Tampa: Utech honored with surprise party
By JANE VAJNAR
Tampa correspondent
(785) 965-2285
Erich Utech was honored Tuesday with a surprise birthday dinner at the home of his sister, Edna Mueller. The occasion also was a belated Christmas celebration. Other invited guests were Ernie and Dolores Ziggs of Goddard, Junior and Liz Utech and Billy and Carol Utech of Topeka, Wilbur Cole of Ottawa, Erna Peterson of Osage City, Fred and Marguerite Utech and Junior Hanschu of Ramona, and Adeline Bernhardt.
Kristin Mueller, Cecilia Rziha, and Andrea Carlson presented a demonstration of parliamentary procedure Sunday afternoon for the Herington 4-H club.
Donald and Carolyn Srajer spent the weekend here visiting Tillie Hein and Jim and Kris Srajer, Grant and Cole. Donald, Carolyn, Tillie, and Kris and sons met Pam and Bill Fillmore of Cottonwood Falls at Durham Friday evening for supper. They had a post-Christmas celebration Saturday with dinner at Tillie's and supper at Jim and Kris's. Grant and Cole spent their nights at Tillie's with their grandparents during their visit.
Edna Mueller and Maxine Mueller were hostesses for a Mueller family post-Christmas celebration Sunday. Others enjoying dinner at the café were Richard and Doris Ott of Wichita, Lawrence and Ruth Mueller of Iola, Warren and Paula Fike of Ramona, Agnes Steinert and Ed and Alice Winter of Hillsboro, Art and Betty Mueller, and Phyllis Mueller. In the afternoon, all gathered at Edna's home to play cards, visit, and enjoy snacks.
Kaylee Hall of Herington and Tom and Dee Duggan visited Carolyn Duggan in Hutchinson Saturday.
Gary and Carole Spohn and Georgia Spohn met Orlin and Norma Wagner of Wichita in Salina Saturday for dinner.
Dean and Renee Patton, Lauren and Andrew of McKinney, Texas, spent from Thursday to Saturday with her grandmother, Helen Schwartzman.
Sara and Anthony Hanson of Fayetteville, N.C., and Terry Vinduska were guests of Leona Kleiber Friday for dinner at the café.
Georgia Spohn visited Marguerite Goertz in Hillsboro Friday.
New Year's dinner guests of Tom and Lori Moldenhauer and Nikki were Frank and Anna Mae Stika, Ronnie and Lisa Hanschu, and Kama Kraft.
Nicholas Kleiber was a New Year's Eve overnight guest of his grandmother, Leona Kleiber.
Guests of Paul and Edna Backhus for a bierrock supper after church on New Year's Eve were Rodney Mueller of Cheyenne, Wyo., Bev and Tom Reid of Marion County Lake, Brad Backhus, Phyllis Mueller, Jason Backhus, and Sara Houdyshell. Rodney left for home New Year's Day after an extended visit with his mother and other relatives here.
Gary and Carole Spohn were guests of Georgia Spohn for dinner in Herington New Year's Day.
Leona Kleiber and Adeline Bernhardt visited Milda Krauter at Marion Manor in Marion Thursday afternoon.
Nikki Stenzel celebrated her 13th birthday with a party at the home of her parents, Tom and Lori Moldenhauer, the evening of Dec. 30. Guests were Kama Kraft of Lincolnville, Ronnie and Lisa Hanschu, James and Anna of Ramona, and Frank and Anna Mae Stika. Kama stayed until New Year's Day. Nikki and Kama joined other youth of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Herington New Year's Eve for a lock-in. They enjoyed breakfast there the next morning.
Randy Hamm of Leawood returned home Dec. 29, after spending several days with his parents, Gus and Mildred Hamm. Additional Christmas Day guests were Dave and Sharon Schrag, Payden, Ross, and Lane.
Jack and Sharon Grosse of Peabody visited Adeline Bernhardt Dec. 31 and all enjoyed dinner at the café.
Frank and Anna Mae Stika, Tom and Lori Moldenhauer and Nikki, and Ronnie and Lisa Hanschu, James and Anna enjoyed an excursion to Branson, Mo., the weekend between Christmas and New Year's. They especially enjoyed the Dixie Stampede Christmas show and the view of the city's Christmas lights from a high observation tower. Nikki enjoyed a birthday dinner there with her parents and grandparents.
Mark and Beth Schafer of Phoenix, Ariz., have announced the birth of a son, Thomas Patrick, on Dec. 19. The new arrival is the grandson of Gene and Pat (Duggan) Westerhaus of Flagstaff, Ariz.
Stephanie Classen of Marion, Martha Melcher, and Eleanor Murphy were evening visitors of Helen Schwartzman on Dec. 29.
Reuben and Lucille Kerbs went to Geary Community Hospital in Junction City Dec. 29, to visit Debbie Love, who was recovering from surgery, and Dennis Love, who was there with his wife.
Adeline Bernhardt spent from Dec. 23 to 25 with Barney and Linda Bernhardt and Megan of Wichita. They were joined Christmas Day by other relatives and friends for dinner and a gift exchange. Adeline went to Wellington Christmas afternoon and was a guest of Carl and Kathy Hubbard and Clint. Chris and Dee Anna Stout and Gabrielle of Wichita also were houseguests of the Hubbards. Other guests for supper and a gift exchange Christmas evening were Mr. And Mrs. Paul Ring of Belton, Texas, and Melinda and Megan Ring of Austin, Texas. Mitch and Jennifer Rusk, Kelsey and Chandler of Fort Gibson, Okla., joined them on Thursday. Adeline returned to Tampa on Friday.
Lola Ware of White City and Betty Mueller attended the funeral of their cousin, Irene Frantz, Dec. 30 at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
James and Anna Weber and their 4-H reading project leader, Jane Vajnar, visited the Marion and Hillsboro public libraries Dec. 30 and enjoyed lunch out.
Catherina Rosman of Overland Park spent a couple of days over Christmas with Jerry and Jeanne Rziha and family. She is a friend of David Rziha from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
Greg Sklenar of Wichita spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his mother, Lois Sklenar.
Gathering at Gene Costello home Dec. 27 for a family post-Christmas celebration were Dan Costello of Alexandria, Va., Tim and Jane Dodds of Lenexa, Tom and Marcia Costello, Elizabeth, Lauren, and Michael of Garden Plain, Jim and Sydney Costello, Bridget, Rebecca, Philip, and Anna of Colwich and Scott and Sharon Gutsch, Curtis, Bryant, and Megan of Lincolnville. Jane Vajnar joined them in the afternoon for game time and also enjoyed a couple of games of Trivial Pursuit with Dan on Thursday.
Christmas guests of Tom and Dee Duggan were Darla Hall and Adam of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Deb Hall and Kaylee of Herington. Adam and Kaylee remained to spend a few days with their grandparents.
Doris and Richard Ott of Wichita visited Art and Betty Mueller Dec. 21. Warren and Paula Fike of Ramona met them for supper in Herington.
