It's a Surprise!

Surprise!

It's your 50th Anniversary celebration!

Jenny pinning the corsage on Mom.
Dad...are you nervous about his?

This is Your Life

Grandson, Karl Kuklenz reads "This is Your Life"

Wilbert & Dorothy - This is Your Life!

Dorothy’s Story: Dorothy was born in 1939 to Willis Odell and Mary Sue Philbeck; they were textile mill workers at Burlington Industries. She grew up in Caroleen, NC with 4 sisters (Doris, Francis, Brenda, and Phyllis) and 2 brothers (Bobby and Gerald). She attended Caroleen Elementary and TRI High School. She was a good student and played basketball all 4 years of high school. She made all conference 3 yrs as a top scorer and managed to score 63 points in a single game, her personal best. Dorothy’s ambition was to be a nurse or a beautician, but her parents couldn’t afford for her to go to college, so after high school, Dorothy went to Florida to babysit her niece, not knowing that this is where she would meet her future husband.

Wilbert’s Story: Wilbert was born in a small farm house in rural Clare, Iowa in 1936. His parents were Gerd Wilts and Martha Janssen. He grew up on the farm with his brother Martin. Wilbert’s mom died when he was 11 yrs old. As a child he attended Pioneer Elementary School and graduated the 8th grade third in his class. He started working at the young age of 13, as a farm hand. He lived with the farmers and was paid with room, board and some spending money. When he was old enough to serve, he joined the Navy. He attended basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago, Illinois. He was stationed in Jacksonville, FL from 1955 to 1959. He worked as an airplane mechanic and spent one year of his service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Their Story:
Dorothy’s brother, Bobby was in the Navy and was also stationed in Jacksonville, FL. He and Wilbert were buddies! He invited Wilbert over to his home for supper one evening. Dorothy was living there as a full-time nanny for Bob & Wanda’s daughter, Gina. As it turned out, Wilbert would be there for many suppers after that night courting his lady. He would get his wish, as he had always wanted to marry a southern gal.

Their first date was September 3, 1958. Wilbert did not have a car then, so they stayed home for all of their dates. At Thanksgiving, Wilbert went home to Iowa and drove a 1952 Ford from Iowa to Florida. After that, their dates consisted of going to the drive-in movies or just driving around, something they still love to do.

They became engaged in December 1958 and set a date for June. It was moved up to May, then April and finally February. Dorothy’s sister-in-law Wanda was making the dress and she said if they changed the date one more time, that the dress would not be ready. She finished the dress the day before the wedding ceremony. Their courtship lasted a total of 5 months.

The wedding was on a Saturday afternoon - February 7, 1959 at the All Saints Chapel, located on the Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. Dorothy wore a handmade white dress with a reversible jacket and a blue pillbox hat. Wilbert was dressed in black slacks and a cream jacket. Most of Dorothy’s family and Wilbert’s brother, Martin were in attendance.

Their most memorable wedding gift was a crocheted bedspread from Grandmother Philbeck. Their most vivid memory of the wedding date was that the Navy Chaplain forgot about the ceremony and wasn’t ready for them.

For their honeymoon they traveled to the oldest city in the U.S., St. Augustine, Florida. There they drank from the Fountain of Youth and toured many sites around the city.

They lived in a two bedroom trailer house and then next door in a little cottage. They lived in Jacksonville, FL for 10 months until Wilbert’s discharge from the Navy in December of 1959. It was then that they packed up all their belongings and moved to Iowa.

They first returned to Wilbert’s hometown of Clare where Wilbert farmed for the Taylors. In 1963 they moved to a rural farm near Palmer, Iowa owned by Gerd Aden. They would stay and farm that land until Aden wanted to move back to his farm following the death of his wife. In 1966 Dorothy and Wilbert moved into the town of Palmer where they lived in the property behind the fire station. From there they could see and hear the local barn dances on summer weekends. During this time, Wilbert farmed 80 acres on the weekend and worked full-time for Pocahontas County driving the road grader or snowplow. It was at this time he met Jim Fogarty and through him Wilbert found out about a place for rent just outside of Fonda, Iowa. In 1967 they would move to Marlett’s place on Highway 7. During this time, Dorothy worked at the Fonda Care Center as a nurse’s aid during the 3 to 11 shift. She worked there for only one year. In 1968 they moved to rural Jolley, Iowa and rented a property from Barney Engler. It was there that they settled and lived on the Engler farm for a total of 16 years. In 1984 Dorothy and Wilbert retired from farming and moved to the town of Pomeroy, Iowa where they currently reside.

Retiring from farming, did not mean they would retire completely. Dorothy worked at Casey’s, making pizzas for 11 years until a back injury and subsequent back surgery prevented her from working any longer. Wilbert has spent all of the years since driving the open road. He has worked for several employers, including Terra and Hog Slats.

They will officially celebrate 50 years of marriage in February of 2009. They have been blessed with 5 children (DeeDee, Garry, Debbie, Jenny, and Terry who died as an infant) and 5 grandchildren (Karl, Jill, Jackie, Bradley and Makayla). Wilbert and Dorothy have spent time enjoying their retirement as they travel far and wide in their RV looking for adventure, making new friends and visiting their loved ones. As they look forward to what other surprises the future will bring, you never know just where or when they will be on the road again!

Jackie sings

Grand-daugher, Jackie Kuklenz sings two songs
"When God Made You" - popular song by Newsong
"How You Live" - popular song by Point of Grace

When God Made You by Newsong

Its always been a mystery to me
How two hearts can come together
And love can last forever
But now that I have found you, I believe
That a miracle has come
When God sends the perfect one
Now gone are all my questions about why
And Ive never been so sure of anything in my life

(Chorus)I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me

I promise that wherever you may go
Wherever life may lead you
With all my heart Ill be there too
From this moment I want you to know
Ill let nothing come between us
And I will love the ones you love
Now gone are all my question about why
And Ive never been so sure of anything in my life

(Repeat Chorus)(Bridge)
He made the sun He made the moon
To harmonize in perfect tune
One cant move without the other
They just have to be together
And that is why I know its true
Youre for me and Im for you
Cause my world just cant be right
Without you in my life

(Repeat Chorus)(Tag)
He mustve heard every prayer Ive been praying
Yes He knew everything I would need
When God made you
When dreams come true
When God made you
He mustve been thinking about me

How You Live by Point of Grace

Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don’t hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress, use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes

And have what you want
But want what you have
And don’t spend your life looking back

Turn up the music, turn it up loud
Take a few chances, let it all out
‘Cause you won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did, it’s how you live

So go to the ballgames and go to the ballet
And go see your folks more than just on holidays
Kiss all your children, dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night

Don’t run from the truth
‘Cause you can’t get away, oh no
Just face it and you’ll be okay

Turn up the music, turn it up loud
Take a few chances, let it all out
‘Cause you won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did, it’s how you live

Oh, wherever you are and wherever you’ve been
Now is the time to begin

So, give to the needy and pray for the grieving
Even when you don’t think that you can
‘Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you
So, think of your fellow man

And make peace with God
And make peace with yourself, oh yeah
‘Cause in the end there’s nobody else

Turn up the music, turn it up loud
Take a few chances, let it all out
‘Cause you won’t regret it
Looking back from where you have been
‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did, it’s how you live

‘Cause it’s not who you knew
And it’s not what you did, it’s how you live

5 - 0

Garry Janssen presents interesting facts about 5 - 0

5 – 0

In Chemistry, 50 is the atomic number for the chemical element of TIN.

In Physics, 50 is the fifth magic number.

The Roman numeral for 50 is the letter L.

Noah’s Ark measured 50 cubits wide.

50 millimeters is the focal length of the normal lens in 35 mm photography.

“50 First Dates” is a title of a romantic comedy that takes place in Hawaii.

“Hawaii 5-0” was name of a popular police show on TV in 1968

Hawaii was the 50th state to enter the union in 1960

The 50 states are represented on the U.S. flag by 50 stars.

The Moon is 50 times smaller than the Earth

50 CENT is the name of an American rapper. He is the voice in the video game “Bulletproof”

50 is a caliber of ammunition

John F Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He was assassinated with two bullets . His portrait is on the 50 cent coin. It is also known as a silver dollar or Half Dollar.
The 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant’s portrait is on the U.S. Fifty Dollar bill.

The phrase “fifty-fifty” commonly expresses something divided equally in half, or an event of one half probability.

The 50th day of the year is February 19th.

50 is the traditional number of years in a jubilee.

A Golden Wedding Anniversary celebrates 50 years of marriage.

In February of 2009, Dorothy & Wilbert will celebrate 50 years of marriage.

Then & Now

Jennifer & Dwight Swanson presenting Then (1959) and Now (2008)

Makayla sings - You Are My Sunshine

Grand-daughter, Makayla Swanson sings "You Are My Sunshine"

You are my sunshine my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear how much I love you

So please don't take my sunshine away

The other night dear as I lay dreaming

I dreamt that you were by my side

Came disillusion when I awoke dear

You were gone and then I cried

You are my sunshine my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear how much I love you

So please don't take my sunshine away

You told me once dear there'd be no other

That no one else could come between

But now you've left me to love another

You have broken all my dreams

You are my sunshine my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear how much I love you

So please don't take my sunshine away

The Not-So Newlywed Game

The Not-So Newlywed Game

This game was played at the 25th Anniversary and was revisited for the 50th!

Couple 1: Mom & Dad
Couple 2: Norma & Dennis Barkhous
Couple 2: Norma & Dennis Barkhous
Couple 3: Martin & Mary Janssen
Couple 4: Sharon & Frank Stamper

How many years have you been married?
I'm guessing by Mary's expression, he was wrong!

ROUND 1- Gentlemen This round is worth 5 points each

Q1 Memory: How will your partner say you’d complete this question? This is you talking about her. “I wish she would pay more attention to BLANK and pay less attention to WHAT”

Q2 Personality: Who will your partner say, led more of a “Wild Life” before the two of you got together – You or Her?

Q3 Home: When you come out your front door, will your partner say the closest fire hydrant is: to the left, to the right or straight ahead?

Q4 Food: What will your partner say was the name of the last restaurant the two of you ate at together?

Q5 Misc: Since you chose your partner, out of all the fish in the sea, what kind of fish will she say, you think she’s most like? Be specific!

ROUND 2 - Ladies This round is worth 10 points each

Q1 Memory: Since you’ve been together, will your partner say that the two of you have spent more money on Medical Bills or Repair Bills?

Q2 Personality: Will your husband say that “You are more dependent on him” or “He’s more dependent on you”

Q3 Home: Last week at home, will your partner say your household received more incoming calls or made more outgoing calls?

Q4 Food: Which of the following, will your husband say he has most often: milk shakes, milk chocolate, a glass of milk or milk of magnesia?

Q5 Misc: How will your partner say you would complete this sentence? This is you talking. “If I was blindfolded, I would be able to pick my man out of a group of men, just by feeling his BLANK.”

FINAL QUESTION: worth 25 points
How many years have you been married?