We Keep On Keeping On!

Looking Back to How We Planned the Larson Family Centennial Reunion.

Thank You to Everyone for Enjoying the Day!

Mark your calendars for the historical day of July 29, 2018.

The location will be Lake Storey, Galesburg Illinois. The air-conditioned Pavilion, the beach, the playground, and the rental paddle boats are shown below. UPDATED INFO: The water by the shore is 3′-4′ deep. There are no lifeguards. The paddle boats rent for $8 an hour. A person with a driver’s license must rent the paddle boat.

Lake Storey, Galesburg, Illinois

This is the header of a flyer/invitation mailed in April. It was sent to Larson Kin in Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota, South Carolina, Iowa, Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, Washington and Wisconsin.

Here’s the registration form for you to print, cut and mail.

Larson Kin in Illinois, let’s prepare with a warm Illini Välkommen!!

Updated info:

Registration will be held inside the Pavilion, which has stairs and an elevator access. Your name tags will be color coded by Larson Sibling ancestor’s name. We’re asking Kin to register ahead so we have catered food and tables set adequately. Dean and Sandy Martens are handling the registration and name tags. Tack SÅ Mycket!!! 309-787-3615 We’ll begin closing at 3:30 and be completed (and out) by 6:00 p.m. We have secured outdoor space for our use only, all day, so games and your personal lawn chairs can move to the grass area and linger with Larson Kin! Music is allowed on the grass, but without amplification. Dancing, anyone?

Is anyone brave enough to bring Lutfisk or Pickled Herring and HardTack? Or how about Varm Potatis Korv? (warm potato sausage) That would be exciting!! Bring your special side dish or salad. My mouth is watering already! Only one household size refrigerator is available – you may want to bring a cooler to keep something cold. One small oven and electrical outlets are available to keep warm food warm – you may want to bring a crock pot. For questions about food, and if you can help out!, call Deanna Calkins 309-375-6434.

What’s a Raffle Theme Basket?

It’s a basket, worth approximately $50, that’s filled with items that might connect with your interest. A collection of Fishing items, Golf items, Knitting, Sewing, Gardening, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Kid’s art activities, Teens magazines & snacks, Snacks and games for game night, something from your family business, etc.

Your family, with siblings, children, grandchildren (could be 6 adults and kids with good ideas) might work together to create a basket and share the cost. Please remember to list the items fromthe basket on a card and cover the basket with clear wrap of some sort. People can read what’s in the basket and peek through the wrap, but won’t disturb your beautiful display!

Sandy M. will have a container by each basket for you to drop tickets by your choice(s).

If you prefer, you can bring an individual item (still close to $50 value) and substitute that for a basket (remember a card telling about your item). If you prefer to not bring anything for the Raffle, you can still help out by buying lots of tickets or just make a donation at the door and still watch the fun!

Money from the raffle will help to cover the costs of facility rental, misc. equipment and expenses.

Please call Sandy Martens before July 5^th, with the name of your basket or item. 309-738-9211

Sandy Martens and friend have stitched this 82″ by 82″ beautiful quilt and pillows, named “Swedish Nights” to be won by a lucky, lucky Larson Kin! Chances are $5. Buy chances at the door and cross your fingers!

One-third of the invitations that were sent out recently went out-of-state from Illinois. We’ve been working directly with Eric Herrera, Manager, for a Larson Reunion block of rooms. Ask for him if you have questions about reservations. This hotel is 2.4 miles or 6 minutes from the Pavilion.

WHEW! That’s a lot of information, isn’t it?

FINALLY, The site of Lake Storey Pavilion and the date of July 29th, 2018 were voted in at the 98th (2016) Family Reunion meeting. The majority of Larson Family Reunions over the years have been held at Lake Storey, as researched through the minutes of 97 reunions. If you’re not familiar with the park you can search online for ‘Lake Storey Galesburg ‘ to find more information about this beautiful area.

If there is enough interest, we may plan a field trip on Saturday the 28th to the farming area where CW and Johanna first settled, to the churches they attended (Woodhull Lutheran and the Clover Chapel area) and cemeteries where the Fallines, Julia Larson, CW & Johanna, and several of the Siblings are buried.