GRAF Family Reunion - 2011
GRAF, BRADKEY, MILKS, MATTSON, REEDER, SCHILDROTH, ACHENBACH, FRANCIK, HOVE
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/6/2011 at 12:39:20
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Pages 2 and 7GRAF FAMILY
The 61st GRAF family reunion was held the weekend of July 23-24 in Mount Pleasant and Lockridge, respectively.
July 23 activities in Mount Pleasant included scheduled times of hobby sharing and bingo with prizes at the Van Vorhies Haus, owned by family members Lea and Jerry BRADLEY and Kay and Larry MILKS. A supper gathering was at Jerry's Pizza, followed by the "Toby and Susie Show" at the fairgrounds.
July 24 events began with a 10:30 a.m. worship service at the senior center in Lockridge, followed by a potluck dinner and business meeting with 48 in attendance. Awards were given to various family members including those who traveled farthest (California), the oldest family members present (90 and 88 years), and the youngest (age 6). Reunion events also included an open talent time, family announcements and reminiscing about past reunions. It was noted that the first GRAF family reunion was organized in July of 1950 by the late Lewis Everett GRAF and his wife Viola of Fairfield. The traditional conclusion to the annual reunion was homemade ice cream served with flat wooden spoons, compliments of Roberta MATTSON.
Every 10th year, a large reunion celebration is planned, and the most recent one was held in July 2010. Special Saturday activities included a tour of Victory No. 8 one-room schoolhouse, a GRAF family geneology (sic - genealogy) presentation by Paul REEDER, social time at the Van Vorhies house, supper at Jerry's Pizza and the Toby and Susie Show at the fairgrounds, all in Mount Pleasant. Special Sunday events at the Lockridge Community Room, formerly the Lockridge Elementary School, began with a worship service attended by 75 family members. A potluck dinner followed, as well as a business meeting and program highlighting the four GRAF family branches complete with acting and video. The afternoon concluded with a group picture taken by Brian SCHILDROTH and the traditional homemade ice cream made by Roberta MATTSON.
Descendents (sic) of John and Louisa GRAF of Germany wore T-shirts to represent their children and the family branches of Charles GRAF -- green; Henry GRAF -- red; Lewis GRAF -- blue; and Mary GRAF ACHENBACH -- yellow.
In all, 108 family members attended the special 60th GRAF family events. States represented included Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
The 62nd reunion will be held the third weekend in July 2012, with activities planned by newly elected officers: Doug FRANCIK, president; Kay MILKS, vice president; Kathryn HOVE, secretary; and Jane GRAF, treasurer.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Note: In the photo below, GRAF family members pose outside the former Lockridge Elementary School during the 60th GRAF family reunion in July 2010. Their reunions are held yearly on the third weekend in July.
Jefferson Documents maintained by Joey Stark.
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