Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Stendel/Mausser exchange vows
Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Parents of the couple are Scott and Elaine Stendel of Decorah and Phillip and Phyllis Mausser of Epworth.
The altar was decorated with crystal candleholders honoring parents, grandparents and deceased loved ones.
As the parents and grandparents were ushered into church the groom presented each of them crystal roses.
Grandparents of the bride are Arlene Stendel of Castalia and Florian and Leona Steinlage of West Union. The groom’s grandparents are Donald and Margaret Koopmann and Clem and Jean Mausser, all of Epworth.
The bride’s great-grandparents are Ervin and Wilma Sabelka of New Hampton.
Soloists were Scott Stendel, father of the bride, and Cindy Schissel. Pianist was Karen Holthaus.
Musical selections included “Keeper of the Stars,” “From This Moment,” “How Do you Fall in Love,” and “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry.” During the lighting of the unity candle the bride’s father sang “The Wedding Song” just as he did nearly 25 years ago at his wedding. Other songs included “He Has Chosen You For Me,” “The Prayer” and “The Irish Wedding Song.”
Presented in marriage by her father, the bride wore an Oleg Cassini gown of candlelight satin. Her ensemble featured a round neckline, gold and pearl beaded hemline and chapel train. Her headpiece, a gold love crown was a Princess Diana crown replica, featured Austrian crystals, rhinestones, Swarovski crystals and six pearl teardrops on the front accented with 16 love bows at the top. The ivory finished edge veil also was accented with teardrop crystals. She wore a diamond tennis bracelet and pearl earrings with ruby accents that looked like a flower. Her hand-tied bouquet was arranged with black Baccara roses & stephanotis accented with gold beads from the bride’s great aunt June Bodensteiner of Louisiana. The flowers were designed by the bride’s aunt, Pam Buddenberg, the owner of Blooms of Main in Ossian.
Personal attendant was Sara Kruse, friend of the couple from Petersburg. Shelly Koopmann aunt of the groom of Cedar Rapids, assisted with makeup.
Maid of honor was Dana Stendel of Decorah, sister of the bride. Bridal attendants were Kristen Domeyer of Holy Cross, friend of the couple; Kelly and Tricia Mausser of Epworth, sisters of the groom; and Lisa Miller of Palo, sister of the groom. They wore ivory dresses with beaded bodices and carried bouquets of black Baccara roses with cedar and gold accents.
The flower girl was Mikaila Murray of Decorah, friend of the couple. She wore an ivory tea-length dress and carried a kissing ball of black Baccara sweetheart roses and snowflake poms.
Ring bear was Landen Knapp of Epworth, friend of the couple. He carried a crystal butter dish tray with double ring boxes.
Bell ringers and greeters were Megan Rauen of Farley and Jill Wolf of Epworth, both friends of the couple. They rang bells just before the bride entered the church. The girls wore dresses of black velvet tops and deep burgundy skirts with glittery accents.
Best man was Matt Engelken of Epworth, friend of the couple. Groomsmen were Russ Demmer of Farley, friend of the couple; Ryan Demmer of Cascade, friend of the couple; Ryan Casey of Epworth, friend of the couple; and Scott Mausser of Epworth, brother of the groom. Usherettes were Brittany and Bridget Buddenberg of Cedar Falls, cousins of the bride; Amanda Arlen of Earlville, friend of the couple; and Chelcee Hindman of Radcliffe, friend of the couple. The usherettes selected black sleeveless dresses of choice and wore upper armbands of black Baccara roses and snowflake poms.
Ushers were Ted Bergfeld of Farley, Chris Reuter of Epworth, Josh Demmer of Dubuque and Marty Ronnebaum of Earlville; all friends of the couple.
Readers for the ceremony were Sheila Beringer of Cascade, aunt of the groom, and Denise Hager of Waukon, Confirmation sponsor of the bride. Carol Brehm of Epworth, Godmother of the groom, and Gary Steinlage of West Union, Godfather of the bride were gift bearers.
Altar servers were Katie Koopmann of Epworth, cousin of the groom, and Reid Buchheit of Lawler, cousin of the bride. Pam Buddenberg of Castalia, aunt of the bride, and Marilyn Taft of Epworth, aunt of the groom, served as the flower attendants.
A reception was held at 5 p.m. at the Waukon Reception and BanquetCenter.
The reception hall entryway was decorated with an elegant mirror enhanced with the words: traditions, memories, family and friends etched on the glass.
Crystal hurricanes, red scatters and gold chargers and candles, decorated the tables. The guests were served home-raised pork raised on the bride’s family farm and barbequed by Schulte’s Catering of Waukon.
Reception hosts and hostesses were Dave and Kim Paul of Maynard and Tim and Shelly Koopmann of Cedar Rapids, all Godparents of the couple. Marilyn Steffens of Maynard and Stacey Steinlage of Ames, cousins of the bride, served as guest book attendants. The gift attendants were Karla Hanson of Elgin, aunt of the bride; Cindy McDermott of Epworth, aunt of the groom; and Doug Buddenberg of Castalia, uncle of the bride. Cake cutters were LuAnn Cox of Epworth, aunt of the groom; Kim Wolf of Epworth and Joanne Rauen of Farley, friends of the couple.
Linda Besler of Epworth, aunt of the groom, and Lois Buchheit of Lawler and Carol Knox of Alpha, aunts of the groom, all served punch. Serving milk were Anna Troester of Garnavillo and Kurt Wolf of Epworth, friends of the couple.
The head table servers were Katie Steinlage of West Union, Stephanie Paul of Maynard, Angela Besler and Hannah Cox of Epworthm, all cousins of the couple; and Shayla Troendle of Waukon, friend of the couple. Cake was served to the guests by Holly and Lillie Beringer of Cascade, cousins of the groom; Lindsey Paul of Maynard, cousin of the bride; Kaleb, Cole and Carter Kruse of Earlville, friends of the couple; Nathan Eick of Plainfield and Brylie Volker of Lamont, fellow Junior Believers. Rondee Troester of Garnavillo, friend of the couple, served as the personal photographer.
The couple had an 8 p.m. dance with music provided by the Juiceman. Throughout the dance a grazing table was available for guests with snacks. The evening was completed with party hats and horns to ring in the New Year. A midnight balloon drop capped off the evening festivities.
The bride is employed in customer service at Weber Paper Company in Dubuque. The groom is employed by Horsfield Construction of Epworth.
They now reside in Rickardsville, Iowa.