Families gather for Christmas

Dusty

Helen and Dick Appel entertained many guests for the Christmas holiday. Those arriving on Christmas Eve were Bruce and Elaine and Charlie and Spensor Appel, Spokane Valley; Logan Appel, Lowell, Mass., and Rob and Caroline Kunkel, Zack, Kade, Elly and Luciene, Pullman.

Joining them for Christmas dinner were Dave and Alice Appel and Charlie, Colfax; Steve and Dianne Appel, Dusty; Eric and Shannon Appel, Connor, Christopher, Sarah, Kyle and Sidney, Dusty; Phil and Leslie Appel, Cheney, and Lisa and Travis Frei, Miriam, Rachel, Emma and Colette, Colfax. Families arriving on Dec. 26 for hog butchering were Barb and Bruce Wollstein, Lacey; Beth and David Lohrmeyer, Kristin and Rebecca, Gig Harbor; Joanne and Pat Corrigan and Quinn, Kate Wollstein and friend, Moscow; Deb and Bob Stavig, Brush Prairie; Jessica Wanke, Battle Ground, and Alyssa Stavig, Raleigh, North Carolina.

During the Christmas weekend, Harm and Jan Smith spent several days in Yakima with Gina and Jason Morgan and Micah and Jason’s parents, Larry and Bobbie Morgan.

Over the New Year’s weekend, Harm and Jan hosted Jan’s sisters and families to celebrate Christmas.

Those attending the get-together were Dianne and Dan Morris, Kris and Bruce Berglund, Brooke and Avery, all from Valleyford; Jeanne Levy and Darnell Rice, Tacoma; Karen Morris, Spokane, and Gina and Jason Morgan and Micah, Yakima.

Dianne made “Grandma’s Aprons” patterned mini-quilts for each of the girls from scraps of apron material that belonged to Grandma Culbertson.

The girls fondly remember their grandma wearing the aprons every day.

Ed and Joan Broeckel traveled to their daughter and son-in-law’s home, Amber and Dominic, in Boise where their other daughter and son-in-law, Jen and Anthony Harkishnani of Seattle, joined them. They spent from Friday to Wednesday with their family. It was the first Christmas hosted by the newly-married couple.

Phyllis Stueckle has been in Whitman Hospital and Medical Center in Colfax for some time. Her two children, Doug and Karen, have been to visit their mother at various times. All of her grandchildren who live within the Pacific Northwest have also been to visit their grandmother and the two who live too far away, Andrea in London and Jonathan in Boston, have visited for lengthy times via Skype. David’s brother and sister-in-law, Reuben and Judy Stueckle from Puyallup, have arrived for a visit. Phyllis welcomes anyone who would like to come see her.

Karen Broeckel was an honorary Nolan for a day last week. Part of the Nolan clan gathered at the home of Greg and Gwen Nolan for a delayed Christmas celebration. Those who were healthy enough to enjoy a delicious dinner and gift exchange included Jason Nolan and Jeanette Nolan, Colfax; Pam Nolan-Beasley, Waitsburg; Austin Beasley and Jesse, Moses Lake; Zach Beasley, Waitsburg; Katlyn Bates, Walla Walla, and Karen Broeckel, Dusty.