Alfred Thiessen (Lucena's husband) was the oldest attendee. Their daughter Carol, brught them from Dallas, TX. (We admire your dedication, Carol.) Lexi Milne (Eleanor's granddaughter) from the fifth generation was the youngest attendee - 20 months.

Seventy-eight people registered Saturday morning at Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS. Eleanor Seibel Jost did a fantastic job with meal tickets, name tags (different color to represent each family), and meal planning with the Tabor College staff. The meals were delicious.

After lunch, several braved the 100 plus temperature and hot wind for a tour of several Wall landmarks - the Fast farmstead where Grandma Clara was raised, Gnadneau village, barns Grandpa Abraham built the Gnadneau Cemetery where Emily Wall is buried, the Ebenfeld cemetery where many of the Wall ancestors are buried, the Ebenfeld Church and school site where the Wall children attended, and the Wall "home" place. They also stopped at the creek which Grandmother Clara crossed with horse and wagon (see Swollen Creek p.3).

After lunch on Saturday, Karen shared her pictures and trip experience to Russia in 2000. The Molotschna and Chortize colonies were her focus.

As a way to defray inevitable reunion expenses and to provide "seed" money for a future reunion, a committee member came up with the idea of an auction. Several attendees donated items and a real, live auctioneer, Roger Hiebert, conducted the auction with gusto and humor. This was a special treat for one Wall descendent, Charlotte Sachse, who had never seen or heard an auctioneer in action.

Zwieback, oatmeal bread, pickled beets, peppernuts, Aunt Sally's oatmeal raisin cookies, Aunt Heddie's apple pie (complete with her instructions), bierrocks, farm fresh eggs, New Year's cookies, and other interesting items sold at inflated and hefty prices. However, no item was as popular as a copy of the infamous family picture of the Walls taken in 1916. Two family members were in a bidding duel with Darrell Merrfield (Anita Hefley Merrifield's husband) being the winner. It was rumored later that he was offering copies! Over $900 was raised from the auction.

The Wall descendants gathered Sunday morning. July24. 2003, at Tabor College for their worwhip service. Hymn singing was led by Lee Suderman with Carol Thiessen Sachse at the piano. Trumpeters Lewis and Andy also lend their help. In honor of our German background, a verse of one hymn was sung in German. (Not sure our Grandparents or parents would have given us an "A" for that effort!) A short meditation by Keith Harder was based on II Timothy 1:5-7 where Timothy encouraged faithfulness as exemplified by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. Likewise our grandparents practiced a faith that pulled them through their trials end hardships. How else could they have made it? The family stayed connected in spite of diversity. Unconditional love was evident. A family reunion is a means of cultivating the faith of our ancestors and passing it on from one generation to another.

A candlelight service followed to honor those who have passed on since the 1990 reunion. Family members were invited to light a candle in their loved one's memory, The following were memorialized:

Heddie Wall Harder (mother of Betty, Bonnie and Keith), Albert Wall, and Herman C. Wall (husband of Lois Wall and father of Clifford and Gwen). These were the last of 11 children of Abraham K and Clara (Glied) Wall

Clarence Seibel (mother was Anna Wall Seibel), Sam Quintana (husband of Frances Seibel Quintana), and Heinz Sachse (husband of Carol Thiessen Sachse)

Ernest & Lucille Hett, Kenneth Klein and wife, Donna (mother was Bertha Wall Klein), Tony Larson (son of Kenneth Klein), and Vivan Klein, stepmother to Lucille Hett, Kenneth Klein, Ruth McGinness, & Harold Wayne Klein

Stuart Klein (son of Lawrence Klein)

Paul E. Lange (husband of Betty Harder Lange Fruechting)

Levi Suderman (husband of Sally Wall Suderman)

Thus ended a very moving meaningful service