ShawneeDispatch.com

Shawnee — This year's Valentine's Day was different than any other for one Shawnee couple.

Thursday at the Sweet Life at Rosehill in Shawnee, residents Cleo and Opal Thomann celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary - if only a couple of weeks early. Before a small group of friends, relatives and fellow Sweet Life residents, the Thomanns restated their vows, and Cleo took a moment to explain how the couple met.

"One day, my brother came home and said he'd met the most beautiful girl in the world," Cleo Thomann told his guests. "He wanted me to meet her, so I met her, and I agreed with him so I married her."

Shelly Gray, lifestyle enrichment director for Sweet Life, said it was employees at the Sweet Life encouraged the couple to renew their vows when they learned how long they'd been married. They decorated the cafe area next to the facility's theater, residents sang a few songs for the couple, and they even had cake and punch.

"They are an excellent example for all of us," Gray said, "and there isn't a person here they haven't touched."

Jim Thomann said his parents were living in Topeka when they first met and married two years later in Lawrence, Feb. 28, 1935. They moved to Kansas City, Kan., in 1941, where Cleo worked as an insurance agent.

Over the years, Cleo became involved with the Alphapointe Association for the Blind, volunteering his time by serving on the associatons' board of directors for 50 years. Alphapointe honored Cleo at its most recent Christmas party by naming the organization's plastics manufacturing center for him.

Cleo also became very active in the Shriners and became an experienced clown. He still enjoys performing at the Sweet Life whenever he can.

"Every time you go to his room, you learn a new trick," Gray said.

There was no clowning for Opal; Jim said she always was just "Mom." Her hobbies largely consisted of home-making, knitting and taking care of Cleo.

"Anybody that's ever known her, loved her," Jim said. "She's just the sweetest thing there ever was."

Jim Thomann said his dad didn't retire until he was 73.

"The reason he retired is they were forcing everyone to go to computers, and he didn't want to, so he retired," Jim said. "Then two years later, he bought a computer, and you couldn't get him off of it."

Jim said his father's work ethic and good health kept him at work for so long.

"He said that he felt good, so why should he retire," Jim said. "Then one day, he said 'I feel good, so why shouldn't I retire?'"

About 15 years ago, the Thomanns moved to Shawnee, and it was only last year that Cleo, 94, and Opal, 92, moved to the Sweet Life. In addition to their two sons, they now have six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Attending the ceremony with Jim were his son Ron, his daughter Debbie Kirchhoff, and their children - Opal and Cleo's great-grandchildren - Kelsie Thomann and Katie Kirchhoff.

Jim Thomann said it's amazing to think it has been 73 years since his parents were married.

"It floors me," he said. "How Mom put up with Dad for 73 years is beyond me."

Gray said though Cleo has had some health issues recently and had to move to Sweet Life's skilled facility until he is better, Opal still is sure to come see him every day.

Jim Thomann said his dad has often shared his method for making a marriage last so long.

"Dad always said the secret to success is doing what Mom says to do," Jim said.