Twenty seven descendants of the John and Gertrude Andrews family met at the Rippey Cemetery for services on May 28th. This annual Andrews Reunion has been held for over thirty years at the Memorial Day Services. Great-granddaughter Wendy (Roberts) Burkett played Taps following the military honors this year. As in recent years the group met afterwards at the Rippey Methodist Church for lunch and conversation with family members and others.
In former years the lunch following the services was held at the farm home of Dale and Verna (Andrews) Roberts. Members attending this year were: Kathleen (Andrews) Linn, Philip and Toni Roberts, Chris and Brenda Roberts, Tim and Lori (Roberts) Bardole and Gabe of Rippey; Cassie Bardole of Jefferson; Rebecca Linn of Dana; Karen (Roberts) Rooney and sons Dominik and Jordan of Churdan; Gene and Charlene (Roberts) Dorman of Perry; Wendy (Roberts) Burkett and daughters Josie, Addie, and Lily of Winterset; Simone Andrews, Alain and Chris Andrews of Pleasant Hill; and Rick and Sharon Andrews, Kayla Andrews and children Carter and Avery Andrews of Des Moines. One family had five generations of Andrews present this year. They were Simone Andrews, widow of Raymond Andrews, her son Alain Andrews, grandson Rick Andrews, great-granddaughter Kayla Andrews and great-great-grandchildren Carter and Avery. It was wonderful having so many family members present to pay homage to the family and Service members who are gone but not forgotten.