Over a span of four Sundays this summer, Julie and I participated in three family reunions. That’s a lot of kinfolks and a lot of good eating.

My siblings and I and our offspring gathered on June 9. Julie’s siblings and their offspring gathered on June 16. And my cousins and our offspring gathered on July 7.

When I was younger I was the second or third generation represented at family reunions. Nowadays, I’m the first or second generation represented.

Such was the case at the Huisman Reunion where I was the oldest. We gathered in the Blairsburg Town Park, which features an air-conditioned picnic shelter and an excellent playground for the youngsters. All six of us siblings were present as were many of the next generations.

While we certainly enjoy seeing each other and visiting, most of us will admit that the potluck meal is an important part of the reunion and we celebrated it!

Most Huismans enjoy dessert and there were multiple choices on the dessert table that Sunday.

Following an afternoon of conversation, good-natured ribbing and some nonsense, the traditional photographs were taken of the six of us who gave our parents gray hair.

We now range in age from 62 to 76 and are privileged to be able to get together. As we lined up for the sibling photographs, it occurred to me not only how fortunate we are but how blessed we have been over the years. Our parents have both passed on, but I think they would be proud and happy that we all still love each other and enjoy spending time together. And Mom would add “… and with no fighting or calling each other names.”

The next Sunday was Julie’s turn. Julie is the oldest of seven Sewell kids. One of her brothers passed away three years ago but the others were all in attendance. This reunion was held at the family’s home church gymnasium in Arthur, near Ida Grove. Once again, air conditioning and no bugs!

While this was a sibling’s reunion, they invited their Aunt Betty to attend as well as a handful of cousins to whom they were close while growing up. The brother who is deceased was represented by his daughter and her family from Kansas.

The event was an opportunity for Julie’s grandchildren to meet her sister’s grandkids. It took no time at all for the kids from Iowa and Wisconsin to get acquainted and play with the kids from Pennsylvania.

The Sewell Reunion meal was a hybrid! Fried chicken from a local convenience store with other foods provided potluck style. And there was plenty of it.

Julie’s birth family is a lot like mine. It was fun to observe the similarities and differences between our families. Her family is younger, ranging in age from 65 to 51. Julie’s parents, too, have passed on and I’m sure they would have been pleased with their children’s time together.

The most recent reunion was the annual gathering of the descendants of my maternal grandparents, Dick and Marie Gelder. This family also gathers in an air-conditioned church fellowship hall, this one being the family church in Wellsburg.

Only three of our grandparents’ 12 children survive and two of them, Aunt Vi and Aunt Fannie, were on hand for the reunion.

Except for our aunts, I was one of the oldest there. I know all my cousins, of course, and many of their children but beyond that I am hazy on who is who.

Before the expansive noon meal, we paused for a brief time to remember a cousin and her husband who passed away earlier this year within a week of each other. Their cremains were buried the next day in the church cemetery where our grandparents and many of our aunts and uncles are interred.

I mentioned the expansive noon meal. The Gelders have always eaten well and the reunion meal was no exception. It took two eight-foot banquet tables AND the serving window counter to hold all the potluck contributions. And yes, I ate too much.

The memorial time for my cousin reminded me that each year one or two fewer of us are at the family gathering.

Good-bye hugs and reunions are becoming more precious each year.

Arvid Huisman can be contacted at huismaniowa@gmail.com ©2024 by Huisman Communication.