Project Pioneer awards prizes; will honor Le Clere, Wehner Families next year

STE. GENEVIEVE – Project Pioneer awarded prizes to those attending the recent gathering of the Oberle and Operle families.

The oldest man and oldest woman attending from each family received a framed family crest; the speakers at Jour de Fete opening ceremonies received family books; and those who traveled the farthest to attend received family T-shirts.

Oberle Family: From left are: Debbie Pfaff, Bill Oberle, Lillian Oberle and Stephen V. Oberle.

Oberle family winners were: receiving the Oldest Man/Woman awards were Stephen V. Oberle, 79; and Lillian Oberle, 87; traveling the farthest was Sean Coogan of Chicago, Ill., 370 miles; and the speakers were both Debbie Pfaff and Bill Oberle.

Operle Family: Gerald Operle, Mary Jane Operle, Marie Haunart, Linda Lanscer, and Charmaine Haunart.

Operle winners were: Oldest Man/Woman, Gerald Operle, 86, and Mary Jane Operle, 79; traveling the farthest were Marie and Charmaine Haunart of Fort Smith, Ark., 430 miles; and the speaker was Linda Lanscer.

The Le Clere and Wehner families were named the honored families for 2023 by Project Pioneer at Opening Ceremonies of Jour de Fete recently.

Anyone descending from either family is asked to gather their family information for submission to the committee as soon as possible. The first meeting for the two families is set for Saturday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center, 360 Market St.

 Meetings will continue on the second Saturday of the month through next July, except for a recess during December and January.

For more information, log on to stegenevieveprojectpioneer.com and visit Ste. Genevieve Project Pioneer on Facebook.