|
Martha
(LeSaint) Riehle was born September 3, 1918. Eighty-five
years later, on August 30, 2003, family and friends gathered
with her to celebrate her birthday aboard the Belle of
Cincinnati, cruising the Ohio River from the Port of Cincinnati.
Each of her five sons read tributes collected from family
members that consistently characterized Martha as being as wise
as her years, but as fresh and spontaneous as ever. After
the cruise we gathered at the home of Dan and Melanie Riehle to
continue the celebration.
All 21
grandchildren, ages 10 up through 36, joined the
celebration, coming from as far away as North Carolina and
Ontario, Canada. Perhaps this is the most significant
tribute, that not one of them would miss grandma's party!
Gathering outside the Bell of
Cincinnati before the cruise...
|
Cincinnati as seen from the
Belle before commencing our cruise.
|
The
Belle of Cincinnati...
No, the above is not the Belle!
The Belle is the large boat in the picture
below, but the kids thought the USS Nightmare was
pretty cool too.
|
|
Waiting
to board the Belle...
|
|
On deck...
Jen Riehle with Sarah above, Sarah and Megan below
|
|
In the party room before lunch...
Everyone had a pin.
Martha poses with Missy Riehle, the
wife of her grandson, Bill.
Jim Riehle, Martha's grandson, plays with his nephews and
niece.
Denny Riehle, Martha's nephew, aboard the Belle.
Jack Schuler, his brother-
in-law, is to his right. Melanie Riehle, who
organized the festivities, is at his left.
Eddie Broerman, Alberta Charleville, Mary Burkhardt and
Mary
Rita (Bebe) Broerman celebrate the day.
Sherri Schuler and Peggy Riehle
enjoy the party.
|
Martha's son Jim reads tributes to Martha from
his family with Bill looking over his shoulder.
|
|
Martha takes the tributes from her family with
good
grace and her usual sense of humor
|
|
Pictures
at Dan & Melanie's...
Martha with her sons and daughters-in
law (above) and most of her many
grandchildren (below). Looks like Bill has already
left for the OSU game!
...and then there are
great-grandchildren...
|
So
many candles, so young at heart...
|
Back at Martha's the next day, she
and Aunt Mary had many
of the out-of-town visitors in another big, noisy card
game.
|
|
A very special
thanks to Melanie Riehle for organizing the cruise and
hosting the gathering at her and Dan's home afterward.
Well done, again!
|
|
