Your Family Reunion Special Invitation

Subject: Elmquist family (and extended family members) reunion in Chisago City, Minnesota.


Dear Cousins and members of our extended family,

Make your plans now to attend and be a part of the Elmquist family (and extended family member) reunion beginning Friday evening, June 11, Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, 2010. Invite your kids and grandkids to attend this event too! Honored family members of the reunion are Uncle Earl Elmquist (who celebrates his 92nd birthday Jan. 12th, 2010) and Cousin Marian Kent.

This once in a lifetime event begins with a dinner gathering Friday evening at the Trapper’s restaurant in the heart of Chisago City, MN. Here is what is in the works for the weekend: Saturday opens with visits to points of interest including the old lake side cabin property (now a modern family home) on Little Green Lake in Chisago City, MN. This property was once owned by Uncle Melvin and Aunt Hildur Elmquist, where many of us as kids gathered with our parents on weekends. (Those of you that made these weekend gatherings may also recall that Aunt Grace {Elmquist} and Uncle Howard Eklund summered and lived next-door.) The featured highlight of the day is a tour visit of the John William Elmquist and wife Ida Amanda Hult homestead farm, and the Carl August Johansson (Hult) homestead farm, followed by a walk-about of the nearby old South Green Lake Cemetery where the remains of many of our ancestors now rest. Sunday, events open with 1O:45 AM contemporary service at Zion Lutheran Church (for those who wish to attend these services) and continue with tours of the historic church building and property. (Many of our parents attended and were confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church.) Sunday afternoon features a traditional family picnic gathering at the Ojiketa Girl Scout Camp Ground property on the shores of Big Green Lake. You may not be aware that this property was donated to the Girl Scouts by our Great Uncle Eddie Elmquist and became the Ojiketa Girl Scout Camp. The camp is now the Ojiketa Regional Park and is part of the greater Chisago City public park system. I might add that Ojiketa Park managers welcome our family reunion event in the new city park because of our family’s historical connection to the area and the Ojiketa Park property in particular.

Come for all or part of the family reunion events! This auspicious occasion could serve you well to renew or continue family relationships whether you now live great distances from the old home area, or still live in the greater upper Midwest. Catch up on life happenings, exchange remembrances and meet the latest additions to the extended Elmquist family as well as investigate family roots and history. We look forward to your positive response by E-mail, a phone call, or letter to the addresses below. Your suggestions and recommendations are also more than welcome!

Additional news and information will follow as the reunion plan matures. Please provide me with your current contact information and E-mail address if you have one. You can also keep up to date with our planned event by going to the Elmquist Family Reunion Blog at http://elmquistfamilyreunion.blogspot.com/ .

Sincerely,

David M. Elmquist
DMElmquist@cfl.rr.com