Gene & Florence Kreipe
Tecumseh, Kansas
Dancing since 1962, Gene and Florence were members of Gents & Janes and Santa Fe Squares, both of Topeka, before the Northeast Kansas Square Dance Association (NEKSDA) was formed in 1976. They helped organize and launch the Top-Kan Twirlers Square Dance Club of Topeka, in 1972. They were the only charter members remaining when the club folded 42 years later. Gene and Florence also assisted with the formation of the Swinging Squares Square Dance Club in Topeka, but were not charter members.
They joined Swinging Squares in the club’s second year of dancing and were members for 41 years. Willingly serving their clubs as leaders many times, they could always be counted on to support each club’s events.
They helped form the NEKSDA and served the District in several offices. Traveling throughout the State and Nation to dances, Gene and Florence attended over 20 Nationals and over 30 State Conventions. They were members of KSDA for 36 years.
Organized from a caller run to a combined caller -dancer run State Convention in 1978, Gene and Florence were the second couple to serve as Dancer Coordinators for the State Convention. With the help of the Caller Coordinators, Chris and Kay Christian, they organized the 28th Kansas State Square Dance Convention, May 4 - 5, 1979, at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka with over 1,280 dancers registered. Gene and Florence are true ambassadors to the square dance activity. Always helpful, they served the clubs, district, and State whenever help was needed.
Gene and Florence were not ones to sit at home; they would attend dances at every available opportunity. It was not uncommon for them to dance more than 13 days in a row or dance at 2 clubs in one evening. They have also danced in 2 states in the same evening. Even when health issues prevented them from dancing and traveling, they not only supported Top-Kan Twirlers and Swinging Squares but the 57th National, KSDA, and area clubs. By understanding the benefits of the activity and how to profit by getting involved, Gene and Florence helped other square dancers see the rewards of the wonderful activity called square dancing.
Gene and Florence are “Mr. & Mrs. Friendship Set to Music!”