The day after Valentine’s Day, on Friday, February 15, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., Resthave Care & Rehabilitation was transformed into an elegant wedding venue. Seven couples reaffirmed their long-held marriages vows in the center’s Chapel, which overflowed with family, residents, and staff. Honorees had an impressive 412 combined years of marriage! The husbands and wives were
- Donald and Virginia Becker–55 years, married August 17, 1963
- Marvin and Ila Geerts–72 years, married October 16, 1946
- Spencer and Lynn Knox–55 years, married August 10, 1963
- Doug and JoAnn Seelye–38 years, married February 29, 1980
- Frank and Leona Ward–61 years, married September 7, 1957
- Bob and Lois Wiebenga–64 years, married November 19, 1954
- Roland and Ramona VanZuiden–67 years, married October 26, 1951.
DJ Alan Doyle of Anytime DJ Services in Clinton, IA, played a recording of Pachelbel’s iconic Canon in D, as couples processed into the Chapel. He would repeat it as the recessional. Marketing Director Karla Burn assisted people’s transition from walker to chair when needed. Seven brides carried a bouquet of twin, cranberry or scarlet silk roses, tied with black-and-white wired bows. Seven grooms wore a large, rose bud boutennaire. Staffer Tawnya Denning had put together the bouquets.
The officiant was Pastor Ryan Sutton from Morrison United Methodist Church. He stated “only 5% of today’s population will make it to their 50th year of marriage. Only .01% will spend 70 [wedded] years together–like Marvin and Ila Geerts have!”
To reach such wedded milestones, Pastor Sutton noted, the couples “have had wonderful support from family and friends.” His scripture reading from 1st Corinthians, Chapter 13, concluded, “When love is offered and accepted, there is joy in the journey.”
He then faced the couples in preparation of their reaffirmation of wedding vows. Pastor Sutton stood by each man, asking him to state “I, [Donald], take you, [Virginia], to be my wife.” He repeated the process with each woman: “I, [Virginia], take you, [Donald], to be my husband.” Everyone kept their wedding band on during the Blessing of the Rings. Their rings “are a reminder of the love and commitment made to each other,” he noted.
Next came the Marriage Blessing and a group recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. Pastor Sutton declared before witnesses, “They are reaffirmed as husband and wife,” and he encouraged the couples to share a kiss. To the strains of Canon in D, one-at-a-time each couple was dismissed and reintroduced by Pastor Sutton as they recessed out of the Chapel.
This was the first Vow Renewal ceremony to be held at Resthave Care & Rehabilitation. Burn stated she and Jill Smith “started talking about the idea five months ago. We got really pumped up” about planning seven-weddings-in-one and a full-scale reception. “There are 15 married couples” at Resthave’s facility; sometimes one spouse lives offsite. Burn said, “All were asked to participate.”
For the reception, Chris Muur transformed the Dining Room with skirted, white tables and black-and-white patterned runners. Sparkling, lighted glass cylinders held strings of crystals, were topped with white flowers, and wore rhinestone collars. She is former owner of a wedding/event decor store on E. Main Street, so she had lovely items to use. Scattered silk rose petals, votive candles, dishes of pastel mints and savory snacks were included. The food table below offered guests crackers, cheese and sausage; mints; assorted nuts.
A second table held the marble cake and fruit punch. Guests also could enjoy a glass of wine. Burn ordered the sheetcake and a small tiered cake from Aurelio’s Bake Shop in Sterling, IL.
She commented that staff “had two ‘jeans weeks’ to raise money.” They paid a “price” each day for wearing jeans to work. The money raised was donated to pay for the DJ. During the reception Doyle played tunes from the 1950’s forward, all with a romantic theme. He included “In the Mood;” Anne Murray’s “Could I Have This Dance?;” Elvis Presley’s “Fools Rush In;” Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue;” “Louie Louie.”
There was a decorated Photo Booth for families to record the day.
Donald and Virginia Becker moved to Morrison because of his affiliation with General Electric Appliance Control Department. They had seven children and raised so many “foster kids I can’t count them all,” he remarked. She remembered her bride’s maids wore pretty blue dresses and carried white flowers. Virginia has resided at Resthave for two years. Don is still employed at age 82; he taught this school year and is a substitute in Erie, Fulton, Morrison, Prophetstown, and Rock Falls, IL. He stated he “taught every subject there is.” He noted the daughter of Spencer and Lynn Knox married the Beckers’ son.
A poignant addition to the reception were displays from the couples. Lynn Knox’s ivory, satin bridal gown was there, with a photo of Spencer in a white tuxedo. Robert and Lois Wiebenga also are shown in their wedding day photograph. They brought a framed Marriage Certificate and the 64-year-old cake topper.
Marvin and Ila Geerts are pictured in a new wedding album. Frank and Leona Ward brought their vintage wedding album. The framed newspaper article chronicles their 60th anniversary on September 7, 2017.
Roland and Ramona VanZuiden displayed these photos from their 1951 wedding day.
