2023 LEISZ FAMILY REUNION IN TURTLE LAKE, WISCONSIN—A BIG SUCCESS!
Thursday, June 22: Pre-reunion events
COME A DAY EARLY TO START THE REUNION FUN
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
Join with Leisz family members to enjoy an all-day or half-day event (see other blocks in this section for details). Early registration, meet and greet, set up your photo boards with old family photos, share memorabilia and memories. And be sure to take a selfie with life-size cutouts of our Leisz ancestors! Here Don Fritch poses with a headshot of his maternal grandfather, Leisz Brother Leopold (1863-1925). See any resemblance?
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SCNSR) is a jewel in the crown of Wisconsin. Join with family members on a leisurely three-hour paddle down the St. Croix in your own kayak or canoe—or rent one from our outfitter. We'll start at the SCNSR Visitors Center and learn about the more than 200 miles of clean water that glides and rushes through a forested landscape and towering cliffs of wild and scenic beauty. Hiking and historic towns in the area also beckon. These include Osceola, WI, originally settled in 1844; a collection of buildings dating from the 1880s forms the core of Osceola's downtown and contributes to its small town charm.
DINNER AND SING-ALONG
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
DINNER AND SING-ALONG
Evening gathering for dinner (watch out for an impromptu sing-along) at Moon Lake Tavern or Hotel Bar & Grill in Turtle Lake. This was great fun at the 2018 Leisz Family Reunion! And it's only five miles from downtown Turtle Lake.Spring-fed Moon Lake was a place for recreation for our Leisz ancestors, whose farms were located very nearby. When at the 2023 Reunion, don't miss popping into Moon Lake Tavern for a trip back in time. NOTE: Moon Lake Resort has a campground and cabins to rent for those who'd like to "rough it" while enjoying our Family Reunion Weekend. Boat launch, fishing, water sports and more are all available at Moon Lake. Fishing includes Fish include bass, crappies, sunfish, perch, walleye and muskie.
Friday, June 23: Reunion official kickoff
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
Pick up your registration packets with tee shirts color-coded by family branch. Meet and greet at church hall, set up your photo boards and look at other boards and memorabilia, take photos with life-size Leisz cutouts. Catered snacks and beverages.
LEISZ GENEALOGY DEEP DIVE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
AFTERNOON: Genealogy deep dive. Rotate through 30-min multimedia programs on different topics in breakout sessions on Leisz Family History (potentially video recorded for family archives). Audio record your Leisz historical stories on audio for posterity for our “Leisz StoryLore Project.”
LEISZ GOLF SCRAMBLE
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
MORNING: Leisz Genealogy not your cup of tea? Why not join in the Leisz Family Golf Outing at the Cumberland Golf Club, one of Northern Wisconsin's most challenging and beautiful golf courses. The course, just 16 miles from Turtle Lake, offers a challenging yet playable round of golf for all ages, and many Leisz descendants living in the area belong to this club. You can even follow this up with a tour of Leinenkugel's Brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI...check out info below.
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
EVENING: Friday night fish fries are a Wisconsin tradition! As in 2018, Turtle Lake's own Spare Time Bowl, Bar & Grille will host an authentic Wisconsin fish fry fo the Leisz Family (hamburgers and fries also available). Bring your appetite, purchase a beverage or two at the Spare Time bar, and enjoy good meal with Leisz family cousins.
FRIDAY EVENING—BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Leisz Bowling Tournament
Spare Time Bowl, Bar & Grille will once again host the Hank Leisz Official Tourney on FRIDAY EVENING, June 23, 2023. Hank owned a bowling alley and bar for years in Amery. This event is not to miss—a great ice breaker! Teams of 7 family branches will go head-to-head to win the coveted Hank Leisz Trophy. 2018 Winners >
Saturday, June 24: Choose from multiple rotating events
1. LEISZ TURTLE LAKE TROT
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
2. TURTLE LAKE MUSEUM TOURS
EARLY MORNING: Start your day with this 2-mile walk/run along the Cattail Trail. Support Turtle Lake history! Join with your fellow Leisz family members to exercise your family ties and have fun. Here Jerri Lynn Nykanen Leisz (left) and Jennie Leisz Nitchey pose after completing the Trot at the 2018 Leisz Family Reunion. Jerri and Jennie are both members of the Leisz Brother John (1861-1939) branch of our family.
2. TURTLE LAKE MUSEUM TOURS
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
2. TURTLE LAKE MUSEUM TOURS
LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON: Museum guided tours and talks at the Turtle Lake Museum! Lifetime resident, retired teacher and local historian Dave Skrupky along with the other Museum volunteers are prepping a special program to tell us all about Turtle Lake “fixtures” at the time our ancestors farmed the area —such as Blix’s Store, the Train Depot crash, the Pea Canning Factory, the Dairy Cooperative and much, much more. Learn about life BEFORE electricity, snow plows, telephones, hospitals and modern conveniences we take for granted. Our Leisz ancestors lived hard lives—we owe them a debt of gratitude.
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
AFTERNOON: The Leisz Family was among early settlers of Turtle Lake in the late 19th Century. And few of our family members know more about the Leisz Family Farms than Jennie Leisz Nitchey. Jennie and her family live in nearby Clayton, and her father, John "Huntz" Leisz, still farms; Huntz is the great-grandson of Leisz Brother John (1861-1939) and one of nine children of the late Vernon and Dotz Leisz. Jennie will narrate group bus tours of the farms of Leisz Brothers John, Leopold, Joseph, Frank, Anton and Michael. We'll also seek out the original farm of Leisz Sister Mary Leisz Minnichsoffer and her husband John.
Saturday Evening Supper Party
Capstone event of the entire reunion!
Enjoy an exciting program and delicious buffet dinner together with your Leisz relatives across multiple generations and seven family branches! Program to include:
- Group photos by family branch
- Genealogy displays and presentation
- Cash bar Happy Hour
- Buffet dinner
- Narrated videos of each of the seven branches of our family
- Awards and recognition including Leisz Trot, Scavenger Hunt, Kids' Fortnite Tournament, team winning the Official Hank Leisz Bowling Trophy, Golf Scramble, and youngest and oldest reunion attendees, most grandchildren
- Bring-A-Basket Raffle to share a taste of your hometown
- Call-out to special attendees
- Memorial slide show of those who passed on since 2018 Reunion
ABOVE PHOTO: Descendants of Leisz Brother Frank (1875-1949) showed up strong at our 2018 family reunion. They are anchored by Frank's granddaughter (center standing) Deanna Baltozer Ruston, whose mom is Frank's daughter Louise Leisz Baltozer (1912-1988). Surrounding Deanna are her kids and those of her sister Roberta Baltozer Nicholson Welch. They are (standing, from left) Melissa Michel and baby daughter Olivia, Chad Ruston; Wes Nicholson and wife wife Elizabeth, and Dawn Nicholson Michel (grandma of the baby). Seated are Gary Ruston with his sister Carol Ruston Hildenbrand. AND photobombing at far right are Anne Leisz Mann and hubby Kenny from Houston; they are descendants of Leisz Brother Anton (1880-1942).
Location for our Supper Party
Das Lach Haus in Cumberland will host our Saturday night Supper party on June 24, 2023. Then-proprietor Carl Bents passed away on November 3, 2020; Carl had worked closely with our reunion planners in both 2002 and 2018. . New facility owners are proud to have a premier event venue with a full catering menu in beautiful Cumberland, Wisconsin.
Sunday, June 25: Memorial service and farewell brunch
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
Memorial Service to honor our many Leisz ancestors laid to rest at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Grave markers (color-coded to family branch) on posts to designate each family member and their relationship within our extended family. Here sisters Sandra Reuter and Geri Reuter Colgrove joined cousin Barb Gallagher at St. Ann's Cemetery in 2018. (Note: Your Reunion Planning Committee is attempting to secure a retired Catholic priest to say a special Mass at St. Ann's Church in Turtle Lake, where many of our ancestors were baptized, confirmed, married, and laid to rest. Stay tuned for further info.)
FAREWELL BRUNCH (UNTIL NEXT TIME)
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
After the Cemetery Memorial Service, we'll return to St. Ann's Church Hall for a delicious Sunday Brunch. This is a great time and place to not only share a meal before returning home, but to bid farewell until our next reunion, and exchange contact information and more. Here Jan Davis and members of the Greater Turtle Lake Area Association (GTLAA) gave their all to put on a delicious Sunday Brunch for the Leisz Family during our 2018 Family Reunion.
Coming this June! Book your lodging NOW
Plan your trip to Turtle Lake, Wis. for the 2023 Leisz Family Reunion at your Holiday gatherings
LODGING
We’ve reserved a block of rooms at the all-new Northwoods Best Inn in Turtle Lake from Jun 21-26—they will go fast! Call 715-986-2070 and ask for “Leisz Family Reunion” Group Account No. 258129. Other lodging options including B&B and camping: https://www.turtlelakewi.com/ and search for “places to stay”.
REGISTRATION OPENS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Registration opened on February 1, 2023. 2 ways to register: Online at our Reunion Website; or by mail—call 920-207-8747 to request a registration packet be mailed to you. Early-bird registration ends April 30, 2023 to save.
TRANSPORTATION
If flying, Turtle Lake is 80 mi from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
EVENT OVERVIEW
THU Jun 22: PM—Group paddle down St. Croix River.
FRI Jun 23: DAY—Genealogy Deep-Dive, Golf Scramble. EVE—Fish/Brat Fry, Leisz Bowling Tourney.
SAT Jun 24: DAY—Rotating events including narrated bus tour of century-old family farms, museum tour, shop-a-holics excursion, trot walk/run. EVE: Leisz Family Supper Party & Program.
SUN Jun 25: AM & early PM—Guided Cemetery Tour, followed by Memorial Service, Farewell Brunch.
OTHER AREA ATTRACTIONS IN WISCONSIN
Visit https://www.travelwisconsin.com/ and https://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/wi
QUESTIONS
Email leiszreunion@gmail.com, call 920-207-8747, or contact us through this website.
Thursday, June 22: Pre-reunion events
COME A DAY EARLY TO START THE REUNION FUN
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
Join with Leisz family members to enjoy an all-day or half-day event (see other blocks in this section for details). Early registration, meet and greet, set up your photo boards with old family photos, share memorabilia and memories. And be sure to take a selfie with life-size cutouts of our Leisz ancestors! Here Don Fritch poses with a headshot of his maternal grandfather, Leisz Brother Leopold (1863-1925). See any resemblance?
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SCNSR) is a jewel in the crown of Wisconsin. Join with family members on a leisurely three-hour paddle down the St. Croix in your own kayak or canoe—or rent one from our outfitter. We'll learn about the more than 200 miles of clean water that glides and rushes through a forested landscape and towering cliffs of wild and scenic beauty. Hiking and historic towns in the area also beckon. These include Osceola, WI, originally settled in 1844; a collection of buildings dating from the 1880s forms the core of Osceola's downtown and contributes to its small town charm.
DINNER AND SING-ALONG
LEISURELY DAY PADDLE DOWN THE ST. CROIX RIVER
DINNER AND SING-ALONG
Evening gathering for dinner (watch out for an impromptu sing-along) at Moon Lake Tavern or Hotel Bar & Grill in Turtle Lake. This was great fun at the 2018 Leisz Family Reunion! And it's only five miles from downtown Turtle Lake.Spring-fed Moon Lake was a place for recreation for our Leisz ancestors, whose farms were located very nearby. When at the 2023 Reunion, don't miss popping into Moon Lake Tavern for a trip back in time. NOTE: Moon Lake Resort has a campground and cabins to rent for those who'd like to "rough it" while enjoying our Family Reunion Weekend. Boat launch, fishing, water sports and more are all available at Moon Lake. Fishing includes Fish include bass, crappies, sunfish, perch, walleye and muskie.
Friday, June 23: Reunion official kickoff
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
Pick up your registration packets with tee shirts color-coded by family branch. Meet and greet at church hall, set up your photo boards and look at other boards and memorabilia, take photos with life-size Leisz cutouts. Catered snacks and beverages.
LEISZ GENEALOGY DEEP DIVE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
MEET AND GREET LEISZ'S FROM FAR AND WIDE
AFTERNOON: Genealogy deep dive. Rotate through 30-min multimedia programs on different topics in breakout sessions on Leisz Family History (potentially video recorded for family archives). Audio record your Leisz historical stories on audio for posterity for our “Leisz StoryLore Project.”
LEISZ GOLF SCRAMBLE
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
MORNING: Leisz Genealogy not your cup of tea? Why not join in the Leisz Family Golf Outing at the Cumberland Golf Club, one of Northern Wisconsin's most challenging and beautiful golf courses. The course, just 16 miles from Turtle Lake, offers a challenging yet playable round of golf for all ages, and many Leisz descendants living in the area belong to this club. You can even follow this up with a tour of Leinenkugel's Brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI...check out info below.
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
REAL WISCONSIN FISH FRY
EVENING: Friday night fish fries are a Wisconsin tradition! As in 2018, Turtle Lake's own Spare Time Bowl, Bar & Grille will host an authentic Wisconsin fish fry fo the Leisz Family (hamburgers and bratwurst also available). Bring your appetite, purchase a beverage or two at the Spare Time bar, and enjoy good meal with Leisz family cousins.
FRIDAY EVENING—BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Leisz Bowling Tournament
Spare Time Bowl, Bar & Grille will once again host the Hank Leisz Official Tourney on FRIDAY EVENING, June 23, 2023. Hank owned a bowling alley and bar for years in Amery. This event is not to miss—a great ice breaker! Teams of 7 family branches will go head-to-head to win the coveted Hank Leisz Trophy. 2018 Winners >
Saturday, June 24: Choose from multiple rotating events
1. LEISZ TURTLE LAKE TROT
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
2. TURTLE LAKE MUSEUM TOURS
EARLY MORNING: Start your day with this 2-mile walk/run along the Cattail Trail. Support Turtle Lake history! Join with your fellow Leisz family members to exercise your family ties and have fun. Here Jerri Lynn Nykanen Leisz (left) and Jennie Leisz Nitchey pose after completing the Trot at the 2018 Leisz Family Reunion. Jerri and Jennie are both members of the Leisz Brother John (1861-1939) branch of our family.
2. TURTLE LAKE MUSEUM TOURS
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
2. TURTLE LAKE MUSEUM TOURS
LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON: Museum guided tours and talks at the Turtle Lake Museum! Lifetime resident, retired teacher and local historian Dave Skrupky along with the other Museum volunteers are prepping a special program to tell us all about Turtle Lake “fixtures” at the time our ancestors farmed the area —such as Blix’s Store, the Train Depot crash, the Pea Canning Factory, the Dairy Cooperative and much, much more. Learn about life BEFORE electricity, snow plows, telephones, hospitals and modern conveniences we take for granted. Our Leisz ancestors lived hard lives—we owe them a debt of gratitude.
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
3. NARRATED BUS TOURS OF LEISZ FAMILY FARMS
AFTERNOON: The Leisz Family was among early settlers of Turtle Lake in the late 19th Century. And few of our family members know more about the Leisz Family Farms than Jennie Leisz Nitchey. Jennie and her family live in nearby Clayton, and her father, John "Huntz" Leisz, still farms; Huntz is the great-grandson of Leisz Brother John (1861-1939) and one of nine children of the late Vernon and Dotz Leisz. Jennie will narrate group bus tours of the farms of Leisz Brothers John, Leopold, Joseph, Frank, Anton and Michael. We'll also seek out the original farm of Leisz Sister Mary Leisz Minnichsoffer and her husband John.
Saturday Evening Supper Party
Capstone event of the entire reunion!
Enjoy an exciting program and delicious buffet dinner together with your Leisz relatives across multiple generations and seven family branches! Program to include:
- Group photos by family branch
- Genealogy displays and presentation
- Cash bar Happy Hour
- Buffet dinner
- Narrated videos of each of the seven branches of our family
- Awards and recognition including Leisz Trot, team winning the Official Hank Leisz Bowling Trophy, Golf Scramble, and youngest and oldest reunion attendees, most grandchildren
- Bring-A-Basket Raffle for raffle—share a taste of your hometown
- Call-out to special attendees and VIPs
- Slide show
ABOVE PHOTO: Descendants of Leisz Brother Frank (1875-1949) showed up strong at our 2018 family reunion. They are anchored by Frank's granddaughter (center standing) Deanna Baltozer Ruston, whose mom is Frank's daughter Louise Leisz Baltozer (1912-1988). Surrounding Deanna are her kids and those of her sister Roberta Baltozer Nicholson Welch. They are (standing, from left) Melissa Michel and baby daughter Olivia, Chad Ruston; Wes Nicholson and wife wife Elizabeth, and Dawn Nicholson Michel (grandma of the baby). Seated are Gary Ruston with his sister Carol Ruston Hildenbrand. AND photobombing at far right are Anne Leisz Mann and hubby Kenny from Houston; they are descendants of Leisz Brother Anton (1880-1942).
Location for our Supper Party
Das Lach Haus in Cumberland will host our Saturday night Supper party on June 24, 2023. Then-proprietor Carl Bents passed away on November 3, 2020; Carl had worked closely with our reunion planners in both 2002 and 2018. New facility owners are proud to have a premier event venue with a full catering menu in beautiful Cumberland, Wisconsin.
Sunday, June 25: Memorial service and farewell brunch
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
Memorial Service to honor our many Leisz ancestors laid to rest at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Grave markers (color-coded to family branch) on posts to designate each family member and their relationship within our extended family. Here sisters Sandra Reuter and Geri Reuter Colgrove joined cousin Barb Gallagher at St. Ann's Cemetery in 2018. (Note: Your Reunion Planning Committee is attempting to secure a retired Catholic priest to say a special Mass at St. Ann's Church in Turtle Lake, where many of our ancestors were baptized, confirmed, married, and laid to rest. Stay tuned for further info.)
FAREWELL BRUNCH (UNTIL NEXT TIME)
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
CEMETERY GUIDED TOUR & MEMORIAL SERVICE
After the Cemetery Memorial Service, we'll return to St. Ann's Church Hall for a delicious Sunday Brunch. This is a great time and place to not only share a meal before returning home, but to bid farewell until our next reunion, and exchange contact information and more. Here Jan Davis and members of the Greater Turtle Lake Area Association (GTLAA) gave their all to put on a delicious Sunday Brunch for the Leisz Family during our 2018 Family Reunion.