Above / This 1992 photo captured a wonderful memory when the Mitchell Family spent the weekend at Aunt Frannie’s lake house near Indiana Beach. For the last 20 years, the summer reunion has been held at the home of Aunt Ruthie in Wabash, Ind.
Cheers to families and their reunions! Every family, of course, is different. Some families are small. Others are large. Some families still live relatively close in proximity and may see each other often. A family reunion may not be high on their list of must-dos.
Mitchell Family Memories & Reunions 2016
The Gertrude and Paul Mitchell family with 108 off-spring — children (9), grandchildren (25), great grandchildren (41), great-great grandchildren (27) and one great-great-great grandson — and spouses is spread out from coast to coast.
Folks must travel from California, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Colorado, Missouri, Washington, Utah, Florida, Minnesota, New York, Virginia and South Carolina to reconnect in Indiana. And they do whenever possible.
Everyone unable to attend is missed. While some relatives must divide themselves among “the other side” of family commitments, the two Mitchell reunions provide a choice twice a year when folks can touch base.
With fond memories, the Mitchell family was saddened in 2016 when several family members died. Their lives always will be remembered as they blessed this family with their love, humor and so much more.
Remembering Candyce Krumwiede (Jan. 24, 1956-April 1, 2016)
—Updated April 3, 2016 / Candyce Louise (Clifton) Krumwiede, 60, of Johns Island, passed away on Friday, April 1, 2016.
Born in Rushville, Indiana, on January 24, 1956, Candyce, fondly known as Candy Lou, was the daughter of the late Harold and Frances (Mitchell) Clifton and wife to David R. Krumwiede.
Mitchell Family Reunion Summer 2016
Above / Aunt Ruthie again welcomed the Mitchell clan for the annual family reunion on the third sun-in-your-eyes Saturday in July.
During the most recent Mitchell Summer Reunion at Aunt Ruthie’s homestead, 45 people attended, ranging in age from two to 93 years old. Aunt Marjorie, the eldest child of the late Gertrude (Rowen) and late Marion Paul Mitchell, her husband, Don; and Carol’s husband, Chips, each clocked in at 93 years old, having celebrated their birthdays in May.
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Other Mitchell descendants arrived for an active day of croquet and swimming. And, of course, everyone enjoyed fellowship and dining at a huge luncheon buffet of farm fresh corn-on-the-cob, blueberries and bing cherries; Mitchell homemade salads, delicious desserts and Bill’s famous barbecue beef. Then when evening rolled around, fried chicken filled the menu.
Aunt Ruthie kept a tally of all guests.
Thanks to social media, relatives were connected with a new addition to the Hadley family was posted. Rachel and Logan’s baby girl, Madeline, arrived early Saturday and everyone was sharing photos of the newborn, the third great-great-great grandchild of Gertrude and Paul.
Aunt Ruthie also was basking in acclaim for receipt of the Reserve Champion prize at the 2016 Wabash County Fair for her quilt that depicts cowboy boots, no two alike. (Thanks, Melanie, for helping with the photo!)
Then in late afternoon, 16-year-old Jessica Weekley (Jerry and Diane’s daughter) demonstrated what she’s learned in 4-H and via the Cimarron Firearms Company and Pietta’s Young Guns program. Jessica competes in Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) clubs, an organization established in 1987 to preserve and promote the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. Wow! What a show.
Kissin’ Cousin Comments
Wonderful day at Wabash! —Julie Leisure, Social Media Photos
It was a great reunion! —Beverly Sobczak
LOVE this family!! Missed many Earthly and Heavenly loved ones yesterday, but for those that were able to attend, it was a great reminder of our many blessings!! —Jama Garcia
Brooke got so many cute shots of Leyanah (sp?). I’m sure one of them will be on her poster next year. —Julie Leisure
Everyone who was unable to attend truly was missed! God bless everyone who is fighting health challenges. Thanks again, Aunt Ruthie!
Remembering Carol (Mitchell) Crookston (Sept. 2, 1927-Aug. 8, 2016)
—Updated August 10, 2016 / Carol Lavonne (Mitchell) Crookston was born September 2, 1927 in Battle Ground, Indiana to Marion Paul Mitchell and Gertrude (Rowan) Mitchell.
In her youth, Carol raised and showed cattle at the county and state fairs before graduating from Battle Ground High School in June 1945.
After graduation, Carol worked at Alcoa in Lafayette as a steno and secretary.
At a chance meeting on August 19, 1945, Carol met Don J. Crookston in the Sweet Shop in the Memorial Building at Purdue University. The couple was married on February 14, 1947, by Rev. Roberts and Rev. Williams in the Methodist Church in Battle Ground.
Carol was a loving full-time mother who also devoted time as secretary for her husband’s construction business.
Carol is survived by her husband; her 2 sisters, Marjorie Heman and Ruth Weekley; and a brother, Rev. Phillip Mitchell. Five of her siblings, Jessie, Jean, Floyd, David and Francis are with our Lord.
Carol also is survived by her 3 children, Stephanie Penick (husband, Jim), James Richard (wife, Barbara), and Donald Jay (wife, Cathy); 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
The Mitchell family is well-known for their large family reunions twice a year as well as monthly “Family Days” when the siblings meet to keep connected with their wonderful memories and family news.
Carol and Don moved to Muncie in 1948.
Always active in her children’s lives as their first teacher, Carol served as a room mother and scout leader. She belonged to the Delphian Society, Mother’s Study Club, several ballroom dance clubs, Green Hills Country Club and several longstanding bridge clubs. She was a member of College Avenue Methodist Church.
In 1992, Carol established “Grandma’s Scholarship Fund” for her 8 grandchildren as they began to attend college. The results produced 8 B.S. degrees, 3 M.S. degrees and 1 PhD.
She volunteered at Ball Memorial Hospital for more than 45 years where she shared her smile and good nature.
Every Christmas since 1955, Carol looked forward to glistening colored holiday lights on the large fir tree at the entrance to Rolling Oaks, a tradition that always has brought good neighbors together in the joyful spirit of the season.
Carol always will be remembered as a fantastic mother to Stephanie and her husband, Jim; Jim and his wife, Barbara; and Jay and his wife, Cathy; an excellent grandmother to Andy and Angie Crookston, Ashley, Timothy and Jeff Penick; and Tyler, Benjamin and Claire Ann Crookston. With all her love and experience, Carol was a World Class Great Grandmother to Nicholas and Isaac Crookston; and Jaden, Peyton and Alexandra Wagoner; and Carter Crookston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Salvation Army or Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Visitation will be Saturday, August 13, 2016, from 11 AM until 1PM at the Parson Mortuary in Muncie, Indiana.
Services will be Saturday, August 13, 2016, at 1PM at the mortuary with Rev. Phillip Mitchell officiating. Burial will be at Elm Ridge Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.
Mitchell Thanksgiving Day 2016 at Ross Camp
Dateline, November 24, 2016 / Descendants of Gertrude and Marian Paul Mitchell did it again! More than 30 of them arrived on Wednesday evening, many camped overnight in the lodge at Ross Camp and got up early to begin dressing the turkeys. Others came early to camp early Thursday morning help get Thanksgiving dinner started so 43 family members and guests could enjoy the traditional feast with all the trimmings at 1PM.
PHOTO GALLERY / Click any photo to enlarge.
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Special thanks to Aunt Ruthie for another fowl story and for the “button craft” for the holidays.
Politician in the Making
Homer was in the fertilized egg business. He had several hundred young layers (hens) called “pullets,” and 10 roosters to fertilize the eggs. He kept records, and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced.
Keeping records took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters. Each bell had a different tone so he could tell from a distance which rooster was performing. Now he could sit on the porch and fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells.
Homer’s favorite rooster, Old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but one morning he noticed Old Butch’s bell hadn’t rung at all. When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters in pursuit, could run for cover.
To Homer’s amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak so it couldn’t ring.
He’d sneak up on a pullet, do his job and approach the next one. Homer was so proud of Old Butch, he entered him in the County Fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.
The result was the judges not only awarded Old Butch the No-Bell Piece Prize, but they also awarded him the Pullet-surprise as well.
Clearly Old Butch was a politician in the making.
Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet be being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren’t paying attention.
Vote carefully this year… the bells are not always audible.
—Author Unknown
—Stephanie Penick, 4th of Gertrude and Paul Mitchell’s 25 Grandchildren
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