Descendants gather from near and far for 85th annual Benjamin P. Merwin family reunion
About 58 descendants gathered 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 farm’s 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 it 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: Randy and Joan Baptist, Keith and Susan Engebrecht, Debbie Knudsen, Darlene Zietlow of Wausau; Richard and Kathy Boneske, Ben Boneske of Colby; Roy and Pat Boneske, Randy Sr. and Kathy Boneske, Christina Ecklund, Mason Ecklund, Susan Venzke of Athens; Julie Chaplinski of Medford; Wally and Margo Engebretson of Schofield; Ron and Kim Feit of Rothschild; Jerry and Jean Fitzgerald, Carrie Miller, Kyle Miller, Gayle and Gary Nechuta, Brittney Nechuta, Meagan Nechuta of Mosinee; Kyle and Lenae Gresens, Lyriq Kumbier of Holmen; Pam Gresens of West Salem; Rob and Ann Gust of Edgar; Denise Jacobs of Sturgeon Bay; Ben Jacobs of Charleston, S.C.; Hugh and Diane Jones of Rhinelander; Dave Loucks and Brian Loucks of Abbotsford; Mike Loucks, Kimberly Hall, Albert Hall and Aaron Hall of Curtiss; Russell and Sheila Loucks of River Falls; Ken and Rachel Loucks, Carol Loucks of Westboro; Paul and Jen Loucks, Linda Salzman of Weston; Jim Merwin, Brad Merwin and guest of Hastings, Minn.; Dale Nelsen of Bellingham, Wash., and Mark Zoromski of Kronenwetter.
Submitted photo
