Marine Corps, 7 Years
1 tour Kuwait,2 tours Iraq. Stationed out of Camp Lejeune NC. 3051/Hazmat Supply. 2FSSG 2ND Supply Bn. Supply Co.

Brian j Nawrocki
Class of 1997
Marine Corps, 9 Years
Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000 and attended Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego from Apr to Jul 2000. Attended School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California. In Oct 2000, he was assigned to 2nd BN 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, where he served as a Machine gunner and Section leader. While with 2nd BN 5th Marines, he participated in the training exercises CAX-01 and deployed as part of the 31st MEU UDP program. He was selected to the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection Training in 2001 and attended BOOST in Newport, Rhode Island from Aug 2002 to June 2003. He graduated from BOOST and attended Eastern Michigan University graduating in April 2005. After receiving a commission in April 2005, he attended The Basic School and graduated in Dec 2005. Being assigned the military occupational specialty of Communications Officer, he attended the Communication Officer Course from January 2006 to June 2006. In June 2006, he was assigned to 8th Communication Battalion (1G8) where he held the billets of Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, Joint Task Force Enabler. He made one combat deployment with 8th Communication Battalion, to Iraq (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08). In Feb 2008, after returning from Iraq, he was selected as the 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit Joint Task Force Enabler. In June 2009, he was transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina and assigned to Company M, 3d Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Series Commander.
Class of 1997
Marine Corps, 9 Years
Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000 and attended Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego from Apr to Jul 2000. Attended School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California. In Oct 2000, he was assigned to 2nd BN 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, where he served as a Machine gunner and Section leader. While with 2nd BN 5th Marines, he participated in the training exercises CAX-01 and deployed as part of the 31st MEU UDP program. He was selected to the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection Training in 2001 and attended BOOST in Newport, Rhode Island from Aug 2002 to June 2003. He graduated from BOOST and attended Eastern Michigan University graduating in April 2005. After receiving a commission in April 2005, he attended The Basic School and graduated in Dec 2005. Being assigned the military occupational specialty of Communications Officer, he attended the Communication Officer Course from January 2006 to June 2006. In June 2006, he was assigned to 8th Communication Battalion (1G8) where he held the billets of Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, Joint Task Force Enabler. He made one combat deployment with 8th Communication Battalion, to Iraq (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08). In Feb 2008, after returning from Iraq, he was selected as the 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit Joint Task Force Enabler. In June 2009, he was transferred to Parris Island, South Carolina and assigned to Company M, 3d Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Series Commander.

Carl Brooks
Class of 1988
Army, 6 Years
Served in Support of the Persian Gulf War. Stationed in Baumholder Germany
Class of 1988
Army, 6 Years
Served in Support of the Persian Gulf War. Stationed in Baumholder Germany


Darryl Buning
Class of 1977
Army, 19 Years
Serving with The United States Army Band (Pershings Own), Fort Myer Virginia
Current rank is Master Sergeant.
Class of 1977
Army, 19 Years
Serving with The United States Army Band (Pershings Own), Fort Myer Virginia
Current rank is Master Sergeant.

Ed Combs
Class of 1967
Army, 3 Years
A dear friend and I Enlisted together under the "buddy" program. We were supposed to be together for at least a year! He went to Ft. Meade Maryland, I went to the next closest base....Ft. Ord CALFORNIA.. Now that was close! I volunteered for Vietnam every six weeks for over a year and was totally ignored. Doug, my buddy stayed at Ft. Meade his entire three years! Absolutely unheard of, especially in the middle of the Viet Nam conflict. After 12 to 18 months of turning in requests for APO 90638- Viet Nam, I finally gave up! Yep....less than a month later I was assigned to the 101st Abn., APO 90638! Saigon. Within 7 days of being "in country" I was shipped NORTH to the 101st HQ Co., Hue, Viet Nam. Three days later I once again was told I was going NORTH to a small out post called LZ Sally. How much NORTH would I have to go?! The damned country was only 350 miles long! Many events later The Army offered me an EARLY 'OUT' if I would extend my tour in Viet Nam by 6 months, they would then drop the rest of my three year enlistment letting me out a free man! A lot of thought, serious thought went into this....I took them up on their offer. Three days later all hell broke loose! Called my newest best buddy who was in the actual 101st HQ and asked him to find my extension agreement and BURN IT! He DID.... Instead of the one year, 365 day commitment for Viet Nam I did one year and three days. Absolutely the longest three days of my life! Thanks "Buddy" I hope life has treated you well-I will never forget.
Ed (Sgt. Combs)
Class of 1967
Army, 3 Years
A dear friend and I Enlisted together under the "buddy" program. We were supposed to be together for at least a year! He went to Ft. Meade Maryland, I went to the next closest base....Ft. Ord CALFORNIA.. Now that was close! I volunteered for Vietnam every six weeks for over a year and was totally ignored. Doug, my buddy stayed at Ft. Meade his entire three years! Absolutely unheard of, especially in the middle of the Viet Nam conflict. After 12 to 18 months of turning in requests for APO 90638- Viet Nam, I finally gave up! Yep....less than a month later I was assigned to the 101st Abn., APO 90638! Saigon. Within 7 days of being "in country" I was shipped NORTH to the 101st HQ Co., Hue, Viet Nam. Three days later I once again was told I was going NORTH to a small out post called LZ Sally. How much NORTH would I have to go?! The damned country was only 350 miles long! Many events later The Army offered me an EARLY 'OUT' if I would extend my tour in Viet Nam by 6 months, they would then drop the rest of my three year enlistment letting me out a free man! A lot of thought, serious thought went into this....I took them up on their offer. Three days later all hell broke loose! Called my newest best buddy who was in the actual 101st HQ and asked him to find my extension agreement and BURN IT! He DID.... Instead of the one year, 365 day commitment for Viet Nam I did one year and three days. Absolutely the longest three days of my life! Thanks "Buddy" I hope life has treated you well-I will never forget.
Ed (Sgt. Combs)

Glenn Dells
Class of 1966
Air Force, 4 Years
Explosive spec served Viet Nam 1967-1968
Class of 1966
Air Force, 4 Years
Explosive spec served Viet Nam 1967-1968


Jerry Pendergrass
Class of 1984
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 22 years as a Cryptologic Linguist specializing in Korean and Thai. Retired as MSgt, USAF effective 1 January 2012.
Class of 1984
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 22 years as a Cryptologic Linguist specializing in Korean and Thai. Retired as MSgt, USAF effective 1 January 2012.


John Rummell
Class of 1980
Navy, 8 Years
8 years of service. Navy Achievement Medal for outstanding service while being deployed 3 times during Operation Desert Storm (Gulf War One).
Class of 1980
Navy, 8 Years
8 years of service. Navy Achievement Medal for outstanding service while being deployed 3 times during Operation Desert Storm (Gulf War One).

Josh McLean
Class of 2004
Air Force, 1 Years
2Lt Josh McLean graduated from Michigan Technological University in December 2008 and earned his commission as an officer into the USAF. He is currently stationed at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas with the 562nd Flying Training Squadron attending Navigator training.
Class of 2004
Air Force, 1 Years
2Lt Josh McLean graduated from Michigan Technological University in December 2008 and earned his commission as an officer into the USAF. He is currently stationed at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas with the 562nd Flying Training Squadron attending Navigator training.

Marisa Conright
Class of 1998
Marine Corps, 10 Years
Has served as a Marine Corps Musician for the last ten years and am loving it! Deployed in support of OIF II in 2004 with 3D Marine Aircraft Wing. Now stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band in Twentynine Palms, CA.
Class of 1998
Marine Corps, 10 Years
Has served as a Marine Corps Musician for the last ten years and am loving it! Deployed in support of OIF II in 2004 with 3D Marine Aircraft Wing. Now stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Band in Twentynine Palms, CA.

Renee charron-Savino
Class of 1983
Army, 4 Years
Fort Jackson SC, Karlsruhe Germany, Fort Dix NJ
Class of 1983
Army, 4 Years
Fort Jackson SC, Karlsruhe Germany, Fort Dix NJ

Robert T Jones
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
Currently serving at Darnal Army Medical Center, Fort Hood Texas. Recently returned from Afghanistan as an embedded medical trainer to the Afghan National Army. Current rank is Sergeant First Class. (In the picture I am the short one!)
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
Currently serving at Darnal Army Medical Center, Fort Hood Texas. Recently returned from Afghanistan as an embedded medical trainer to the Afghan National Army. Current rank is Sergeant First Class. (In the picture I am the short one!)

ROBIN MILLER
Class of 1983
Navy, 20+ Years
COMBINED ACTIVE AND RESERVE DUTIES AS A NAVY CORPSMAN. SERVED WITH SEABEAS, AMPHIBIOUS CONSTRUCTION BATTALION AND MARINE AIR WING.
Class of 1983
Navy, 20+ Years
COMBINED ACTIVE AND RESERVE DUTIES AS A NAVY CORPSMAN. SERVED WITH SEABEAS, AMPHIBIOUS CONSTRUCTION BATTALION AND MARINE AIR WING.

Alumni Stories

Read and submit stories about our classmates from Northview High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Wildcats.
School News
Class of 90 20 year Reunion
Will be Oct 1-2 2010.
Fri night at NHS homecoming football game then at BOB
Sat afternoon "Family Pot...
Read More »
Our Northview 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 Northview High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Grand Rapids are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!