[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING JOHN AND BEVERLY ``MITZIE'' MUTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2002

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John and Beverly 
``Mitzie'' Muter of Port Hope, Michigan, as they prepare to celebrate 
fifty years of marriage and a life-long commitment to each other and 
their three children. John and Mitzie's dedication and loving 
relationship serves as a beautiful and inspiring model for their 
family, friends and neighbors.
  In the early 1950s, Mitzie and her parents stopped to get something 
to eat at a tavern in the small community of Lewisville, Michigan, when 
John spotted her across the room and told his friends that she was the 
girl he was going to marry. After a year-long courtship, John proposed 
and Mary Lou accepted. They were married on the thirtieth of May 1953 
in Saints Peter and Paul Church in Ruth.
  John and Mitzie lived, worked and raised three wonderful children, 
John Jr., Jill and Jamie, in Saint Clair Shores. Mitzie devoted her 
life to raising and nurturing the children and providing a stable and 
supportive family environment. John had a long and distinguished career 
as a master electrician until his retirement, giving him more time to 
spend with Mitzie, their children and grandchildren. After John's 
retirement about 20 years ago, the couple moved to their farm in Port 
Hope. Mitzie then opened and ran a clothing store, Mitzie's Fashion 
Boutique, in Harbor Beach for many years.
  Family members recall the many pleasures of summers, weekends and 
winter holidays spent at the Muter family farm in Port Hope. In the 
winter, John, Mitzie, family and friends enjoyed snowmobiling and other 
cold-weather activities. Summers found them fishing, gardening, 
attending church picnics and heading off to county fairs. Over the 
years, the love and commitment that John and Mitzie showed for each 
other and the children created an incredible bond that has extended to 
their grandchildren and beyond.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating John and Mitzie as they approach the milestone of fifty 
years of marriage. A good marriage is one of life's most cherished 
covenants because it represents a declaration of love, and, as Paul 
said in his Letter to the Corinthians, ``Though I speak with the 
tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, I am nothing.'' I am 
confident that John and Mitzie's love for each will endure into 
eternity and I wish them many future years of marital bliss.

                          ____________________