The Engagement and Bridal Showers (1950)
In 1950, the announcement of the engagement of Gwen Koehler to Ralph Stauder is announced by the couple at an informal gathering at the home of Orval and Mary Koehler at 1640 North Church St. Mock rings with miniature scrolls attached reveal the news of their engagement to guests upon their arrival. Those attending are Ralph’s parents, Fred & Eleanor Stauder, his uncle and aunt, Ralph and Ethel Gruenewald, his brother and sister, Clete and Dorothy, and his cousins, Leo Stauder and Jean Gruenewald who is attending with her boyfriend, Jim Richter. Gwen is currently employed at the St. Clair County Highway Department and Ralph is the editor of the fund-raising magazine for the Missionary Oblates of Mary …show more content…
Clair County Highway Department in the same office where Gwen works as a secretary. One of Gwen's lasting memories is going to work on a Monday morning, April 18, 1949, and telling Virgil that she had a great time on Friday night on a first date with Ralph Stauder. When she goes on to explain that they went to a show in downtown Belleville, Virgil interrupted her and voiced his disapproval. Gwen is stunned as he goes on to tell her that she should never have gone out on a date on Good Friday. Even Gwen's explanation that they had attended church earlier in the day does not make it okay in the eyes of Virgil. Virgil is a strict Catholic who has a brother who is a priest and who has two children, one of whom will someday study for the priesthood while the other will become a nun. Virgil, and his wife, Eleanor, become friends of Gwen and Ralph. On July 5, 1950, Gwen is surprised by a stock-the-Kitchen Bridal Shower thrown in her honor at the home of her friends, Virgil and Eleanor Fellner. Arriving at their house at 200 South 17th St., Gwen finds her kitchen gifts by breaking multi-colored balloons in which clues are given as to where they are hidden. Fourteen women, including Gwen’s mother and Ralph’s mother, surprise Gwen with a set of coffee cups, an ice bucket, a kitchen clock, kitchen linens, and, among other things, a book called, The Joy of Cooking. After an evening of games, a lunch is
In 1950, the announcement of the engagement of Gwen Koehler to Ralph Stauder is announced by the couple at an informal gathering at the home of Orval and Mary Koehler at 1640 North Church St. Mock rings with miniature scrolls attached reveal the news of their engagement to guests upon their arrival. Those attending are Ralph’s parents, Fred & Eleanor Stauder, his uncle and aunt, Ralph and Ethel Gruenewald, his brother and sister, Clete and Dorothy, and his cousins, Leo Stauder and Jean Gruenewald who is attending with her boyfriend, Jim Richter. Gwen is currently employed at the St. Clair County Highway Department and Ralph is the editor of the fund-raising magazine for the Missionary Oblates of Mary …show more content…
Clair County Highway Department in the same office where Gwen works as a secretary. One of Gwen's lasting memories is going to work on a Monday morning, April 18, 1949, and telling Virgil that she had a great time on Friday night on a first date with Ralph Stauder. When she goes on to explain that they went to a show in downtown Belleville, Virgil interrupted her and voiced his disapproval. Gwen is stunned as he goes on to tell her that she should never have gone out on a date on Good Friday. Even Gwen's explanation that they had attended church earlier in the day does not make it okay in the eyes of Virgil. Virgil is a strict Catholic who has a brother who is a priest and who has two children, one of whom will someday study for the priesthood while the other will become a nun. Virgil, and his wife, Eleanor, become friends of Gwen and Ralph. On July 5, 1950, Gwen is surprised by a stock-the-Kitchen Bridal Shower thrown in her honor at the home of her friends, Virgil and Eleanor Fellner. Arriving at their house at 200 South 17th St., Gwen finds her kitchen gifts by breaking multi-colored balloons in which clues are given as to where they are hidden. Fourteen women, including Gwen’s mother and Ralph’s mother, surprise Gwen with a set of coffee cups, an ice bucket, a kitchen clock, kitchen linens, and, among other things, a book called, The Joy of Cooking. After an evening of games, a lunch is