The first Schuetzenfest King and Queen were crowned in 1896
BOW VALLEY — A lot has changed in the 125 years since Bow Valley hosted its first Schuetzenfest celebration,
Area farmers went from tilling up a 20-acre plot of land with a horse and plow to farming several sections or more at a time with a monstrous 48-row corn planter.
Settlers here burned wood or anything else they could find to heat their homes to fight off the cold Nebraska winters, while today gas or electric HVAC systems not only keep our homes toasty warm in the winter time, but nice and cool in the heat of the summer.
A couple of things have not changed, though.
The Noeckers, Thoenes, Sudbecks, Arenses and all their friends, relatives and neighbors still enjoy getting together every few years and showing off their German heritage.
They will all gather again this year at the Bow Valley Ballroom for a 125th anniversary celebration of the Bow Valley Schuetzenfest July 31 and Aug. 1.
A schedule of events for the two-day celebration can be found inside this week's Cedar County News. A list of the shooters who are hoping to be crowned as the 2021 Schuetzenfest King and Queen can also be found inside.
There have been more than 26 sets of Kings and Queens crowned during past Schuetzenfest events.
Not surprisingly, the Noecker and Thoene families have the most representatives in this elite group.
What follows is a near complete listing of Bow Valley Schuetzenfest Kings and Queens of the past. Anyone that can help fill in the blanks is asked to contact a member of the Bow Valley Park Association.
1896
Frank and Elizabeth Thoene
• Frank - Son of Frank Sr. and Ottillia (Arens) Thoene
• Elizabeth (Noecker) - Daughter of John Sr. and Josephine (Heimes) Noecker
Children
• Leona & John Dreesen
• Lucy & Casper Promes
• Fred & Pearl (Doering)
• Katie
• Albert & Irene (Kramer)
• Ida & Joe Uhing
• Mary & John Cash
• Lawrence & Agatha (Frank)
• Rudolph
1899
Frank and Mary Leise
• Frank – Son of Franz and Mary (Imoehl) Leise
• Mary (Stallman) – Daughter of Louis and
Helene Stallman (?)
Children
• Louis & Helen (Schulte)
• Richard & Marie (Murphy)
• Victor
• Francis Victor & Angela (Jansen)
• Erma & Harold Schulte
• Marie Ann & Arthur Vornhagen
1901
Frank Rabe and Elizabeth Tigges
• Frank – Son of Frank and Gertrude (Frigge) Rabe
• Elizabeth Tigges (Wife to Joe Schroeder) Daughter of John and Mary (Arens) Tigges
• First wife of Frank was Mary Schroeder (widowed)
• Second wife, Theresia (Tracy) Schulte
Children
• Paul Willibalt
• Ella Ann Wiberg
• Flora
• John
• Frances Munson
• Anthony
• Maria Rosa Tillman
1902
Henry Jr and Elizabeth (Heimes) Lange
• Henry Jr – Son of Henry Sr and Christina (Foecke) Lange
• Elizabeth – Daughter of Anton and Josephine (Fehling) Heimes
Children
• Victoria & Theodore Artz
• Wendline & Edna (Johnson)
• Elizabeth L.
• Alma & Hugo Stratman
• Marlin & Caroline (Hausman)
• Henrietta & Alphonse Burbach
• Christine & Clarence Weinandt
1904
Louis and Emma (Leise) Hochstein
• Louis – Son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Foerster) Hochstein
• Emma – Daughter of Franz and Maria (Bange) Leise
Children
• Victor & Lucina (Wolff)
• Clarence
1905
John A and
Kathryn (Bonertz) Thoene
• John A – Son of Frank A and Ottillia (Arens) Thoene
• Kathryn – Daughter of Michael and Catharine (Schoenburn) Bonertz
Children
• John Jr. & Rose (Uhing)
• Clifford & Betty (Englund) / Celestine (Westermark)
• Alton & Dolores (Steinhauser)
• Charlie & Ruth (Raymond)
1907
Herman and Lizzie (Pinkelman) Marx
• Herman - Son of Werner and Agnes (Lenzen) Marx
• Lizzie – Daughter of August and Mary (Weissen) Pinkelman
Children
• Raymond and Bernice (Hassman)
• Joseph and Anna (?)
1909
Ludwig Ewing Sr
1910
Joe and Mary (Bonertz) Sudbeck
• Joe – Son of Frank and Magdalena (Lange) Sudbeck
• Mary – Daughter of Michael and Catherine (Schoenburn) Bonertz
Children
• Alvina & Alphonse Uhing
• Adrian
1914
Joe and Louisa Marie (Arens) Hochstein
• Joe – Son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Foerster) Hochstein
• Louisa Marie – Daughter of Frank and Louisa Arens
Children
• Rudolph & Mary (Suing)
• Leonard Frank & Irene (Smith)
• Edward & Ida (Meyer)
• Harry & Clara (Becker)
• Marie & Courtland Peck
• Emma & Roland Haffner
• Ernest
• Raymond & Mary (Versteey)
• Veronica “Verne” Brian
• Derne
1905
John A and
Kathryn (Bonertz) Thoene
• John A – Son of Frank A and Ottillia (Arens) Thoene
• Kathryn – Daughter of Michael and Catharine (Schoenburn) Bonertz
Children
• John Jr. & Rose (Uhing)
• Clifford & Betty (Englund) / Celestine (Westermark)
• Alton & Dolores (Steinhauser)
• Charlie & Ruth (Raymond)
1916
John and
Leona (Thoene) Dreesen
• John – Son of ?
• Leona – Daughter of Frank and Lizzie (Noecker)Thoene
Children
• John
• Irma & Bruno Bonertz
• Francis & Elsie Louise (Sandris)
• Leonard
1934
Joe and Mary Ann (Hengstebeck) Wiebelhaus
• Joe Wiebelhaus – Son of Anton and Josephine (Muelhaus) Wiebelhaus
• Mary Ann – Daughter of Johann and Maria Anna (Grebe) Hengstebeck
Children
• Walter & Eva B (Jackson)
• Hubert & Donna Jeanne (Gobel)
• Mary Jo & Marlon Smith
1935
Edmund Arens and Mary Arens (cousins)
• Edmund Arens – Son of Louis & Rose Mary (Sudbeck) Betty Ward
• Mary Arens became a nun, Siste Mary Jo
• Children of Edmund
• Edna & James Hand
• Kathryn & Lester Adolph
• Karen Baker
• DeeEtta & Donald Prentice
• John & Rosie
• Kenneth & Peggy
1936
John J and Amalia “Millie” (Lintz) Frigge
• John Frigge – Son of Joseph & Theresa (Fernholz) Frigge
• Amalia “Millie” - Daughter of Nikolaus & Susanna Lintz
Children
• Charles
• Marietta & Irving Hoffbauer
• Louise & Kenneth Wallace
• Sister Mariella
1937
Henry Arens and Monica Heime
• Henry Arens – Son of Frank & Matilda (Pick) Arens and married Marcella (Fisher)
• Monica –
• Children of Henry & Marcella
• Joyce Keel
• Mary & Roger Johnson
• Gloria & Doug Schroer
• Susan & Rick Robinson
• Helene & Ed Bottolfsen
• Doris & Duane Feilmeier
• Lynne Konz
• Charles & Jolene
• Stephen & Deb
1938
Pete and Margaret
(Wortmann) Becker
• Pete Becker – Son of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Becker
• Margaret – Daughter of Henry & Teresa (Noecker) Wortmann
Children
• Joseph & Romaine (Lange)
• Mary Stella & Jerome Kuehler
• Theresa and Tom Moser
1939
John and Mary (Wieseler) Kathol
• John Kathol – Son of William & Christine Kathol
• Mary – Daughter of Frank & Christina (Suing) Wieseler
Children
• Christine & Marvin Kruse
• Delores & Norman Sudbeck
• Mary Ann & Joseph Stastny
• Art & Maureen (Sudbeck)
1940
Paul and Pauline (Stappert) Noecker
• Paul Noecker – Son of John & Mary (Pinkelman) Noecker
• Pauline – Daughter of Frank & Mary (Arens) Stappert
Children
• Erma & Frank Promes
• Phyliss & Cyril Koch
• Ralph
1941
Alphonse and Margaret (Burbach) Wortmann
• Alphonse Wortmann – Son of Henry & Theresa (Noecker) Wortmann
• Margaret – Daughter of Mathias & Francis (Heimes) Burbach
Children
• Rita & Andrew Steffen
• Betty & Victor Nissen
• Roman & Wilma (Bruns)
• Ruth & Gerald Foxhoven
• Gloria & Chuck McDonald
• Ethel
1976
LaVerle and Karen (Kathol) Heimes
• LaVerle Heimes – Son of Leonard & Teresa (Boehmer) Heimes
• Karen – Daughter of Ivo & Bernadette (Jansen) Kathol
Children
• Janell & Pat Wortmann
• Bill & Darla (Janish)
• Bob & Michelle (Birger)
• Jane & Mat Sayler
• Mary
• Ashley
1996
Gary and Doris Hochstein
• Gary Hochstein – Son of Stephan & Thecla (Burbach) Hochstein
• Doris – Daughter of Leonard & Mary Jansen
Children
• Brenda & Doug Ketter
• Tina & Aaron Koch
• Sheila & Gayle Brummer
• Stacy & Courtney (Arens)
2000
Rick and Mary Pinkelman
• Rick Pinkelman – Son of Ed & Eleanor (Wortmann) Pinkelman
• Mary – Daughter of Don & Merna (Buschelman) Kollars
Children
• Trina & Jay Gilbertson
• Lana & Casey Gooby
• Clint & Shelly (Uhing)
• Peni R
• Erin & Steve Lopez
2005
Brian and Stephanie (Mannion) Lange
• Brian Lange – Son of Ed & Bernadette (Schroeder) Lange
• Stephanie – Daughter of James & Janet (Mannion) Hansen
Children
• Austin
• Justin
• Michaela
2010
Danni and Karen Thoene
• Danni Thoene – Son of John Jr. & Rose (Uhing) Thoene
• Karen – Daughter of Jerome & Doris (Haberman) Noecker
Children
• Wendy & Kris Krie
• Tommy & Jamie (Fisher)
• Dani & Jennie (Smith)
• Terry & Stacy (Peitz)
• Joey & Jamie (Keller)
• Cody & Kylie (Bakke)
• Jimmy
2015
Todd and Jean (Steffen) Wiebelhaus
• Todd Wiebelhaus – Son of Irvin & Chysantha (Kollars) Wiebelhaus
• Jean – Daughter of Orville & Pat (Fisher) Steffen
Children
• Chrys & Jody Koch
• Kayla & Tom Arens
• Cheryl & Austin Hunter
• Sheila
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