The van der Grinten Family Reunion was a terrific success. Almost 150 relatives assembled in Kranenburg, Germany if not v.d.G. by name, but then in spirit. Many ladies who were born v.d.G. and brought husbands and kids. Elisabeth Peters, born v.d.G., was 103 years young and stayed at the reunion the whole day. The festivities started with a special service by “Theo Schmidt,” a priest whose mother was a v.d.G. by birth, in the old local church.
After a collection paid for expenses, there were a few hundred marks left over which an anonymous spender rounded to 1000 DM. It was decided to donate the money to the kindergarten in Kranenburg. The reunion was described in the local press.
Reported by Wolfgang Heinrich van der Grinten
