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Date Posted: Tue, May 01 2007, 11:03:33
Author: Nancy
Subject: OK, Joyce! Glad you like these. I am getting the whole story into digital form (typing it on the computer) and later when I finish it will be on Grantvogel.com where his travel stories are. CLICK HERE to read part 6,
In reply to: JOYCE 's message, "LOVE THE STORIES ABOUT THE REUNIONS. KEEP THEM COMING. I HOPE YOU HAVE MANY MORE INSTALLMENTS. WHAT A GROUP!! DON'T WE HAVE FUN." on Mon, Apr 30 2007, 14:42:49

Those who attended the reunion only part of the time, and/or who cane to the June 12 picnic, which was the grand finale, were John and Arlene Baas, Fred and Esther Feikema, Steve White, Martin and Marie Van Vuuren, Milton amd Dorothy Van Vuren, Art and Rena De Vries, Bill and Bertha Boukamo, Elizabeth Vander Steen, Sid and June Vander Wal, Joe Uchima, Debbie Vogel and Greg Vogel.

And here’s a view of the reunion through the eyes of most of the people who attended:

Bonnie Noel (Trudy’s daughter): I came here with a need to see these people again, to see why I am the way I am. I feel different from my friends; I feel Midwestern. I feel that I have more common sense. I feel that I am more stable. I think the Vogel family’s stability is so wonderful-- the stability of the uncles and Dena, I mean, not my immediate family. I’ve found it to be what I remembered--except that now I can talk to my aunts and uncles on a deeper and adult level. I wouldn’t have been able to face them right after my divorce, but now I haven’t felt any sense of disapproval.

Betty (Harry’s wife: It’s been nice after all these years to get a chance to talk to certain ones I haven’t really known before. It’s surprising to find out how much they think alike, Usually there’s so much rush; this time we can take our time talking to people. It’s been especially nice to see Dena; we don’t get to see her very often. We don’t get to see Martin and Wilma much either, and we would have liked to spend more time with them. We’ve often thought how good the round robin is; without something like that, no one would know what’s happening in each family. The main thing that occurs to me about the reunion is that it would have been nice to have it earlier when my mother was alive.

Harold (Bill’s son-in-law: It’s been great.

Wilma (Martin’s wife): Speaking as an in-law, I’d say this is one family that IS a family, with lots of love and respect for each other. I know of no other family that has so much of oneness. It’s been beautiful getting together and learning to know each other and to see some people that we haven’t seen for years. We’ve all changed a lot, but our love hasn’t changed.

Martin: This reunion is wonderful; I really never thought we’d pull it off. I certainly wanted it to happen, at least once in my lifetims, but I didn’t honestly think we’d be able to get everybody together at once. We’re having a terrific time, I will always remember this as the highlight of 1982. And we certainly want to thank the Grand Rapids people for organizing it and for feeding us.

Grant: My comments are probably the same as everyone’s--this is a beautiful spot, and it’s just great that all of us could have this opportunity to get together. And it’s nice that so many of the children and grandchildren came. It would have been nice if even more could have made it. As
Martin said, we’ve been talking about a reunion for several years, but didn’t think it would jell. And now it’s rather sad that it’s coming to an end so soon. I’m hoping the pictures will turn out well, and we’ll have a lot of good pictures to remember it by.

Betty (Lefty’s wife): I was surprised and pleased that so many nieces and nephews wanted to come, since it was originally for the brothers and sisters. Everyone seems to be getting along fine. One thing that surprised me is how much the Vogels all look alike as they get older---except Dena.

Chuck Brinks (Andy’s son-in-law): I think it’s tremendous, really. I mentioned this to the people where I work and they were really quite amazed that relatives would come from all over the country for a get-together like this. I have enjoyed it, and haven’t felt left out. I had been conditioned to like the Vogels, and now that I have met them all, I still like them. With some families, after three days of being together, there’d be some animosities, but not here. And that’s not surprising. I expected everyone to have a good time.

Dena: We have anticipated this for a couple of years already. It’s almost like the Lord had led us here. Where else could we have gone? And all arrived safely. I just tell Walter the Lord provided. In a family this size, not all would be able to come to another reunion. The next reunion will probably be in Heaven, and I hope and pray that none will be missing. Andy gave a beautiful testimony the last time I saw him; we had come to see him in the hospital. “I am so tired,” he said. “I want to go home.“ I said, “Where to?” and he said, “Either to Hudsonville or to my home in Heaven. I prefer going home to the Lord.” Oh, that just meant everything to me; now we know we will meet him again. And we are looking forward to seeing Leroy there too.

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