Reunion Recap

Brief recap on Worldwide Klopfenstein Family Reunion, June 20 & 21, 2008, Grabill, IN, USA.

Well, June 20 and 21 have (finally) come and gone. My initial reaction is: a simply wonderful, delightful weekend--very difficult to be matched. Many people had a huge contribution to the success and deserve the biggest thank you that can be mustered. The lunch folks did an excellent job to expedite the large number. And to the multiplied number of the K family who came from many miles away, an equally huge thank you. Everyone, together, created the success!!!
The Klopfenstein family really poured out certain character qualities by showing a deep interest in its roots as well as in present day members. Meeting the variety of cousins, some up to the 8th level, is most unique and at best rare. An exact number is difficult, but, by close estimate, around 290 attended the First Worldwide Klopfenstein Reunion at the Fudergong Building in Grabill, IN. Twenty-five states represented half of our country. Someone said sixth cousins became first cousins.
Among the registrants there were at least:
30 in their 70s
15 in their 80s and
2 in their 90s
So many people have wondered about the location. FUDERGONG actually means in German--place of meeting and place of eating.. GRABILL, IN was selected as being more or less central in a concentrated area of Klopfensteins. There are other pockets of the family and hopefully a future similar meeting can be held in one of those locations.
The exchange of family friendship, fellowship, relationship, genealogy and history has been of great satisfaction to me and to many others who attended. The family heritage dictates continued meetings and involvement.
Please send your comments on the past weekend and suggestions for future meetings. Each one of you has a good story. I’d like to establish a quarterly type publication with family details but this will require your help and input. First off, write up a brief of your reaction and input to the meeting in Grabill. Then any family history that you’d like to share would be most appropriate. Also, send births, deaths, marriages and/or newspaper articles of interest. We can have a neat family publication.
1. Please send all the family email addresses you can. LynnK1905@Charter.net
2. Please send your photos of the reunion to share with others.
3. Would you like the bank of photos by Rhoda our daughter?
4. Print this and sent to family members without email capability.
Let me hear from you! This should be very interesting.
Lynn K. Decatur, AL