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Reunion Roundup

Courtesy Photos Sisters Jessica Claus and Nancy Kandow are all smiles at the Metz reunion they organized.

Metz reunion: Appreciating ‘Small Town America’

The town of Metz held a reunion recently, with approximately 85 people in attendance.

“It’s a small town America story about making an effort to gather those who grew up in the small town of Metz and how we realize today the benefits of growing up in a place where everybody knew everybody,” said event organizer Nancy Kandow.

She and her sister Jessica Claus had talked for a few years about hosting a “Metz-kids” reunion.

“We joke because we dubbed ourselves the ‘we should’ sisters,” Kandow said. “Good at thinking of things ‘we should’ do and almost always not getting what it was we talked about to materialize.”

Courtesy Photo Approximately 85 people gathered for the Metz reunion in July. Above, attendees hug and mingle at the reunion, held at the Metz Fire Historical Trailside Park.

Their work paid off with a well-attended reunion full of reminiscing and catching up with friends and relatives.

“Our New Year resolution this past January was to change from the ‘we should’ sisters to the ‘we did it’ sisters and so here we are today — the first ever Metz-kids reunion,” Kandow said in her welcome speech at the reunion, held July 6 at the Metz Fire Historical Trailside Park.

Those in attendance shared memories and a picnic lunch.

In Kandow’s welcome speech, she noted many of those who grew up in Metz were descendent families from the original homesteaders.

“Drive down any road and you will still find the last names of fire survivors on our mailboxes,” she said. “When the fire wiped this town out, those that survived had absolutely nothing, but yet they stayed and rebuilt, and the community family and spirit that evolved is second to none.”

She said Metz is a special place, especially for those who have called it home from a young age.

“We may not have realized it as we were growing up, but everyone in our community family, in some way, took responsibility for the well-being of the kids,” she continued. “Either they provided lessons by living as good examples or they called one another to let each other know what a child was up to — good or bad. Everybody knew everybody, and that is the piece that is almost magical to our upbringing. We were carefree and we felt safe.”

During the summer months, Metz was a playground of kids playing around in the neighborhood.

“We grew up with a sense of belonging and a kind of self-awareness I don’t believe you can find in anything but a small community like ours,” Kandow said. “I know I told my children when they were growing up to make your family proud and they knew it didn’t just mean Mom and Dad — it meant our Metz family.

“We all can be very proud of this community and the people who grew up from it,” Kandow continued in her speech. “We have a continuation of proud, hardworking people who live here and any town in this country would be fortunate and honored to have these folks as their residents. And for those who chose to move on to contribute to society in other ways, our Metz family gave them a doctor, an attorney, engineers, nurses and medical techs, religious order sisters and a priest, business managers, business owners, a pharmacist, a corporate executive, master social workers, a doctorate of clinical psychology, and a doctorate in educational leadership, a published author, a school principal, military career personnel, a captain of a freighter, and teachers, to name just a few.”

Metz is still a proud and strong family today, she added.

“And even though our population has declined over the years… Well, the 24 kids from two families mostly moved away, as did many of the other children as they graduated and over the years, our school closed, the three stores closed, the post office closed, one of our taverns closed, and some buildings are falling into a state of disrepair,” Kandow said. “We still do have one tavern, this historical park, two churches that still have a good size gathering each weekend, and most of all, Metz has the nicest people you could ever meet anywhere who still today keep watch out for each other.”

Catholic Central Class of 1959 celebrates 60th reunion

Alpena Catholic Central class of 1959 celebrated their 60th class reunion recently. The reunion began with a celebration of mass at 4 p.m. at St. Anne Church of All Saints Catholic Parish. The graduates then met at the 19th Hole for hors d’oeuvres, dinner, a special reunion cake and reminiscing. The cake was cut and served by Marcia (Muszynski) Barraco, Joyce (St. Charles) Hier and Sue (Repke) Bobolz.

Following the dinner, the evening continued with a welcome to all in attendance. Humorous sketches were then presented by Carole (McKay) Pelleran, Rick Ellico, spouse of Caroline (Jozwiak) Ellico and Joyce Hier.

A moment of silence was observed by the class for the 48 deceased classmates. As each name was read, a bell was rung.

Gifts were presented to the first to respond, Carol (Van Nocker) Judkins. The award for most grandchildren and for the most great-grandchildren went to Ken Hilla. Phil Harris, coming from California, traveled the farthest distance. The newlyweds award was presented to Russ Morgan and his bride of a little over a year. Mary (Smigelski) Reynolds had a birthday closest to the reunion date. Having a wedding anniversary closest to the reunion date was Ann (Pamerleau) Gehrke.

Door prizes were won by Dale Rouleau, Eugene Kroll, Barb (LaBerge) Seebladt, Sue (O’Brien) Ritzler and Fred Hubert.

Co-chairmen for the 60th reunion were Carole Pelleran and Gaye (Mousseau) Lixie. Committee members included: Eileen (Chrzan) Wikaryasz, Lynda (Dziesinski) Russell, Mary Anne (Gappa) Anderson, Arlene (Grenkowicz) Bartosh and Ann Gehrke.

Other classmates in attendance were Sandra (Jackowiak) Helinski and Tom Helinski, Sally (Schorn) Preston, Rozalind (Rickle) Janetsky, Patricia (Mall) Hubert Beverly (Rondeau) Kindt, Mary Kay (Kotwicki) St. James, Barbara (Kotwicki) Metiva, Elaine (Yates) Bluck, Linda (Gaylord) Lewis, Patricia (Eastom) Bartz and Joe VanDusen.

Special guests attending the reunion were Judy DeCaire, Mary Ann Skiba and Ethel Janeski.

A good time was had by all and everyone is looking forward to the next reunion.

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