Election Dinner in Marion

Marion citizens will hold the 54th annual sauerkraut dinner on Election Day, Nov. 5.

It is held annually at the Elementary School cafeteria, next to the voting polls.

Dinner is served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and there's a family price for the dinner, as well as individual tickets.

This is a 'Get out the vote' effort started in 1948 by Peter Naeye, president of Marion Foods. He wanted to get Harry Truman out of the White House. To help Tom Dewey win, he furnished the sauerkraut and the employees of Marion Foods served dinner in the plant. Spouses furnished pies. This annual event was held every year thereafter to ensure a good voting turnout. When Peter Naeye retired, the Marion Rotary Club took over and Marion Foods continued to furnish the sauerkraut. The Rotary Club disbanded in 1995.

'Profits' were used to fund a scholarship to honor Dr. Besemer a charter Rotarian who setup practice in Marion in 1898. Dr. Bovet took over his practice in 1938. When Dr. Bovet went off to WWII, Dr. Besemer returned to serve Marion's medical needs. Dr. Bovet returned after WWII and continued to serve Marion until his retirement in 1995. The scholarship now is called the Drs. Besemer-Bovet to honor these two men who served Marion for 98 years and delivered most of the Marion residents.

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