BioA: Elmer, Mr./Mrs. Ernest (Golden - 1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Elmer, Franz, Wagner, Solberg, Graves, Gray, Hall, Vriesen, Wenger

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/01/1976

Elmer, Mr./Mrs. Ernest (Golden – 23 June 1976)

Approximately 225 relatives and friends attended the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Elmer, held recently, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greenwood.

The event hosted by their children, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Elmer of Greenwood and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Elmer of Albuquerque, N.M. Mrs. :Lester Elmer could not attend because of illness. Also present were their four grandchildren.

Activities began with vocal selections by the Tri-Ettes of Milwaukee. Janice and Diane Wagner of Colby and Becky and Audrey Solberg of Elk Mound. A poem and a history of the Elmer family was given by Lester Graves of Milwaukee.

Devotions were by the Rev. David Wenger.

Mrs. Elmer wore a corsage of yellow roses and carnations and her husband wore a carnation and rose boutonniere. All members of the immediate family wore corsages, as did the three attendants present, Walter Elmer of Milwaukee, Mrs. Clara Gray and Ferdinand Franz of Greenwood; not able to attend was Mrs. Albert Hall, Mr. Elmer’s sister, of Nelarest, Fl.

The tables had floral arrangements of gold mums and daisies as centerpieces.

The Elmers were married June 23, 1928, in Immanuel United Church of Christ in Greenwood, with the Rev. Otto Vriesen officiating.

They settled on a farm northeast of Greenwood now operated by their son, Thomas. They retired from farming in 1958 and now reside four miles north of Greenwood.

Ernest Elmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.A, Elmer was born September 3, 1895, in Columbus. He came to Greenwood with his parents in 1902. He served in World War I and was employed in Milwaukee before his marriage. He was secretary of the Greenwood Equity Shipping Association for 26 years and secretary or director of the Midland Cooperative for 21 years. His hobby is fishing.

Mrs. Elmer, the former Bertha Franz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Franz was born May 26, 1904, in Greenwood. She also was employed in Milwaukee before her marriage. Her hobbies are knitting, crocheting, and quilting. Both are in good health.

The couple received many gifts and congratulatory messages. Relatives and friends held an old-fashioned Chivaree at their home in the late evening. A lunch was served. People attending from a distance were from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico; and from Milwaukee, Madison. Janesville, Milton Junction, Mt. Horeb, Elk Mound, Wisconsin Rapids, Cecil, New Berlin and surrounding communities.