LEESBURG – It’s been said that Leesburg Elementary School teacher Marsha Cook always wanted to take a helicopter ride as she left the school. With her retirement after 45 years at the school, Cook got her wish Thursday afternoon. Jan Hammaker, Leesburg mental health therapist, who is retiring after 35 years with Warsaw Community School Corp., got to share in the flight with her good friend. The two women were honored during a surprise retirement celebration at Leesburg. At the conclusion of the celebration, Principal Randy Dahms announced the unexpected helicopter flight to the two stunned women. Their pilot was Christopher Houser, a full-time police officer for South Bend, who flies helicopters for fun for Fort Wayne Helicopters. Fort Wayne Helicopters is owned by Kenny Keller. Dahms opened the celebration by telling the full student body that the two friends had a combined 80 years of experience with WCS. He told about the secret committee that organized the celebration, and then introduced the surprise guests. First to surprise Cook was her son, Matt, who she had talked to Wednesday night but gave no indication he was returning to Indiana to surprise her. The other surprise guests for Cook were her brother-in-law, Bill Cook, and father-in-law, Clarence Cook. A former student from 1968, Steve Frantz, also appeared and praised Cook as a teacher. Surprise guests for Hammaker included her daughter, Roxane Spears; sisters-in-law, Vivian Huff and Frances Zimmerman; brother-in-law, Verle Zimmerman; three nieces, Cheryl Slusser, Sandy Muffley and Janice Johnson; and Judy Mugg, former principal. Spears flew in from Boston, Mass., to be there. Dr. Craig Hintz, WCS superintendent, said, “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate two loving, caring ladies that have given their lives to what we’re all about – public school education.” On behalf of the school corporation and the Warsaw School Board, he presented each of them with a clock. Tony England, WCS Alternative Learning Center, then praised Hammaker for all that she has done for the children. Frantz said Cook was a blessing to him when he had her as a teacher, and she was his favorite teacher ever.Mugg presented miniature Leesburg Navigators to Hammaker and to the school on behalf of Hammaker because she has used a car analogy in her presentations over the years. Teacher Rod Teeple presented a silver photo holder to Hammaker, and a silver box to Cook. A retirement open house for Cook and Hammaker is scheduled for Sunday in the school cafeteria from 2 to 5 p.m. The public is invited.
