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1993 – The 13th Souhrada Family Reunion
  Saturday, August 7th, Davis Corners Restaurant, Davis Corners, Iowa

  Sunday, August 8th, Champlin Hall, Cresco Theater, Cresco, Iowa

  Hosted by Viola Noska, Anton Vanicek, and Leota Campbell

The Souhrada family began their 13th annual reunion Saturday night over dinner served at the Davis Corners Restaurant. Nineteen Souhrada family members and 2 guests attended. One of these guests, Lenka Bockova, is a newfound friend of Viola Noska from the Czech Republic.

Sunday 37 family members plus 3 guests gathered to share in our potluck meal and fellowship at noon in Champlin Hall. After dinner Anton Vanicek and Viola Noska shared their adventurous trip this year when they along with LaVonne Noska, Renee and Jay Cariveau, and Frank and Linda Souhrada traveled to the Czech Republic to visit our new found Souhrada family members, Jiri and Vera Souhrada and their family. Anton knowing one of the greatest desires of the people in the Czech Republic is to learn to speak English, recruited people from the group to teach there in their school. Viola and LaVonne thrillingly responded to the call. They were brought up speaking only Bohemian until they entered school so this was an exciting call for them.

During one of VioIa’s evening classes one of her students, Lenka Bockova told Viola she very much wanted to come to the United States but didn't have a sponsor or a place to live. Viola with her gift of hospitality not only sponsored her but also welcomed her as a guest in her home for over 2 months upon her arrival in the USA. Our reunion took place during Lenka’s stay. She became our special guest and spoke a bit of what living in the Czech Republic is like.

Last year Jiri & Vera Souhrada (a new found branch of our family tree) came from the Czech Republic and attended our reunion. Unable to attend this year, they sent three pieces of hand-embroidered wall hangings (splash cloths – that hang on the wall behind a wash basin). These were made by Souhrada’s over 100 years ago, and were taken from Dolni Novosedly #2. This is the original homestead of many generations of Souhrada’s, located about 10 miles from Pisek, Czech Republic. It was decided these three pieces would be donated to the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

It is Jiri and Vera’s desire to join us next year as we celebrate our 14th Annual Souhrada Reunion. Hopefully they will be there.

By Leota Campbell

Splash Cloths sent by Jiri and Vera Souhrada
Jiri and his wife Vera Souhrada (new found branch of our family tree and 3rd cousin to Frank and Peter Souhrada) sent 3 hand embroidered wall hangings (splash cloths that hang on the wall behind a wash basin). They were made by Souhrada’s over 100 years ago and were taken from Dolni Novosedly #2. It was decided that these wall hangings would be donated to the National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids Iowa.

To view the entire picture album from this year's reunion, click here.