Reunion in 1989

Uncle John (thank you!) sent these photos:

Siblings and spouses, July 1989

The Siblings & Spouses

Kneeling: (from left) Harry, Gene, John, Orletta, Rosie, Art, Hildred, Larry, Martha.

Standing: (from left)  Walt, Elva, Walter , Frieda, Herb, Dot, Joan, Tony, Alice, Bill, Grace, Dan, Ralph, Archer

The beginning: Harry remembers it this way:  We were waiting to eat after Dad’s funeral at First Mennonite Church. Harry said we really ought to get together the next year because it would have been Dad’s 100th birthday. Rosie that Colorado would be a beautiful place to get together. We chatted a bit more about it and that seems to be the way the ideas was born. Up to that point we had always gotten together with Dad – now we would have to celebrate being a family without the family patriarch.

Colorado – 1989

Harry and Gene agreed to take responsibility to plan the first reunion in Denver. They worked with Martha and Archer by researching suitable places. Harry sent out a newsletter with all the possible places and asked for a return vote.

Place/Date: It was decided to have the reunion at Robert Clements Park in Littleton with some food catered in. It was the weekend of July 1, 2, and 3, 1989.

Committee:  Harry and Gene were responsible. Martha and Archer and Tony and Joan assisted.

Activity: On Saturday evening the cousins and second cousins met at Martha and Archer’s while the “older generation” met at Harry and Gene’s or at Joan and Tony’s. Sunday all day was spent at the park hugging, visiting, story telling, playing and laughing.

Cousins and second cousins July 1989

We had a catered noon meal. In the evening the hosts (Harry and Gene, Russell and Sharon, and Nona, assisted by Martha and Joan) treated us to a hamburger fry. There were strenuous games of volleyball, softball, and horseshoes. There was a lot of visiting and trying to stay in the shade (it was 100 degrees). We also took a lot of pictures.

Cousins July 1989

Cousins: Front row, left to right: Constance, Mark, Melanie, Maeanna, Tim

Back row, left to right: Mardy, Rusty?, Ted, Mickey, Dan, ?, Charles,David.

There was a cake for Gene’s birthday and for Tony and Joan’s anniversary. The next day we had a dinner at Harry and Gene’s house and a breakfast at Martha’s (with her famous home made rolls). People stayed at various places for the night (Martha had a houseful) and some (Herbs and Arts) brought their campers.

Number attending: There were about 90 family members in attendance. All the siblings were there except for Jims and Leonards.

Business: Decided to continue meeting every few years and that every other time it should be in Kansas and that alternate times it could be in another state. There was a vote as to whether to meet every two years or every three years. It was a tie and a flip of the coin decided it should be every three years – and Art said, “In God we trust!” Harry appointed the next committee: Art and Rosie, Mark and Alice and Maeanna and Bart.