Family Reunion with the Adkins Family

On Thursday, July 15th, we got together with the Adkins family.  We (the Appeldorn side of the family) are related to them.  My mother's Dad (Herman Appeldorn) and Erma's Dad (Henry Appeldorn) were brothers.  So that makes my Mom and Erma cousins.

We went over to Erma's house in the afternoon.  Erma and her husband, 'Buck' had 4 children, Dean (two years older than me), Carmen (graduated with her (died in 2007), Wayne (one year younger ) (died in 2009) and Stan (born in 1955).  Erma is 96 years old and gets around very well for her age.  Stan was living in Denver but came back to Pipestone a couple of years ago to help Erma.  Dean and his wife, Nancy, live in Appleton, Wisc. and were on their way back from CA where they were visiting their sons and family.

Claudia Appeldorn went with us.  I know I had mentioned being together with her earlier but I didn't really explain how we are related.  Her grandfather, Gus, was a brother to Herman and Henry.  These three brothers all moved to Pipestone from Iowa back when their families were growing up and were farmers.  They left behind three more brothers and six sisters!!

Anyway, now that the ancestry lesson is over, we got together for supper and to reminisce.
Pictures were taken:

This was of the men cooking hamburgers.  In the middle is Stan and on the right is Dean.

From left to right - Stan, Dean, Erma, Claudia, and me.

In this one are Dean and his wife, Nancy, Erma, Claudia, and then Judy and me.

Look at the buds on this tree in her yard!

Erma has several nice flower arrangements in her back yard.

After supper we sat outside and had some good times talking about the 'old' days and catching up on everyone's life over the past 40+ years!!