Hoven's Celebration

My grandchildren, Ryan De Joode is seated left of the head table while my grandson, Joshua Klein is seated to the right. My parents, Rev. Clarence and Agnes Hoven are seated in the middle.

There were about 100 people at the celebration of my parent’s 65th anniversary in Albia, Iowa on August 19. I asked several people what they thought of the party. People liked “the cake,” “visiting with relatives from Michigan,” and playing with cousins but Mark Klein said it best. “It was good, just what the grandparents wanted. It was their day and they celebrated it like they wanted.”

Their song, “Life is Like a Mountain Railroad,” which was sung at their wedding was beautifully sung on Saturday by granddaughter, Meagan Block. Posters depicted their life with the poem, With God’s Help, They Moved On.

All their surviving 6 children, and the grandchildren who live in Iowa, and most of the 35 great-grandchildren and 2 of their 5 great-great grandchildren were present. Dad’s sister, Etta De Groot and her son Calvin Geers and wife Kathy and daughter Lisa came from Michigan. Bill and Donna Hoven brought Jean and Bern Vander Veen from Michigan. Ray and Ann Hoven came from Michigan with their two grandchildren. Granddaughter Gerilyn and Blake Ahrens came from the St. Louis area with their two children. Granddaughter Tina and Jonathon Main came from Kansas City with their son.

Food included mints, cake, punch, coffee and sandwiches. When dad was asked what he wanted served, he said that he wanted “bologna on hamburger buns”. He received his sandwich of choice. We ate rolls with ham or turkey plus condiments.

Mom sent a notice to the Oskaloosa Herald about the event. She stated that Terry and I were from Alaska. If your home is located “where you are from”, she was right. Our RV was located in Eagle River, Alaska.

I visited my son’s church on Sunday. He sat with the choir. His wife, Connie was in the nursery so I sat by the three teenage grandchildren. The minister asked for members to introduce their guests by name and tell where they are from. My thirteen-year-old grandson, Joshua said, “This is my grandma and she is from wherever she wants to be.”