Surnames: Mills, Gierl, Brickl, Eddy, Plummer, Thorson, Kumbler, Laube, Lehnen, Gabriel, Shaw

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 09/17/1953

Mills, Arlene Mae (Marriage - 10 Sept. 1953)

Miss Arlene Mae Mills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Mills of Owen, and Robert L. Gierl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick R. Gierl of Colby, exchanged marriage vows in St. Mary’s Catholic church in Colby Thursday, Sept. 10, at 1:30 P.M., Rev. Frank Brickl reading the marriage ceremony. Miss Joanne Gierl, of Colby, sister of the groom, served as maid of honor and Mrs. Kenneth Eddy of Neillsville, cousin of the bride, and Harriet Plummer of Stanley and Loretta Thorson of Owen, friends, were bridesmaids. Wilbur Gierl of Westboro, a brother of the groom, served as best man and Donald Mills of Owen, brother of the bride, and Howard Kumbler of Colby and Dick Laube of Owen were groomsmen. Mrs. Herbert Lehnen of Owen was soloist and Mrs. A. Gabriel of Colby organist.

The bride was attired in a gown of tulle and chantilly lace with a sweetheart neckline, pleated nylon tulle panel, lace scalloped all the way down and edged in tiny seed pearls, with a long train. Her veil was of imported illusion net. She also wore a tiara of seed pearls and rhinestones. Her shower bouquet consisted of stephanotis centered with a lavender orchid.

The maid of honor wore a medium blue strapless gown with net over taffeta, jacket of alebon lace. The bridesmaids wore dresses identical to that of the maid of honor but in teal blue. Their flowers, in baskets of net in shades from yellow to deep gold, consisted of pompoms in mellow gold to bronze. The bride’s mother wore a dress of navy blue with matching accessories and the groom’s mother wore a dress of mauve with black accessories. Both had corsages of yellow roses. The flower girl, Lee Ann Shaw of Neillsville, wore a blue dress with net and taffeta trim. Her flowers consisted of forget-me-nots.

A reception, attended by 300 guests, was held at the home of the bride and was trimmed in blue and white. Guests were present from Neillsville, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Wausau, Marshfield, Stratford, Menomonie, Marathon, Colby, Owen, Withee, Hammond, La Crosse, Campbellsport, Loyal, Greenwood and Stanley.