Leinweber reunion marks 110th year of U.S. arrival

The Joseph C. and Elizabeth Gerlitz Leinweber family reunion was Sunday at Schmuck Park in Colfax. Sarah Leinweber McKay of Spokane, who celebrated her 97th birthday at the reunion, is the only surviving child. Sarah’s brother, Harry Leinweber, died in March of this year.

The reunion, which had 91 attendees, mark’s the 110th year the family has been in the United States.

Traveling the longest distance was Zoe Mock of Pittsburgh, Pa., Howard and Sue Leinweber received the nod for shortest distance.

Heather Leinweber Strader and husband Todd received the newlywed award for being married six years. Longest married went to Gene and Queenie Leinweber for 62 years. Oldest first cousin was Gene Leinweber, 85, and youngest first cousin went to Emmitt Dale Cain of Ritzville. Oldest second cousin was Howard (Howie) Leinweber, 49. Brendan Gilman of Winona received the youngest second cousin award at age 14. Fifteen members of the Gertie Leinweber Repp Carter family received the branch representative award. The group also celebrated the birthdays of first cousin Emmitt Dale Cain and second cousin Monica Mock Dugger of Tukwila who share the same birth date at their aunt.

Others attending from Washington were Pat and Heidi Dowling, Steptoe, Dave and Cheri Gilman, Ron Leinweber, Anne Pavelak, Joan Schillberg, and Hunter Fairbanks, all of Winona; Glenn and Susan Herman, Daniel and Trena Leinweber, Daniel Gene, Christene, and Jonah Leinweber of Moses Lake; Jerry, Darci, and Jered Vreeman of East Wenatchee; Raymond Leinweber of Warden; Don and Carol McKay, Bill and Rita Leinweber, Jill Cain, Matthew Flory, Alice Anderson, Ron, Clayton, and Kendra McKay; Chris, Amy, Janelle, Brock, and Bronson Leinweber, Mike McKay, and Joseph Dowling all of Spokane; Jerry Leinweber, Pat and Kay Leinweber Lambert, George and Mildred Robles of Vancouver; Lillian Leinweber Druffle of Pullman; Ike, Ranae, and James Blackledge; Savannah Ward of Ephrata; Mel and Brenda Olson, Tyler; Jullie and Laura Cain, Ritzville; Brooke Dugger, Tukwila; Bill and Doris Repp, Clarkston; Dave, Pam, and Lindsay McKay, Cheney; Deanna Leinweber, Nicolas Strader, Georgie Leinweber Windsor, locals.

Coming from California was Elaine VanVleck. From Oregon Dick and Barbara VanVleck, Michael, Amber, and Cali Lane; Austin Turner, Betheny, Lilly, and Ryannah Bishop; BJ, Lindsey, Austin, Isabella, Bradford, and Wesley Warren Lane; Brad and Debra Ann Lane all of Oregon. Kevin Repp from Lewiston, Idaho, and Marilyn Dungan of Sparks, Nevada.