Choitz-Schwerdtfeger

Photo collages of family greeted 57 descendants and guests of Friedrich A. and Wilhelmina (Hackbarth) Schwerdtfeger and descendants of Hermann and Augusta (Neumann) Choitz Aug. 10 at the Rancho Milagro Guest Lodge and Event Center in Clear Creek Township.

The Friedrich Schwerdtfegers and Hermann Choitzs were immigrants from Germany. Both families settled in the Chicago, Ill. area before coming to Kansas and homesteading in Sherman Township of Ellsworth County.

Emcee Clay Magaña welcomed everyone, invited all to drop by the photo booth for pictures taken by Wanda Abeyta, and to check out the various family photo displays. Karl Newkirk gave the blessing of the potluck lunch at half past noon.

Family members who had passed away since the last reunion were honored with a memorial display: Edith (Haase) Hysell Reed and Della Ann (Haase) Ranker (Ida Schwerdtger and Reinhold Haase family tree); Darlene (Schwerdtfeger) and Norman Slechta (Herman Schwerdtfeger and Louise Nienke family tree); Daniel Hughes and Jesse Magaña (Frank Schwerdtfeger family tree).

The afternoon was spent socializing, reviewing old photos and genealogy records, renewing friendships, reminiscing, and games for the kids. The fiesta-themed photo booth provided a festive backdrop for family pictures.

A variety of items were donated for the door prize drawing. Becki Libhart won the grand prize of a Texas Flag soft-sided, insulated cooler. All the children won a door prize of their choice. Youngsters Peyton Lawson and Dimitri Rhamy helped the emcee draw/announce the door prizes.

Dean Choitz and Clay Magaña held the rope while willing children took turns to try to break the piñata without hitting them. The power batter was Dimitri Rhamy who finished off the piñata and released the candy for the kids.

Representing the Albert and Lydia (Choitz) Schwerdtfeger family was Walter Schwerdtfeger, Jr.of Ellsworth.

The largest family contingent present were the 21 descendants of Frank and Bertha (Grosnick) Schwerdtfeger. Representing the Erwin Schwerdtfeger family was Karl Newkirk of Ellsworth; and Lucina (Schwerdtfeger) and Cecil Green family was Wanda (Green) Abeyta of Albuquerque, N.M. Other members of this family tree in attendance were Diana (Schwerdtfeger) of Brookville; Famia Magaña of Spring Branch, Texas; Audie and Sue Magaña, Maia (Magaña), Alex and Ava DeGuzman of Junction City; Clay and Terry Magaña, Cera Magaña and Dimitri Rhamy of Wichita; Velinda Magaña of Brookville; Bertha (Schwerdtfeger) Rojas and Lichelle (Rojas) Miley of Kanopolis; Genaro Rojas of Ellsworth; Sherry (Rojas) Kitchen, Jennifer (Kitchen) Lawson, Peyton Lawson, and Jillian Lawson of Salina.

In attendance from the Wm. C. and Helena (Schwerdtfeger) Choitz branch of the family tree were Chant Koralek, Lonnie (Koralek) Soukup, Machelle Koralek representing Lillian (Choitz) Koralek Campbell. Erna (Choitz) Bender family descendants were Ona Wright of Ellsworth; Jana Wright, Kimbree, Ellie, Claire, Maggie Hopkins of Kanopolis; Patti Jo (Bender) Teach of Maize. The Artie Choitz family descendants were Linda and Clint Epley of Canyon Lake, Texas; Lynn and Michael Dreher of Loveland, Colo. The Vera (Choitz) Hoopes family was represented by Blain and Pier Toman of Ellsworth; Sydni Rogers, Ethan, Christy and Thor Toman of Salina.

Other cousins in attendance from the Michael Choitz and Louise (Krutz) Choitz branch of the family tree were Emil and Arlene Choitz; Lawrence (Shorty) Choitz, Mary (Choitz) Meier), Ralph and Evelyn Choitz, Dean Choitz (George Choitz family) of Ellsworth; Lois (Anschutz) Wenz (Mable (Choitz) Anschutz family) of Holyrood; Leon Choitz of Ellsworth and Kevin Choitz of Topeka (Carl F.L. and Emilie (Schultz) Choitz family); Rebecca Libhart and Steve Sherrow of Greeley, Colo. and Mary and Larry Parrish of Raytown, Mo.) represented the Alivna (Choitz) Rottmiller branch of the family tree.

Friends and guests present were Ruth Borell of Dorrance.

Linda and Clint Epley traveled the farthest distance to attend the reunion.

A brief business meeting was held. The 2020 reunion will be Aug. 8, 2020 at a location to be determined.