Eighty-five attend Schielke-Weber reunion
The Schielke-Weber reunion was held Sept. 21, 2003, at the Peabody Senior Center with 85 relatives of Johan Frederick William Schielke attending.
All but six were descendants or spouses of Ida Schielke Weber, the third child of Johan and Ernestina Schielke. Mary Olson and her nieces, Brenda Riggs, Janet Post, and Debra Gillet, hosted the event.
Since about 1945, the reunions have been held at Ottawa State Park near Bennington or at Minneapolis City Park and may have stretched into several days of fishing and visiting. Last year the reunion was not held due to the failing health of 102-year-old Fred Weber — the last living child of Ida and Gottlob Weber — and because most of the Nebraska relatives did not plan to attend.
This summer, however, Donna Weber McCarty Chance questioned Mary (Weber Gaines) Olson whether a reunion would be held again. Mary Olson sadly replied that since the number of relatives from Nebraska had dwindled and Uncle Fred was another year older, she doubted it would happen. Neither Donna nor Mary wanted to see the reunion end as long as Uncle Fred was alive, Mary offered to host the event in Peabody.
Unfortunately, Uncle Fred died Aug. 29 at a Whitewater Nursing Home, but the plans for the Weber reunion continued.
Grandchildren of Ida and Gottlob Weber attending from Oklahoma were Donna Chance, and Melvin and MilRea Weber of Enid, Betty McCarty of Edmond, of Enid, and Lloyd and Joyce Austin of Afton.
Attending from Nebraska was grandchild Genevieve Margrave. Six other relatives from other branches of the Schielke family tree from Nebraska also were present.
Grandchildren attending from Kansas were Fred Jr. and Laura Weber and Bea and Ora Breitenstein of Newton, Alberta Harms of Potwin, Barbara and Virgil Gooding and Velma and Jim Clark of El Dorado, Gladys and Carl Krauss of Olathe, and Marion Otto of Kansas City.
Children of Joe and Tena (Weber) Gaines attending were Harvey and Gwen Gaines, Marjorie and Fordyce Gray and Maude Gaines of Peabody, Don Gillet of Florence, J.D. and Mary Beth Gaines of Newton, and Mary Olson of Marion.
The group spent the day eating, visiting, and taking pictures. Technology made it possible for the photos to be viewed at the event. Jake Otta made photo CDs which were given to several in the group.
Unfortunately, the helium-filled balloons were not secured to the sign in front of the senior center, but the relatives were asked if they had been able to see the floating balloons and follow them to the site.
Anna Marie (Otto) Duncan provided a banner displaying a quote that had been started by a relative many years ago and used many times since. The quote, "Glad you got to see me," was heard often Sunday as the group departed.
The family will meet again on Sept. 19, 2004.
