Verne & Sylvia Wepner
- Married Since 1950
Sylvia was born in Green Lake County on October 20, 1929. Verne was born June 20,1929, in Ripon, WI.
Both Verne and Sylvia grew up on dairy farms near Ripon. Each farm had not only cows, but also pigs, chickens and a big garden.
They met in high school and remember a certain hay ride as their first date.
Verne Dale Wepner and Sylvia Marilyn Wepner, née Lindeman, were married June 20, 1950, in Ripon, Wisconsin, at Grace Lutheran Church.
Verne enlisted in the Air Force. Sylvia joined him at Lowry Air Force base in Colorado where they lived off base. After Verne’s honorable discharge, they moved to Grantsburg, WI where he worked at a weather station.
His next position was an air traffic controller in Rockford, IL. By the time they moved to Oshkosh in 1963, they had two children, Terry and Vernell. Verne worked as an air traffic controller in Oshkosh for many years which included the annual EAA fly in. Sylvia worked in a variety of positions outside of the home, mainly at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, in student accounts and purchasing.
Regular Sunday attendance at church and Sunday school was a pillar of family solidarity and guidance, including family Lenten devotions.
They have two children, 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Dad’s advice: If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time or don’t do it at all.
Marriage Advice: Find enjoyment and adventure by being close to the natural world God made. Let your actions be based on truth.