Ramona: Descendants of J.B. Shields hold reunion
By JESSICA GILBERT
Ramona correspondent
(785) 965-2621
Last week's news
One of Ramona's historical families — J.B. and Clara Shields — held a family reunion in town this past Saturday. Nearly 30 descendants of this famous couple gathered at the Lutheran parish hall to share stories and make memories.
J.B. Shields and his wife Clara (Fengel) Shields were so beloved in Ramona that back in 1887, when the town plat was filed it was suggested that the town be named Shields. But when the town fathers learned there was another town chartered on the railroad line by that name they chose Ramona instead.
Joseph Burkholder Shields came to Kansas in the 1870s from Pennsylvania as a schoolteacher. He taught near Chapman, Lyons, Abilene, and Hope before finally moving near Lost Springs and taking a teaching position at Ramona's first school one mile west of town.
On Sunday many of the same family members gathered at the Ramona Senior Center for a reunion of the Fengel side of the family. For two of the ladies attending the event — Rosemary Dean from Shawnee Mission and her sister, Janice Dring of Maryland — the senior center held many memories.
"I was in first grade at Punkinhead School," said Rosemary, "and my sister Dorothy went there through the third grade. I remember in first grade, it was 1953, there were only five students and they were all little girls."
"Is there still a basement in the building?" called out Dorothy to her sister as she walked down the street toward the building. "When it was bad weather and we couldn't go outside to play at recess we'd go downstairs and skate in the basement."
As the sisters posed for a photograph with their mother, Arvis (Long) Shields, on the steps of the former schoolhouse, they laughed as they shared memories. "Remember walking to school with Allen (their brother) and having hedge apple fights?" Then they turned to me and said, "We weren't nearly as successful as our brother in hitting the mark!"
The Shields and Fengel families stayed at the California Sisters' guest houses during their Ramona visit. When Jim Schoof wrote the check for the weekend use of the houses I told him that we bless each and every customer who comes our way because they keep Ramona alive and they make it possible for my sister and me to live in the country.
"We love supporting small towns," said Jim, who's married to Carol Shields. "By the time we all leave, the family has probably spent around $2,000 in this area with gas, food and lodging, and we figure it's money well spent."
There were happy gatherings all over Ramona this past weekend. In addition to the Shields-Fengel reunions, the Brunner family gathered on Sunday at the Lutheran parish hall to celebrate Lauren and Orvell's 60th wedding anniversary. Some folks went to all three of the celebrations.
Arvis Shields was standing in the Dirt Gambler's Museum chatting with my sister and me and as I watched her talk it seemed her smile was so familiar. Then when she said she was going to the Brunners' 60th anniversary and mentioned she was related, the puzzle pieces all began to fit. I realized why Arvis's grin was familiar — she's Orvell Brunner's sister!
Orvell and Lauren greeted many guests as they stood in front of Orvell's wedding gown and other wedding memorabilia. Tables were packed with friends and family enjoying the cake and other treats, while visiting.
A highlight of the afternoon was a special song — "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You" — sung by the Brunners' daughter-in-law, Jean Brunner, and her daughters, Jill and Amy.
On June 10 10-year-old Anna Weber took the stage at Hilltop Auditorium in Herington for a dance recital that simply knocked your socks off! I had to be out of town Friday night so I went to the dress rehearsal Thursday evening.
While only four of the 27 production numbers had people in them that I knew, I stayed for the entire rehearsal. I couldn't leave, it was just mesmerizing. The talent was impressive — teenagers to toddlers — and the costumes were gorgeous.
Anna's been taking dance lessons for five years in jazz and gymnastics. She performed three numbers on Friday night showing her skill in tap, hip-hop, and gymnastics. "This is my first year taking tap and hip hop," said Anna.
"My mom got me flowers for my recital," enthused Anna, "and I got money from my aunt and grandma." Anna had fans and friends at the recital to support her: her folks, Lisa and Ronnie Hanschu, aunt Lori Moldenhauer, Frank and Anna Mae Stika, brother, James Weber, and friends Mikayla Antoszyk and Makenzie Deines and her mother Julie.
Even Anna's mom, Lisa Hanschu, got in the show. She performed with other mothers in a dance number entitled, "Reproduction," which, along with many of the dance numbers, was from "Grease."
"You were great on stage," I said to Lisa. "You were the only one who smiled during the entire dance."
"Oh, that comes from my early training as a baton twirler," smiled Lisa.
Other folks from Ramona were at the recital Friday night. Don and Norma Bird were there to cheer for their granddaughter, Katrina Frederick, who is 12 years old and performed gymnastics to the song, "Great Balls of Fire," and a jazz number entitled "Rock'N Hula Lua."
"Oh, it was wonderful," enthused Norma, "and when Katrina did her one-armed cartwheel there were lots of cheers!"
Norma said she was a bit stunned the first time she saw her granddaughter go spinning across the stage doing cartwheels, since this is Katrina's first year in gymnastics. "She's just a natural at it," said Norma.
Family members from Wichita, Salina, and Herington were in the audience. Before the recital the family had dinner at Benchwarmers in Herington, and afterward they gathered at Julie's house for cookies and coffee. "I like it when families get together like this," said Norma.
Ramona seems to perk up when Miriam Bura Riddle comes to town. She and her son, B.J. and his wife, Phyllis, always are here on Memorial Day weekend, residing in the house previously owned by Miriam's brother, Leon, but usually they all return home to Texas shortly thereafter. But this year, Miriam drove her own car and will be here through the month of June.
"Oh it's like grand central station around here," laughed Miriam. "I've never seen so many cars around here. It's mostly business since B.J. is having new siding put on the house, but I'm having lots of fun seeing my friends, too."
On Saturday, Miriam had some unusual excitement when two people wearing backpacks came walking down the gravel road, past Miriam, and then stopped at the corner of Quail Creek and F Streets and looked all directions.
"Are you lost?" asked Miriam. Turned out the couple were just scouting for a place to get a soda or some water.
"The Ramona Café doesn't open for a couple of hours," said Miriam. "But I have a Pepsi." The couple, Kim and Marsha Powers from California, eagerly accepted Miriam's offer and shared their adventure as they enjoyed a cold drink.
Mr. and Mrs. Powers flew from California to Delaware and are now proceeding to walk back home across the United States. "They looked like they're in their late 50s or early 60s — it's so hard to tell people's ages," laughed Miriam.
After visiting with Miriam they were heading to Tampa to stay overnight in the park. Miriam said she later learned that the Moldenhauers offered a room to the walking duo since it was a rather rainy night, but they were determined to rough it and stayed in the park.
It's almost been a month since Memorial Day weekend, but Connie Smith is still marveling at her dazzling birthday ring she received from her husband, Dan. "It's white gold and tanzanite lavender surrounded by diamonds," said Connie. Dan also gave her a practical gift — a bat house to help control mosquitoes in Connie's garden.
Connie and Dan's son, Bryan, who also was celebrating a birthday, hosted a cookout at Herington Lake in celebration of the joint birthdays.
Dan and Connie also hosted a Smith family reunion over Memorial Day weekend when several of Dan's family came to Ramona. Joining Connie and Bryan in a birthday celebration were Dan Smith's brother, Don Smith from Topeka, and his sister, Dorothy Parish from South Carolina, who also had birthdays. More than 20 folks were on hand for the weekend celebration.
Last year, when Connie Smith turned 50, she had a whiz bang Hawaii 5-0 party which was so clever we asked if we could borrow the theme for Ramona's 2005 4th of July celebration.
The Hawaii '05 theme will inspire everything from parade floats to street decorations. The festivities begin in Ramona at 4 p.m. when Connie's Cook Shack opens followed by the tractor display, a 3-on-3 basketball competition, the senior center cakewalk which begins at 5:30 p.m. and the parade at 7 p.m., followed by live music with Bob and the Boys of Marion, and kids' games in the street. The fireworks finale will happen the moment it gets dark.
Join the parade fun! Make a surfboard out of cardboard, put on a lei or your Hawaiian shirt. Ride your horse, your bike, or just walk down the street. We've added a couple of new prize categories this year: an award for the service vehicle (ambulance, fire truck, etc.) that is creative and follows the theme, and a Town Spirit award for floats from neighboring towns who join Ramona's parade.
This Saturday Reign and Marlene Anduss will attend their daughter's wedding.
The city-wide garage sale is this Saturday and it begins at 8 a.m.
And that's the news from Ramona where a traffic jam is two parked cars and a dog in the road.
