Those attending from Iowa were from Buckingham, Ankeny, Tama, Toledo, Bondurant, Waterloo, Manchester, Independence, Dysart, Shellsburg, Swisher, Watkins, Grinnell, Otley, Mt. Auburn, Clive, Des Moines, Drakesville, Urbana, Newhall, Derby, North English, Tiffin, Marshalltown, and Melbourne. Those attending from out of state were from Pagosa Springs, Colorado; Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota; and Atlanta, Georgia. Pictured are those who attended the reunion with several missing. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM WHITMORE

WATERLOO – The Iowa McNamee Clan held their 100th and final reunion on June 4, 2023, with 58 in attendance, 41 being McNamees by birth. They were able to celebrate their last meeting at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Waterloo, Iowa.

The Iowa McNamees came from Ohio with their father David Crockett McNamee and his eight children and settled on a homestead near Dysart. Their first reunion was also held in Waterloo on June 24, 1924, at the home of Theo McNamee. Subsequent reunions were held at the home of James McNamee of Waterloo (9), Theo McNamee (4), George McNamee near Dysart (3), Amor McNamee (3), Laura McNamee (1), Stanley McNamee (1), and Ercell McNamee Bahr and Edwin near Dysart. (1). Eventually, the 23rd reunion was held at the Dysart Community Hall (as recorded), and for the next 77 years, it was held there the first Sunday in June until it wasn’t available for the 100th gathering.

Throughout the years, the children remember playing on the cannon near the water tower and climbing on the large front steps of the building. Many eventually ended up in Dysart Park to finish off their afternoon while their parents were gathering and chatting inside.

The reunions were consistent – eating at noon when the whistle blew after the prayer, having a business meeting beginning with the singing of America and closing with the singing of God Be With You Till We Meet Again. Following the meeting, there were talent presentations and then eating of desserts and ice cream.

Excellent records were kept by the secretaries over the years. At the first meeting, after the collection and expenses, there were 33 cents left in the bank account, while at the 100th, there was over $450.

Attending the last reunion as the oldest McNamee was Laura Etta Metz from Toledo; the youngest was two three-year-olds, Bowie Shaw from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and Brett McNamee from Waterloo; and coming the greatest distance was shared by Reid Summers from Atlanta, Georgia and the Shaw (Hillary Charmichael) family from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, both coming over 800 miles.

At the 100th reunion, it was decided that this would be the last reunion because of the declining number of members attending and lack of interest. The group decided that they would give a donation to the church for hosting us, purchase a tree for the Dysart Park which was always an enjoyment, and make a display (picture file) for the Dysart Museum with their remaining funds.

Everyone enjoyed all the delicious food – especially the homemade ice cream – and the reuniting with cousins they hadn’t seen for a long time. They were all sad to see the reunions come to an end, but the time had come to end the era.