Loewen descendants gather at Tabor College for family reunion
By Karen Penner
Contributing writer
Thunderstorms and threats of flooding didn't keep the descendants of Jacob and Justina (Leppke) Loewen from attending the seventh triennial reunion at Tabor College on the weekend of July 23-25. The 184 people registered, including 35 children and youth, came from Kansas, California, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona, Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, and South Carolina.
Memories were molded as four generations of Loewens shared stories of our heritage. Jacob and Justina (Leppke) Loewen came to America as teenagers in the 1870s from the Ukraine, were married in 1878, and settled on a farm southeast of Hillsboro in the Ebenfeld community. They had 15 children, 12 of whom grew to adulthood and married, producing 60 grandchildren.
There are 33 cousins who are living today, of whom 23 were present at the reunion. During the past 125 years this family has grown to some 1,426 members.
Wedding pictures of the 12 children of Jacob and Justina displayed on a Victorian background, along with heirlooms and memorabilia of Grandpa and Grandma Loewen, provided the backdrop for the festivities. Twelve banners hung around the Tabor cafeteria, one for each of the Loewen families represented at the reunion, that featured the 60 cousins — their weddings, and their families.
The feature of Friday night's program was a power point presentation of "Loewen Russian Roots" by Karen Penner, Newton, and Jim Loewen, Wichita, showing pictures of the villages in which the Loewens and Leppkes lived on the steppes of South Russia (now known as the Ukraine). Friday events closed with a mini-auction led by Clint Seibel, Hillsboro.
The continuous rain Saturday morning canceled the Loewen Heritage Tour to the family farm, Ebenfeld church and school, and other points of interest, but a tour of the home Grandpa Loewen had built at 205 South Washington in about 1916 proceeded as planned. Other activities included a tour of the Dr. Solomon L. Loewen Science Building, a visit to the Peter Paul Loewen Adobe House and other Hillsboro attractions, and a visit to the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies (CMBS) at the Tabor College library to view pictures and artifacts in the Jacob Loewen files.
Children and youth activities were held in the lounge area, led by Kay Klassen, Gail Dyck, Amy Suderman, and Nicole Suderman, all of Hillsboro. The family scavenger hunt for the youth had to be canceled because of the rain.
Throughout the weekend, stories and poems were read, written for the occasion, recalling family incidents, mishaps, fun, and worship. The theme for the weekend was "Memories Mold
A short program Saturday afternoon included "A Visit to Mama's Kitchen" by Wes Loewen, Sun Lakes, Ark., and "Mennonite Connections-Zimbabwe 2003" by Helen Loewen, Minneapolis, Minn. Rosena Warkentin, Lincoln, Neb. described what a "Double Cousin" was, with her granddaughters holding a chart. Three of the Jacob Loewen sons, and one daughter, married four Penner siblings, making all their children "double cousins." (Also, two Loewen daughters married two Suderman brothers creating more sets of "double cousins").
The evening program featured the Light House Quartet, three of its members are members of the Loewen family — Joel Suderman, Ken Koslowsky, and Carla Koslowsky, pianist. Other members are Reno Penner and Lowell Jost — and Reno is one of those "double cousins" on the Penner side. Theresa Frank, Santa Barbara, Calif., led a memorial service for the nine family members who had died since the 2001 reunion. Arlin Penner, Fullerton, Calif., led family singing throughout the weekend, with Carla Koslowsky accompanying.
The talent show featured several fifth generation Loewens. Julie and Stephanie Wiens, 14-year-old twins from Fresno, presented a piano duet. Carmen and Monica Claesson sang "The Elements," which they dedicated to the memory of Uncle Sol Loewen, a former long-time professor of science at Tabor College. The girls are from Lincoln, Neb., and were accompanied by their mother, Marcia Claesson.
The Loewen Family Auction stirred up great camaraderie and competition, as many items were auctioned by Lyle Leppke, local auctioneer, who is a descendant from a branch in Justina Leppke Loewen's family. Several featured items in the auction included several "bengskis" (little benches), made by Eldon Jost, replicas of the one owned by Grandpa and Grandma Loewen on which the 60 cousins stood to recite their piece or sing their song for Grandpa and Grandma at Christmas.
Another two items bringing spirited bidding were the Loewen Heritage Albums, with pictures of all the children of Jacob and Justina Loewen, as well as all the 60 cousins and their families, put together by Bonnie Loewen, Wichita. Many handmade items also were auctioned, including a beautiful quilt made by Vonne Huebert, Clovis, Calif. and LaVada Brandt, Reedley, Calif. Saturday evening festivities were
capped with a homemade ice cream social (banana black walnut and strawberry) celebrating "Grandma Loewen's birthday," following a family tradition. Wes Loewen, Jim Loewen, and Gib Suderman made the ice cream.
The Sunday worship service was led by Jim Loewen and featured a meditation by Harold Loewen, Carpenter, SD, and music by a quartet, Arlin Penner; Althea Penner, Pasadena, Calif.; Eddie Feil, Vista, Calif.; and Pam Voth, Newton.
Prior to Sunday dinner, the Loewen Reunion came to a close with a business meeting, at which there was a vote to continue the triennial reunion, with one to be planned for 2007 in California.
The word "Loewen" means lion in German. It also means loving in Low German idiom. Or "we might say, stalwart in faith and loving in relationships," a quote from Esther Loewen Vogt, who wrote "Star Gazing" in the Hillsboro Star Journal until her death.
Eldon and Luella Jost, Buhler; Carla Koslowsky, Hillsboro; Jim and Bonnie Loewen, Wichita; and Karen Penner, Newton were in charge of arrangements.
