The “nestled beside a country road farm home” of Emil and Ardis Souhrada in rural Chester, Iowa, was the setting for the 3rd Annual Souhrada Family Reunion Celebration. One of their daughters, Jane Souhrada, also hosted this gathering. Ardis' beautiful flower gardens were a delightful setting for our meeting place.

 

It was a bright and sunny...high in the 90's...hot summer day, but no one complained of the heat...we were all glad to be together. For many of us this was either a time of meeting each other for the first time or seeing each other for the first time in a long, long time.

 

Every age group was represented making this gathering of thirty-nine members very special. Elizabeth Vanicek of Oxford Junction, Iowa, and Jonathan Souhrada of Sargent, Minnesota held the honors of being the oldest and youngest family members in attendance.

 

Besides those from the local area and the Twin Cities in Minnesota, those driving the longest distances were Gordon & Velma Flynn, their daughter-in-law, Barb, & her daughter, Anne from Davenport, Iowa and John & Nelda Vanicek and their daughter, Elizabeth from Muskego, Wisconsin.

 

38 of the 39 Souhrada family members who attended (Barb Flynn took the picture)

 

Thirty-nine members attended:

 

Iowa:  Gordon & Velma Flynn - Barb & Anne Flynn  -  Marlys Gronwoldt  - Rick & Cheryl and Colleen, Kelly & Molly

Lamon - Viola Leslie - Tom & Marcia and Susanne & Justen Negel - Bill & Hazel Rassman - Emil & Ardis Souhrada -

Frank & Louise Souhrada - Emma Stevenson - Elizabeth Vanicek.

 

Minnesota:    George & Leota Campbell - Rich & Arlene and Barto Leslie - Jane Souhrada & Ernie Gunderson -

Delbert & Anna Merrill - Wane & Becky and Jonathan & Kelby Souhrada.

 

Wisconsin:   John & Nelda and Elizabeth Vanicek.