Family Updates Archive

Submitted By: Steve Weber

Before I moved to New Hampshire I'd never had real maple syrup, just Aunt Jemima "syrup" or Karo on pancakes. A friend decided one year that he was going to make real syrup from his trees, so we set up a makeshift evaporator in his driveway, collected sap, boiled it down (scorched his driveway beyond repair), and produced our first batch of real maple syrup! It was a ton of work, but we had a great time, and I was hooked. The next year we were forbidden to set up in the driveway again so we put together a "sugar shack" in his backyard. It resembled something like a moonshine set up in Appalachia, but we started to get serious about maple production.

I'm pretty sure we made every mistake you could make in making syrup. Because the sugar shack was in the back 40, we had a pipeline from the driveway to the shack, about 100 yards or so. We couldn't see the tank being filled while we were pumping so we just kept going until we were out of sap. When we went back to the sugar shack we found that we had flooded the entire place. Well, we cleaned that all up, had a great time, and made some syrup. When you boil syrup in a moonshine-style sugar shack, things may fall into the syrup like wood ash, dust, etc. No problem, you just filter it out. Someone gave us an old wool felt filter to use so we filtered our prize-winning syrup into mason jars.

As we were running the hot syrup through the old filter, we started to notice a "funny smell," kind of like really old socks. Turns out the filter had mold and God-knows-what-else growing in it, and believe me there is NO way to remove that smell. Lesson learned.

Fast forward, I start my own setup in the driveway and spend many cold nights tending the fire and making syrup. The following year I moved the operation into a historic shed on our property. The shed was part of the railroad that ran behind our house in the late 1800's. 20 years later, we are still making syrup and welcoming spring in with friends and tradition. Most people believe that March is "syrup season," but most of the work happens in the months before then. Trees fall on the sap lines and break, deer and moose wreak havoc as they run through my lines, and then there are squirrels. Don't get me started on the damage caused by squirrels chewing my lines! They chew holes in the lines constantly, causing our precious sap to run to the ground.

Usually in late February, the sap begins to flow. Since I only have about 24 taps on my land, I lease other trees in town. Yes, I "rent" trees. Usually, I pay the landowner in syrup. On my days off, I'll secure a 200-gallon tank in my truck, collect sap from tanks and buckets throughout town, and bring it back to the sugar house. Once people see the steam rising, they stop by to help or just visit. Seems like it's a rite of springtime, getting out after a long winter and socializing. It's great to be a part of this long New England tradition.

We go through about 6 cords of wood during the month or so of boiling. Getting ready for that starts almost as soon as we are done boiling. Trees need to be cut down, dragged out of the woodlot, chunked up, split, and stacked in time to dry out. When we run out of wood, boiling is over, and we begin cleanup which involves pulling all the taps out of the trees, cleaning about 100 sap buckets, running water through miles of lines in the sugarbush, cleaning the evaporator, and breaking it down, pulling sap tanks out of the woods, more cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning.

A few years back I was looking through the Town's handwritten tax ledger from the late 1700's where I found the farm owners at the time made and were taxed for 70 lbs of maple sugar. While we don't make that much maple sugar, we average 40 gallons of syrup a year but have made as much as 70. That year I was burning anything I could find including clapboards and furniture!

Back in 2007, Randall wrote a book about his experience 

growing up sugaring. "I Was Born When The Sap Runs" is a story he told to Alison in the sugar house one night. He talks about collecting sap from buckets with friends, checking sap tanks with Dad after school, boiling, and longing to ride his bike when the snow melts. Brother Jay and kids came out to help and ended up making an appearance in the book. It's a great story, and we have sold almost 1000 copies!

I am grateful for all the family who have come out to see our operation and help, but I'm pretty certain Kathleen will NEVER stack wood for me again. You all have an open invitation to visit during March, just not all at once!

Submitted By: Amy Kluesner

Weber Family Reunion – 2024. The Annual Weber Family Reunion will be held in 2024 on the weekend of June 21-23. 

It will be hosted at Honey Creek Resort on the beautiful shores of Rathbun Lake in Moravia, IA. I’m thankful we all have GPS to tell us how to get there as it is in the middle of nowhere; but should be fun! Not often do we get a chance to go to the middle of nowhere!!! 

This event is quickly approaching. If you are planning to join us and have not made room reservations yet, please do so. Our block of rooms expires April 1. 

A member of the planning team will be in contact with the “Great Eight” a couple weeks before the reunion to get a final head count. Enjoy Spring and see you soon!

Idea Submitted By: Shane Burtzlaff

Each year, financial institutions and businesses turn over millions of dollars in unclaimed property to the Treasurer’s Office for safekeeping when they have lost contact with the rightful owner. These assets may include funds from inactive checking and savings accounts, uncashed checks, lost stocks and bonds, utility security refunds, insurance benefits or even valuables from abandoned safe deposit boxes. Every effort is made to return these assets back to the rightful owner or their heirs. 

In Searching Iowa's Great Iowa Treasure Hunt site there are numerous Weber's, some who don't even live in Iowa anymore, who have unclaimed funds.  Spend a few minutes checking, and maybe even claiming lost assets. 

In addition, check out the FDIC: Unclaimed Property Information website for any state you have lived or worked in.

Submitted By: Amy Kluesner

Christopher J. “C.J.” Noonan, 60 of Bernard, Iowa passed away Friday, December 22, 2023, due to the progression of complications from a motorcycle accident in August 1986.

Services for Chris were held on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Holy Family Catholic   Church in New Melleray, (Peosta), Iowa with Msgr. Thomas Toale presiding.  The burial was at the Holy Family Cemetery in New Melleray, Iowa.

He was born April 6, 1963, in Monticello, Iowa, son of John “Ozzie” and Nancy (Weber) Noonan.  He is a graduate of Cascade High School.  He was employed as a window glazer for a company in Texas, prior to his accident.  Chris was quite a character, he enjoyed life and people to the fullest, especially his nieces and nephews, whom he often referred to as his babies.

He is survived by four siblings, Amy (Cy) Kluesner of Asbury, IA, Vickie (Joe) Takes of Bettendorf, IA, Roger (Jessica) Noonan of Golden, CO and Laura (Jim) Barnes of Robins, IA; nine nieces,  Molly (Josh) McQuillen, Megan Kluesner, Morgan Kluesner, Emily Takes, Ashley (Jared Jones) Noonan, Angela (Chad) Bacon, Aubrey Noonan, Maggie Barnes, Emma Barnes and 1 nephew, Ryan Ruble.  He is also survived by aunts and uncles, Maddie Reno-Weber of Louisville, KY, Phil (Joan) Weber, Kathleen Weber, Charles (Marianne) Weber, and Russ (Cathy) Weber all of Dubuque, IA, Mark (Tricia) Weber of Omaha, NE, Jim (Terri) Weber of Chanhassen, MN, and Mike (Jean) Noonan of Peosta, IA,

He is preceded in death by his parents; aunts and uncles, Walter and Cis Meloy, Mary Margaret Noonan, Bob and Shirley Noonan, Pat and Mary Noonan, Francis Noonan, Danny and Mary Noonan; Paul Weber, and Richard Weber

To view an online remembrance video visit: https://www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com/obituary/christopher-noonan

Submitted By: Amy Kluesner 

Can you guess where Kathleen, Vickie, and Amy are? 

 Yes, we are at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland!! We traveled to Ireland on October 17, 2023, and returned on October 25, 2023. What a trip it was! We toured the southern part of Ireland; Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Adare, Killarney and Kilkenny. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous churches and castles, Guinness Beer, and Jamison whiskey!! Fun was had by all!

Submitted By: Kathleen and Jim Weber
Fort Myers is starting to recover after Hurricane Ian hit in September of 2022. Here's a picture of Jim, Kathleen, and Chuck having lunch at Snug Harbor restaurant, which recently opened nearly a year and a half after the hurricane. We did a 4-mile walk on the beach with lunch in the middle.

The beaches are looking better than ever, but many condos and hotels are still being torn down or renovated. The Best Western hotel the Great Eight stayed at a few years ago was completely gutted. The structure was sound and is currently being totally rebuilt. There are all new glass doors on the gulf side, and the entire building has been repainted. The crowds are returning, and the economy is slowly recovering.

Submitted By: Nate Weber

Location: San Rafael, CA

Dates: 06.22.2023 – 06.24.2023

We had a very healthy turnout for the most distant family reunion destination in Weber Family Reunion history, with only a couple of folks unable to attend. For everyone that made it out, give yourself a clap on the back. As usual, our clan made the most out of their time in Northern California. Many families chose to extend their stay beyond the reunion to take advantage of the world-class attractions proximate to San Rafael. Steve, Alison, Kyle, Juliette, Theresa, and Ben spent a couple days camping in Yosemite. Other families spent time in the city. Nate’s family spent a week in Northern California exploring the Lost Coast and the various parks that constitute Redwoods National Park prior to the reunion.

Friday was an open day; some families chose to hike Muir Woods NP and experience the majesty of the Redwoods, others went to the beach, and many explored the city. Our first “official” reunion event was hosted by Arlette, Clark, and Paula at Arlette’s beautiful home in San Rafael. As you would expect, the food was superb, the ambiance delightful, and the wine selection excellent. It’s always amazing to see four generations of our family interact and play together seamlessly. We are blessed. Upon returning from Arlette’s, many folks gathered in the reserved meeting room for euchre and drinks.

Saturday brought much of the same, with various families checking out the attractions they may have not had time to see Thursday or Friday. Arlette and family chose McNears State Beach Park (located on the bay) for our Saturday afternoon/evening get-together. It was an excellent choice- beautiful scenery, plenty of room for kids to run around, and a sand volleyball court. We enjoyed several competitive 8 vs. 8 volleyball games with three generations playing! For dinner, Arlette had high-quality Mexican food catered by a local food truck operator who cooked tacos, burritos, and enchiladas to order. I am running out of superlatives to describe Arlette’s food choices, but again, it was excellent. Surprisingly, after we wrapped up at Arlette’s, many of our crew returned to play euchre and enjoy an adult beverage of their choice. . .

The arrival of Sunday morning, as usual, signaled the end of another reunion. Bonds were strengthened, new members welcomed to the family, and a wonderful tradition continued.

Submitted By: Vickie Takes

I would like to introduce you to Emily. Emily is the only child of Vickie & Joe Takes. She has beautiful brown hair and big brown eyes. Emily is 31 years old. She was due to be born on February 14, 1992, but instead, she came early on November 22, 1991. She was 12 weeks premature. She was eventually diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and is dependent on a wheelchair, lift/transport system, elevator, and a wheelchair-accessible van. 

Emily lived at home with her parents until March 2017, when she moved into her own condo, where she has two housemates and 24/7 continual supportive care. The condo is equipped with all the adaptive equipment Emily needs to have access to her condo and community. 

Emily enjoys being out and about in the community. She has regular places which she frequents and volunteers. Emily enjoys volunteering at the Mississippi AEA, Physician Laser Clinic, and the Bettendorf Family Museum. 

Some of her favorite food stops include Whitey's for a Hot Fudge Sundae, Dairy Queen for a twist ice cream cone, and Chick-fil-A for a chicken sandwich and french fries! 

Emily’s big smile, charisma, and pleasant demeanor are sure to steal your heart! She loves to sing along to music and especially enjoys it when others sing along with her! Community activities such as group dances, Camp Courageous, and movies (she loves popcorn) are also her favorites. Emily has always always enjoyed water & swimming. 

When Emily was around 4 years old, we went to Florida to meet and stay with Gramma and Grampa Weber. Gramma and her friends took us to the beach. As Emily sat on the shoreline and the waves hit her, she would squeal and want more. We spent the afternoon on the beach, laughing and talking as Emily discovered the water. Gramma always asked and wanted to know what Emily's skills and abilities were as it brought back memories of her brother Roger, who also had special needs and she helped care for. 

One of the most important things to Emily is her iPad! Thank goodness for technology; she is able to access her songs, videos, and anything else she has interest in. 

She enjoys spending time with family and is always wanting to know what’s on her calendar of events. These events can meeting Amy and Cy at Happy Joe's for pizza, or just coming home to see Mom and Dad and get her nails polished. (Yes, Dad has learned to polish her nails when Mom is not home!) 

One of our favorite things to do in the summer as a family is to go for bike rides with Emily on her accessible bike. In the winter, great uncle Russ and his ski buddies take Emily skiing! As soon as she sees snow on the ground, she starts asking to go skiing! 

Emily is a beautiful young lady trapped in a body that does not move and act ‘normal’ due to her cerebral palsy. She has a difficult time expressing herself and making eye contact, but she does know what she needs and will go above and beyond to get what she wants! She knows far more than she is able to express and that most give her credit for. 

We do know she loves to receive mail! When you get a minute, send her a note, tell her who you are (she loves her family), and just say hi. You will make her day!!! Emily lives at 3321 Sunburst Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722.

Submitted By: Russ Weber

It all started at lunch!

One winter at noon, Chuck, Nancy, and myself got together for lunch. At some point, the discussion came up regarding a Sit Ski that was coming up for sale. A friend of mine from Michigan was the head of the Michigan Adaptive Sports. She had three sleds that would be coming up for sale. The cost of the used sit ski would be $750. I’m pretty sure it was Nancy that said, “That’s only $250 for each of us.” Result? We are now the owner of a sit ski for Emily.

So, we have this sled and really don’t know how to use it. I asked a few friends to help with this project. Well, we tried a few different things. We put an 80lbs sandbag in the sled to simulate a person. Not much luck with this. I finally said I’ll get into the sled and see how it works. Let me tell you, it was the ride of my life!! You have to realize that I’m strapped into a sitting position with my big feet & legs fastened tightly. 

In the back of my mind, I also know that the guy holding the reins of the sled has no idea how to control the sled. This will be training at a high speed, and I’m strapped tight! I survived! The best I can say is, 'What A Ride!' Problem was, I was over the weight limit for the sled. We needed a smaller person to practice with.

Dr. Jim Nemmers had a 14-year-old son that he was ready to offer up as a sacrifice. I think he and his son had a bad week. His son loved it and couldn’t get enough of it. He said it was “A Disney ride on Steroids.”

Two weeks later, we are ready for Emily. It’s a great sunny winter day. Vicky & Emily arrive. We get Emily transferred from her power wheelchair to the sit ski. We make it about 25 feet before we crash. We rolled Emily! She came up smiling with her face and sunglasses full of snow. Emily lived! Meanwhile, the rest of us are still trying to figure out how to get her down the hill. I have hold of the reins, and Jim Oberfoell is skiing backward ahead of Emily. We discovered that if Jim whistled, Emily would turn her head. When Emily turned her head, the ski would turn. Victory! We now have a system. One skis backwards and whistles to get Emily’s attention, and she turns. The person with the reins to the sled controls the speed. Victory!

The last obstacle is how to get Emily up the chair lift. We never really practiced this part. We took the outriggers off the sled because the outriggers would get in our way. (The outriggers help to keep the sled from tipping}. We loaded without a problem. We now have a 3-minute chair ride to decide how to unload Emily. With the unloading ramp coming into view, we remove the safety strap and prepare to unload. All goes well. There is a moment when we are not sure the ramp is clear. We need to steer around a person who has fallen in the snow. We all made it. Victory! Now, the three patrollers decide to switch roles. I’ll clear the way, Jim Oberfoell will take the reins, and Jim Nemmers will ski backward. Jim Oberfoell decides that Emily needs to go faster. We taught Emily to say “Go faster Obe,” every time we ski. 

We have a blast every time we take Emily out skiing. As I and the two Jims are getting older, we have started to teach a younger generation to run the sit ski.  I hope this continues for Emily for many years to come. This brings as much joy to us as it does to Emily. 

Let’s go skiing, Emily!

Submitted By: Amy Kluesner

Thanks to Arlette and her family for hosting the Weber Family Reunion 2023. We had a wonderful time in California! It was great to see everyone and make new memories! 

Plans are underway for Weber Reunion 2024. The Noonan’s will be hosting the reunion at Honey Creek Resort (https://honeycreekresort.com/) in Moravia, IA the weekend of June 21-23, 2024.  Honey Creek is an all-inclusive resort that includes water fun, golfing, and hiking. 

The resort has both hotel rooms and cabins. We have reserved a block of rooms in the hotel. Make your reservations by calling Sabrina at 641-724-1407 and ask to book a room under the “Weber Family Reunion” block. Make your reservations before the blook expires on April 11, 2024 to guarantee a room. Rooms can be cancelled up to 48 hours before your reservation so there is minimal risk in booking now! If the cabins would be a better option for your family, ask Sabrina for more details. 

We look forward to seeing everyone in June! Have a safe year ahead!

Phil and Joan's Celebrate 60th Wedding Anniversary

Submitted By: Tina LaFave

Joan and Phil celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May 2023. 

They were married on May 18, 1963, at Sacred Heart Church in Filmore, Iowa. Kathleen Weber was one of the bride's attendants. Russ was just five years old at the time, and Paul was unable to attend the wedding because he was in training with the Jesuits. 

On their anniversary, Phil and Joan had dinner with friends and family at Timmerman's Super Club. Later in July, they gathered for a weekend at the Frentress Lake cabin with their children and most of their grandchildren, including four great-grandchildren. 

Submitted By: Morgan Kluesner

After the family reunion, Austin and I flew 13 hours from California to Austria. We spent a day in Enns, Austria, and then spent the rest of the time exploring different cities in Italy. In Verona, he popped the question, and I (obviously) said yes! The location was called Castelvecchio Bridge. It was beautiful! We got to spend our first day as fiancés in Venice and then traveled back home to celebrate with family and friends.

Arlette Update

Submitted By: Arlette Weber

The California reunion was a success, with so many attending! The cool evenings prevented us from taking photos which I was planning to take. The event was a lot of planning, but I loved it, getting Paula to make a quick trip to attend in spite of her busy wedding cakes business and Clark from his baseball coaching job. 

As I have said many times, I am humbled by this incredible loving family who seems to get better with new blood. Looking into the future, how many generations will continue this path of success? 

I have added Tahiti to the the list of many countries Tom and I visited. I will go to France this fall and l hope to go to Jordan next year. Traveling is one way to go forward in my life; going to the family reunions is another.

Naslund Family Update

Submitted By: Jenny Naslund

Our family was very sad to miss the 2023 reunion in San Rafael. We thought we would share a few updates about what our family has been up to this last year. 

Isabelle turned 14 in July and is starting her freshman year of high school. She is actively involved in the high school tennis team and is participating in the marching band. In addition, she continues to play and take piano and saxophone lessons. This year she was selected to participate in the state honor band playing her sax. Her music abilities continue to amaze us. Lastly, she is actively involved in our church volunteering as a Sunday school teacher and participating in confirmation. 

Mason is 12 and starting middle school as a 6th grader. He loves to play soccer and recently joined a competitive soccer team, which is keeping us very busy with practices and games. Mason also started playing percussion in the school band and has been enjoying learning to play all the plethora of percussion instruments. In the spring, Mason graduated from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, which has brought many opportunities to attend camps, learn new skills and connect with our community. 

Noah is 9 and is starting 4th grade. He also loves to play soccer and loves to play on the rec team. Noah continues to take piano lessons. Cub Scouts keeps him busy with volunteer activities, field trips and fun family outings. In his free time Noah creates elaborate Lego builds. He prefers to imagine his creations instead of building box sets. 

As a family, we were able to go on numerous family trips including a cruise to the Mexican Riviera where we immersed ourselves in the culture, saw whales playing in the ocean, and enjoyed the amazing scenery. 

This summer we enjoyed a road trip through Canada. The highlight of the trip was visiting Quebec City where we were enthralled by the French-Canadian culture, language and food. 

Lastly, we attend a family camp at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in northern Minnesota. Our family immersed ourselves in cultural history, environmental science and 

personal growth classes. Some of the highlights were rock climbing, a high ropes course, a course on edible berries/leaves, and a Voyager course where we became voyagers and traveled in a thirty person canoe.

It has been a great year and we are often reminded how quick our children are growing up. Between all of the practice and rehearsals we are cherishing the time we have together as a family.

French Adventure

Submitted By: Juliette Weber with contributions from Monica Weber

Bonjour, Webers!

Henry, Grace, and I spent most of August in France this year, with Kyle joining us for the last 10 days of our trip. It allowed us quality time to catch up with the French side of the family, and we even managed to take a quick trip through the Dijon region and spend some time waterskiing with the kids.

The trip was prompted by a family wedding as my brother Louis  tied the knot with his stunning bride Agathe on August 26th in the enchanting village of Buzancy, France. It was an absolute delight to witness their love story unfold amidst the picturesque backdrop of the French countryside and centuries old stone farm buildings. Henry made the absolute perfect ring bearer, flanked by Grace and her cousin walking down the aisle, all performing their roles with style that only social 4 and 5 year old’s can produce.

Monica and Scott joined us for my brother's big day and 250 bottles of champagne, countless hors d’oeuvres, hours of dancing, and eating late. The party finally wound down around 5:30 am. Unfortunately, I’m disappointed to report that the Americans in attendance all threw in the towel by 3am. I’m going to go ahead and blame that on the kids . . . they were tired ;)

It feels like just yesterday that so many of you joined Kyle and I to gather together for a magical celebration of love, travel, and adventure for our French wedding. The memories of that joyous occasion still bring a smile to our faces 9 years later. We couldn't help but reminisce about our own wedding as we watched Louis and Agathe embark on their journey together. It reminded us of how fortunate we are to have such incredible friends and family who have supported us throughout these past 10 years.

Our trip ended with a minor mugging just outside of the Paris airport when a bad guy made off with my book bag, which contained my work laptop, cellphone, and all our French and American passports. No one was hurt, just a lot of lost time ahead to work on replacing those items, but it turns out you can board a plane in a foreign country without a passport. It just takes some good old government facial recognition software, photos of your passports, which we luckily had, and some guy they call the Marshal in the Charles de Gaul airport to get you through security.

Sending you all our love from the flight home from France.

Nate and Jen's Move

Submitted by: Nate Weber

Our family recently moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Jen’s employer offered her a position with their Puerto Rico Affiliate in late July. We decided it would be a good move for both her career and our family. Jen's employment contract commits us to staying in Puerto Rico for at least two years.  

The decision to relocate and move took place very quickly.  We purged, packed, and shipped all our belongings and a 4Runner to Puerto Rico in ten days. The fact that we have three cats, and it is a very tight high-end residential market, made it a very stressful final couple of days in IL trying to find temporary housing.

Fortunately, we found a great three-bedroom and two-bath condo on the 11th floor of a very nice building on the beach in the Condado area of San Juan.  Jen’s company provided a local relocation expert who has proven extremely helpful. Within 20 hours of arrival, she took us to see several condos on or near the beach and several magnificent homes in the suburbs. Ultimately, we decided on a large beachfront condo in the Isla Verde neighborhood.

In addition to visiting properties the first couple of days here, we also had the opportunity to tour several private schools. We eventually chose Commonwealth-Parkville School for Noah and Nash. The boys started on August 15th, and they seem to be really enjoying their new school so far.

Our family is looking forward to the new adventures that living in San Juan will bring.

Kathleen's Move

Submitted: Kathleen Weber

Kathleen recently moved from her home into a retirement community. What follows is a summary of a conversation with her regarding the move.

What can you tell us about your new home?

I moved into Mt Carmel Bluffs Senior Living Facility in Dubuque on July 28th. For years, the property was owned by Catholic nuns, and in recent years, it was purchased by Presbyterian Homes and totally renovated into a modern senior living facility. I am in the Independent Living section, but if needed, I can transition into Assisted Living, Nursing Care, and even Memory Care within the same property. It is a beautiful location overlooking the Mississippi River on the east side and a heavily wooded area on the west. The numerous amenities include a heated pool, sauna, exercise room, yoga studio, cafe, restaurant, community rooms, movie theater, walking trails, and more. Plus, I have a heated garage for my car. (I have noted that a good share of the cars parked there are Toyotas from Anderson Weber).

What prompted you to make the move now?

I have been widowed for nearly twelve years and knew as a single woman, I didn’t want to maintain a home forever. Carmel Bluffs just opened and is a beautiful facility. Steve and Jay, who live in New Hampshire and Colorado, were encouraging me to consider some type of community living. Several people had advised me to make the move while I was still healthy, could make decisions for myself, enjoy the amenities, and meet new people. I was considering the pros and cons, and the answer came when I discovered an old journal I had written many years ago. Mom and Dad were struggling to continue to live in their Florida home, and we children were trying to convince them to move back to Dubuque, near family and into an assisted living facility. The conversations were heart-wrenching. They were strongly resisting, and we feared for their safety. It was a difficult time. Ultimately, I didn’t want to put my family through that. I wanted to make the decision on my terms and in my time frame. I had just turned eighty and didn’t feel I needed to make the transitions yet, but also knew it would not get easier as I aged.

What was the most difficult part of leaving your long-time home?

The biggest challenge was letting go of possessions that held strong memories for me (photos, books, china, antiques) that my sons didn’t need or want. I had made a personal commitment not to get a storage unit, and I was moving into a space with just a quarter of my previous space, so nearly everything had to go! Fortunately, I found a nonprofit that could use many of my things, so I just gave them away. It was very freeing. I knew I was helping others that would appreciate my things.

What are you most looking forward to in your new living arrangement?

Simplicity! When I leave for Florida in the winter, I will just turn down my thermostat, lock the door, and walk away - no more hassle of keeping up a household. I am looking forward to making new friends while keeping my longtime friends throughout the city. I like the progressive nature of the care. If/when my health deteriorates, I am confident that the care I may need is right here, and I won’t have to move again. It is another adventure in what has already been a wonderful life, and I am looking forward to what comes next!

Noonan's in Puerto Rico

Submitted By: Jessica Noonan

We recently attended a family celebration in Puerto Rico at the edge of the rainforest. We enjoyed tropical birds and beautiful vegetation throughout the countryside. We toured waterfalls and hiked through mountainous terrain. We felt like we stepped back into time with huge trees towering over us. Walking the cobblestones in Downtown San Juan made us appreciate the yesteryears of this preserved little town.  The buildings were colorful, and the people were very welcoming in their restaurants and shops. We enjoy feasting on the local dishes and tropical drinks made of mango, coconut, and passion fruit.  

We then headed west to enjoy the beach and ocean.  We stayed in a wonderful Airbnb that accommodated all of us. The little town was Ricon, on the edge of a sea with the most wonderful snorkeling and fishing we could wish for.  Our first day, we waded into the water and snorkeled through the rocks and mild currents. The fish would swim all around us and occasionally bump into us. This little turtle made his way from one side of the coral to the other as if he lived there always. (He does; we confirmed with a local restaurant that featured him swimming in a small clip on their screen showing bits of Ricon.)

The next day, we joined the Sea Cowboys for a real adventure. We arranged to go fishing with these two young guys and met them very early to board their boat.  They hooked up their boat, and off we went to the edge of the ramp to cast the boat off. We arranged our seating, and a few of us were a little green being off land, won't mention names . . . (Aubs, Roger and Issy).

Anyway, one of the crew jumped out with a rolled up net and swung it around like a lasso to the open waters. We saw him gather the edges and pull up a swam of sardines in his catch.  The other one grabbed the net and put these small glittery fish in the cooler in the back of their boat. Once again, we saw the young man toss the net out and pull out more bait for us. We headed out about 4 or 5 miles from the shore, and they started to find a spot where there would be fish. The blond fisherman started chumming the water with the sardines, throwing handfuls out and the little creatures making their way down the ocean floor. They began to set us up with fishing poles, though a few of us were starting to feel a little green and had to sit in the middle of the boat to tame our stomachs from churning. One of us was helping the fisherman chum as they threw up that morning's breakfast overboard. 

Soon, the the first fish hit the line; it was a yellow fin tuna! Dan was so excited, but as he was pulling it in, off it jumped to freedom.

We all wondered what was for dinner if that was going to keep happening . . . lol. Almost immediately, another fish hooked on the line and in came a beautiful black tuna, soon in the cooler with lots of ice to keep it fresh. Then, the Kingfish took Dan's bait, and soon, it was swaying and fighting to get released. Dan managed to bring it carefully in, and the fisherman assisted him. They were so impressed to see this magnificent creature caught on such a little line and we were all ear-to-ear smiles. Ashley was next to bring in another bad boy yellowfin tuna. Soon, Aubrey had a tuna too! It was amazing that she was feeling so poorly one minute and the next had the energy to pull in this beast. After a few minutes there was more commotion. Jessica had a fish on her line; it felt like pulling in a desk full of rocks.  The more she reeled in, the heavier it seemed. Suddenly, the line felt lighter and as she brought it in, only the head of a huge fish was attached. Looks like there was some kind of sea monster or shark that just tore its body off! So glad we did not bring that back . . .

We headed back to shore with our handsome catch, and the boys cleaned and prepared the fish for us to pick up later. We all had a great time and were exhausted from the sun and water. Jessica cooked up some of the most delicious white fluffy panko fish for dinner, and we enjoyed poke bowls with the tuna. Great family trip, we strongly recommend this little town for lots of fun and adventures. 

3 New Graduates!

JP Weber, son of Chuck and Marianne Weber, graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School last May and is now attending St. John's University in Collegeville, MN to play football and study Global Business and Spanish.

Rian Weber, son of Tim and Dawn Weber (Phil), graduated from Creighton University Law School last May and moved to Austin, TX! 

Chloe Johnson, daughter of Zack and Nikki Johnson (Mark), graduated from Central High School in Omaha and is attending Regis University in Denver, CO with an interest in studying Environmental Science or Law.

New Weber Family Additions

Imari Sade Ayo Hunter, daughter of Claire Weber (Chuck), was born May 17, 2023 @ 10:21am. "She is healthy, adorable and has the best personality. We are all completely in love and obsessed with her and can’t wait to introduce her to all her other new cousins!" -Claire

Sloan Matthew Weber, son of Alec and Alexa Weber (Phil), was born on June 14th, 2023 @ 9:14pm.

Submitted by: Ben & Theresa Weber

Weber Family, 

We are thrilled to share that the Reno-Weber family (Ben, Theresa, Paul, Sophia, and Ava) 

is back in the United States after a sabbatical year of traveling abroad. For those who may not have heard, we left the country from August of 2021 to August 2022 and spent the year traveling to 37 countries and over 80 cities with our three kids - Paul, 11, Sophia, 11, and Ava, 8 (ages when we left).  

This trip was a dream of Theresa's for more than 20 years after being inspired by a friend in college whose parents had taken him and his brother out of middle school and lived on a catamaran in the Caribbean for 3 years. In fact, early in the relationship Theresa told Ben that on her bucket list was to sail around the world with their kids.  

So, we anchored our lifestyle at our 2010 salaries, and spent the next 10 years saving and planning for a sabbatical that would happen sometime in the 2020s.  After a few sailing classes and research into boats, we rapidly realized that no matter how much we saved, we'd never be able to afford a boat that would comfortably fit 6ft7in tall Ben for a year, so we settled on the idea of round the world airplane tickets and Airbnbs.  

In July of 2021, Theresa stepped down from her role as CEO of Metro United Way and Ben went to 10 hrs a week remote for the University of Louisville. We were lucky enough to find amazing renters, who took over our mortgage and rented our home fully furnished, with all of our stuff remaining in one bedroom.  We turned in both our leased cars, registered ourselves as a homeschool with the kids schools, and packed a few essentials into a carryon and small backpack each.  

We started in Portugal, and with a few jaunts north (to Sweden) and south (to Kenya), we worked our way east until we returned back to the US.  Some highlights include dog sledding in Sweden, jeep safari in Kenya, dune buggying, in Dubai, paragliding in Nepal, riding elephants in Thailand, scuba diving in Australia, swimming with sea turtles in the Galapagos, and eating street food all along the way. We were blessed to have friends and family join us at various points throughout the year, including Ben’s mom Maddie, who joined us 3 different times for a total of about 4 months and Theresa's parents, who surprised everyone and traveled with us for nearly 8 months. 

You can check out our full trip and read blogs from us and the kids here https://www.wanderingrenowebers.com! 

Love, 

Ben & Theresa 

Anderson-Weber Celebrates 70 years and Russ Weber retires! 

Submitted by: Shane Burtzlaff

Anderson-Weber hit another milestone last year, celebrating our 70th Anniversary! In September, we hosted a party for our employees and customers, which included a DJ, a car show, a dunk tank for Tim and Jeff (a fan favorite), food trucks, and a Power Wheel obstacle course for the kids! The rain held off, and we had an incredible turnout. 

We also celebrated the retirement of our very own Russ Weber, who dedicated 40 years to the dealership and is still asked about frequently on our sales floor. Russ now runs the Ski Patrol department at Sundown Mountain, something he does with a great deal of passion. 

It is incredible to see the positive impact our business has had on employees, customers, and our community. It's surreal to think that it all started in Cascade, Iowa, with Great Grandpa Weber and has grown into a family big enough to have a newsletter! 

As the 4th generation working in the business, I don't remember much of Great Grandpa - but I'm certain he would be proud of the legacy we continue to build on 70 years later.

Submitted by: Molly & Josh McQuillen 

Josh and I celebrated 5 years of marriage at the end of the year, and we are starting this new year of 2023 as a family of FOUR. Jordy Loras McQuillen was born October 12th, 2022. Grayson is thriving in the big brother role, and we can’t wait to see all the shenanigans the two will get into together.

Submitted by: CJ (Chris) Noonan care of Amy Kluesner 

Hello Family, just thought I’d provide a quick update. It has been awhile since I’ve seen or talked to most of you. 

I’m doing better. I suffered a stroke in March 2022, which limited my ability to walk. I am no longer able to live on my own. I am currently living in Maquoketa, Iowa, at Timber City Rehab & Therapy. They treat me well. I have found I like to play bingo. Take care.

Submitted by: Caitlin Weber

In July of 2022, Kathleen, joined by her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, set off for 

Tanzania. After way too many hours flying, we were greeted with sights of Mount Kilimanjaro and taken to a coffee lodge that would be the start and end point for the 9-day safari. There, we met our wonderful guide Pancras, who would accompany us to the Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti National Parks. The next days were a blur of wild animals, euchre after dinner, flights on puddle jumpers (Nic even got to help pilot one!), and drives through the open savannas.

Some of our favorite memories include: 

- While driving from the airport to our first campsite, a massive bull elephant stopped right in front of the Land Rover, staring us down like he was going to charge before ambling away after the longest minute of our lives.  

- Climbing around inside a massive hollow Baobab tree that poachers had previously used 

as a hideout.

- Watching countless wildebeests stampede across the Mara River in a huge herd as a part of their annual migration from Kenya to Tanzania.

- Getting to experience the local markets, banana plantations, and art studios, as well as visiting a village to learn about the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the Maasai, a tribal people who still practice traditional lives as herders.

Overall, it was an incredible experience, and we are all so grateful to have had the opportunity to share these memories as a family. 

Check out more photos here

Submitted by: Jaclyn Christy

After a magical forest wedding last summer, Olin and Jackie set off in a restored 1980s Jeep for a long week of mountain biking and camping in the Southwest. 

Shortly after, Jackie began a nutrition and health coaching certification program with the intention of empowering individuals to live their best life and is beginning to see clients virtually. 

Olin continues to work and travel in the field of ecological engineering and volunteers as the chief of their rural fire department. 

When not working on the construction of their home or tending their substantial garden, they like to disappear on foot, bike, or skis into the surrounding national forest.

Submitted by: Amy & Cy Kluesner

Amy & Cy continue to adapt to the life of the retired! It turns out to be better than either of them had dreamt of!! 

Our extended stays in Ft Myers have provided us the opportunity to spend time with family while enjoying the great weather! We both would like to claim our golf games have improved but don’t want to stretch the truth!! Regardless of our scores, we enjoy spending time on the course! We were even able to golf with Roger & Jessica!!

Submitted by: Mariann Kurtz Weber

JP has committed to study and play football at Saint John’s University in Minnesota! He plans to study business and Spanish. He is hoping the Twin Cities family will come out to support the Johnnies! He will graduate from Wahlert Catholic High School on May 21, 2023.

Submitted by Mark Weber

Tricia and I were honored to offer Jackie’s hand in marriage to Olin Christy this summer. The wedding party was limited to our immediate family, Olin’s immediate family and Jackie and Olin’s friends. Jackie and Olin prepared the entire event. The ceremony and reception were held in a mountain valley bordered by a bubbling stream in a national forest an hour north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Many of their friends helped with the preparation and serving of food and playing of music. Jackie’s sister, Jill, did an amazing job presiding over the outdoor ceremony. Following a delicious dinner, people danced to a D.J. under a full moon. While Tricia and I left at midnight, it was reported the dancing continued until nearly 3:00a.m.! It was an incredible, memorable event! We are so happy for both of them and to welcome Olin into our family!

We drove back to Omaha the following day. We had left home on July 27 on our trip to Wyoming for our family vacation before continuing our drive to New Mexico for the wedding. While a wonderful time, after 14 days and 3100 miles of driving we were happy to sleep in our own beds!

Check out more wedding photos here.

Family Vacation

Submitted by Mark Weber

On July 31, 2022 our entire family checked into The Spotted Horse Ranch near Jackson, Wyoming for a week long family vacation. This all-inclusive dude ranch had a total capacity of 31 guests, of which our family comprised 19. Each of our six family units had their own comfortable cabin. Delicious meals were served family style three times per day. When we arrived each of us was assigned our own horse for the week. 

Trail rides were held twice daily (9:00a.m. and 2:00p.m.) The rides were led by seasoned wranglers through beautiful national forests. Everyone learned to ride-even 3-year old Cecelia! In addition to riding most days, we participated in multiple outdoor activities including: fly fishing, hiking, skipping rocks across the stream, horseshoes, and pickup volleyball and softball games. 

We also went to an outdoor hot springs spa, a rodeo and went white water rafting. In the evenings, after a wonderful meal, adults typically sat outside around a fire pit with their favorite beverage while children ran around playing tag or catching fireflies. 

The week went way too fast! It was a fantastic opportunity for cousins to bond and adults to spend quality time with each other. As one of our grandchildren said on the last day, “This was the best vacation EVER!”

Summer has brought many adventures for Jim and Terri. Jim has been enjoying all of the beautiful summer days in Minnesota sailing on his new refurbished sailboat. With a goal of hitting the lake at least twelve times each season, the boat and water are keeping him very busy. In addition Jim has been hard at work tending his backyard gardens, taking daily walks, and biking the beautiful trails Minnesota has to offer. 

Terri loves to spend time outdoors at the beach with the grandkids and has been enjoying the many fitness classes our local community center has to offer. 

Catching up with the grandkids after wintering in Florida is a highlight for both Jim and Terri. 

The Naslund family spent the first two weeks of summer vacationing in California. The highlights of their trip included touring San Francisco, seeing the Sequoia trees in Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park, visiting Disneyland and touring San Diego. 

Isabelle has been playing her saxophone in her middle school marching band this summer. She enjoyed marching in our 4th of July parade, performing at Valleyfair Amusement park and performing at our local Chaska River City days. In addition, she spent a week volunteering for our church's Vacation Bible School. 

Mason spent a week in June participating in Starbase camp where he worked to design and plan for a Mission to Mars. During the camp Mason designed and 3D printed a rocket fin, which he used on a rocket that they launched. Mason is also looking forward to a golf and tennis camp later this summer. 

Noah has also stayed busy with golf camp, tennis lessons and swimming lessons. He has become quiet the swimmer and loves to practice at the beach whenever he gets the chance.

The Larsen family has enjoyed numerous weekends up at the cabin. The kids love to spend time swimming and playing in the lake. 

 Both Alivia and Amelia continue to work with their Llamas during the summer months. They are both looking forward to showing their llamas at the local county fair and hopefully at the Minnesota State fair. 

Jameson and Jude are participating in Summer Adventures this summer, which is full of a combination of both academic and fun activities outdoors. Both boys love to spend time outside with family and friends.