Art and Eleanor Wagner of Imperial recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. They were married on Feb. 5, 1950 at Zion Lutheran Church. (Johnson Publications photo)
Tondarae and Casey Francis were married on Jan. 19, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church and make their home in Imperial. (Johnson Publications photo)
Longtime lovebirds share advice
February has long been celebrated as the month of romance. Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated each year on Feb. 14.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the story of true love begins as something new. It can withstand the test of time.
Art and Eleanor Wagner recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.
Their story began as Eleanor was good friends with Art’s sister. She told with Eleanor that Art was wanting to date her.
“We began dating in 1946 and were married on Feb. 5, 1950,” said Eleanor.
Art was 21 and Eleanor, 18, when they married.
During the following year, they made a hard decision.
Art told his new wife, “If I don’t enlist now I’ll be drafted, and I want to choose who I serve with,” he said.
Art joined the U.S. Marines at the same time Eleanor was expecting their first child.
Eleanor stayed with her parents and spent a great deal of time with a friend whose husband was also in the military.
“Art went to boot camp in California. My friend and I went there to see our husbands when they finished basic training,” Eleanor said.
From there, Art deployed to Korea and Eleanor and her friend stayed in California.
. . . . .
Just Beginning
Tondarae, 27, and Casey Francis, 28, made it official when they were married on Jan. 19 this year.
They met nine years ago and have been a couple for a number of years before tying the knot.
It all began as they saw each other fairly often while she was working in a grocery store in Imperial. Casey came in regularly as a customer, and they exchanged a few words.
“We eventually started communicating online. The thing is, I knew who he was, but he didn’t know it was me,” she said as they both laughed.
“On our first date we went snow sledding with friends,” said Casey.
Nine years later, the couple solidified their commitment to each other and are planning their future.
“We believe to keep a marriage strong takes communication, trust and making time for each other,” the couple concurred.
To read more on this and other stories, please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. https://etypeservices.com/Imperial%20RepublicanID359/