Wagler family holds annual campout

The Wagler family held its 38th Annual Wagler Campout in Morris Park, Van Buren County.

We were pleased to see a good turnout this year. With seven campers filing in at Morris Park from Sept. 15-17, we filled up half of the camping spaces. No big fire this year, we each had our individual fires and would go visit at other’s fires to chat or cook a hotdog. We caught up on the past year and enjoyed seeing some of the little ones who kept us entertained.

We were so happy on Saturday to see some of the drop-ins arrive and among them was Betty Wagler. She was brought by her daughter, Deanne Graber from Bettendorf. We celebrated Betty’s 85th birthday with a giant decorated cookie.

Saturday afternoon, we had “school” at the old Morris Park schoolhouse, where we said the Pledge of Allegiance. We were asked to go up to the blackboard and write our names and then each took a turn reading from books we were given by Russell Klenk and Kailand Williams, our teacher and principal.

Rather than have a chili dump, this year we had different kinds of soups and we liked that so much we decided to do this from now on. We recited the Lord’s Prayer before we ate and then filled up on all the wonderful soups, sides and desserts. Mark Wagler was always busy cutting and splitting wood for our fires and helping anyone else that needed it.

Sunday morning we met for breakfast and then it was time for some of the campers to load up and head home. The weather was great, but the insects were relentless. Flies, bees and No See-Ums were relentless, but luckily we had our repellents in hand. Can’t wait for next year!

Campers: Mike, Eileen Thurman (Wilton); Mark, Pam Wagler (Ft. Madison); Rob, Darla Chaddock and Bella; Chase, Stephanie, Russell Klenk, Millie and George, Betty Wallman (Yarmouth); Emily Chaddock and Frankie (West Burlington); Miles Wagler (Altoona); Mike Rice (Danville); Gary, Leanna Wagler; Kailand Williams (Burlington); Connie Rice McGinity (Mediapolis).

Drop-Ins: Jon, Hillary, Wesley, Ethan, Jake Graber (Eldridge); Deanne, Jim Graber, Betty Wagler (Bettendorf); Zane Darnell, Amie, Leighton, Ameera Rice (Danville); Dave, Doris Van Alst (Stockport); Jim Van Alst (Minnesota); Des, Keylian Williams, Kelli Wagler, Kirstie, Kiera Wagler, Katie Baltisberger, Shandler Powelson (Burlington); Dave Throckmorton, Ki Wagler (Keosauqua).

Linger-Longers: Gary, Leanna, Mark, Pam Wagler; Connie McGinity; Rob, Darla Chaddock and Bella.