Merwin family reunion draws 58 descendants
About 58 descendants gathered Sunday August 6, for the 85th Annual Benjamin P. Merwin Family reunion at Doepke Park, Rib Mountain. In recognition of this milestone event, chicken was catered in. Family rounded out the meal bringing side dishes and desserts.
In 1882 Ben Merwin homesteaded a parcel of land east of Abbotsford. In 1982, to commemorate the farms Centennial, the children and grandchildren of Ben and Emily Merwin designed and created quilt blocks that were then assembled into a quilt. The quilt was then raffled off at the 1982 reunion. Grandson John Remmel won the quilt and has been with the Remmel family until this year when the quilt was donated to the reunion committee.
Secretary Denise Jacobs gave a small presentation based on the small percentage of the family’s Irish heritage. The annual white elephant sale was held with funds going to fund future reunions. Lake Allu, Athens will be the venue for the 2024 reunion.
In attendance were:
n Randy and Joan Baptist, Keith and Susan Engebrecht, Debbie Knudsen and Darlene Zietlow from Wausau.
n Richard and Kathy Boneske and Ben Boneske from Colby.
n Roy and Pat Boneske, Randy Sr. and Kathy Boneske, Christina Ecklund, Mason Ecklund and Susan Venzke from Athens.
n Julie Chaplinski from Medford.
n Wally and Margo Engebretson from Schofield.
n Ron and Kim Feit from Rothschild.
n Jerry and Jean Fitzgerald, Carrie Miller, Kyle Miller, Gayle and Gary Nechuta, Brittney Nechuta and Meagan Nechuta from Mosinee.
n Kyle and Lenae Gresens and Lyriq Kumbier from Holmen.
n Pam Gresens from West Salem.
n Rob and Ann Gust from Edgar.
n Denise Jacobs from Sturgeon Bay.
n Ben Jacobs from Charleston, S.C.
n Hugh and Diane Jones from Rhinelander.
n Dave Loucks and Brian Loucks
from Abbotsford.
n Mike Loucks, Kimberly Hall, Albert Hall and Aaron Hall from Curtiss.
n Russell and Sheila Loucks from River Falls.
n Ken and Rachel Loucks and Carol Loucks from Westboro.
n Paul and Jen Loucks, Linda Salzman from Weston.
n Jim Merwin, Brad Merwin and a guest from Hastings, Minn.
n Dale Nelsen from Bellingham, Wash.
n Mark Zoromski from Kroenenwetter.
