HIGGINS 17^th Family REUNION

Minutes July 27-28, 2002

Approximately 60+ people were at the Snyder’s Bend Camp site in Salix, Iowa, on Saturday night.

Supper consisting of grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, fruit salad, corn on the cob, and cookies was furnished.  Relatives brought additional salads and desserts so it made for a wonderful variety.  Unfortunately the temperature was hot and humid without a breath of breeze making it a very uncomfortable evening.  Then when it started to get dark and cool down a bit, the bugs came out.  $92 was collected in the free-will offering for the supper.  John roped in his family in preparing the supper:  Tish (sister) made the potato salad and his daughter-in-law (Angie) made all the various cookies and bars, as well as calling on his son and sons-in-law to help with various things.

Sunday dinner was held at noon at the Nativity Parish Center with only 86 in attendance, but 110 had made reservations.  The attendance was very disappointing, as we had made reservations with the caterer for 150 dinners.

OLD BUSINESS:

Minutes of the 2000 reunion were made available to those not on our mailing list.  John explained the website, how it was possible to send photos to his son Chris, who was acting as the host for the website, maintaining the server it was on, and doing any updates.  Currently only dates of birth are visible for those relatives who are no longer living.  Chris is trying to create a method wherein access could be gained to look at all the dates by use of a password.  Then any corrections on dates, locations, spelling of names, etc. could be done easily.  John pointed out sheets were also available on the table to use to update anyone’s family tree if they did not have access to a computer.

NEW BUSINESS:

John announced Vern Pranke (Tish’s husband) was celebrating his 80^th birthday today (Sunday).

A recap of Saturday night’s activities was done.  Discussion followed about having the Saturday night festivities in 2004 in an air conditioned facility with the possibility of people going outside weather permitting.  Everyone was in agreement with this suggestion.  As a result of the low turnout this year, it was agreed that in 2004 reservations must be accompanied by a check to pay for the Sunday meal.  That way the host family will not get stuck with paying for meals.

John had business cards available with his new e-mail address.  He asked everyone to e-mail him when they got back home, even if it was just to say “Hi, I’m home” in order to alleviate the problem we had after the last reunion with people giving us incorrect e-mail addresses.

Bernard Higgins brought up the condition of the tombstone on Patrick Higgins’ grave in Illinois.  A new footstone could be purchased for $400 – this would include putting on both of their names, engraving the dates, and putting it in place.  The weathering has almost made the writing on it illegible.

John went down the list of 4^th cousins and asked a representative of each family to make their report.  Mike Higgins stated his family lives in Tulsa, OK and is so involved in baseball tournaments that they were unable to attend.

4^th  cousin:  Mary Gertrude (Higgins) Venables, descendants:

Sonja Gunderson was present with three of her grandchildren.  Gertrude Venables was her mother.  Art, Sonja’s brother from Sioux Falls, who suffered a stroke 1 ½ years ago, was also present.  Although the other side of the family held a reunion in Sioux Falls two weeks ago, he said they should have tried harder to get their family to come to the Higgins one too.

4^th  cousin:  Leo Higgins, descendants:

Darold Higgins said he was going home to “chew some butt” in regards to his brother and sister.

4^th  cousin:  Jerry F Higgins, descendants

John Higgins (son of Jerry) then reported on the happenings in his family.  Only his son Chris and wife Julie were not able to attend – the rest of his kids and their families were in attendance.  He gave an update on what was happening in their lives, as well as John’s brother Mike and his sister Peggy who live in California. 

Tish (Higgins) Pranke reported on their sister LaNease who is now in a nursing home as a result of her Alzheimer’s, and gave an overview of Jerry and LaNease’s family, as well as her own.  She said she was going home to “chew some butt” too.

Karen (Higgins) Swenson, who attended with her husband Darold, told about her kids and their families.

4^th  cousin:  Mary “Mamie” (Higgins) Boje, descendants

Jack Boje (son of Mamie (Higgins) Boje) explained two of his sisters were in attendance, so they were “not all here either.”  That got a few laughs.  Reported on his sisters and their children and grandchildren.  Jack said he would like to get his family more involved in studying their heritage, and how important that is, and is working on the Boje side of the family now.

4^th  cousin:  Joseph “Joe” Higgins, descendants

Colleen (Higgins) Steinkamp (daughter of Joe Higgins) said her husband and sons-in-law were at a ballgame in St. Louis; however, her daughter, granddaughter, and Jeff’s girlfriend came to the reunion with Colleen.  She briefly updated the happenings in her brothers’ families.  She said the boys tore down her Dad’s home place last year.

4^th  cousin:  Bernard Higgins, descendants

Bernard Higgins said they have 47 grandchildren, and their family count is 110 including in-laws.  He said there wasn’t enough time in the day to tell where they all are.

4^th  cousin:  Sylvester “Sam”Higgins, descendants

Dorothy Higgins (widow of Sam Higgins) said soon she will have lived in the same house for 50 years.  She told about her family.  Her daughter Patricia who lives in Nashville was scheduled to fly in so she could come to the reunion, but at the last minute could not get a ticket to fly home Sunday night, and she had to be to work on Monday.  Although Dorothy is retired, she said she has 13 different volunteer jobs.

4^th  cousin:  Vincent Higgins, descendants

Edwin Higgins’ family had been at the dinner, but his brother, sister, and mother had to leave before the business meeting to get back home.

4^th  cousin:  Katherine “Kate”(Higgins) Shaughnessy, descendants

Regarding the family of Katherine Higgins, mail sent to Francis Shaughnessy was returned as undeliverable.  Dale Higgins said he had stopped to visit Francis in Kansas, and he is in an assisted living facility.  He still cares for himself, walks to church every day using a walker, and is very alert.  He is 88 years old and remarkably can name the Presidents in order and can give all the dates relative to their terms in office.

4^th  cousin:  Thomas “Tommy” Higgins, descendants

Tommy Higgins – Dale gave the report.  Kenny and Jane were in attendance with grandkids; David; Ellamae, Bob and the kids.  Of course, Dale’s wife Susan and two of his boys were present.

Genevieve – Her brother Bob said he lost his wife last March 15^th, but he is here today with his son Mike.  Richard is coming back to Iowa in September. 

Barbara Higgins - No one was in attendance from the Lynch or Cody families.  It was believed that Catherine Cody was helping out a friend who had a foot amputated, and Mary had sickness in the family.

Frank Kelly - Although Mary Kelly and family live in Sioux City, they did not attend.  Someone thought she was experiencing some health problems.

Next Reunion:  It was agreed that the next family reunion in 2004 will be held in Grand Junction the weekend of July 24-25, with an air conditioned facility for both Saturday night and Sunday dinner.

Tombstone:  If each descendant were to contribute $1, we would have enough money to buy the footstone.  So if you are interested in contributing, please send your money to John Higgins in Sioux City, and he will follow up on purchasing the stone as soon as the funds are available.

Cookbooks:  Many years ago relatives were asked to send recipes in for a cookbook, and LaNease was going to put that book together.  Well, that never happened.  Consequently, we now took those recipes and did make them into a book.  If anyone spies one of their recipes in it with the author as “Unknown” that is the result of the recipes having been taken out of the envelopes in which they were mailed, so we had no idea who the author was.  John said the books would only be $1.00 – just what the materials cost to put them together.  (51 books were sold).

It was noted that Jerry and Betty Higgins have been in business 50 years in Wessington Springs.

When the hat was passed, $252.00 was collected.

John thanked all who helped in any way with putting the reunion together and for coming to the reunion.

On Saturday a bus took a group up to the Queen of Peace Shrine.  Although the bus unfortunately did not have air conditioning, many commented that they would definitely like to come back and go there again when they have more time.  It is well worth the trip.

Now for the financial report.

Because of the uncertainty of the number attending the reunion each time, we would suggest that no beer be furnished, and everyone bring their own.  Due to the large amount left over, we did not charge anything for the pop or beer.  Also after a “discussion” with the caterer, she did agree to leave some of the food not served.  Since only one family took any of this extra food, we ended up with a lot of leftovers and feel the reunion funds should not have to pay for any beer, pop or ice purchased to compensate for us getting the leftovers.

Just want to remind you again of my new e-mail address:  john_higgins@higginsreunion.com.  Also many thanks to all of you who traveled both near and far to attend the reunion.  Without the families continuing to participate, we will soon lose contact with our relatives.

                                                            Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you in 2004,

                                                            John P. Higgins

                                                            3201 So. Hennepin Street

                                                            Sioux City, IA  51106-4414