The Swiss Society of Nashville

Onec again we met with the Swiss Club of Alabama for the special day. This year it was in Huntsville, AL. Which was so much more convenient for us because it's only 2 hours from Nashville. It was a wonderful setup at Monte Sano State Park and we saw many familiar faces. The food was great and we had plenty sausages (Cervalats and Brats!!!)

We all had a great time and are looking forward to next year.

Ohhh how much fun did we have!!!! Just putting the right colored stickers onto the two maps...

After a short presentation by Tom of the painstaking journey of Swiss immigrants in the1850s, we enjoyed several speaches and funny pictures of how and when our Swiss ancestors got to America. Bill about the 'von Graffenrieds', Bethe about the 'Suters, Rychens, Niderhausers, Thalmanns, Thoenis, Gussman and Beckers' (What a mix and match that is...) and Ellen complemented her side of the clan. We are lucky to have such well documented genealogists! Kurt talked about the Doggwilers with their own ski resort and 'Wursterei' in California and Bob finished with the Thoeni story in the Swiss German speaking town of Fountain City, Wisconsin.

Thanks to all! We will do it again (maybe in November)

Go check out the photos!

Election day! New officers - the following were nominated and elected by ballot:

Tom Moor - President
Patricia Majett – Vice President
Dawna Waggoner – Secretary
Georgann Waddey - Treasurer

Thank y'all für your service and to a successful 2015

We had big time fun during this meeting: The annual Fondue-Party!!!

Everyone brought their cheese and melting pots and soon the party got cooking. By the end everyone had a full belly and a smile on their face!

Check the photos!

At the January 25, 2014 meeting, officer elections were held. The new officers for 2014 are as follows: Tom Moor President, Bill Alexander Vice President, Ellen Taylor Secretary and Georgann Waddey Treasurer. The financial directors will be Charlene Thoni, Jane Becker and Ed Carter. Congratulatons to all.

On November 19, 2013 the Swiss Society lost a long time member. Margaret Suter was one of the first women inducted into the Society back in 1982. She was a fixture at the Society meetings and will be missed by all that knew her. Her obituary is below.


Marguerite "Margaret" Rychen Suter was born May 27, 1911, and passed away peacefully at Alive Hospice on November 19, 2013. She was 102. She is preceded in death by her parents Ida and Emil Rychen, her devoted husband of 60 years, John E. Suter, 5 siblings, and numerous beloved friends. She is survived by two daughters, Jane (Frank "Nicky") Becker, and Carolyn (Victor) Muller; sister, Olga Dunbar; sister-in-law, Janice Rychen; 6 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild, and a host of extended family and friends.

Family will receive friends at Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home, 2707 Gallatin Road, on Thursday, November 21st, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. The Service will be conducted at First United Church, 3410 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN, Friday, November 22nd at 1:00 pm, with The Rev. Dr. Steve Cottingham officiating. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Active pallbearers; Frank Becker Jr., Hank Becker, Gordon Dahl, Jonathan Leach, Jeff Pement, Samuel Pement, Benjamin Pement, Caleb Scales, Eric Steidl, and Ryan Steidl.

Honorary pallbearers: Werner Suter, Neil Andrews, George Dunbar, Marc Hines, Larry Rychen, Randy Rychen, Donald Rychen, Bronson Rychen, Franklin Hood, Melvin Hilton, Paul Ridge, J.D. Korfhage, Mark Young, Roger Prince, Guy Dotson, Sr., Dr. Henry Harrell, the Swiss Society of Nashville, and the Visiting Angels caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Church.

Members and guests of the Swiss Society of Nashville gathered on Saturday, September 28 at Tom and Frances Moor's home in Maury County just south of Spring Hill, Tennessee, for a fantastic Farmer's brunch for 71 members and guests. Thanks to the work of Frances and Tom, the group did not outnumber the huge and delicious quanities of Swiss meats, bread, cheese, desserts, jam and honey. Nor did the group outnumber the elegantly decorated picnic tables, all fitting easily within the spacious concrete-floored barn.

With breezes and a high in the upper 70s, the weather was perfect to enjoy the horse barn setting and take in the Moos's hill top views of their horse farm and surrounding countryside. The icing on the Farmers Brunch cake was a 4 song appearance by Stephanie Quayle, a super country music singer.   www.stephaniequayle.com