Northwestern Ohio family reunion celebrates 60 years of tradition across six generations

Even with changing times, one thing has remained the same for decades. For 60 years, one Northwestern Ohio family has gathered together every second Sunday in August since the 60’s.

A family tradition begins

The Glenn Family Reunion began in 1967, with the children of a Northwestern Ohio couple, Fred and Myrtle Glenn and their families. Fred and Myrtle Glenn married on Nov. 29, 1905, and over the next three decades welcomed 13 children, with their first born in 1906 and their youngest arriving in 1936.

Together, the siblings, Wayne, Robert, Dorothy Marion, Ernest, Ruth, Catherine, Caroll, Alica, Laurel, Theodore, Peggy and Audrey laid the foundation for what would become a decades-long family tradition.

Sixty years later, that family has grown into a gathering that now spans six generations, with relatives traveling from across the country to attend.

The celebration began at a local park and over the years has evolved into a much larger gathering. The location changed as the family grew, but one thing has always stayed consistent: it is always held on the second Sunday of August. 

Growing with each generation

What began as a small gathering of siblings and their families has continued to grow with each generation, now bringing together dozens of cousins, children and grandchildren.

Relatives come from across the country to enjoy the reunion. 

“Sometimes we have people from California show up. Sometimes we have people from Alaska,” a family reunion attendee said. 

Fred and Myrtle had 13 children, which then expanded into multiple generations of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Games, laughter and connection

Before the day begins, the reunion starts with a prayer and a blessing to kick off the day.

The celebration is filled with traditions that keep every generation involved.

Plenty of games are organized to keep the children entertained, as well as horseshoe and bingo for the adults. The games encourage family members to mingle with relatives they may not see outside of the reunion.

One unique tradition is the annual Luck of the Leprechaun raffle, an Irish-inspired take on a white elephant exchange. Each family member donates an item and the items are auctioned, using the proceeds to fund the next year’s reunion.

Food and family keepsakes

Each year the menu changes, some years have been a potluck and others catered. 

They have even created two keepsakes: a family tree display board tracing all the generations to the original 13 siblings and a family cookbook preserving cherished recipes. 

Looking ahead

The reunion allows the family to reconnect with relatives they may only see once a year and welcome new generations into the family.

When asking family members why they keep showing up each year, the answer is simple.

“Nobody really has a big answer for that,” the attendee said. “We just know that that’s something that was always instilled in us.”

As the family continues to grow, members hope the reunion will remain a constant, bringing together future generations just as it has for the past 60 years.

“We all enjoy coming and visiting and seeing each other, and we look forward to it every year.”