BioA: Hoops, Mr./Mrs. John #2 (50th – 1926)
Contact: Bev
Email: bjbear1@airmail.net

Surnames: Hoops, Stapel, Natzke

----Source: Scrapbook Collection of Arlene Youmans

Hoops, Mr./Mrs. John (50th Anniv. – 28 Feb. 1926)

On Tuesday Afternoon at 2:00 P.M. a bride and groom of fifty years stood before the altar in the Spencer Luth. Church where was solemnized the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Hoops, the Rev. Stapel officiating. This was reenacted a scene in the village of Wayside, Wisconsin fifty years ago when on February 28, 1876 John Hoops and Pauline Natzke were united in holy bonds of matrimony. The address by Rev. Stapel upon the happy event was given in both the Lutheran and English languages. The services closed in a very appropriate manner by the recitation of a beautiful poem suited to the occasion delivered by grand daughter of the principals.

In attendance were about seventy-five direct relatives besides the great number of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Hoops were the guest of honor at a six o'clock dinner in the dining room of the church, tendered them by the Ladies' Aid Society of the Church in co-operation with the children of the couple, at which time relatives and invited guests to the number of about three hundred partook of the feast which gave visible evidence of the thorough preparation that had been made for that feature of the event. Golden effects predominated in the decorative plan; the center of which was a beautiful cake encrusted with a tric lamp, the gift of the Aid Society was used also in the decorative effect. The happy couple were the recipients of many individual gifts attesting the esteem in which they are held.in the half century that has elapsed since the principals were the blushing bride and groom of the initial occasion in the then, backwoods of the village, many changes have taken place both in the lives and the territory in which they have been resident (?) experienced the pioneer development of the community where they were married and in 1899 Mr. Hoops moved his family to Spencer where he engaged in farming for a number of years, latter moving into the village when he erected the house which they now occupy. Looking over this period of time they count among their greatest blessings the fine family they reared. Of thirteen children, six girls and five boys are living and attended the reunion. Also twenty seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. And blessed too with ideals of upright Christian conduct that accounts for the blessing of good health which both enjoy and likewise for the esteem in which they are held by their neighbors. While experiencing the vicissitude and periods of ill health which all do is an experience of so many years both Mr. and Mrs. Hoops are at present in good health and are vary active, doing daily tasks of much younger people. Happily, most of the immediate relatives live nearby. However a great number from other points in the state were present and had it not been for travel conditions preventing some from attending an estimated number of one hundred relatives would have been present. Those who witnessed the affair can truly say that this couple have pleasant memories to accompany them down the Golden years to come as they "jog along" so happily to-gether.