BioA: Ortmeier, Mr. / Mrs. Henry (Gold – 1965)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ortmeier, Gosse, Dix, Barry, Vlcanshy, Olson, Neuhaus, Krandall, Johnson, Vorpagel, Jannene, Goldamer, Huebner, Stockmeier, Eche, Dehne, Masciewicz, Pleuss, Heinz, Athorp, Grosshuesch

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 30 Sep 1965

Ortmeier, Mr. / Mrs. Henry (Gold – 26 DEC 1965)

The celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ortmeier of Abbotsford was held Sunday, September 26, 1965. Guests from as far as California came to help the couple celebrate the event which began with attendance at services at the First United Church of Christ in Colby.

Henry Ortmeier and Milda Gosse were married in Colby December 26, 1915, by Professor Grosshuesch, pastor of the Reformed Church of Colby. Mr. Ortmeier was born in Centerville, Wisconsin on Jun 21, 1888. His wife was born on September 27, 1897, at Sheboygan.

The couple has spent their entire married life in Colby and Abbotsford. Although December is the actual month of their marriage, the golden anniversary was anticipated three months to make it easier for guests from distant areas to participate.

Close relatives and friends attended the morning worship at the First United Church of Christ in Colby at 9 a.m. The Rev. Kenneth Dix, pastor, noted the occasion in his sermon.

John Barry of Torrance, California, son-in-law of the couple, sang “The Lord’s Prayer” before offertory of the service.

After the service, 50 guests were present at a surprise banquet held at Medo Farms Restaurant, Abbotsford.

A beautiful three-tiered anniversary cake was displayed at the banquet hall. Mrs. Janet Barry, who is a floral designer in California, decorated the centerpiece and all the corsages and boutonnieres worn by all the guests at the banquet.

Mr. Barry, as master of ceremonies, introduced the honored speaker, the Rev. Kenneth Dix. The pastor referred to the story of Rebecca in the Old Testament as symbol of happy married life.

After a speech of thanksgiving to all, given by Mr. Ortmeier, with an added expression of thanks from his wife, Milda, the guests joined the crowd already forming at the Colby church for the open house.

The banquet was the gift of the Ortmeier’s daughter, Irene Vlcanshy, of Milwaukee, and their niece, Mrs. Janet (Olson) Barry and her husband, John, and nephews, Jerome and Earl Olson, and their families of California.

The open house was a gift from the relatives of the couple living in Wisconsin: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Neuhaus and Betty Krandall of Genoa City, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Johnson and daughter, Judy, Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne Neuhaus of Janesville, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Vorpagel of Lake Geneva.

The focal point on the table of gifts was a plaque of two joined hearts formed of Styrofoam (creation of Mrs. Betty Krandall of Genoa City) and interspersed with 26 (for the date of the anniversary) gold covered silver dollars donated by the families who prepared the open house. Mrs. Ralph Jannene and the church Guild took charge of the refreshments at the hall.

John and Steve Goldamer, Abbotsford, furnished the entertainment.

Besides the Ortmeier’s daughter, Irene, Mr. and Mrs. (Janet Olson) Barry of Torrance, and the afore-mentioned relatives from Genoa City, Lake Geneva and Janesville, other honored guests included the following: Mr. and Mrs. Karl Huebner (Mrs. Ortmeier’s mother) of Chippewa Falls, Rev. Kenneth Dix, pastor of the Colby First United Church of Christ, Rev. Otto Stockmeier of Humbird First United Church of Christ, Mrs. Frieda Eche and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Eche of Shawano (cousins of Mr. Ortmeier), Mrs. Lydia Dehne (sister of Mr. Ortmeier), and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Masciewicz, Ashland (niece and nephew of Mr. Ortmeier), Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dehne, Abbotsford (nephew of Mr. Ortmeier.)

Other relatives present were the Clarence Gosse family of Abbotsford, the Gerald Athorp family, Cleveland, Wisconsin, the Harold Pluess family of Manitowoc, and the Alfred Heinz family of Abbotsford.