A weekend of FAMILY, FUN, PHOTOS & FLASHBACKS!
Join us June 24 to 26, 2016
Please note:
- You and your family are welcome to attend any or ALL of the planned events. (The more, the merrier!!) Reservations are GREATLY appreciated for our planning. Click HERE to RSVP! (Or select the print-and-mail form at bottom of this page)
- This reunion is not a low-budget event...it is a NO-budget event!! So invest yourself & pay-as-you-go (one restaurant meal, one museum entry) or bring the requested food along. FUN is free!!!
- Each "Family Branch" has been assigned a color. Please WEAR IT if possible:
Dora--PURPLE Christian--BLUE Amelia--PINK or BLACK
- Get a printable version of this itinerary HERE!
3:00 to 9:00 pm "Meet and Greet" Gathering
at Willers Farm-- 4915 N. Fairmount, Davenport
[RAIN LOCATION: Walcott Family Pet Clinic-- 951 N. Main, Walcott]
Come when you can - Stay as long as you like!!
OUTDOOR event -- dress casual, in your Family COLOR
- Supper at 6pm Bring a side-dish to share + YOUR OWN hotdogs/brats/burgers Grill and/or bonfire and basic beverages will be provided
- Outdoor Games: corn toss, Bocce, horseshoes, volleyball, bubble blowing ...... Friendly competition, family bragging-rights awarded!
- Conversation & Music -- bring your portable instruments (accordion, anyone?!?!!)
- The Photo Gallery (1st viewing) See details below
This is the foundational event of the weekend--don't miss it !!!
SATURDAY JUNE 25
10:00 am Cemetery Walk & Homestead Drive-By
meet at Durant Cemetery entrance
"If stones could talk...or tell secrets!"
[for example: Christian/Elsie in Maysville, Henning/Bertha in Grand Mound, etc...]
- See the names & share some stories of our beloved family members!!!
- Bring a PEBBLE from your home (or flowers) to lay by your family headstones
- Drive past the nearby farmhouse where Marquard & Christena lived!
[for example: Christian/Elsie in Maysville, Henning/Bertha in Grand Mound, etc...]
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| Durant is a Tri-County town--situated on land where Cedar, Muscatine, and Scott Counties join together. Technically: the town is located in Cedar Co. and the cemetery is in Muscatine Co. ! Truly the "epicenter" of early-Petersen family life. |
The entrance to the cemetery is on Vail Avenue just south off Historic Route 6.
Cross the RR tracks and entrance will be on the left.
Cross the RR tracks and entrance will be on the left.
SATURDAY Rain Plan/Option: German-American Heritage Center is open 10am - 4pm
5:00 pm Supper at "GRAMMA'S KITCHEN"
located at the Interstate 80/Walcott exit 284
We will gather in a PRIVATE ROOM and you can order off the MENU.
(Preview the cooking at www.grammaskitchenia.com)
Don't forget to wear your Family COLOR for extra spirit points!!!
- German-heritage door prizes (So be sure to sign in!)
- The Photo Gallery (final viewing and distribution) See details below
- Presentation of family branches & the Spirit Awards: youngest/oldest attendee, furtherest travel, most represented Branch ... Speeches anyone?!!!
SUNDAY JUNE 26
1:00 pm Tour the German-American Heritage Center and Museum
Marquard and Christena--with Adolph, Martha, and baby Henning--came to America
in1882 during the PEAK decade of German immigration. Between 1880 and 1889,
in1882 during the PEAK decade of German immigration. Between 1880 and 1889,
more than 1,445,000 Germans came to the United States!
Learn more about our fascinating family heritage with a visit to the GA-HC. . .
- Imagine vividly what it was like for our family to move to Iowa!! "The German Immigrant Experience" is a highly interactive exhibit including a theater, artifacts, audio-visual stations and two restored rooms. See gahc.org for details!
- Gift Shop featuring German glass ornaments (Does your family have a pickle on its Christmas tree??)
- Auf Wiedersehen A private Petersen Room will be available for some coffee and snacks, a traditional round of "500" -- and our farewells.
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| Our "Petersen Reunion bag" still includes a pad of "500" score sheets and 3 decks of cards-- including these from Sunbury's Farmers Grain & Lumber Co. |
Last recorded "500" WINNERS
1990 Judy A.
1989 Pearl W.
1988 Ruby P.
1987 Ruby P.
1986 Malinda S.
1985 Kathy C.
1984 Betty L.
1983 Anna B.
1982 Cora B.
1980 Lulu L.
Will Alvena's family continue to hold the lucky cards???
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The PHOTO GALLERY
Family photos will be on display TWICE during the reunion weekend:
FRIDAY at the "Meet and Greet" on Ruth's front porch
SATURDAY at Gramma's Kitchen in our private dining room
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN FAMILY PHOTOS to add to the show!
We would love to see all the babies, 50th anniversaries, weddings, and family portraits
through the decades....especially including family who cannot be with us at Reunion.
All photos will be displayed in "Family Branch" groupings--look for the tablecloth in your family color. The groupings will include most of the OLD photos featured on this website
(thanks to Ruthie P. and Ruth W.) -- and many of these need a new home with
their appropriate family branch. Interested???
A batch of "unidentified" old portraits will also be available to view.
their appropriate family branch. Interested???
- Any photos available for adoption will be labeled as such.
- On FRIDAY, you may express interest in a photo by signing the label.
- On SATURDAY--after the supper--photos will be distributed to their new family or negotiation can take place between interested parties (exchange contact info & assign someone to have copies created...or duke it out in the parking lot~tee hee!)
A batch of "unidentified" old portraits will also be available to view.
If you can name them, you have 1st option to keep them!
Special note...
This portrait of Marquard & Christena (used on our home page)is NOT in good condition. Who has a better original copy that we might professionally reproduce??
Please contact Roxanne!!!
ALSO...we would love to see more recent photos in ALL of the family branch
Photo Galleries on this site. See "Adolph & Alma" for examples...they always were the best looking Petersens!!
Please submit photos or contact roxannevandervlugt@gmail.com.
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| CORELLA |
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| ALMA's 78th w/Bev's fam- Anna- Ruth's fam |
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| Roxanne's family 2009 |
READ THIS!!
The 4 EVENTS described above form the basic Building Blocks of our Reunion:
FRIDAY JUNE 24 3 - 9 pm "Meet and Greet" Gathering
SATURDAY 25 10 am Cemetery Walk & Homestead Drive-by
5 pm Petersen Dinner at "Gramma's Kitchen"
SUNDAY 26 1 pm German-American Heritage Center
allowing YOU to tailor the weekend to your own interests & pace
In-Between these activities, you may consider planning your own group gatherings.
We hope you can join us for all 4 Petersen events!!!
A reunion for ALL ages / generations!!
and until June....
SAVE the date, SPREAD the word, "MARQUARD" your Calendar!!!
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