Pair, ages 96 and 101, renew their vows at senior living facility: Kira Anthofer, executive director of Atria Las Posas Senior Living facility in Camarillo and an ordained minister, presides over the renewal of vows of residents Sara and Leonard Lautzenhiser on Thursday. Photo by Juan Carlo / Star staffCAMARILLO, California (Ventura County Star), February 15, 2008:
Eighty years ago, Sara and Leonard "Dutch" Lautzenhiser tied the knot and embarked on a lifetime's journey together. Thursday, on Valentine's Day, they said "I do" all over again in front of friends and family.
Sara, who's 96, and Leonard, 101, have been through the Great Depression, two World Wars, and raised two daughters.
The secret of their eight-decade-long relationship?
"A good wife," replied Leonard without hesitation.
The couple, who have lived in Ventura County since 1937, renewed their wedding vows in a special celebration at the Atria Las Posas Senior Living facility in Camarillo, with their daughters Donna Clark of Camarillo and Lois Nadal of Oxnard looking on.
The ceremony was held in a living area off the lobby that had been decorated with red and pink balloons, potted plants and a large, golden wedding arch.
It was presided over by the facility's executive director, Kira Anthofer, who is an ordained marriage minister. As Anthofer pronounced them married all over again, Leonard remarked: "We'll have to go celebrate tonight!"
Recalling the reason he married Sara, Leonard said he chose her because she was "a nice gal."
"We just didn't want to be apart," said Sara. The couple, who eloped when Sara was 16 and Leonard was 21, were married in Crete, Nebraska, on July 22, 1928.
It was "togetherness," said Sara, that got them through the hard times, particularly the Great Depression in the 1930s when they had two young daughters.
"You take a little bit, you give a little bit," she said.
Before retiring to Atria Las Posas, the couple owned and operated stationery stores in Oxnard and Camarillo and a Hallmark store in Ventura.
A second couple who are residents at Atria Las Posas also renewed their vows. David and Elise Thompson met at the assisted living complex and married there two years ago. Both were surprised to find love again.
"I came here to die," said Elise, who admitted to being nervous at saying "I do" all over again.
"It's supposed to get easier the more you do it," quipped her husband.
As the audience of about 40 residents and staff clapped and cheered, David kissed his bride.
"That wasn't on the mouth!" protested Elise, demanding a second kiss.
Both brides carried bouquets of red roses and white baby's breath put together by their fellow residents. The celebrations concluded with cupcakes and fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate.
"It brought tears to my eyes," said resident Doris Fisher, who was married for 62 years before her husband died.
There are 110 seniors living at Atria Las Posas, ranging in age from their late 70s to the oldest resident, who's 102.
The renewal of vows ceremony on Valentine's Day was executive director Anthofer's idea.
"You know, life doesn't end after 65 or 75," she said. "We're seeing more and more seniors who are very active, and they're still open to finding love.
"Before they moved here, they might have been home alone, so this is a great change," said Anthofer. "They're socializing every day and forming bonds and friendships. It's a cruise ship on land, and we get to be the social directors."
By Rachel McGrath
© 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co. Scripps Newspaper Group
