Slinger, Wi – For the Breuer family, a recent reunion at Breuer Park in Slinger was more than a gathering of relatives. It was a return to a piece of family history.
Bonnie (Breuer) Neidinger said approximately 182 family members gathered at the park for the reunion, including relatives who traveled from as far as Tyler, Texas.
“It was great to have a large family reunion (about 180 people) this past weekend in the park that previously was part of their farming land back in the day,” Neidinger said.
The connection between the family and the park goes back nearly a century.
Neidinger’s grandparents, Frank and Louise Breuer, purchased the family farm in the early 1930s. The homestead was located adjacent to what is now Breuer Park in Slinger.
Frank and Louise farmed the property until the late 1950s, when their two sons, Jerry and Lee Breuer, took over the operation.
The farm became known as Breuer Brothers Farm, a name it still carries today. Over the years, several other Breuer relatives have also been involved in operating the farm.
“It is considered one of the longest-standing family farms in Washington County,” Neidinger said.
Approximately 15 years ago, Jerry Breuer sold off some of the family acreage. That land eventually became part of Breuer Park.
For the reunion, the family added a colorful way to show their connections across the generations. Each family group wore a shirt color corresponding to their parent, grandparent or great-grandparent.
With 182 people gathered together, the shirts created a living family tree across the park, connecting generations of Breuers whose roots remain firmly planted in Slinger.
For Neidinger and her relatives, holding the reunion on land that was once part of the Breuer family farm made the gathering especially meaningful.
The family had traveled from across the country to reconnect, share memories and celebrate the history that began when Frank and Louise Breuer purchased their farm in the 1930s.
