FeatureDecember 23, 2024

St. John's Ladies Group dazzled visitors with their annual Country Christmas Home Tour, showcasing festive decorations across Leopold homes. The event featured music, treats, and community spirit.

Andrea Bueter, who lives on Highway N, was one of the hosts for the 2024 Homes Tour.
Andrea Bueter, who lives on Highway N, was one of the hosts for the 2024 Homes Tour.Submitted
Kyla Jansen's living showcases the Christmas tree and presents.
Kyla Jansen's living showcases the Christmas tree and presents.Submitted
Lisa Bueter Cowell's home was a part of the 2024 tour.
Lisa Bueter Cowell's home was a part of the 2024 tour.Submitted
Kyla Jansen's home was a part of the 2024 homes tour.
Kyla Jansen's home was a part of the 2024 homes tour.Submitted
Lisa Bueter Cowell's home was part of the 2024 homes tour.
Lisa Bueter Cowell's home was part of the 2024 homes tour.Submitted
Kyla Jansen's home was part of the 2024 tour in Leopold.
Kyla Jansen's home was part of the 2024 tour in Leopold.Submitted
The Leopold Schoolhouse also was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.
The Leopold Schoolhouse also was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.Submitted
The Leopold Schoolhouse also was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.
The Leopold Schoolhouse also was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.Submitted
A Christmas tree at the Leopold Schoolhouse was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.
A Christmas tree at the Leopold Schoolhouse was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.Submitted
The Leopold Schoolhouse also was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.
The Leopold Schoolhouse also was decorated for the 2024 homes tour.Submitted
The home of Tonya and James Lewis was part of the 2024 Leopold tour.
The home of Tonya and James Lewis was part of the 2024 Leopold tour.Submitted
 Tonya and James Lewis' home was part of the Leopold tour.
Tonya and James Lewis' home was part of the Leopold tour.Submitted
 Tonya and James Lewis' home was part of the Leopold tour.
Tonya and James Lewis' home was part of the Leopold tour.Submitted

Trees. Grinches. Nativities. Santas. Presents. Stockings.

All of those Christmas favorites, plus many more, were on display earlier this month at Leopold area homes as St. John's Church Ladies Group hosted its annual Country Christmas Home Tour Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m.

A total of four homes as well as the Seiler School were a part of this year’s event.

The hosts for the 2024 tour were: Andrea Bueter on Highway N (across from KC Hall); Kyla Jansen (Bollinger County Road 406); Tonya and James Lewis (Bollinger County Road 408); Lisa Bueter Cowell- "Sophies Haus" (across from the school); and Dana Buessink for the Seiler School by the US Post Office in Leopold. This school structure originally was established 1890 and, after it was remodeled, moved to Leopold in July 2024.

After the home tour, participants enjoyed Christmas organ music at the Catholic Church from 3 to 4 p.m. and then had soup and cookies at school cafeteria.

Net proceeds from the 2024 event were shared with the youth group who assisted with serving up the soup.

Andrea Bueter was grateful to be a part of the tour this year.

“This was the first time I’ve been a host on the home tour,” she said. “My mom and I try to go on the tour every year."

Her home didn’t really have a particular decorating theme.

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“It was just kind of the homey, country vibe,” she said.

While there was a great deal of preparation to get her home ready, she said the afternoon of the tour went by fast.

“The time went by so quick,” she said. “It was so fun to hear all the comments people to see what they like. It was fun to open up my home and share Christmas with others.

The annual homes tour is something that adds to the mystique of the holiday season, according to Bueter.

“We’re such a small community that it’s fun to have our community participate in something like this,” she said. “It’s a good Sunday afternoon time. I love getting to see people’s take on Christmas or what Christmas means to them. It was exciting to show what Christmas means to me through my home

Bueter wasn’t flying solo in terms of all of the preparations for getting her home ready for a tour.

“As soon as I found out in September, my sisters and mother were willing to help,” Bueter said.

In addition, friends offered to help in any way their could, Bueter said.

“It was a beautiful day as weather was perfect and we had 107 tourers,” said event organizer Geri Geringer. ‘”The homes were beautiful, it was lovely organ music, and those who participated enjoyed lots of soup, cookies and conversations.”

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