2010:  The next scheduled reunion will be July, 2010 in Champion, Nebraska.  As plans are made, you will receive more information. 

2007: On July 21, 2007, the William and Henry Bauerle decendants gathered at Champion, Nebraska, in their Community Center to honor and celebrate the eighth Bauerle Reunion.  They came from Nebraska, Taxas, Iowa, California, Kentucky, Colorado and Oregon.  In all there were 114 participants in the two day event.  This year’s theme for the celebration was “America the Promised Land”.  Family members who had served in our country’s armed forces were honored on Saturday evening with a special gift.  An informal worship service was held on Sunday morning followed by a catered dinner.  During the afternoon the family joined with many members of the community to celebrate the 60th anniversary of marriage to Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.  Diane Bauerle received input from family members stating they’d be interested in doing another family recipe book.

2004: Seventh Bauerle Reunion.  July 23-25, 2007 found the “Blooming Bauerle’s out around the town of Imperial.  It was the 2004 Bauerle Farmily Reunion with 89 attending.  There was time to look at scrapbooks, photo albums, displays of aerial photo’s of Champion area and photos of buildings in Germany with Bauerle heritage connections.  Youth played games, men toured a local gun shop and many toured various flower gardens and yards in Imperial.  The youth enjoyed a piñata and the “Guess Who” video was prepared by Kim Spady.  The event of the evening was the auction of various items of food, crafts and memorabilia with Elden Bauerle as head auctioneer.  The “Surprise Prize” was the little suitcase that William Bauerle brought over on the boat in 1883.  It was purchased and given to the Chase County Museum in Champion.  The oldest attending was Irvin Bauerle and youngest was Brittany Wallace (3 months).  Elden and DeAnn Bauerle came the greatest distance.

2001:  Sixth Bauerle Reunion.  July 14-15, 2001 at the Champion Lake and Champion Inn.  The Bauerle Bee Hive was buzzing at this reunion.  The Bauerle Bee’s had bee name tags, bee t-shirts, quizs, talent show and silent auction.  Many members visited the Imperial cemetery where many family graves were marked with wooden crosses.  The oldest one present was Selma Mather (92 years) and youngest Reid Spady (one month).  Talent show – Louis Bauerle family sang “Grandpa Bauerle Had A Farm Ei-Ei-Oh”.  Elden Bauerle demonstrated various turkey calls, Marcie Lindau sang, Loys and David Mather gave a “bee” skit then ended with David on the guitar.  The tables were decorated with flower pot beehives with flying bees.  On Sunday morning Marcia Lindau opened the church service with the doxology from Sandy Patty.  Margaret Nelson sang “Heirlooms” by Amy Grant and the group sang “Amazing Grace” accompanied by David Mather on the guitar.  Irvin Bauerle, Margaret and Marcie sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  Alexa Lock on her flute played “When Peace Like a River”, followed by a duet by Ron and Gentry Lock “Shout to the Lord”.

1998:  Fifth Bauerle Reunion, July 18-19, 1998 with 100 Bauerle decendants putting together “pieces of the Past”.  The two day event began with registration of families and bountiful picnic lunch at noon Saturday.  Picture taking, games, tours, canoeing, visiting and reminiscing were the events of the day.  Sunday festivities began with a Continental breakfast, short business meeting and a family church service.  Marcia Lindau conducted a n inspirational service for all.  At noon we gathered at the Champ Inn for a catered buffet lunch.  Appreciation awards and visiting followed.

1995:  Fourth Bauerle Reunion, July 15-16 1995.  One hundred forty two family members gathered at the fairgrounds in Imperial.  Brunch was served followed by a barbecue and entertainment.  A Sunday luncheon was served at the Senior Center in Imperial.  J.D. Kelly traveled the longest distance (10,000 miles) round trip from Anchorage to attend, edging out Wes and Sandra Bowers, missionaries in Guatemala.  Family History:  The year was 1886 and Wilhelm Fredrick Bauerle having left Bittenfeld, Germany, three years earlier, homesteaded a farm about seven miles southwest of Champion, NE.  Working on his farm and supplementing his income by working on the railroad, he saved enough money to send for his younger brother Henry in 1892.  While working on the railroad in McCook, Wilhelm who changed his name to William, met Anna Ebel.  He married her in 1895 in Culbertson and they had seven children, three sons and four daughters.  William’s younger brother, Henry, joined him in America as a 16-year-old.  He met Laura Felt and they were married in 1898.  They had two sons and three daughters.  Henry gave up farming and moved his family to Champion, where he opened a garage and gas station, this operation becoming Overland and Studebaker car dealerships.

1992:  Third Bauerle Reunion, July 25-26, 1992.  This weekend found 128 Bauerle descendants gathering in Imperial at the City Park.  A family tree prepared by Bernard Bauerle of Sylmar, CA helped people discover relatives they never knew existed.  The festivities started with a bountiful brunch served from the concession stand by Louis, Albert and Emma families.  Registration found relatives from 17 states and Guatemala.  “Bauerle Reunion” sweatshirts printed and sold by Yvonne and Bob Kennedy, added to the fun and causing a real challenge to find a certain person as everyone looked alike.  Family history books compiled by Margaret Bauerle Nelson, made identification task much easier.  The afternoon activities were golfing, ballgames at Schroeder Park, supervised by the Lock brothers, visiting and a tour of Edna Gardners “children vase” collection.  Due to the rainy weather, dinner was served in the old Grade School gym by E.W. Bauerle, Valeda Bauerle Goddard, and Esta Chesterton families.  Entertainment was provided by the musical group “We Three” consisting of Marcia Bauerle Lindau (Axtel), Linda Larson (Axtel) and Jan Schneider (Funk, NE).  Sunday dinner was served at the Senior Center. Baby picture guessing game, Bauerle quiz and scramble were played.  Viewing of Elden and DeAnn Bauerle’s wedding pictures and taking family photos followed.

1989:  Second Bauerle reunion, August 19-20.  125 attended reunion at the Champion State Park.  The visitors and locals shared a common goal – all are descendants of William and Henry Bauerle, pioneer homesteaders who emigrated from Germany to settle in the Champion area in Chase County.  About 125 descendants, representing four generations and a family tree with branches in 23 states converged on Champion State Park to attend the 2-day event that feathered an abundance of food, games, and fellowship.  Many of the relatives had not seen each other for as many as 40 years and some had never met.

1985:  The first Bauerle Reunion – August 16 and 17 at the Enders Church of Brethren.  133 decendants of William A., and Henry O. and Gottlieb Bauerle attended.  The highlights of the gathering was the presence of Inge Rohler and friend, Alex Luhn from Frankfurt, West Germany.  Honorees included the eldest Bauerle decendants, Emma Bauerle Griem, October 2 1898 of the Willima Bauerle family and Herman Bauerle, July 31, 1899 of the H.O. Bauerle family.  The youngest member present was Laura Lynn Horst, 3 months, daughter of Brian and Mary Lynn Horst.

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