Gary Borcherding

East Whittier, California

Back in 1967 . . .

Gary attended Fullerton J.C. from 1963-1965 while working for Sav-On Drugs, where he is presently floor manager. While in college he was Student Body President. He was married to Pat in 1962.

Future plans include obtaining a BA degree from Cal State and joing merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith as a stockbroker.

Gary saw all the members of the A Cappella choir when they toured Southern California. he extends a big “Hi” to everyone and wishes God’s blessings to the class. He is anxiously looking forward to the first reunion.

Danville, New Jersey

I joined most of you at CTC in the Fall of 1961. Higher education at CTC lasted all of one semester for me…and that was just the beginning of my cramming four years of college into eight. Yep, five different colleges…two times of dropping out…finally limped across the BA finish line in ’69 (I’ve used that story many times to offer some comfort and hope to parents whose kids have fallen behind in the college treadmill by a semester or two).

There were a number of very significant things that happened during those years. I married Pat, a woman who loved Jesus and really lived out her faith. God called her home in 1968 two years after she had a car accident…which seemed to be the trigger for multiple sclerosis…which eventually led to her death. That Fall (1968) I spent a semester of college on board Chapman College’s World Campus Afloat. A month into the semester, the Lord had wooed me and convinced me to take my relationship with Him much more seriously. The process of getting to know Him better and letting Him be the change agent in my life has gone on to this day…and I hope will continue until the last breath is drawn.

Also on that semester at sea, Jan Kiburz became a good friend and on March 26, 1970, we were married. We’re pretty excited to be celebrating the 40th anniversary in a couple months.

After escaping Cal State University Fullerton with that elusive BA in 1969, education continued at Talbot Seminary in California. Once again, being a firm believer that they didn’t really mean it when they said the curriculum could/should be completed in such and such number of years, I crammed the three year program into five. ‘Course that might have had something to do with the fact that the Lord was blessing us with children right away and therefore, somebody had to work, even if it was part time.

Jan and I continued in church ministry (any of you who have served in formal ministry know that it truly is a partnership) until 1984. I served as a youth pastor and then in 1977, we planted a church in Chino Hills, California. We loved those seven years…still have a lot of contact with folks whose lives and love were woven into the fabric of our lives as we grew and saw God do some pretty cool things.

God blessed us with three wonderful children:

Rob, 38, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army. He is currently serving as a JAG (yep, that’s a lawyer) officer for the First Infantry Division at Ft. Riley in Kansas. I’m hoping to do some pheasant hunting with him out there later this year. Rob is married to Anne Pettijohn. They have three awesome daughters…Katie’s 11, Ellie is 7 and Meredith is 1.

Meridee, 36, is married to Major Dave Bowlus. You think the Army might have had something to do with Mer and Dave meeting each other? Yup. Dave and Rob were classmates at the United States Military Academy…the romance started at a homecoming weekend. Dave is the Chaplain for the Army’s 75th Ranger regiment. They are stationed at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA, right now. Two precious grandchildren…Andrew, 11, and Savannah, 5 (and a half!).

Heather, 34, is married to Harvey Ignacio. What, no Army? Well, they’re soldiers of the Lord…that counts, right?! They live in Burbank, California…close enough to some of the major studios…Heather and the two oldest boys continue to pursue film and TV and commercial opportunities. We love those three grandsons, Robert, 15, Ryan, 14 and David, 7.

After leaving the pastorate in 1984, I transitioned into serving clients as a financial planner…something I’ve been doing the last 26 years. Jan has served our clients right by my side for the last 16 years. We moved from Southern California to NewJersey in 1992. We have really loved living in the Northeast, but, yes, I’m truly ready to part with the snow blower!

We have set up the sale of our business and will be retiring by October this year. Once the house is sold, we’ll be moving down to Dave Felten’s state, North Carolina. Out of Jan’s heart came the dream of settling near a large Army post so that we would be able to serve Army families. So, the plan is to locate on the West side of Ft. Bragg…in the Pinehurst area…and become involved in a chapel on the post. There, we can let chaplains, and others, know that we are available to help young families when the men are deployed. 40,000 soldiers and airmen (Pope Air Force base) there…reckon we might be able to find a family or two to help, don’t ya think?! Of course, we are also quite excited about having lot’s more time and flexibility to visit our children and grandchildren (the Army keeps movin’ ’em on us) and soak up all the festivities of our class reunion.

When I reflect on the two years spent with all of you at CHS, I have such warm memories. You were all caring and fun classmates…every one of you! Being invited home for weekends with Dave Block and Tom Sass, crisscrossing the Eastern part of Nebraska with many of you men on sports teams, two choir tours… on and on, the memories really are special!

See you next year!