Surnames: Harke, Schmidt, Scholz, Scheffler, Stein, Schetske, Dombraski, Gunderson, Wessel, Kasper

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 07/16/1953

Harke, Leona Lorraine (Marriage - 4 July 1953)

Miss Leona Lorraine Harke, daughter of Edward Harke of the town of Crystal Lake, Marquette county, and Frederick T. Schmidt, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Schmidt, Sr., of Colby, Wisconsin were united in marriage at the Zion Lutheran church in Colby Saturday afternoon, July 4th, Rev. Richard J. Scholz of Spencer reading the marriage ceremony. Mike Scheffler sang two solos - "O Perfect Love" and "The Lord’s Prayer."

The bride selected for her wedding a gown of white lace over blue satin with a hoop skirt. Her ice-blue veil was caught by a rhinestone crown. She carried a bouquet of red roses.

Mrs. Nickolas Stein of Madison, sister of the groom, served as matron of honor. She was attired in a blue strapless gown with a lace-trimmed bodice, net overskirt, and a lace jacket. She carried a bouquet of pink carnations and an arrangement of red tea roses formed her headdress.

Miss Elaine Schetske of Red Granite, a niece of the bride, and Miss Grace Dombraski of Hatley were bridesmaids. Miss Schetske wore an orchid strapless gown with a lace-trimmed bodice, net overskirt and lace jacket, Miss Dombraski wore a strapless yellow satin formal with a net overskirt and net stole. Each carried a bouquet of pink and white carnations and tea roses also formed their headpieces.

Nickolas Stein of Madison was best man and Mernard Gunderson of Red Granite and Louis Wessel of Milwaukee, cousin of the groom, were groomsmen. Walter Harke of Neshkoro, brother of the bride, and Lester Schmidt of Woodland, the groom’s brother, ushered.

A reception was held at the home of the groom’s parents where supper was served to about 250 guests. The house was decorated with white, yellow, blue and orchid streamers and white wedding bells. In the evening, a dance was held in the Dorchester Memorial Hall for which Vernon Kasper and his orchestra furnished the music.

The bride attended school at Neshkoro and the groom is a graduate of the Greenwood High School. The groom is employed at the Allis Chalmers plant at West Allis and the bride was formerly employed by Inland Steel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The couple will make their home at 4910 S. 43rd St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Guests were from Loyal, Owen, Neillsville, Fond du Lac, Woodland, Madison, Oakfield, Waupun, Milwaukee, Red Granite, Cornell, Neshkoro, Berlin, Rosendale, Unity, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Humbird, Edgar, Curtiss, Iron Ridge, Portage, Cherokee and Colby, Wis.