When Kathy Theel and Pat Irrthum retired, they both found themselves wanting, as Kathy put it, “something to do in the afternoon.” So, the ladies decided to start their very own Bunco club in the Kenyon-Wanamingo community. 20 years later, the group is made up of retired ladies who all gather every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at members' homes or a local community space to dedicate a few hours to this beloved dice game. For the ladies, it's more than just a time to enjoy some snacks, play a game, or win some prizes; it’s a time to be intentional with community. The KW Bunco Club celebrates 20 years in September.
The basic gist of Bunco is that it is a dice game, and an exhilarating one at that. The game is played in pairs with four people per table. A game of Bunco is typically played with twelve players. A head table begins and ends each round by ringing a bell. Each round corresponds to a different number on the three dice that players need to roll to collect points. When the head table reaches a total of 21 points, the bell is rung, and the round is up. If a pair of players wins that round, they move up to the next table; if the pair loses that round, they go down a table. The pair of players wins a round based on the shared points that they earned in that round. When players move to a different table, they switch seats, so they have a different partner. When all rounds are completed, points are tallied, and the player with the most overall points wins the game.
Throughout the years, the club has seen many changes. Some of the members of the Bunco Club have passed away or moved on. Other members are snowbirds, which can make the game a little trickier to play in the wintertime with the missing players. However, the KW Bunco Club has a reserve list of players who are willing to fill in should the need arise.
The club serves as an example that no matter what stage of life you are in, it’s important to be intentional in seeking out community and commit to staying active.
