BioA: Panke, Mr./Mrs. Frederick (50th Anniv. - 1932)

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Surnames: PANKE POKALLUS BAUMGART BIELL SCHOELZEL PRIBNOW WELLER LINDNER SCHNEIDER TESMER STECKER ALLMANN LENHARDT VANDERHOFF COURTNEY YOUNG PACHOLKE HAHN DRAEGER

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 22 Sep 1932

Panke, Mr./Mrs. Frederick (50th Anniv. - 17 Sept. 1932)

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Panke of Colby celebrated their fiftieth or golden wedding anniversary Sunday, September 17th, 1932. They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Pokallus, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Baumgart and Mr. and Mrs. John Biell who also attended their wedding in Germany. Other guests here Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Aug. Schoelzel, Mr. and Mrs. John Pribnow, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Fred Weller, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lindner, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Schneider, Mrs. G. Tesmer and daughter, Alma, Mrs. B. Stecker, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Allmann and family, Gertrude Lenhardt, Dorris Vanderhoff, Lenore Baumgart, Mr. and Mrs. Courtney of Chicago, Mrs. Louis Young and Mrs. Fred Pacholke. Rev. and Mrs. Hahn and son called on Mr. and Mrs. Fred Panke on the afternoon.

The reception was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allmann, tables being set for forty and were beautifully decorated in gold paper and flowers. Five tables were filled with people playing pinochle. They played at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Panke. The rooms in the house were also nicely decorated with flowers and gold crepe paper. Winners at cards were Mrs. Fred Lindner, high; Mr. Fred Weller, high; Mrs. Fred Weller, low; Mr. Fred Courtney, low; Mrs. Fred Lindner, traveling prize.

Mrs. Panke was born in Gross Sauerken, East Prussia, Germany, January 1st, 1850, and therefore is eighty-two years of age. Mr. Panke was born in Himmefahrt, East Prussia, Germany, September 30th, 1857, and therefore is seventy-five years of age. They were married in Liebmuehlen, East Prussia, Germany, on Sept. 17, 1882, and arrived in the United States November 7, 1883, at New York and in Colby November 11, 1883. They had seven children, five of whom died. The two still living are Frank Panke of Park Falls and Mrs. Paul Draeger of Colby.

When Mr. and Mrs. Panke arrived in Colby, forty-nine years ago, this country was mostly woods and about all that was in Colby was a depot, a hotel and a store. Mr. Panke helped build the local Lutheran church and he and Mrs. Panke are charter members of the St. John’s Ev. church. Both can remember many hardships of the early pioneer. In fact, some of them started while still on the boat coming here, for, while on their way to this country, the boat sprung a leak and everybody was obliged to pump and carry water to save the boat from sinking.

A picture of Mr. and Mrs. Panke is printed on page eight of this issue.