BioM: Eckerstrom, Gail (1975)

Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Eckerstrom, Decker, Kelley, Lueddecke, Harris, Apfelbeck, Meier, Thomsen, Dicig, Prosen, Poplin, Kuster, Stoiber, Geiger

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 11 Jun 1975

Eckerstrom, Gail (17 May 1975)

Rev. Milton Petzold, United Church of Christ, and Father Kelley, St. Louis Catholic Church, both of Dorchester, officiated at the wedding ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 1975, at 2:30 p.m. as Gail Eckerstrom became the bride of William J. Decker. The ceremony was held at St. Louis Catholic Church.

Parents of the couple are Mrs. Lola M. Eckerstrom 162 Second Street, and Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Decker, Route 1, all of Dorchester.

Music at the ceremony was provided by Linda Lueddecke at the organ, Gwen Harris and Jackie Apfelbeck as singers. Miss Apfelbeck played the guitar.

Given in marriage by her uncle, Alfred Meier, Bristol, the bride chose a gown of ivory chiffon crepe over taffeta, featuring A-line styling and accented by a cathedral length trimmed with Venice lace and full bishop sleeves made up of accordion pleats. The candlelight, fingertip veil was trimmed with Venice lace. She carried a cascade of red and white roses with baby’s breath.

Patti Thomsen, Dorchester, attended her cousin as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Susan Dicig and Dorothy Prosen, cousins of the bride, both of Waukegan, Illinois, and Doreen Decker, Dorchester, sister of the bridegroom.

The maid of honor was dressed in yellow dotted Swiss and organdy, and the bridesmaids were in mint green. The dresses were Juliet styled with shor trains trimmed in white lace and each wore matching picture hats.

They carried matching organdy ruffled parasols and wore heart shaped pearl necklaces and earrings, gifts from the bride.

The best man was Joe Poplin, Prior, Okla., a former Army buddy of the bridegroom. Gary Decker, Dorchester, brother of the bridegroom, George Kuster, Cabin John, Maryland, cousin of the bride, and Bob Stoiber and Kenny Geiger, cousins of the bridegroom, both of Dorchester, were groomsmen.

Gary Thomsen, cousin of the bride, and Dan Decker, brother of the bridegroom, both od Dorchester, seated the guests.

The Junior bridesmaid was Paula Thomsen, cousin of the bride, and junior groomsman was Steve Stoiber, cousin of the bridegroom.

Following the ceremony a reception was held at Memorial Hall, Dorchester. The newlyweds were taken from the church to the reception in a horse-drawn buggy.

The bride graduated from Colby High School in 1974, and her husband is a 1971 graduate of the same school. He is employed as an electrician.

They will be making their new home on a small farm in the Town of Mayville.