July 27, 2019
Descendants of Van Tuyl held their annual reunion Saturday, July 13 in the basement of Community of Christ church on the corner of Tudor Road and Independence Avenue. This was the 16th year is has been held here. It used to be held in backyards and parks.
One of the largest was 1949 held in lower RLDS Independence auditorium. We had about 40 this year – only two from Lee’s Summit, Mona Jones (one of nine children) the last one of her generation and her cousin Edna Wilder now 100 years old, the last of her generation. Others came from Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, all parts of Missouri. Those in attendance enjoyed greeting, pot luck, homemade ice cream and viewing lots of memorabilia and picture taking.
There is another Van Tuyl reunion going 13-14 this October in Branson. Some are going to it and they also attended a small one held in 2016 in the Netherlands and visited the grave of Roger T. Van Tuyl (Mona’s brother) who was killed in World War II.
At the close of this family day several boxes were delivered to our Lee’s Summit museum. Mona’s family has given many things in the past. Edna Wilders mother’s 1908 wedding dress is on display there, it was made from pineapple fiber. Those in charge of our museum are doing an excellent educational arrangement of things acquired – you need to visit when open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – it is free.
