Editor’s note: The article and photo are reprinted courtesy of the Spearville News.

he Vincent de Paul Circle No. 211 of the Daughters of Isabella, of St. John the Baptist Parish in Spearville, celebrated the 85th anniversary of their circle on Sunday, April 15. Several members participated in the Mass at 10:30 a.m.

Following Mass, a dinner of baked steak, baked potato, fresh tomatoes, Isabella salad and cake was service to members and their spouses, Father John Maes, State Regent Lucille Reif and husband, Charles, from Plainville, and State Financial Secretary Patricia Stoddard of Kinsley. Bridget Anderson, and members of the freshmen CCD class of St. John Parish, served the meal.

On April 8, 1920, initiation was held for 40 ladies of Spearville, beginning the Vincent de Paul Circle. History of the Circle says that a heavy snowstorm raged but the initiation and the banquet went on as planned.

Two years later, on April 22, 1922, the Charter was signed by 87 members, giving the circle the legal right to use the name and carry on the work of the Daughters of Isabella. The last living charter member, Teresa Trenkamp, a member of the Circle for 71 years, died in 1993.

Membership of the group has not dropped significantly over the years. The 2007 membership roster contains 83 names.

A survey of the Circle’s activities through the years reveals a pattern of change in emphasis and activities to suite the times, but the one continuing element in the pattern has been that of service.

Since 1977, members have taken care of the flower plot at the intersection of Davis Street, Avenue B and Oak Street, adding this to the other community services the group performs.

The Circle caters meals for weddings, reunions and the like, gives donations to Manna House, the Crisis Center, Friendship Feast meals, the seminarians, religious work in the mission field, the local food bank for needing families, as well as to anyone in the community suffering from illness or a disaster.

The group supports many civic projects including city recycling, bloodmobile, Relay for Life cancer fund drive and the downtown shopping night which kicks off the Christmas shopping season in town.

During the program at the Parish Center, Lori Burke and Connie Heskamp presented pins to members who have been in the Circle for 25 years or more and to four ladies who have not been members for 25 years, but have served as Regent for the Circle.

Those who received pins and their number of years as members are:

Louise Hornung, 26 years; Ruth Temaat and Shirley Stein, 27 years; Bernice Lea Groth and Jane Hubbell, 29 years; Deloyce McKee, 33 years; Lavera Strecker, Rose Thomas, Dolores Giles and Sharon Droste (two terms as Regent), 39 years; Idus Hipp, 44 years; Janice Hattrup, Margaret Klenke, Delphine Peintner, Bobbie Schuette, Dorothy Trenkamp, Betty Simmons (three terms as Regent), Berna Mae Stegman (currently serves as vice-regent), Toni Aistrup, Elizabeth Heeke Beller (served two terms as regent), 46 years; Margaret Werner and Patricia Torline, 48 years; Louise VanNahmen (one term as Regent), Joan Temaat (one term as Regent), Jeannie Schulte and Estelle Heskamp, 55 years; Leona Laudick (served two terms as Regent) and Zelma Knoeber (one term as Regent), 60 years; and Gladys Eining, the longest member, 62 years.