Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 15, 2013

The family of Owen and Madge SCHLAPIA gathered at the Diagonal Community Building on Sunday, August 4, 2013, for a noon meal and family reunion. Jim SCHUBERTH gave the blessing before the potluck meal was enjoyed by 71 members. The families were all introducted by a member of each family with updates of those not able to attend.

Majorie JESSEN of Creston, the only child living of Owen and Madge SCHLAPIA, was missed as she was unable to attend but several enjoyed visiting with her later that evening in Creston.

Special guests and the member having the SCHLAPIA name and longest attending was Marilyn SCHALPIA, wife of Dale SCHALPIA who stayed with the family often in his younger days, along with her daughter Meredith DREDGE. Larry SCHLAPIA of Creston as determined to be the oldest male of the group and Larry and Mary Lee SCHLAPIA were thanked for keeping the SCHLAPIA family reunion going for so many years before turning it over to Robert and Cindy SCHLAPIA of Diagonal this year.

The most recent additions present were also honored. Ashtyn SCHLAPIA was recognized as the youngest girl and her parents, Chad and Brittany SCHLAPIA recognized as the most recently married couple present. Henry CONLEY was the youngest boy attending with his grandmother, Carey PALMER, and his great-grandparents, Marion and Sharon PRICE, also honored as the longest married couple.

Those attending from the longest distances were Lauren SCHUBERTH, Jeanie REZMER, Tracy, Megan and Cameron FINLEY with Cameron honored as the most recently engaged, with a wedding coming up this fall.

Ellie DAVENPORT was recognized as star graduate this year who will be off to Chicago, IL to attend college this fall.

The rest of the day was spent visiting, taking pictures, checking out family history and lots of reminiscing.

Amy NOVAK made cotton candy for the kids which was a big hit.

The next reunion will be August 3, 2014 at the community building in Diagonal.

Attending this year were:

From Owen SCHLAPIA'S FAMILY: brother Floyd and wife Ocie SCHLAPIA family: Marilyn SCHLAPIA and Meredith DREDGE, both of Mount Ayr;

From Leroy and Hazel SCHLAPIA Family: Larry and Mary Lee SCHLAPIA, Aaron SCHLAPIA, Carlon and LaVon SCHLAPIA of Creston, Tim MILLER, Lindsey HEBAR-HPING and Monica of Greenfield;

From Hugh and Vivian SCHLAPIA Family: Franklin and Vonnie KINKADE of Creston, Mark and Ruthie SCHLAPIA of Diagonal, Chad and Brittany SCHLAPIA and Ashtyn of Maryville, MO, Jason SCHLAPIA and Jayley of Creston, Justin and Bobbi LEAVITT, Hannah and Cayden of Belton, MO, Jeanie REZMER of Peoria, AZ, Jim and Janis SCHUBERTH of Blue Springs, Mo, Lauren SCHUBERTH, Gori, Georgia (country by Russia), Sam and Joan WOODS and Josh SAWTELLE of Cromwell, Jim and Rosemary HULLINGER, Travis and Judi SHAHA, Bryce and Brock of Mount Ayr, Alvin and Mary Ann SCHLAPIA of Creston, Blair and Debbie JENSEN, Nathan, Nicholas and Grace HOEPKER of Clive, Robert and Cindy SCHLAPIA and Jeremy and Amy NOVAK, Jacob, Joey and Justin of Diagonal, Amanda HECK, Kyle and Kayla of Chelsea and Adam SCHLAPIA and Wyatt of Mount Ayr;

From Ivan and Wanda PRICE Family: Marion and Sharon PRICE of WAUKEE and Carey PALMER and Henry CONLEY of Saint Charles;

From Francis and June SCHLAPIA Family: Tracy FINLEY and Meagan of Winnebago, IL and Cameron FINLEY of Milan, IL;

From Harry and Patty SCHLAPIA Family: Patty SCHLAPIA, Mary Lynn BAKER, Pat SCHLAPIA and John SCHLAPIA of Creston, Dorothy DAVENPORT and Ellie, Steve and Suzie BILEY and Bridgette of Des Moines.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2013