Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Schnabel, Arneson, DeGrave
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 7/18/2018
Schnabel, June (Flower Girl at 93 - 2018)
Neillsville woman is flower girl for her great-granddaughter’s wedding
By Valorie Brecht
June Schnabel of Neillsville recently got an unexpected request. Schnabel who is 93, was asked to be the flower girl in her great-granddaughter’s wedding.
She accepted the invitation and participated in the May wedding of Zak and Alexi (Arneson) DeGrave.
Alexi said the idea to have her great-grandma as flower girl just came to her.
“We knew when we got engaged our ring bearer would be our dog. So, it was already non-traditional,” she said.
When her and Zak were trying to pick a flower girl, she said, “We had some friends with young girls, but we weren’t really that close to any of them. Then it just hit me – let’s do Great-Grandma. I’ve always been really close to my grandma, so it made sense.”
Alexi said that she and her great-grandma have always had a special bond. Growing up, her family would go to her great-grandparents’ house a lot since they lived really close to her grandparents.
“It was a nice treat at my wedding to see all my grandparents and great-grandma there,” Alexi recounted.
Schnabel sold Avon for many years and Alexi is into makeup and beauty products as well.
“We’re very similar,” said Alexi. “We like to say that Great-Grandma is very young at heart.”
Schnabel agreed that her and Alexi have a “very close” relationship.
“I have six girls – granddaughters and great-granddaughters – and we’re all close,” she commented.
Schnabel said she received a letter around Christmastime from Alexi asking if she would be the flower girl. She immediately said yes.
“I was proud, really proud,” Schnabel said. “The wedding was wonderful,” she added.
Neillsville resident June Schnabel was the flower girl for her great-granddaughter Alexi DeGrave’s wedding in May. Contributed photos.
Schnabel led the way down the aisle May 26 in Madison. She had a dress that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses and her walker was decorated with flowers. At the reception, the DJ did a shout-out to Schnabel.
“I danced in my chair and got a standing ovation,” Schnabel said.
Alexi said her wedding day was perfect and she was very glad her great-grandmother could take part.
June Schnabel, 93, of Neillsville, was asked to be the flower girl in the May 26 wedding of her great-granddaughter Alexi. After their wedding, Zak and Alexi (Arneson) DeGrave said they were honored that Schnabel accepted the invite to participate in their Madison wedding.
