Waconia reunion turns into family hoedown

It was three-generation family music making at the Gothmann family reunion June 30 at the Waconia American Legion. The reunion was planned, the music was a surprise to the 50 family members in attendance.

Rosie (Gothmann) Ratigan grew up in Waconia and now lives in Lander, Wyo., where she plays in a six- person ukulele band. Uke Can Too performs at nursing homes and volunteers at community events.

When she planned her trip back home for a Gothmann family reunion, she said she thought it would be fun to get together with the talented Lindner family and do a surprise musical gig. There were eight children in the Gothmann family in Waconia. Oldest sister Carol married Ron Lindner over 50 years ago.

Ron Lindner is a guitarist and singer for the band Bingo and has played for decades in many other local bands. He is also the father of Krystal (Lindner) Smith and April (Lindner) Schmidt. They have played in several girl bands, and Krystal sings and plays bass guitar at the Freshwater Church in Waconia., Parker Smith is the grandson of Ron and son of Krystal, who has been taking drum lessons from his Grandpa Ron. So, the family came up with a full band representing three generations.

The five-song playlist the group rehearsed briefly before the reunion was a hit. So much so that the Lindners are starting a family band, Ratigan said -- a success story of families coming together for love, fun and the joy of music.