Nickname: (or names others called me) Not printable
Marital Status: Married just once to Bonnie Lauber (35 yrs.)
Spouse's name: Bonnie Lauber-Westover
Home Address: 3409 78th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Phone: 763-566-7711; cell - 763-222-4359
Your Life since 1964: Unusual to say the least. Jr. College, then a few other colleges, low draft number, draft board changed to San Francisco, no go to Viet Nam, missed the Summer of Love in California by a few months but enjoyed Haight-Ashbury and hitch-hiking in California anyway. Back to college and finally got serious and earned both my B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology with a specialization in North American archaeology. Married Bonnie Lauber in 1973 and began the archaeological journey(s) to several places in the U.S. conducting archaeological projects for a variety of universities, state organizations, a federal job, with environmental companies, and for myself of late. Our boys (2) were born in 1975 and 77 respectively in different states while on these projects. I have participated in excavations on everything from 8-10,000 year old prehistoric sites (before the arrival of Europeans) to early 20th century industrial sites and completed architectural analyses of standing structures from mid 18th century house sites to late 19th century farmsteads. Excavating 3,000 year old burials in rural Kentucky at Halloween and the ensuing local uproar over disturbing the dead was certainly a highlight. We moved to the Minneapolis suburb in 1988 and have been here ever since, primarily to keep the boys in one school from Jr. High on. I spent several years working with and for an archaeological consulting company formed by and for Native Americans from several reservations in Minnesota and South Dakota. We completed projects both on and off the reservations. Situations that arose during this period of my life could fill a book and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
One of our boys(Jonas) is nearing the end of the pursuit of his Ph.D. in Musicology (history of music) at the City University of New York and is presently teaching at Queens College and John Jay College in Manhattan. He is an accomplished violin player (loves Baroque) and has taught violin lessons to make ends meet. Our other son (Nathaniel) is pursuing an acting career, is a 2nd degree black belt, has taught karate, and is presently working throughout the U.S. at Renaissance Festivals. One historical note; we discovered that one of our ancestors in England during the 1700s, whose name was Jonas, actually had a son named Nathaniel - weird, huh?
I know a lot of our class is retired, but I have always loved what I have chosen for a career and I can't imagine not ever doing it again. But, who knows what the future holds for any of us, but, for now, I will keep on digging holes.
Your life now: Still running after contracts, primarily for my own little consulting business. The major work these days involves pre-ground disturbance investigations for the erection of cell towers. Since federal law covers cell towers, it is the law that requires archaeological and or architectural studies prior to construction activities. So, as with most modern archaeological projects in the U.S., the work is done only because the law demands it, not because anyone really cares. Throughout the years, I have been asked to get off private property, often with the threat of bodily harm. These days, however, landowners are glad to get the rental money from cell companies for towers on their property, so being asked to leave is rare.
What classmates have you kept in contact with? Once in awhile I would see Bill Elting and Lauren and Linda Tapps in Clear Lake at the Fourth of July. Also used to see JoAnne at the Art Fairs in July.
What classmates would you like to hear from? Anyone and everyone. E-mail is easy and only takes a few seconds, right?
Any hobbies? Fishing and, when in the field, feather collecting. A former professor of mine works at the Illinois State Museum, gathers feathers, and sends them to Native American dancing groups throughout the country. History of all things natural and cultural are also hobbies of sorts.
Memories of Clear Lake: Oh, boy! Like the rest of you, so many it is not possible to put them all in here. I do, however, still favor the night "some" of our classmates got some green paint and painted '64s all over town, including the downtown water tower and at the high school. A few others include - riding bicycles to various parks with Kofoed and Tapps in Jr. High to smoke our pipes (just tobacco in those days); getting the "paddle" from Mr. Black; "near misses" in various cars with various friends, the Barrel, the Cobblestone Theater; and, of course, fishing and swimming; Lake Crest; and many more probably better not mentioned. But, in general, Clear Lake was a great place to grow up, even though we often had to make our own entertainment. We certainly spent little time indoors watching TV or playing video games like kids do today. Several high points from high school; Miss Rhorda (spelling?) (need I say more), Mr. Brandt and the chalk on his lips, the incredible Mr. Potts, nearly getting sent home for not wearing a belt, dances, the famous lunches, and, of course, Miss Goldberg, the typing teacher! As Tapps mentioned, bushwacking, unless it was you getting bushwacked!
