Area couple celebrates extraordinary anniversary
PLATINUM — Russel and Delores Rosenau of Waldorf celebrated their 70th — or platinum — wedding anniversary June 9. The couple will be honored with an open house Saturday, June 20 from 1-5 p.m. at the Waldorf Community Center. (Star Eagle photo by Troy Thompson)
By TROY THOMPSON
Contributing Writer
They say time flies when you’re having fun. That’s certainly been the case for Russel and Delores Rosenau, who hit their milestone 70th wedding anniversary on June 9.
“It’s been a long time,” said Delores of her 70-year marriage, “but when you stop to think about it, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long.”
The couple was married in 1945, in a double-wedding ceremony along with Delores’ sister Jane and Victor Kluenoer.
“It was unheard of at the time,” said their daughter, Ramona.
“When our father found out both daughters were getting married, he said ‘we’ll do one pig, one wedding, and that’s it,” said Delores.
The couple bought a farmstead off of Highway 30 about nine miles west of New Richland right after getting married and still reside there today.
They can easily recall the fun and travels they’ve experienced during their seven-decades-long relationship as if it were yesterday.
“We went up north for our honeymoon,” said Delores. “We went a bunch of places, but I remember walking across the stones where the Mississippi starts.”
Their travels didn’t stop there. The Rosenaus had four children and now have six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Prior to getting married, Delores was the teacher for the country school outside of Waldorf and taught eight grades all in the same classroom. After the wedding, the couple turned both of their attention to full-time hog farming. But later, their youngest daughter, Lana, turned to teaching as a profession and settled on the remote outback area of Australia for her classroom endeavors.
“We’ve traveled to Australia nine times,” said Delores. “We know that country pretty good.”
“We’ve taken more tours there than we have in the United States,” said Russel, who also said he has always enjoyed seeing how farming is different in the areas that he travels.
“I’ve always been a hog farmer here, and there they farm cattle and sheep,” he said.
The couple has also ventured to Europe on numerous occasions on agricultural tours.
“In Australia, once you get out of the cities, everything is so far away,” said Delores. “We’re rural out here where we live, but there...they’re really rural. Of course, in Europe, the countries are so close together, you just get in the car and drive and you’re on to the next one.”
In addition to their travels, the couple has always had a passion for dancing, family gatherings and playing cards with neighbors and friends, especially pfeffer.
They still play cards with the neighbors, though their dancing has slowed down in recent years.
“Back in those days, there were dances every week,” said Delores, who also helped organize events as president of the Waldorf Senior Citizens Center. “It’s just what you did. And Russel is a very good dancer.”
As for family gatherings, the couple will reunite with their family and friends for a 70th anniversary celebration on June 20. Their daughter, Lana, will make the trip from Australia and their youngest son, Arnold, will fly up from Florida. Ramona, the eldest sibling, recently moved from Lakeville and now lives just down the road from her parents.
The couple lost their eldest son, John, a Vietnam veteran, in a still unsolved hit-and-run accident in 1972 while he was walking along Highway 30 right by the family farm where so many good memories have also happened.
“We had about a thousand baby chickens in the kitchen one time,” recalled Russel.
“And two horses, and pigs…” added Delores.
Though the couple admits that their 70 years together doesn’t seem like it’s been very long at all, they both acknowledge seeing a lot of changes in their time.
“It’s a weird world,” said Russel. “So much has changed, just in agriculture and farming.”
Ramona said her parents used to call Lana in Australia and pay $3 per-minute on the telephone. Now, they just pick up the cell phone or Skype when Ramona brings the laptop by.
“You can talk to them right on the screen,” said Delores. “But we don’t have a laptop. I’m not tackling one of those without help at my age.”
It’s obvious the couple has enjoyed their life together, and had fun doing it. But Russel had some additional insight into their long-term success.
“One thing, I don’t want to discount religion,” he said. “The Old Boy above does all the talking, and I don’t care who you belong to, it pays to listen.”
The couple is still active at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, the same church where they were married, as well as all of their children.
The Rosenaus’ 70th anniversary celebration will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on June 20 at the Waldorf Community Center.
Those wanting to express well wishes can also send cards.