WOOLF FAMILY REUNION
Joseph and Kathleen's Progenitors

Saturday, August 7, 2010
Rexburg, Idaho

In July 2009 we all gathered at Dixie's home and made Mother's homemade doughnuts. We had such a grand time together, laughing, reminiscing, teasing and recalling our own personal memories with Mother and Daddy. Not even two weeks later we were told that Valerie was very ill and we realized how precious that past week-end had been for us.

So last December as we gathered for Valerie's funeral, we decided that now it was even more important for us to make the effort of getting together and sharing the bonds that Mother and Daddy worked so hard to ingrain in each of us. We decided that we would have a family reunion in the summer of 2010. The planning began immediately and for the next 8 months we assigned, reassigned, changed plans, set dates, all the while trying to determine how we could make this a memorable event for our families.

Dixie reserved her ward building and the adjoining park for Saturday, August 7, 2010. Dixie made a flyer with the necessary information and sent it to each sister and we were then responsible to inform our own children with the details.

Those in attendance:
Joeleen and Gene with Daniel and Karen, Stephen, Allyson and Maya.
Diane and Howard with Jason and Tabitha and family.
Linda with Rachel, Tom and Stacy and family, Matt and Amy and family, Katie and family, Christy, James and Debbie and family.
Dixie and Craig with Mindy, Arnold and Reese.
Sylvia and Bill
None of Valerie's family was able to attend.
(Our goal is to have even more attend in 2 years when we do this again.)

We began putting things together at about 11 A.M. with lunch planned for 1 P.M.

Dixie had ordered chicken, Craig made homemade root beer, everyone joined in making the doughnuts (at the park), salads, rolls, chips, fruit, vegetable trays, and desserts were brought from each family.

A quilt was tied (in honor of Mother) for Humanitarian needs but at the reunion Dixie announced that Brady and Erica are expecting a new baby and we decided that the baby quilt should go to them. We agreed that that would make Mother happy.

Bill and Sylvia had a video machine going with the DVD of our old home videos going.

Linda and Tabitha had prepared games and activities for everyone to participate in.
--Fishing Pond (grandpa would be proud)
--”Name That Flower” Contest
--”Name the Ancestor”
--Water balloon games
--Relays
These games and contests were all accompanied with lots of fun prizes, donated from the sisters.

We closed our days activities with a giant balloon release honoring Valerie. Everyone wrote notes, we released the balloons and everyone yelled “We love you Valerie!!!” It was a perfect ending to our day together. We truly had much to celebrate.

On our way back to Idaho Falls we stopped at the Ucon cemetery. Sylvia brought a couple of plants that she put on the graves. Sylvia has had the headstone engraved with Valerie's birth and death date plus 3 little stars and this was the first time some of us had seen that.

Thanks to everyone who joined us and made this a day to remember. This kind of event was so important to Mother and we could feel her influence as we try to pass on her passion for heritage.
We are proud of everyone and for those who took the time to join us, we thank you. We love you all.