Surnames: Gierl, Kunze, Thomas, Ewan, Kubitz, Weiler, Kulas

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 06/17/1954

Gierl, Bette Jane (Marriage - 8 June 1954)

Miss Bette Jane Gierl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Gierl of Athens, Route 2, and Cpl. Albert J. Kunze, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kunze, Sr., of Abbotsford, Route 1, were united in marriage Tuesday morning, June 8, in St. Anthony’s Catholic church in Athens, Rev. N. W. Thomas reading the marriage ceremony.

When the bride approached the altar on the arm of her father she was attired in a gown featuring a Chantilly lace bodice buttoned in front and topped by a small crisp collar. Fun-length lace panels were set into a court train. Petals of lace outlined in pearls formed her Juliet cap from which cascaded a finger-tip veil. A cluster of white roses that had sprigs of stephanotis caught in them topped the prayer book she carried.

Net stoles were worn with the white strapless floor-length net over taffeta frocks selected by the bridal aids - Miss Mary Kunze of Abbotsford, a sister of the groom as maid of honor and Mrs. Ted Kulas of Abbotsford, a cousin of the groom, Miss Delores Ewan and Miss Jean Kubitz, both of Athens, as bridesmaids. The bodices were softly shirred and ruffles adorned the skirts. They all carried white and shrimp-colored carnations arranged on fans.

Two sisters of the bride carrying baskets of daisies served as flower girls. Their blue nylon over taffeta dresses featured three tiered skirts.

Elroy Weiler served as best man and Donald Kunze, a brother of the groom, James Gierl and Robert Gierl, a brother and cousin of the bride, were groomsmen.

Dinner and later a buffet supper were served at the home of the bride’s parents followed by a reception for relatives and friends.

The bride, a graduate of Athens High School, donned a sky blue linen suit with white angora trim to which was pinned a white rose corsage when the newlyweds left on their trip to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where the groom is stationed.