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We bring you greetings from the states way back east
To thank all the organizers for arranging a feast!
The food we enjoyed was certainly great,
But our fellowship – togetherness is the thing we rate.
It’s kinship, cousinship, or call us relations,
The fiber of life – that even builds nations.

It all began with two immigrant’s dream
To live life together in a land not yet seen.
We must not forget Grandparents Klara and Paul,
Whose deep courage and devotion conquered all.
Lonely barriers of ocean, even languages strange –
That let to a parsonage on Dakota’s range.

Zumbrota, then Goodhue, Mobridge and South Shore,
Grasshoppers, dust storms, then kids galore
Emmanuel, Clara, and Julia grew tall
Came Paul, blue eyed Elsa – but that wasn’t all
Theophil, Christian, Eugene, Marie & Fred
“Papa Paul, das istgenug (enough)!” Mama Klara said.

So Paul’s blue eyes twinkled and Klara had her way,
And the circle of 10 was complete from that day.
Ten preachers kids who grew short or tall,
Knowing more German than English before they could crawl.
Eirkuchen, Spaetzle, blood sausage to eat,
Baked stollen, hard springerle, were special sweet treats.<ref>see:Legacy Recipe</ref>

There was laughter and pranks when the neighbor kids came,
Ernie, Johnny and Kala acquired nicknames.
Mother Superior, William Lenz, may still “ring a bell”
You don’t know who they were, ask Mark and he’ll tell!
The family survived, and many followed E.P. west
For the lands all looked greener and opportunities the best.

Wheat rancher, beef farmers, a mechanic or two
Secretaries, pilots, musicians, quite a few.
Engineers, lawyers, and Lutheran preachers,
Clerks, nurses and doctors and all kinds of teachers.
Firemen, fishermen, and comedians by the score,
Salesmen, beauticians, you name some more.

Reflect for a minute, to look with great pride
At your Hinderer values…the things kept inside.
Hinderers can laugh and enjoy the good life
Hinderers have courage in the all kinds of strife
Hinderers have faith in God almighty above
Hinderers value kindness – they know how to love.

The decades have passed and generations number five,
And only through us will our lineage survive.
We must learn new names before we all part,
So the Hinderer legacy will live in your heart.
Don’t be afraid to greet and love one another,
For it’s probably a grandkid of your own dad’s dear brother.
We’re forever related through that Hinderer ten,
So let’s vow this reunion will be repeated again.