Surnames: Vater, Glaeser, Schoensiegel

----Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 11/18/1943

Vater, Robert & Henrietta (Gold - 11 NOV 1943)

At high noon of Armistice Day, the relatives and friends of the Robert Vater family, gathered at the Dana Hall in Withee (Clark Co., Wis.), to partake of a splendid turkey dinner in honor of the golden wedding anniversary of the host and hostess. Mrs. Emma Glaeser of Youngstown, Ohio, who was Mrs. Vater’s bridesmaid at her wedding 50 years ago, was present and participated in the program by pinning the golden roses on Mr. and Mrs. Vater.

At the close of dinner, Rev. Harry Lee, Pastor of the Methodist Church, Withee, made a brief speech, which in part follows:

"Fifty years ago today an enthusiastic young man by the name of Robert W. Vater and a sweet faced girl by the name of Henrietta Schoensiegel, affectionate and attractive, hopeful, ambitious and filled with love for each other to the extent of being willing and ready to share cheerfully any hardships, took upon themselves the vows of matrimony and entered the path which led them onward and upward.

"Today they stand before us at the very peak of their happiness. No doubt the ways have been rough at times, the hardships heavy and the storms of worry difficult to endure. During a period of fifty years they have passed through financial quick sands but they have surmounted these difficulties with commendable ability. Their unfaltering courage has brought them through their latest tribulation in the loss of their home and the construction of a new home, so that this is a house-warming as well as a Golden Wedding celebration.

" I wish all those who scoff at marriage and who pretend to believe that marriage cannot be a happy state of existence could be here today to see their words and thoughts disproved and denied."

Among those present were, Mr. and Mrs. Arno Vater, and Mr. and Mrs. Neil Vater, Withee; Miss Ruth Vater, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Vater, Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Emma Glaeser, Youngstown, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fox, Miss Nettie Vater, Plymouth; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Alice) Jones and sons, Randolph; Mr. and Mrs. Norville (Gladys) Woodburn and son, Robert, Elmhurst, Ill.; Mrs. Charles Goldamer, Elkhart Lake; Miss Edna Greneisen, Sheboygan; Mr. and Mrs. Hendry and son, Chippewa Falls, and many others.

During the afternoon and evening open house was observed, when friends and neighbors came in to offer congratulations to the happy couple. Refreshments were served by the daughters of the family. Crowning the refreshment table was a three tiered cake, a portion of which was served to each guest.

Gifts given by members of the family, were an amethyst ring to Mrs. Vater, and an oak arm chair to Mr. Vater; a twenty dollar gold piece by many members of the club of which Mrs. Vater is a member; and a gold jewel box and plate by Miss Edna Greneisen, a niece of Mr. Vater.

The new home of Mr. and Mrs. Vater also added much to the comfort and charm of the occasion. Everything modern will add to the convenience of housekeeping, and to the ease and comfort of the years yet to come for this happy couple. Sons and daughters, friends and neighbors unite in wishing them many happy years ahead.

Robert W. and Henrietta Vater home that burned in 1942 or 1943