Milestone Announcements
ANNIVERSARIES
Jim and Gay Winger
50th Anniversary
Well-known Coeur d'Alene residents Jim and Gay Winger will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with family and close friends. They were married at St. Thomas Catholic Church on June 20, 1964.
A lifetime Coeur d'Alene native, Gay attended the local school and graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School and North Idaho College. She went to graduate from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.
Jim attended schools in Arco and Idaho State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. After serving two years in the Army, he came to Coeur d'Alene to work as a district materials engineer with the Idaho Department of Highways. He started there in May 1961 and continued until his retirement in 1995.
Jim and Gay have been proud and devoted parents and grandparents to their sons, grandchildren and family.
Hosting the several celebrations will be their sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren: Jimmy and Teri Winger, Katie and J.J. Winger, Mike and Annie Winger, and Sue and Michael Winger.
•••
Jeff and Joey Grunden
50th Anniversary
Jeff and Joey Grunden will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary June 27, 2014. They were married June 27, 1954, in Grangeville.
Jeff and Joey moved to Hayden in 1979. Jeff worked locally as a consulting engineer for Winzler & Kelly Engineers, Meckel Engineering and the city of Hayden. He also did engineering worldwide in Guam, Saipan and Peru, and in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Idaho and Alaska - the site of his biggest project, helping to design the Alaska Pipeline.
Joey substitute taught in Kootenai County from 1981-2004. She has a Master of Arts in education and has taught worldwide in Peru, Saipan, and in Washington state in Tacoma, Bellevue, Coulee Dam and Pasco. She has lived in or traveled in 30 countries, but is fond of telling people she started skidding logs on horseback at age 4 in Emida for a nickel a log. She currently works as a telephone survey representative for SQM Group, a Canadian-owned company, where "Windy Jo from Idaho" gets paid to ask questions eight hours a day to people all across Canada and America in English and in Puerto Rico in Spanish.
Jeff and Joey are the proud parents of John and Rick Grunden, both members of the Idaho State Champion football team in 1985. John, Tara and twins Josh and Abby live in Pittstown, N.J. Rick and son Andrew live in Sun Valley, Calif., in the Los Angeles area.
You're invited to help build a memory book by emailing your memory of the Grundens to their New Jersey daughter-in-law: [email protected] and to call for more information about visiting (908) 752-0572. Be sure to include complete names, addresses and phone numbers because after 50 years, memory is not always one's strongest suit.
•••
Fred and Cathy Sharp
50th Anniversary
Fred and Cathy (Pitcher) Sharp, of Post Falls, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married Jan. 25, 1964, in Coeur d'Alene.
Their children are Fred and Sheila (Krahn) Sharp of Hayden, Ken and Kim (Hanni) Sharp of Hayden, Cheri Sharp of Greensborough, North Carolina, Lori Sharp of Post Falls, and Jim and JamiSue (Croxford) Sharp of Post Falls. They have eight grandchildren.
Fred and Cathy plan to celebrate from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, July 13, 2014, at 2924 N. Distant Star Road, Post Falls. Hosts are Fred and Cathy's children and spouses. All family and friends of the Sharps are invited. No gifts please.
•••
Roberto and Eliza Santos
50th Anniversary
In observance of their golden wedding anniversary, Roberto (Bob) and Eliza (Liza) Santos of Coeur d'Alene renewed their marriage vows on June 8, 2014, at St. George's Catholic Church in Post Falls officiated by Fr. Timothy Ritchey. They were married on June 6, 1964, at St. Kevin's Catholic Church in Los Angeles, Calif.
Both Bob and Liza were Philippine-born to parents who immigrated to Kauai, Hawaii, where their families first met and where they grew up. They were high school sweethearts and attended Los Angeles City College in California.
Soon after they were married Bob and Liza joyfully welcomed their first-born, Roberto Santos Jr., but painfully said goodbye to him at the early age of 4 years when they lost him to pneumonia which complicated his kidney ailment. In the years to follow they were blessed with three more children. They settled in West Covina, Calif., where they lived for 15 years.
Bob's employer, whom he worked for as a sales representative, relocated to Post Falls in 1991. Although Liza was reluctant to leave her job of 27 years as a bookkeeper, they moved to North Idaho in August of that year with two of their teenage children. Their oldest child joined them in 1992 after graduating from college.
Liza is not a cold-weather person, but she loves the four seasons that the Inland Northwest offers and Bob enjoys his fishing during the spring and summer months. They are active in their parish of St. George and feel so blessed to be a part of such a supportive congregation. They are very proud of their three loving children who blessed them with six precious grandchildren. They are Myles and Karla (wife), Samantha and Tyler of Spokane Valley; Myron, Dominic and Malyna of Coeur d'Alene; and Marissa and Chad (husband) Davenport, Victoria and Braden of Post Falls. They all enjoy getting together for family barbecues and family outings from time to time.
Roberto and Eliza will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary semi-privately with some close relatives and friends hosted by their children at a later date in Las Vegas.
•••
Joe and Jean McGinn
50th Anniversary
The four children, their spouses, and 11 grandchildren of Joe and Jean (Fitzgerald) McGinn are honored to announce their 50th wedding anniversary on June 6, 2014. The whole family will celebrate this blessed occasion in July with a week on Whidbey Island where Mom and Dad will be renewing their wedding vows.
The grand adventure began when Joe and Jean met and fell in love in 1963 at Gonzaga University (GO ZAGS!) when Joe was a senior and Jean was a freshman. They married at St. Aloysius on June 6, 1964. They moved to Los Angeles for two years where Dad started his accounting career and Mom gave birth to Shannon and Joey. They moved to Seattle briefly and then back home to Spokane where Molly and Annie were born. The kids graduated from St. John Vianney, St. Aloysius, Gonzaga Prep, Gonzaga University, the University of Washington and Western Washington University. We were so proud of Mom when she fulfilled her dream of finishing college at Gonzaga University in 1987.
We kids had a truly wonderful childhood thanks to Mom and Dad. Memories include: lots of sporting events; summers at the lake; walking in the snow to midnight Christmas Mass at St. Aloysius; and Dad playing his ukulele while he and Mom sang, their voices a beautiful harmony. The lullabies Mom sang to us she now sings to her grandchildren, and we will sing to ours. Dad shared his knowledge and love of sports with all of us. He rarely missed the chance to cheer us on and we were even lucky once in awhile to call him coach! Mom is and was our best prayer warrior. Through trials and blessings she has always led us to our Lord. Both Mom and Dad have always lived a life truly focused on God and seeking His will in all things. This has greatly enhanced the lens through which we all see the world and how we choose to live our lives. No matter what else happened around us, we felt security in our home knowing that Mom and Dad always chose to love God, each other and their family.
The last 15 years Mom and Dad have lived on Harbor Island in Coeur d'Alene where they attend St. Pius X Catholic Church and Mom sings in the choir. They built a beautiful home on the river where they graciously entertain their family and friends and where they have lovingly cared for both of their elderly mothers. Dad retired in 2008 after 27 years at Kim Hotstart. Now they enjoy heading south in the winter to sunshine and golf, but they return every spring ready for summers on the river. They take as many boat rides together as possible and never tire of sunsets on the water.
We wish our parents and grandparents so much love and happiness on this joyous occasion! Thank you for your faithful example, countless sacrifices and constant love.
•••
Russ and Karen Grove
30th Anniversary
Russ and Karen Grove, of Hayden Lake, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on June 23, 2014. They were married by Pastor Bob Schneiter at Hayden Lake Friends Church.
They have two sons, Russell, 28, and Sam, 23.
Karen is a lifelong Idaho resident who works with people who have special needs. Russ was born in New York and grew up in the Washington, D.C., area. He works as a commercial pest control tech for Sprague Pest Solutions in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene areas.
Also Russ and Karen are the proud parents of their new golden retriever "Macy May!"
•••
ENGAGEMENT
Provax-Cavanaugh
Dr. David K. Cavanaugh and the late Dr. Maxine C. Cavanaugh are pleased to announce the marriage of their son, David Charles Cavanaugh to Tami Marie Provax.
Ms. Provax is a 12-year resident of Coeur d'Alene and Mr. Cavanaugh followed his heart to Coeur d'Alene almost a year ago.
The couple will be married in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday, July 3, 2014. Members of the bridal party include Ms. Provax's three children, Christopher, Marisa and Michael Purta; Coeur d'Alene resident Ms. Krista Tickemyer and former Spirit Lake resident Mrs. Susie Wanlass.
In addition to local friends, the couple will be welcoming guests from Buffalo, N.Y., Kansas City, Mo., Phoenix, Ariz., and San Jose, Calif.
•••
MILESTONE BIRTHDAY
Almon P. Oliver
90th Birthday
Commander Almon P. Oliver (Al) USN Ret. is being honored on his 90th birthday by his wife Fran, and his two children, Michael and Elizabeth (Betsy). The event will be held Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Dover Bay. This event will include a small family reunion with nieces and nephews from the Oliver family.
Commander Oliver was born in Knox City, Texas, and raised in both Texas and California. He was the sixth son of seven and he had one sister. He attended high school in Modesto, Calif. After graduation from Modesto High School, Al joined the Navy in July 1942. He completed his training in Corpus Christy, Texas, where he was commissioned a Naval Aviator at the age of 19 1/2. One month earlier President George H.W. Bush received his commission. These two men were the two youngest aviators in naval aviation.
During World War II, Al served aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina as an OS2U pilot. His job was to spot gunnery targets and doing air - sea rescues. His heroism is recognized as the only pilot who rescued a pilot from Japanese Mainland.
He spent the rest of his career in fighter and attack squadrons aboard aircraft carriers. His last sea duty was aboard the U.S.S. Oriskany serving as Air Officer.
He retired in 1967 after serving 25 years of naval service. He lived in Yorba Linda and Indio, Calif., until moving to Coeur d'Alene in 2001.
He married the former Frances Pymm of Spokane in November 1945. The couple will be celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary this year.
Their son, Michael Lynn Oliver, currently resides in the High Desert of California. While their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Oliver (Betsy), lives here in Coeur d'Alene.