[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 140 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO HANS AND ALMA ROEBBELEN ON 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 7, 2003

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to congratulate two good 
friends from my district in California, Hans and Alma Roebbelen, as 
they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this month.
  Hans and Alma were born and raised in Europe, where they experienced 
the horrors of World War II firsthand. Hans endured challenges as a 15-
year-old prisoner of war, while Alma had to flee her homeland before 
the advancing Russian army at the age of only 13.
  When the chaos of war finally settled, Hans worked as a journeyman 
carpenter. Little did he know as such a young man that he would one day 
become a renowned builder half the world away. Later, Hans earned an 
architecture degree from the University in Buxtehude, and it was there 
that he met and fell in love with his future bride, Alma, who had 
embarked upon a career as a dental hygienist.
  Shortly thereafter, Alma followed a professional opportunity that 
took her to Stockton, California. Although he wanted to follow her, it 
took Hans 20 months to leave Germany, given that the government did not 
want to lose its architects and other professionals abroad. Happily, 
the couple was married on October 18, 1953, within a week of Hans' 
arrival in Stockton. Indeed, that date marked the beginning of great 
things to come.
  After starting a family and managing some of the largest construction 
projects ever undertaken in the Sacramento area up until that time, 
Hans and Alma desired to start their own company. Thus began Roebbelen 
Construction in 1957.
  Roebbelen Construction has established a long history of excellent 
public construction projects, such as schools and prisons. However, 
over the last decade, the company has also successfully completed many 
design/build projects for private sector clients, including: J.C. 
Penney Co., MCI, General Motors, Aetna, Sears, SBC/Pacific Bell, Cable 
Data, Target, and other firms. Together with its sister company, 
Kleeman Roebbelen, it is now one of the largest local private companies 
in the Sacramento region. It is also the only general contractor in 
California to have received the ISO 9001:2000 designation from the 
International Organization for Standardization for the management of 
quality in a company's products and services.
  Mr. Speaker, after spending so much of their lives with the firm they 
started, Hans and Alma recently retired from Roebbelen Construction. 
Now, they are blessed with the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their 
labors. They often travel and spend quality time with their three 
children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
  Undoubtedly, the life Hans and Alma Roebbelen created together is a 
great American success story--one rooted in a love that has endured and 
grown for 50 years and counting.

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