REAFLING FAMILY HELD THEIR FIRST REUNION SUNDAY
ENJOYABLE FAMILY GATHERING HELD AT THE LAKE PARK HERE LAST SUNDAY
SEVENTY MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS OF THIS WELL KNOWN FAMILY FROM GLENWOOD, BARTLETT, THURMAN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS WILL HEREAFTER MEET EACH YEAR.
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
June 30, 1927
The Reafling families of this county held their annual reunion at Glenwood Lake Park Sunday, June 26th.
Of the above 70 participants in the affair, 62 of them were of the Reafling clan, comprising sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
They came from four other communities other than those living in Bartlett vicinity. Among those present to enjoy the day were: Mrs. Eiza Creed, her children, Mina and Harold, and her sister, Belle Matthews all of South Haven, Kansas; Mrs. Violet Wedmore and children, Thelma and Glen of Council Bluffs; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Good and four children of Thurman; Mr. and Mrs. Jean Reafling and children, of Anderson; others were Mr. and Mrs. Alex Karnes and two daughters, Mrs. Dave Taylor and four children, Mr. and Mrs. George Reafling, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Reafling and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George Reafling, jr. and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Reafling and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Nixon and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Ross and son, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Reafling, Mr. and Mrs. John Bantrup, jr., Mr. and Mrs. Herman Reafling and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. John Mackey and son, Mr. and Mrs. James Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Shannon and two sons, Miss Rheba Crouse and Mrs. Nellie Antrim and children of Glenwood. The date also marked the natal day of Quenton Ross, one year old.
REAFLENG DESCENDANTS HOLD ANNUAL REUNION
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
September 3, 1934
The descendants of Henry and Estalena Reafleng gathered Sunday Aug. 26, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Reafleng for their annual reunion. Tables were arranged on the lawn, where a bountiful chicken dinner and trimmings was enjoyed by all. In the late afternoon ice cream and cake was served.
Seventy-six members of the family were present and during their business meeting elected Mrs. Herman Reafleng of Craig, Mo., president for the coming year; Mrs. Gus Reafleng of Pacific Junction, vice president; Miss Lela Reafleng, Council Bluffs, secretary; Mrs. Orville Good, Glenwood, treasurer; Mrs. Thomas Nixon, Pacific Junction, historian.
After the business meeting, Miss Lela Reafleng, acting president, read letters from relatives in Germany and also showed pictures recently received from relatives in that country.
The next meeting of the family will be held the last Sunday in August, 1935, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Mackey near Tabor.
Those present on this occasions were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Reafleng daughter Bessie of Craig, Mo., and daughter Lela of Council Bluffs; Mr. and Mrs. John Mackey and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Jean Reafleng and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Bantrup, Jr., and daughter, all of Tabor; Mr. and Mrs. Byron Dashner of Randolph; Mrs. Dave Taylor and family of Bartlett; James Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Good and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Ross and son, Mr. and Mrs. George Reafleng, Jr., and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Leet and son, Mrs. Nellie Antrim and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Shannon, and sons, all of Glenwood; Mrs. Sarah Kerns and daughter Viola, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Lincoln, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nixon and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Reafleng and Mr. and Mrs. Gus Reafleng, all of Pacific Junction.
Invited guests were Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Ross, Wendell Yates and Paul Johnson of Glenwood, Miss Lucille Williams and Miss Margaret Shopwell of Tabor, and Miss Ruth Lincoln and Alonzo Fitch, of Pacific Junction.
REAFLENG FAMILIES IN ANNUAL REUNION
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
August 29, 1935
Reafleng Family Met at John Mackey Home; Colgan Family Met in Junction Church; 4-H Girls Are on Aid Program
The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, descendants of Henry and Estalena Reafleng, gathered at the home of Mrs. John Mackey for their annual get-together and picnic dinner Sunday, August 25.
Following dinner a short program of readings and songs by the children of the family was enjoyed.
At the business meeting held during the afternoon Lela Reafleng was elected president, Viola Kernes vice president, Esther Good secretary and treasurer, and Bessie Reafleng librarian.
It was revealed to the sixty-eight members of the family present that there had been three marriages, three births and three deaths in the Reafleng family the past year.
During the afternoon the biography of Mrs. Henry Reafleng was read, it having been written by Herman J. Reafleng, and is as follows:
"Estalena Bunk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Bunk, was born in Germany. When but a few months old her mother passed away and when she was at the age of three years her father accepted employment as a carpenter on a ship. After four years of living on shipboard they landed in America, finally settling in Grundy County, Iowa. It was here that Estalena was placed in an orphanage until she reached the age of seventeen."
"At this age she again started traveling with her father while he was freighting across the country in the middle-west. It was on one of these trips that she met Henry Reafleng, and they were united in marriage at Nebraska City in 1865. After traveling extensively they settled in Lyons township."
"To this union six children were born: George, Sarah, Gus, Annie, Cora and Herman."
"Mrs. Reafleng died at her home on July 11, 1902."
Those attending the reunion were: Mr. and Mrs. Gus Reafleng, Mr. and Mrs. George Reafleng and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Shannon and family, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Good and family, James Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Mackey, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lowe, and Viola Kernes of the home community; Everett Reafleng and Mrs. May Taylor and children of Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nixon and daughter of Pacific Junction; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Reafleng and daughter, Bessie, of Craig, Mo.; Miss Lela Reafleng of Council Bluffs; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Shannon and family of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Jean Reafleng and family and Mrs. John Bantrup, Jr., and Talitha of Tabor; Mr. and Mrs. Jess Leet and son, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Ross and son, and Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Lincoln of Glenwood, and Mr. and Mrs. John Mackey.
DESCENDANTS OF WELL KNOWN FAMILY IN 11TH REUNION
MR. AND MRS. HERMAN REAFLENG HOSTS TO REAFLENG DESCENDANTS AT HOME AT CRAIG, MO., SUNDAY; GUS REAFLENG ELECTED PRES
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
September 3, 1936
The 11th annual reunion of the descendants of Henry and Estalina Reafleng was held Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Reafleng at Craig, Mo.
A delicious pot luck dinner was served at the noon hour, and during the afternoon Miss Lela Reafleng, president of the Realfeng association, took charge of the program of the afternoon.
Officers elected for the coming year were Gus Reafleng, president; Herman Reafleng, vice president; Bessie Reafleng, secretary, and Mrs. Nellie Antrim, treasurer.
An interesting letter from a cousin, Ernest Ropers, who lives in Germany, was read. Arlene Nixon and Talitha Bantrup favored with tap dancing numbers with Ira Reafleng accompanying at the piano. Georgiadell Reafleng sang a solo, “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine.”
The eldest member of the family present was James Shannon, Sr., and the youngest was Delores Elaine Shannon, daughter of James Shannon, Jr., there being four generations of the Shannon family present, James, Sr., his son Chester, and his son James, Jr., and his little daughter Delores.
One death and three births were recorded in the family during the year. Fifty-three members were present, and 43 were unable to attend.
The meeting next year will be held the last Sunday in August at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Gus Realfeng.
Those enjoying this family affair were Mr. and Mrs. Gus Reafleng, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Reafleng, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nixon and daughters Lorraine and Arlene, of Pacific Junction; Mr. and Mrs. Jess Leet and son Eamer of Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Lincoln of Council Bluffs.
Mr. and Mrs. John Bantrup, Jr., and daughter Talitha, of Anderson; James Shannon, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Chester Shannon and daughter Velma, Mr. and Mrs. James Shannon, Jr., and daughter Delores, Mr. and Mrs. John Mackey, Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Mackey and son, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lowe, Harry, Olin and Leonard Reafleng of near Tabor, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Reafleng and Everett Reafleng of Bartlett.
Mr. and Mrs. George Reafleng and family, Mrs. Nellie Antrim and Lucille, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Wright of Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Reafleng and Bessie of Craig, Mo., and Lela Reafleng of Council Bluffs.
The family was pleased to have as their guests Arthur Winters of Council Bluffs, Robert Ball of Craig, Mo., and Benjamin Johnson of Glenwood.
FAMILY REUNION AT LAKE PARK SUNDAY
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
August 5, 1943
A combined reunion of the Henry Reafling descendants and the Benjamin Johnson descendants was held Sunday, August 1 at the Glenwood Lake Park. It marked the 18th Reafling reunion but only the 7th for the Johnson families.
It was well attended considering the extreme heat of the day, which was not so noticeable at this charming Park by the lake side. A delicious fried chicken dinner was greatly enjoyed followed by a social time.
The annual business meeting was held, presided over by Mrs. Goldious Bantrup. The following officers for 1944 were elected, president, Mrs. Lela Winters; vice president, Mrs. Minnie Johnson; secretary, Mrs. Nellie Antrim; treasurer, Mrs. Emma Ross. It was voted to hold the 1944 reunion the first Sunday in August at this same place.
