The descendants of the Joseph and Johana Mauler families gathered for their biannual family reunion on Aug. 24 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Olmitz, with Kevin Mauler and Pollie Unruh and their families as hosts. This marks the 150th year of the Joseph Mauler descendants coming to America from Czechoslovakia.

The morning began with a mass being celebrated for all the descendants living and past of the Joseph Mauler family at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Olmitz.

A pot luck dinner was served at 12:30 p.m. with Alvin Mauler leading the prayer. The afternoon was spent visiting, playing games and taking pictures. The prize for traveling the farthest was Mary Jo and Chuck Hamon from Valley Falls. The oldest person attending was Mary Jo Schenk, 94 years. The youngest attending was Eva Adame, 6 months. The couple having the most children were Gene and Mary Ann Mazouch with five children. The longest married couple was Mary Jo and Chuck Hamon with 62 years of marriage. Lois Mauler won the prize with the most grandchildren, 16 and the most great-grandchildren, 21.

The family lost Gerald Mauler in 2004 who was a great historian of the Joseph Mauler family tree. He loved genealogy. Gerald and Paul Maneth started the Mauler Reunion in 1984 and it has continued since.

Those attending were Gene and Mary Ann Mazouch, Loretta Kulhman, Shirley Koochel, Tina Koochel, McKenn and Bexton Stetler, Kino, Nakita, Kacen, Mila, Cruz, Eva, Adame, Trent, Chelsea, Halle, Remi, Maryn and Colten Mauler, Jeff and Sally Mauler, Payton Mauler, Mary Jo, James and Debbie Kulhman, Chuck and Mary Skolaut, Matt, Rebecca, Brady, Kinley and Ty Karlin, Kevin Mauler, Lois Mauler, Tracy Roat - all of Great Bend; Chuck Wegener, Lynn Stos, Dale and Bille Kuhlman, Edward, Kelly and Caleb Maneth, Eugene and Mary Jo Maneth - all of Olmitz; Kathy Fischer of Hoisington; Mike and Brandy Maneth of Albert; Trenton Mauler and Jaxson, Hazel and Abel, Karyloyn Schaffer - all of LaCrosse; Al and Marcy Mauler of Lawrence; Brent and Linda Haberman of Spring Hill; Chuch and Mary Jo Hamon of Valley Falls.

The next Mauler Family Reunion is planned for Aug. 29, 2027.

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