We have Entered a New Season

15 July 2025 - Letter and Email

Dear Fischer-Bahnsen Relations,

Firstly, Thank you to Marilyn and Linda for your letters, Karen for your email, and Leonard for your phone call. I appreciated hearing from each of you. Thank you for sending your news. Also, thank you to Ron who (as always) came early to hold down our spot.

This year's reunion had only six attendees: Ron & Shirlee, Rob & Annette, Victoria & myself. As we discussed the past 76 (or more) years of the Fischer-Bahnsen Family Reunions, several things were apparent:

Our family tree has branched out far beyond the original stump: Sönke Bahnsen and Theresa Fischer who married in 1888
Those closest to the stump of our family tree are advancing in age while the younger branches are becoming quite distant from the stump. The youngest in our group are 5 generations from the stump.
We have passed through an estimated 3 (or more) generations of leadership. While I don't have numbers, the list of those who have passed away I'm sure exceeds the current mailing list (40+ households), which itself exceeds those who have attended in recent years.
While over the past 10 years the number of attendees has averaged just over 20, this is down from the 50+ that we had in the early 60's. (High numbers are from what I've counted in photographs. I don't have photos from every year, so the actual high number may be even more.) (Attendance includes infants.)

Considering these factors, the six of us who attended this year's reunion decided not to make plans for another reunion. I think we've had a good run for 76 years - longer than I've been alive! Now, the younger generations have their own family trees to nurture. If there is anyone who feels strongly that we should keep our annual picnic going, you are more than welcome to take the reins and breathe new life into it.

Attending these reunions was always a part of my childhood summer. As a child there were a lot of people attending whom I didn't know. Only the closer relatives were familiar to me. Since returning to the Northwest in 2008, I've enjoyed getting to know those who have been regular attendees. I've also gained a greater appreciation for our family heritage.

Looking ahead....

The FischerBahnsenReunion.com domain name is registered through July of 2028. The website itself is hosted for free on Google, so it's not going away anytime soon. The photos that have been posted there will remain, and I might at some point add more, though doing so is not a high priority.
The Fischer-Bahnsen email address will also remain. Typically I check that address once every couple of months. If there is pressing news that you want to send out, let me know. If I don't have your email address, please send it to me.
Last year, we discussed creating a FaceBook group. That is still a perfectly good option for anyone who might be interested. Someone (not me) would need to take ownership of it.
As a resource, our family tree is on the web at https://wt.won-too-3.net This intentionally vague privately hosted website is accessible to any relative who has an account. You may request your account from the website itself. Please be sure to indicate how you fit into the family tree. With an account, you can both research and add detail. If you have questions about privacy or security, please ask me. Safeguards are in place.

Looking back...

1949 - The earliest photograph that I am aware of. Looking dapper at Champoeg State Park with 34 attendees.

1963 - The photo showing the largest (that I've found so far) number of attendees, 53. I hope to sometime find the original transparency so I can recover the person who got cropped out of this print.

2024 - Still holding strong with 30 in attendance!

2025 - What a difference one year can make! The Last Hurrah? The Final Fizzle? The End of a 76-year Era? Let's just call it "The Sassy Stalwart Six." There were other people who would have attended had it not been for conflicts and health issues. We started meeting at Fogarty Creek in 2006.

I have enjoyed serving this group these past 15 years — a role I inherited from my father, Gerald, after he passed in 2009. Wishing you and your families all the best as we cherish the past and look forward to the future.

~Rolf for the Fischer-Bahnsen Reunion

Park Information is at: http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_220.php Fogarty Creek divides the park into North and South sides. Each side has its own entrance from Highway 101. Once in the park, it is not possible to drive from one side to the other. We meet on the North side. From Highway 101, use the North park entrance.

Our anticipated GEO picnic spot.

Google Sites

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