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Caledonia couple spends 63rd wedding anniversary at the Houston County Fair
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By Jan Lee Buxengard
For the Caledonia Argus
Robert and Leona Meisch observed their wedding anniversary in the same location as years past. “We’ve spent the last 40 years at the Houston County Fair,” Robert recalled, adding, “Our anniversary was either at the beginning or the end of the fair. We only missed the fair twice in all those years.”
The couple’s 63rd anniversary was on opening day of this year’s fair. Family members made arrangements for the couple to ride on the ferris wheel, but rain showers most of the day squelched the plan, except for a photo opportunity in front of the ride in spite of the weather conditions. It would have been the first time for them to be on the ride together.
“We met at a dance at Weaver, where her sister, Rosemary, introduced us,” Robert recalled.
When asked if he proposed in the traditional way, he explained, “I farmed with my dad. He gave me eight hogs. I loaded them in the International pickup and took them to the stockyards at Winona and sold them. After cashing the check at the bank, I picked Leona up at Cathedral High School and we went to the jewelry store. We picked out a diamond. She had the ring on, and I asked if she liked it. She did, and I said keep it.”
Leona Lamey of Kellogg and Robert Meisch of Minneiska (Oak Ridge near Altura) were married on Monday, Aug. 19, 1946 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church along the Mississippi River at Minneiska. “It was the height of the polio epidemic,” the couple pointed out.
“The priest who married us was to leave the church, so we moved the wedding up,” Robert noted.
In 1955 the Meisch family moved to Caledonia, and became active with the county fair from the get go. For many years they had a commercial booth, beginning with Watkins products for about three or four years, and then selling White sewing machines.
For about 20-25 years, Leona exhibited in the open class division, taking off only two years, but returning again this year with a few canning entries.
Robert, age 83, and Leona, 82, have five children, nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one on the way.
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