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Nieland Reunion

The Breda News, June, 1983

The Henry and Anna Nieland family reunion was held Sunday, June 12, 1983, beginning with a Mass at 12:00 o'clock in St. Bernard's Church, offered for all the living and dead members of the family. Fr. Birdsall officiated the Mass. Brad Nieland was cross bearer and Mass servers were John Nieland and Scott Steinkamp. Lay distributors were Sister Pauline Wittry and Milton Delperdang. Candle bearers were Mark Baumhover and Dan Nieland; the candles used in the procession and on the altar were from Ramsdorf, Germany. Maurice Nieland and Betty Schwery were lectors and Mrs. Pat Nieland was the organist.

The photo that accompanied this article had the following caption: "Five [sic] Farming Generations of the Henry Nieland Family include: Louis Nieland, seated, and standing, left to right, Herman Nieland, Paul Nieland, Aaron Nieland and Brian Nieland."

Offertory gifts of farm products in a basket made by Henry Nieland were carried up by Mr. and Mrs. Brian Nieland and son Aaron. Aaron is the fifth generation to "farm" the land. Kathleen Delperdang, daughter of Art and Bertha Nieland Braun, presented her mother's nursing pin with the offertory gifts. Bertha graduated from St. Anthony School of Nursing in the year 1919. The gifts of bread and wine were carried by Denise and Jim Nieland.

The Lord's Prayer was sung by the Nieland Family Singers and a German song, "Grosser Gott" was led by Mr. and Mrs. Art Braun. Art is 84 years young.

Ushers were Robert Nieland, Louis Wittrock and Arnold Nieland. Mrs. Bill Reineke and Mrs. Ellanor Vonnahme attended the guest book.

Following the Mass a potluck dinner was served at the Breda Legion Hall. The afternoon was spent visiting and getting acquainted.

In his speech, Dave Nieland told of how his grandpa, in the year 1869, left his home in Ramsdorf, Germany and sailed to America from England to freedom at the age of seventeen. On Sunday, over two hundred relatives attended the Nieland family reunion from more than 27 Iowa towns and six states. Surely Grandpa Nieland is proud of all his descendants.

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