On Saturday, June 13, 2015, descendants of Henry Peter and Anna Hertzler gathered at Shady Oak in Harrisonburg for a family reunion.
Here are a few family facts:
- They had 10 children; Arthur, Milford, Menno (died as a youth in a boating accident), Lois (Hostetter), Ruth (Shank), Harry, Oliver, Osie (Ziegler), Edith (Wenger), and Dora (Brunk).
- There are 44 cousins with Bob Hertzler (81) the oldest.
- The closest we could figure, there are now 634 living descendants including spouses with approximately 60 (10%) in attendance. They came from Arizona, Florida, Chicago, Delaware, Pennsylvania and points in between!
- Harry (98) and Osie (96) are the only living children and they were both there! We weren’t sure on either one until the last minute.
This was a touching moment as siblings, Harry and Osie, greeted each other. It has been quite a few years since they have been together and it was the highlight of the reunion.
With a huge grin he took his hat off and got down on his knees in front of her.
They were obviously both really happy.
They sat and held hands-it was so precious. It made you wonder what was going through their minds.
Each family unit was represented and had their picture taken with Harry and Osie.
Arthur and Edna Hertzler family
(Kim, Rachel, Caleb Snyder, Bobby Hertzler, Bob & Marie Hertzler)
Milford and Ada Hertzler Family
(David Gerber, Harrison Elmore, Christina Harman, Keith Harman, Jan Gerber, Catherine (Presley) Elmore, Diann (Presley) Harman and Annalena Elmore)
Lois and Virgil Hostetter Family
(L-R: Nancy & Bob Hostetter, Margie Swartzentruber)
Ruth and Byard Shank Family
L-R: David & Lois Shank, Daniel & Margaret Lehman, Brandon & Heather Byler, John & Patricia Martin, Ray & Merietta Shank)
Harry & Edna Hertzler Family
(L-R with wives in front of men) Michael & Kay Hertzler, J.P. & Alma Hertzler, Joe & Norma Hertzler, David & Ilva Hertzler)
Oliver and Anna Mae Hertzler Family
(Back row L-R: Jill & Obe Hostetter, Gene & Pat Hertzler
(2nd row: Ryan & Karla Hostetter)
Osie and Ralph Ziegler Family
(Audrey Ziegler)
Edith and John Wenger Family
L-R: Sidney Wenger, Howard Wenger, Elba & Harold Wenger, Louise and Linford Sommers
Dora and Dan Brunk Family
(Kenny Brunk and Dale & Kathy Stoltfus)
Other pictures
Newlyweds, Harold & Elba Wenger, married April 10, 2015 and hailing all the way from Arizona.
Linford Sommers and Ray Shank
Alma, Norma and Ilva Hertzler
David and Lois Shank
Gene Hertzler and Keith Harman
Osie and Bob Hertzler
Marie Hertzler and son, Bobby Hertzler
Howard and Sidney Wenger
Obe and Ryan Hostetter
J.P. Hertzler and Patricia Martin
Marie Hertzler and Pat Hertzler (Photo by David Hertzler)
Father and son; Harry and David Hertzler
Playing games – Christina Harman and Analena Elmore
Kim, Caleb and Rachel Snyder
Karl Shenk and Ray Shank
Judy Humphrey and Catherine Elmore
Kenny Brunk
Kathy Stoltfus and Marie Hertzler
David Gerber and Keith Harman
Gene Hertzler and John Paul Hertzler
Harry Hertzler and David Shank
Howard Wenger, Sidney Wenger and Michael Hertzler (Photo by David Hertzler)
Harold Wenger introducing his new bride, Elba, to Osie. In the background Margie Swartzentruber and Audrey Ziegler.
Sister-in-laws: Norma, Ilva, Alma and Kay Hertzler
This amazing man who is 98 years old is agile, stands tall and steady, and still walks with a spring in his step.
He is a man of God who, in his younger days, was a preacher and teacher.
Osie, a twin to Oliver, is loved by everyone who knows her. Her husband, Ralph Ziegler, was a plumber and preacher.
They were instrumental in helping to start the Mennonite Church in Richmond, Virginia and later pastored at Woodland Mennonite.
Osie wrote poetry and those attending the reunion were rewarded with a treasured book of her poems, “Homespun Verse: A Mother’s Medley”.
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Blessing on the meal by Uncle Harry. Thanks Catherine Presley for sharing this video.
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Note to family: If I have anyone mislabeled or labeled with a ? please let me know so I can make corrections. There were a few I just didn’t know! Thanks, Pat
pathertzler@gmail.com
Ruth Hochstetler Said:
on June 16, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Hi Pat, enjoyed this post very much. I forgot some of the siblings. I’m not family, but I think you have mislabeled Sidney Wenger on the one photo as Preston. We lived in the same community as Edith, and I taught Bible School in Richmond with Osie for several years, and know some of Harry’s family. Thanks.
Pat Said:
on June 16, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Thanks. I made the correction!