BioM: Smith, Joan J. (1950)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smith, Brown, Colby, Bowen, Gardner, Mathews, Oberbillig

----Source: Loyal Tribune (Loyal, Clark Co., Wis.)   07/06/1950

Smith, Joan J. (27 JUN 1950)

Miss Joan Jean Smith, daughter of James A. Smith, and Vernon A. Smith, were united in marriage in a ceremony performed at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning, June 27, 1950, in the Loyal Methodist Church.  The Rev. Lee Holmes officiated at the double ring ceremony.

The bride, given in marriage by her father, chose a wedding gown of white satin, accented with an off-the-shoulder scalloped collar, a fitted bodice, and a full skirt swept into a long train.  Her fingertip veil of imported Belgium lace flowed from a tiara of seed pearls.  American Beauty roses and white carnations were used in her bouquet.

Miss LaVade Smith, gowned in a Nile Green formal of taffeta featuring an off-the-shoulder effect scalloped collar and a full skirt, served her sister as maid of honor.  Attending as bridesmaids were Mrs. Edward Brown, sister of the groom, and Miss Gail Colby, who wore gowns styled like that worn by the maid of honor.  Tiny net hats, matching gauntlets, and bouquets of yellow and white roses and white carnations completed their ensembles.

A brother of the groom, Eldon Smith, was best man, and Edward Brown, brother-in-law of the groom, and Robert Bowen of Tomahawk, a cousin of the bride, were groomsmen.  Vern Gardner and Roger Mathews ushered for the ceremony.

For her son’s wedding Mrs. Smith chose an aqua dress of Jersey crepe and the bride’s grandmother, Mrs. H. N. Oberbillig, selected a sheer blue figured dress.  Corsages of pink rosebuds and white carnations were pinned to their dresses.

A buffet luncheon and reception were held at 12:30 o’clock in the church basement, which was decorated with green, yellow and white streamers and bells.

A candlelight supper was served to the bridal party at 5:30 at the Chatterbox in Wausau.  Centering the festive table was a large cake in the shape of a cross.  Atop the cross was a miniature bridal party standing before a candlelit altar.

Climaxing the day’s activities was a wedding dance held at the Silver Dome Ballroom near Neillsville, with music furnished by Howard Sturtz and his Swing Kings.

Coming from out of town for the wedding were: Mrs. Tena Peckels of , Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Tony Tomar and family of Leonette, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Lester Oberbillig and son of Duluth, Minn., Mrs. Belle Hoults, Mrs. H. N. Oberbillig, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Kaplar and son and Miss Gretchen Shepler, all of Eau Claire, Robert Bowen of Tomahawk, Mrs. Ethel Bowen and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Bowen of Curtiss, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bowen of Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Finup and sons of Vesper, Mrs. John Wuethrich Sr., Mrs. Allan Wuethrich and Mr. and Mrs. Ewald Schwarze and daughter of Greenwood, and Wendell Johnson and James Backlin of Merrill.

The bride graduated from the Loyal High School in May, and the groom, who also attended the same school, is employed by the john D. Wuethrich Creamery Co.  In September the couple plans to take a delayed honeymoon to Red Arrow Lodge near Tomahawk.  They are residing four miles west of Loyal on Highway 98.

The wedding was the result of the bride winning a radio contest in which she gave her reason on why she wanted to be a June bride.  The couple had previously planned to be married later this year.