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It seems Memorial Day weekend is always nice up around Neenah, Wisconsin. The weather was once again excellent for our annual get-together at Gail and Earls in Omro, Wisconsin.  It’s always a pleasure seeing family and friends in this setting.

Omro offers up citywide yard sales which draw people from all around and gives us a chance save a lot of money on those hard to find items. These yard sales have become a Memorial Weekend tradition there and it’s relaxing to go from one to another looking for deals.

We’ve included some photos of Sundays gathering, and if anyone wishes to add a few of their own…just send them along. We will begin an archive of these so you can easily reconnect from years past.

They started out a few weeks ago from Philadelphia pointing Don’s pretty Chrysler 300 in a westerly direction, packed full with luggage and all the essentials. Howard, his lovely wife Sonja, and Don…off to visit friends and relatives along the way and to reach Yellowstone National Park.

They stopped in Winneconne, Wisconsin to meet just about everyone living in the area at the Village Pub on the main drag (Main Street to you younger folks). Some of you may remember that our Aunt Jeanne worked as a cook at Holtz’s Super Club across the street from the Village Pub for many years. After staying in that picturesque little town for a few days they hit the road again.

When they reached Cody, Wyoming, Terry and Theresa were waiting to put their hospitality on display. We think Don has always enjoyed being “out west”, and Cody is always obliging. We’ve been to Cody only one time, for Terry and Theresa’s wedding a few years ago (has it been that long already?) and I look forward to hanging at Erma’s downtown again for a great breakfast. We know Howard, Sonja and Don feel the same way. Terry and Theresa have a good friend there who owns a Bed and Breakfast and is certainly worth staying the night or two. Our Uncle Fred has a mount displayed on the wall above their beautiful fireplace that he shot in 1924.

After a few days they all headed down the road to Yellowstone Park and a peek at Old Faithful. After a short visit there, they said their good byes. Terry and Theresa headed back home to Cody and our somewhat weary travelers began their trek east for their final visit at Lee and Jo’s in Memphis, Indiana.

The two days spent in Southern Indiana on the last leg of their journey proved restful. I know by the time they arrived here, they were a bit saddle sore from all that driving. The first day of their visit we went down to Ft. Knox, Kentucky to go through the General George S. Patton Museum. I know both Howard and Don really enjoyed the tour, seeing all the hardware from our country’s previous conflicts and getting in touch with General Patton’s history. We ended that first day at Fuzzy Zoeller’s Golf Club for a nice relaxing dinner. The next day found us in one of Indiana’s best kept state forests just a few miles up the road. Afterwards, we all settled in around the television and watched “Dances With Wolves”. Early the next morning they were on their way home to Philadelphia. We’re sure it was good to get back to familiar surroundings once again. Sonja says it was a trip of a lifetime. Let there be many more!

It took about four years, but Connor is now swimming on his own.

Through much procrastination, we finally got something out on this website. I don’t know exactly who used to own the Whitpan site name, but thanks for giving it up. If there are any Whitpan’s who want access to our photos or want to write anything on the site, just email me and we can get you setup. Head on over to the About page to get some more relevant information about the person writing this stuff.