Welcome

Schaefer Family Reunion

Belleville IL

HAPPY SPRING, SCHAEFER FAMILY!

We’re so excited that our Schaefer Family Reunion will be here before you know it, on Saturday, June 6, 2026! It’s been two years since we last gathered together, and this is the perfect time to celebrate the generations of love that keep our family strong and connected.

We’ll enjoy a delicious meal featuring pulled pork, brats, and hot dogs, along with plenty of mouthwatering family favorite side dishes. Be sure to save room for dessert! We’ll have a build-your- own ice cream bar, complete with sprinkles and other delicious toppings. Be sure to come hungry! To capture all the special moments, a photographer will be on hand throughout the day. And of course, no Schaefer gathering would be complete without our famous Bag Game—so dust off your speedy hands and playful spirits and get ready for some friendly competition.

Check your email for the registration and T-shirt order forms. Please take a moment to complete and return them so we can plan accordingly.

We have asked each family clan to write a brief story, sharing their family histories, memories, traditions, and special moments. These stories will be compiled into a keepsake booklet, with some to be given out as attendance prizes or available for purchase at the

reunion. This booklet will serve as a lasting record for current and future generations, helping ensure our family stories are not lost over time.

* The reunion will start at 12 noon at Shiloh Park, Shiloh, IL

* If you plan to attend, please complete and submit the registration form.

* We request that each family contribute $30.00 to help cover the cost of renting the park for the main entree and desserts, utensils, paper products, and other necessary expenses.
* We also ask that each family bring one side dish or dessert.

Attendance Prizes

One of the beautiful things about organizing the family reunion was putting all of Aunt Joan’s writing into a book. We are happy to announce nine books will be given away as attendance prizes on the day of the reunion. After the reunion, we will send out an email with the relevant information for those who are interested in purchasing a copy of the book.

Schaefer Reunion T-Shirt

A T-shirt to commemorate the family reunion can be ordered through the link that was sent to your email.

Aunt Joan's Book

One of the attendance prizes will be a collection of Aunt Joan’s writings. This book is 46 pages long and features beautiful stories of her life, along with drawings, poems, and haikus. Here’s a sample of one of her stories.

Shiloh Park Update

Reunion Schedule

A Family Reunion Is A Great Place To Connect, Re-Connect, and Share Memories While Also Making New Ones.

Save the Date
June 8, 2024

Why Family Reunions Are So Important

It is hard to connect with family in our busy, all-digital-everything, increasingly disconnected world. And a genuine connection with family is more important than ever. As the 2024 Schaefer Family Reunion Committee, we assure you that no matter how many miles you have to travel or days you have to take off from work, it will be worth it.

Family Reunions:

They celebrate the meaning of family by sharing memories and family rituals, as well as encouraging a sense of belonging to something greater than your nuclear family.
They bring together relatives who have never met (e.g., and new members of the family, newborns.)
They encourage communication among extended family members after the reunion period.
They provide educational opportunities for the various generations to learn about the members of their clan and pass on historical information.

SHILOH PARK PAVILLON 14 PARK DRIVE, SHILOH, IL 62269

Features include: playgrounds, picnic areas, mulch walking trail (circles Fields B & C and is 1/2 mile), ballfields, pavilions, Community Center & Klucker Community Hall.

What To Expect

We have planned an exciting lineup of festivities which will include various activities and games, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

A raffle for some of Aunt Joan’s belongings, alongside a unique book featuring her writings, poems, haiku, and sketches.
To add to the fun, we will be giving away prizes:
- Eldest and youngest family members in attendance
- The most newlywed couple
- Longest married couple
- Family that traveled the farthest
- First and last to arrive
- Largest family group
In addition, there will be a Cornhole Contest, the famous Clothes Bag Game (played at past Schaefer Reunions), and games for the children.
Delicious spread of food available.

What To bRING

Mark Voegtle and Ryan Schmidt are going to smoke several pork-butts
Mark is also making homemade BBQ sauce, hot and regular
Buckets of fried chicken to share
The sides will be divided alphabetically among desserts, starches, salads, chips, and ice cream toppings that will be used at the ice cream station
There will also be hot dogs available
Everyone is asked to bring their own drinks