Cibolo

January 2023 – Hermann Sons Life – Page 23 Cibolo Lodge presents award, pins during party

CIBOLO – Cibolo Lodge held its Christmas party Saturday, Dec. 3, at Saint John’s Lutheran Church P.J. Hall in Marion.

Director Stan Steiger and President John Gray presented a 70-year membership pin to Rodney Krebbs.

The lodge presented three donations. Quilts of Valor was the Matching Funds recipient. It is a volunteer organization that makes handmade quilts for service members and veterans. In September the lodge held a rummage sale at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Universal City to raise money for Quilts of Valor. John and Stan presented a check to representatives Lynn and Roy Poole in the amount of $1,500 from the lodge and $500 from the Home Office.

Lynn explained their process for making the quilts and then surprised the lodge with a beautiful quilt. If anyone knows of a deserving service member, more information is available at qovf.org.

The lodge also donated to Operation Backpack. President Gray and Vice President Sherry Rakowitz presented Debbie Mattke, who operates Operation Backpack, with the Humanitarian of the Year award along with a $250 check and nonperishable food items donated by members. Operation Backpack provides backpacks of school supplies and food for children in need in the Marion school district.

The third donation was for a charity the lodge has been helping for several years now. A $250 H-E-B gift card was presented to TruLight127 Ministries as well as nonperishable foods items.

Decorations included a Christmas tree decorated with horse candy cane holders the children were able to take home and enjoy. Thanks to Beverly Lefever for the holders as well as the candy canes. The tables were decorated with poinsettias and given away as door prizes.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and puppy Claus visited, and everyone had the chance to let him know what they wanted for Christmas and have their pictures taken with him.

Back Door Catering served a meal of bacon-wrapped chicken thighs, green beans, cheesy potatoes, salad and iced tea. Desserts included a variety of cookies including red velvet, chocolate chip, choconut and sugar pecan sprinkles. The cakes included a dreamsicle truffle cake, pound cake, coconut cake and a pecan bundt cake made by 11-year-old Brenley Bierstedt. The cake had won first place at the Stockdale FFA Prospect show that day. There were also pies and homemade peanut brittle.

The 50/50 drawing brought in more than $300 and the winner was Alvin Schulz, and the other half went to the Scholarship Fund.

Members enjoyed a casino night that included two blackjack tables, one roulette table and Texas hold-em. One of the casino prizes was a Christmas wreath made by Bonnie Wyrwich. Those who did not gamble participated in a domino tournament. Winners were Mike Warneke and Fay Fey.

Santa judged the ugly sweater contest and out of the seven participating, Dorothy Schnieder won first place with a train sweater. Tiffany Kuhlman won second place with a cat sweater and Zane Gray won third place with a Santa on a chimney sweater.

Rodney Krebs, center, received his 70-year membership pin during the Cibolo Lodge Christmas party. Presenting the pin were Board Director Stan Steiger, left, and President John Gray.

Roy and Lynn Poole, representatives of Quilts of Valor, gifted Cibolo Lodge a quilt during the lodge’s Christmas party. Debbie Mattke, center, was the recipient of the Cibolo Lodge Humanitarian of the Year Award. Presenting the award during the lodge Christmas party were President John Gray and Vice President Sherry Rakowitz.

Cibolo Lodge presented a donation to Quilts of Valor during the lodge Christmas party. Pictured are, from left, President John Gray, Roy and Lynn Poole and Board Director Stan Steiger.