BioM: Lavanduska, Wileen (1964)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lavanduska, Carstenson, Stiemke, Greeler, Pusheck, Wetzel, Lueck, Nelson, Mitte, Montgomery, Benecke

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) November 5, 1964

Lavanduska, Wileen (Marriage - 31 October 1964)

Nuptial vows were exchanged Saturday in the Zion Lutheran Church in Granton solemnizing the marriage of Wileen Lavanduska, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Carstenson of Neillsville, and Theodore Stiemke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stiemke of Neillsville.  Bouquets of white and dark red chrysanthemums graced the altar for the double ring ceremony performed by the Rev. F. C. Benecke.  White lace bows marked the pews.

The bride entered the church with her step-father, William Carstenson, who gave her in marriage. For her wedding she chose a floor length gown of white satin brocade, fashioned with a fitted bodice, the scoop neckline of which was trimmed with seed pearls and beads. Three quarter length sleeves further enhanced the bodice. The full skirt was fashioned with a front panel, accented at the waistline by a bow. The skirt extended into a court train that was bustled after the ceremony.  A bouffant veil of imported English illusion was joined to a lace crown edged with seed pearls and aurora borealis crystals. She carried a cascade arrangement of pink roses and white chrysanthemums.

Mrs. Erland Greeler, a sister of the bride, was her matron-of-honor. Bridesmaids were Miss Verna Stiemke, of Neillsville, sister of the groom, and a friend, Miss Jeanette Pusheck of Green Bay. They wore floor length dresses of dark mint green peau de soie, styled with bell-shaped skirts. Their attire was further highlighted with fitted cummerbunds and round necklines with a Watteau effect bow at the back. Their headpieces were large bows of matching fabric and color with a white chrysanthemum fastened in the center to match colonial bouquets of white chrysanthemums.

Arthur Stiemke attended his brother as bestman. Groomsmen were Erland Greeler and Raymond Wetzel. Ushers were Wilmer Lueck of Greenwood and Gerald Nelson of Spencer.

"O Perfect Love" and "The Lord’s Prayer" were sung by Robert Mitte, accompanied by Miss Colleen Montgomery of Granton.

Five hundred guests attended the reception in the Legion Hall in Neillsville, followed by an evening of dancing.

The bride is a graduate of Granton High School and has been employed in a manufacturing plant in Marshfield. Mr. Stiemke a graduate of Neillsville High School, is engaged in farming on Rt. 2, Neillsville, where they will reside on their return from a wedding trip to eastern Wisconsin and parts of Michigan.

Guests attending the wedding were from Greenwood, Chili, Loyal, Spencer, Willard, Granton, Burlington, Milwaukee, Tomahawk, Marshfield, Rib Lake, Kendall, Wisconsin Rapids, Tomah, Humbird, Ogdensburg, Portage, Wabasso, North Branch; Walters, Minn., and Utica, Mich.