Tampa folks share holiday news
By JANE VAJNAR
Tampa correspondent
(785) 965-2285
Jim and Mary Clemmer went to Christ the King Lutheran Church in Salina Sunday for the baptism of their great-granddaughter, Cierra Walker, daughter of Chris and Dahn Walker. After taking pictures, they went to the home of Cierra's godparents, Shawn and Karin Clemmer, for dinner and a baptismal cake baked by her paternal grandparents, Doris and Richard Mitchell of Great Bend.
Members of the Backhus family attended church together Sunday followed by dinner at the home of Vic Backhus in Herington. The occasion was an early Christmas gathering and a celebration of Vic's birthday. Guests helping him celebrate were Martin Backhus of Lee's Summit, Mo., Bill and Ruth Taylor of Shawnee, Paul and Emma Paulson of Mount Ida, Ark., Mildred Bernhardt of Lyons, Gerald and Alice Yoachman of Wichita, Keith and Lydia Evans of Haysville, Alvin and Iva Lou Backhus and their daughter Edna and husband Bob of Phoenix, Ariz., Glenn Backhus and son from Oklahoma, Vic's daughter Donetta and family of Salina, and Paul and Edna Backhus.
Eleanor Murphy and Martha Melcher were Sunday evening visitors of Helen Schwartzman.
Ryan and Claudette Spohn, Adam and Lauren of Manhattan stopped Sunday at Gary and Carole Spohn's en route home from Marlow, Okla., where they had spent Thanksgiving with Claudette's parents. Georgia Spohn and Steve Spohn joined them for supper and birthday cake in celebration of Adam's third birthday.
Anna Mae Stika visited her aunt, Bertha Schneider, at the nursing home in Herington Sunday and took her pie and cookies as a post-Thanksgiving treat.
Leona Kleiber and Adeline Bernhardt visited Sunday afternoon with Milda Krauter at Marion Manor in Marion.
John and Pat Schwartzman of Salina spent Sunday with his mother, Helen Schwartzman. They attended church in Herington and enjoyed dinner out.
Lucille Kerbs enjoyed breakfast in Abilene Saturday with her daughter Connie Thompson of Abilene.
Sandy and Cassie Clemmer of Salina and Mary Clemmer attended a baby shower Saturday for Mary's great-granddaughter, Cierra Walker of Lilburn, Ga.
Lori Moldenhauer and Nikki spent Saturday in Wichita.
Agnes Bernhardt spent Saturday with her daughter Laurel Acklin of El Dorado to help her as she recovers from surgery.
The Tampa High School Alumni Association held their biennial banquet Saturday evening. John Schwartzman of Salina was the master of ceremonies. Entertainment included Father Paul Oborny, who performed his life story in song as he sang and played the mandolin, and the Alex Stuchlik Polka band. Officers elected for 2004-2005 were Kelly Novak, president; Francis Jirak, vice president; Judy Stika, secretary; and Dennis Klenda, treasurer. The next banquet will be the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2005.
Those visiting at the Helen Schwartzman home Saturday afternoon before attending the alumni banquet were Wayne and Marita Schwartzman and Helen Jean McGonigle of Wichita, Geraldine Noonan of Dallas, Texas, and John and Pat Schwartzman of Salina.
Carl and Kathy Hubbard and Clint of Wellington visited Friday afternoon with Adeline Bernhardt.
Jim Bernhardt and Agnes Bernhardt attended the funeral Friday for Gene Teetzen at Junction City. Teetzen was a cousin of Agnes' husband and Jim's father, the late Alvin Bernhardt, and had worked for the Bernhardts as a teen-ager.
Thanksgiving weekend guests of Jerry and Jeanne Rziha and Julie were Wayne and Shannon Rziha and Cecilia Marie of Tulsa, Okla., Janie Rziha and John and Jeanne Rziha, Michael, Christopher, Joe and Tim of Atchison, Diane Herron, Andrew and Peter of Wichita, David Rziha of Lawrence, and Cecilia Rziha of Hays. David is remaining for a month while doing a rotation at Greenhaw's Pharmacy in Hillsboro.
Tillie Hein and Jim and Kris Srajer, Grant and Cole went to Omaha, Neb., for the Thanksgiving weekend. Jim, Kris, and boys were guests of her parents, Ted and Maxine Zielinski, and Tillie visited Don and Carolyn Srajer. A dinner at the Villa La Sole Restaurant Saturday evening celebrated Tillie's 95th birthday, Jim's 40th birthday, Kristin Srajer's birthday, and Don and Carolyn's 25th wedding anniversary. Family members present were Jim and Kris Srajer, Grant and Cole; Tillie Hein; Lynn and Amy Briggs, Jordan, Lauren, and Emily, Orange City, Fla.; Craig and Teresa Srajer, Moline, Ill.; Kristin Srajer, Mike and Kathy Bauer and Ryan, David, Susan, and Will Bauer, Omaha, Neb.; and Jon and Michele Bauer, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Gary and Carole Spohn met her sister and husband, Bill and Kay Stanley of Minneapolis, Friday in Salina for dinner out.
Dean and Becky Routh, Melody, Allison, and Danielle of Augusta were Nov. 22 supper and overnight guests of Leona Kleiber. All attended a surprise birthday party at the senior center in honor of Lynn Kleiber and Ronnie Makovec. Leona accompanied the Rouths home Sunday morning and stayed through Thanksgiving. Additional Thanksgiving dinner guests were Terry and Cindy Vinduska of Pilsen and Jill Vinduska of Manhattan. Aaron Routh of Wellington and his friend Holly of Augusta and Daniel and Melissa Stuchlik of Wichita joined them for dessert in the afternoon. Leona accompanied the Vinduskas home Thursday evening.
Thanksgiving dinner guests of John and Kathy Oborny and Diane Steiner were Bill and Janet Walsh, Andy, Kelly, and Dan of Wichita, Dan and Kim Oborny, Ethan and Logan, Mike and Sharon Benda, and Jane Vajnar. Father Paul Oborny was an afternoon visitor.
Family members gathering at the home of Phyllis Mueller for Thanksgiving dinner were Ron and Jody Heath, Danielle and Tyler of Salina, Mike and Jennifer Jay of Hillsboro, Bev and Tom Reid of Marion County Lake, Don and Ophelia Jacobson and Greg Jacobson of Hope, John and Wanda Lewis, Paul, Sarah, and Luke of Wichita, Rod Mueller, and Paul and Edna Backhus.
Reuben and Lucille Kerbs and Russ and Julie Kerbs, Ashton and Rustyn went Thursday to Dodge City for Thanksgiving at the home of Glenn and Eloise Kerbs, Reuben and Clayton. Other guests were Tim and Marchelle Kerbs, April and Molly of Salina and Doug and Connie Thompson, Allison and Taylor of Abilene. Reuben and Lucille were overnight guests. En route home Friday they stopped at Kinsley to visit Cathy and Amy Rehmert.
Jim and Mary Clemmer were Thanksgiving dinner guests of Dale and Sandy Clemmer and Cassie in Salina. L/Cpl. Charles Clemmer called in the morning and again in the evening from the home of a fellow Marine where he had Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving dinner guests of Jim and Teresa Bernhardt were Jim Bob and Jody Watkins and Lane, Kelly and Brenda Bernhardt, Cheyenne and Callie and Agnes Bernhardt.
Georgia Spohn took Gary and Carole Spohn and Steve Spohn out for Thanksgiving dinner in Abilene.
John and Pat Schwartzman of Salina, Wayne and Marita Schwartzman of Wichita and Geraldine Noonan of Dallas, Texas, brought Thanksgiving dinner to the home of Helen Schwartzman. Geraldine stayed with her mother through the weekend.
Barney and Linda Bernhardt of Wichita visited Adeline Bernhardt Thanksgiving at the Hillsboro Community Medical Center.
Ryan and Claudette Spohn, Adam and Lauren of Manhattan and Georgia Spohn were Tuesday dinner guests of Gary and Carole Spohn.
Prairie Pals met Monday evening at the senior center. The group had work night attaching pictures of the old high school to bricks from the demolished building for sale to alumni and friends as souvenirs to raise money for a beautification project at the school site. Those present included Virginia Bentz, Michele Berens, Mary Clemmer, Iona Dietrich, Monica Leihy, Lori Meyer, Melissa Stuchlik, and Jan Vajnar. Officers elected for 2004 were Jeanne Rziha and Lori Meyer, co-presidents; Jane Vajnar, vice president; and Michele Berens, secretary-treasurer. Members made tentative plans for dinner out for the next meeting in celebration of Christmas.
Apologies to Helen Jean McGonigle, whose name was accidentally omitted from the list of visitors Nov. 22 at the Helen Schwartzman home after Irene Krch's funeral.
